Ever noticed, no matter how many adventures you’ve embarked upon, no matter how many climates you’ve experienced, no matter how many times you’ve thought “Okay, if I just buy [insert name of object] I’ll have everything I could possibly need for any trip I do in the future!”, there’s ALWAYS something else – usually a whole bunch of things – that you just HAVE to buy for wherever you’re heading next?

Without fail, there’s always something bigger/ smaller/ warmer/ cooler/ more sophisticated/ more straightforward than any comparable items in the extensive (and probably expensive) collection of gear you already own.

Me? It probably took…ooh, about a minute after parting with the deposit for my Peru trip for me to start making a mental note of items I’d need to buy. This mental note quickly became a list that had to be committed to paper. (Not that there’s anything wrong with my memory. I just happen to have a bit of a penchant for compiling lists…)

So what was on this noble agenda?

Firstly, boots. I’ve already got a fairly expensive pair of trekking boots, but the tread is a bit worn in places. Wouldn’t want to lose my footing and go tumbling over the edge of a cliff, would I? Plus they used to be blue, but now… let’s just say you wouldn’t know that. Even after several attempts at cleaning them. So of course I need a nice fresh pair, ideally with a Vibram sole, an ‘event’ waterproof fabric upper and in a colour that assists in masking dust and dirt. (Okay, I’m hardly going to look fresh as a proverbial daisy after four days on the Inca Trail – but I’d rather not flaunt the resulting blood/ sweat/ tears/ general muck!)

Secondly, a sleeping bag. Okay, I already own two. But one is a lightweight, 1-2 season bag, perfect for African summer evenings. But (near)winter in Peru at high altitude? Tantamount to suicide! Death by hypothermia wouldn’t be cool. Well it WOULD be cool, but it also wouldn’t, if you see what I mean.

The second sleeping bag is much thicker, but sadly a bit too cumbersome for trekking. So of course I need a nice new warm-but-compact one that doesn’t, in conjunction with my pack, contort my spine or send me keeling over backwards. Or both.

Thirdly, thermals. Well yes, I already have a couple of thermal tops, originally bought for a trip to Lapland a few years ago. But discovering how effective they were, I ended up wearing them when the weather got a bit chilly in this country too. Hence they’re now somewhat on the tatty side. And they’re not made from the technologically advanced keep-you-warm-but-dry ‘Thermaplus’ material. And I don’t have any thermal leggings. So of course I need a new set in order to stave off the night-time chill in a sweat-free fashion!

And so the list goes on!

The only positive thing to be said about this seemingly never-ending compulsion for acquiring new gear is that, with outdoor/ travel-gear shops desperate to entice customers through their doors, there are some rather nice deals to be found at the moment. (At least there’s one positive thing to be said about the recession!)

So armed with my list, a credit card and the knowledge that customers are rather special, valued people these days, I’ll soon be heading to the hub of outdoor-store (near-)ubiquity:  Covent Garden!

Bring on those bargains!