EVELYSS / Guides / Travel & Everyday

What to Wear on a Boxing Day Walk (and to the Pub After)

“The Boxing Day walk is really two outfits pretending to be one: a muddy field and a crowded pub. Dress from the knit outwards. If the jumper is good, everything else can get filthy and you'll still look lovely by the fire.”Her take

What should you wear on a Boxing Day walk?

Dress for the route first. A countryside footpath in late December usually means mud, puddles and stiles; a beach means wind and wet sand; a park or towpath means paths and the odd puddle. Then build the outfit so that taking off one layer turns it into something you'd happily sit in for lunch.

The classic formula is a thermal base, a cosy knit, dark trousers or jeans, a weatherproof jacket and the right boots, with a hat, scarf and gloves. Keep the knit as the star; it's what you'll be wearing at the table.

• A thin thermal top under a wool or wool-blend jumper.
• Dark jeans, cords or warm walking trousers.
• A waxed, quilted or padded jacket that's water-resistant.
• Wellies or walking boots with thick socks.
• A hat, a wool scarf and gloves.

Wellies, walking boots or trainers?

Footwear decides whether the walk is fun or miserable. Here's how the main options compare.

• Wellies: best for very muddy fields, deep puddles and farmland. Fully waterproof, easy to hose down, but not warm or supportive over a long distance. Add welly socks.
• Walking boots: best for longer routes, hills and uneven ground. Waterproof, supportive and grippy, and they look right with jeans or cords.
• Leather ankle boots with a lug sole: best for a short walk on paths, a park or a village loop that ends at the pub. Smart enough to keep on for lunch.
• Trainers: only for paved paths or a dry towpath. Mesh or canvas trainers soak through on wet grass within minutes.

Waxed jacket, puffer or wool coat?

The jacket needs to cope with wind and showers, and ideally with brushing past hedges and a muddy dog. Choose by the weather and the route.

• Waxed jacket: the classic country walk choice. Shrugs off rain and mud and looks smart at the pub, but isn't very warm alone, so layer a knit or gilet underneath.
• Quilted jacket: light and smart, best on a dry, mild day. Pair it with a warm jumper.
• Puffer: the warmest option for a cold, still day or a windy beach. Choose one with a water-resistant outer, and a longer length if the wind is biting.
• Wool coat: lovely for a short park walk on a dry day, but it absorbs rain and shows mud. Save it for the walk into the village.
• Lightweight waterproof: pack it if rain is forecast and wear it over your warmest layer.

What should you wear under your jacket?

Wool and wool blends keep you warm even when slightly damp, and they look smart indoors. A cable knit, a roll-neck or a fair isle jumper all suit the day, and Boxing Day is the one time a festive jumper looks completely at home on a walk.

On your legs, dark jeans are fine for a short walk, but denim gets heavy, cold and slow to dry once wet. For a longer or muddier route, choose cords, wool-blend trousers, or warm walking trousers, with thermal leggings underneath if it's very cold. Tuck trousers into boots or roll them so the hems don't drag in mud.

How do you look smart for the pub afterwards?

Plan the change before you set off. Leave clean shoes or a pair of leather trainers in the car with a bag for muddy boots. Some country pubs ask walkers to take muddy boots off at the door or to keep to a boot room or bar area, so thick, smart socks are worth wearing anyway.

Indoors, take off the jacket and hat, and the knit becomes the outfit. Smooth hat hair into a low bun or plait, add small gold hoops and a swipe of lipstick, and you're dressed for lunch. If you're meeting family who didn't walk, a scarf in a richer colour lifts the look.

What hats, gloves and bags work best?

Keep your hands free for stiles, gates and dog leads. A small crossbody bag, a belt bag or a light backpack is better than a handbag on your arm. Choose a hat that stays on in wind: a ribbed beanie, a bobble hat or a wool cap with a brim.

Daylight is short at the end of December, so set off by late morning, and carry a phone with enough charge for its torch if your route ends near dusk.

• A wool beanie or bobble hat that covers your ears.
• Touchscreen-friendly gloves for maps and photos.
• A small crossbody bag or backpack with a zip.
• A spare pair of socks and a bag for muddy boots in the car.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Boots for the route, a weatherproof jacket, a jumper good enough to be the outfit, and clean shoes waiting in the car for the pub.

Read next