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Winter is on its way (arguably already here) and while the temptation might be to hibernate and wait out whatever crazy weather this winter might bring, for many of us there’s the small matter of work or college etc to get to.

COVID 19 has led for many to adapt to a more hybrid working pattern, with time split working between home and the office, but there has been a push to get us all back into the workplace. With the cost of living crisis and increasing fuel and public transport costs, you might want to consider cycling or walking (even part of the way) to work.

I tend to be a fair weather cyclist who doesn’t like cycling in the dark nights or icy and wet conditions, so walking to work is my preferred mode of transport when not getting the bus.

And that’s another reason for winter walking with adidas.

With more of us back working in the office, there’s more of us back using buses and trains. It might not be headline news, but there STILL is a horrible respiratory virus in the air and full buses with all the windows closed and people coughing is all the encouragement I need to get my walking shoes on.

It’s also a way for me to offset calories and carbon from my visits to Big Bear Bakery and our driving to the gym (still going 3 times a week to JD Gyms Glasgow South). Walking more was what changed my life, brought me so many opportunities, and what launched this blog, so it is fitting that as I consider hanging up my blogging boots, that I return to my roots. 

But as I said, winter is coming and in my final adidas blog of the year, I thought I’d share a few Black Friday recommendations of what I consider as essential kit for those looking to actively commute. 

Put your best foot forward

It is impossible to ignore the floods affecting the world. Climate change, zoning laws (who thought it was sensible to build houses in a floodplain? It is in the name!), and poor drainage all play a role, and while there are ways we can slow down climate change for future generations, the weather is here to stay (and potentially get worse).

So a good pair of shoes is a must.

I went for the albeit strangely named adidas X9000L2 COLD.RDY, a water-repellant and COLD.RDY shoe partly made with recyclable material and insulating you from the elements. With its Jet Boost sole you still get that Bounce in your step and I do find that my knees appreciate the support and shock absorption. At £45.50 (reduced from £90.00) they are one of my cheapest adidas trainers, but I cannot fault the build, look, and feel. Being water-repellent it doesn’t allow you to walk through rivers of water, but it will help you navigate puddles and keep your feet warm and dry in the rain.

Keep Your Head On

I will always remember my papa extolling the virtues of a good hat. As a hard worling foreman on building sites, he was regulary exposed to whatever mother nature could throw at him. He’d wear tights (sorry tradespeople if I am giving away trade secrets) under his work trousers and when he took me to watch Pollok Juniors, he’d always be wearing his bunnet.

Time has moved on, and sadly so has my papa, but I still remember him telling me that we lose all our heat from our heads. It turns out that like many things papas tell their grandchildren, this was a myth. While the head does lose heat, it is not significantly more than other parts of the body. But I digress. 

A good hat will keep your head (and your ears) warm in the harshest of winds. Again, I went for something using the insulating COLD.RDY tech, the aptly named Tech Cuff Beanie. Made from 50% recycled polyester and 50% recycled wool plain knit, it’ll help keep me warm and contribute to my efforts to live more sustainably. 

Body of Evidence

The fact is that we need to keep our bodies warm. As well as preventing hypothermia, it helps with our body’s thermoregulation. In cold environments, the body redistrubutes blood to the torso, mainting the warmth of our vital (again, a clue in the name) organs. So when hunting for a suitable jacket, I was looking for something that would keep me warm AND keep me dry in Glasgow, one of the wettest cities in the UK.

It also couldn’t break the bank (or rather, the remainder of the gift voucher kindly given to me by adidas).

Finding a jacket that is both insulated and water repellant at a reasonable price is hard enough, but since learning more about how what we wear can damage the environment, I try to avoid durable water repellent coatings that use perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). At only £85.00 (£59.50 in the current sale) the PFC-Free BSC 3 Stripes Insulated Jacket  was exactly what I was looking for.

Hidden cuffs keep out the wind and rain and the hood fits well. It’s not too heavy and with it being made from 100% recycled materials, it is another item of clothing that I will not feel guilty buying. 

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

With your feet, head and vital organs covered, you will be set for your winter walking regime. It just needs you to commit to making the journey. I tend to only walk on days when the weather isn’t truly miserable as water repellent is not water resistant. It’s a 3 mile walk for me and I use it to think, plan, and dream. You might want to download some audio books or listen to podcasts, but please do be conscious of traffic and considerate of other pavement users. 

And please be mindful that the great Black Friday discounts at adidas are only great discounts if you are buying something you need. As consumers, we do need to also buy less as well as buying more sustainable products. I was gifted the three products by adidas.

Adios adidas?

And that ends my adidas blogs for the year. It has been a great experience being part of the #adidasbloggercommunity and I hope you have enjoyed my blogs about the different ways adidas are making their products more sustainable.

I do not know if they will invite me back next year, and part of me is not even sure if How Many Miles will still be here in 2024, but I still enjoy pressing publish on a new blog post and I still have not discovered how many miles I need to go, so it is maybe not au revoir just yet.

Thanks for all of your support since 2012. 

Stephen