Hikers - Rip off or good value???

   I need some new hikers as i have lost a bit of weight and my old ones now have holes in the arse.  Trouble is why are they all so much money!  Rooster want £95 for their pro hikers!!  Why are they so much money?  I can buy a full winter wetsuit for less!  So come on whats the best value deal on hikers at the moment?  Should i just take it on the chins and spend a tonne on a set?  

What other parts of sailing kit do people think is overpriced?

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Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Hikers - Rip off or good value??? Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:27pm
	I need some new hikers as i have lost a bit of weight and my old ones now have holes in the arse. Trouble is why are they all so much money! Rooster want £95 for their pro hikers!! Why are they so much money? I can buy a full winter wetsuit for less! So come on whats the best value deal on hikers at the moment? Should i just take it on the chins and spend a tonne on a set? What other parts of sailing kit do people think is overpriced?

Inland sea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Jul 07 Location: Rugby Online Status: Offline Posts: 290	Post Options Post Reply Quote Inland sea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:35pm
	Hikers ... in a 300 essential Could I ask if you would spend £90 on a harness in the 14? Personally I use the magic marine hikers and they are fantastic ... very good built in knee pads (often end up in the prayer position downwind ) ... cheapest I have found them :- here added bonus ... take the pads out and it's a great summer shorty with the addition of a rashy. Edited by Inland sea
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Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:37pm
	Richard, you are right they are essential! With regards to the harness, yes i would but a Harness should last a hell of a lot lnger then a set of hikers.

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:38pm
	I have the Rooster Pros, if the current ones I have died today I would go straight out and buy a new pair! I love that fact that you can move the pads to get them comfy and the fact that you can take the pads out completely, stick em in a pair of decent lycras and you have a lightweight summer set. That and in the winter the hikers + aquafleece means I am more than toasty even after a swim or 2. Persoanlly I used to be anti hiker....I am not most definitely pro hiker!
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getafix Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 28 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2143	Post Options Post Reply Quote getafix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:39pm
	Rooster's shintech long-john with the (re)movable pads is the best comprimise I reckon - you get a suit you can wear with a harness on a trap boat and you can move the pads for different hiking boats/conditions
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Roger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Mar 04 Location: Somerset Online Status: Offline Posts: 524	Post Options Post Reply Quote Roger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:42pm
	The best deal is always going to be the best fitting pair for you personally. There is little worse than a badly fitting pair of hikers with pads digging into the back of your knees or badly positioned pads that dont give you all the advantages they should. Personally I went down to Roosters, tried some on and came away with a set of Pro Hikers size small with small pads, you can of course move the pads in the rooster, and buy the right sized set too. If I had tried ordering online or over the phone I never would have got the right size or combination, I would strongly suggest you try on before you buy. In the interests of fairness there are of course several other makes of hikers with removable pads in differing sizes, and I'm sure many of them would have given just as good a fit.

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 12:52pm
	I get that the rooster pro hikers are great, but are they really worth £95? plus £10 for some pads! Thats £105 for those of you that are poor at maths!!

Inland sea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Jul 07 Location: Rugby Online Status: Offline Posts: 290	Post Options Post Reply Quote Inland sea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 1:36pm
	Rooster pro's are good but the neoprene is a little soft, does nick / rip hence my choice of the MM. 2 years hard use before they fell apart and they include the moveable pads ... all other comments though very wise get along to your stockest and try before you buy ... I was lucky mine fitted straight from the mail order box
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Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 1:40pm
	Has anybody actually bought some of those Zhik Hiker suits! They need a slap if they have! That is mental money for something that aint gonna help you pull in a night club!

zailor Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 10 May 09 Location: Penparc Online Status: Offline Posts: 249	Post Options Post Reply Quote zailor Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 09 at 6:17pm
	Gull or Gill ones look good and dont break the bank. Look on the sale section of websites. I went for some MM energy for £50 but were out of stock so I got some MX2 hikers (the white things) wirth £99 for the £50. Skills