A good pair of boots has years in it; the sole usually wears out first. Our workshop in Hamburg resoles Ledge boots for a fixed price, usually within two weeks. Send them in, we replace the sole and clean the leather.
It costs less than new boots, keeps the fit you broke in, and keeps a pair out of the bin.
Never store a sleeping bag compressed. Keep it loose in the big cotton sack it came with, in a dry place. Wash it two or three times a year at 30 degrees with a mild detergent, dry it slowly with a few tennis balls, and it will outlast most tents.
A liner keeps the bag cleaner and adds a few degrees of warmth. We wash ours after every long trip.
Our standard list for two nights in the hills, from the people who test the gear: tent, sleeping bag and mat, stove with a small canister, pot and spoon, a headlamp with spare batteries or a full charge, a warm layer, a rain jacket, and one more pair of socks than you think you need.
Food: 600 g of dry food per person per day is plenty. Water: carry one litre and treat the rest. Leave the cotton at home, it never dries.
A three-season tent covers spring to autumn: rain, wind and the odd cold night, but not heavy snow. Start with the number of sleepers and add one if you want your pack inside. Two doors and two vestibules sound like a luxury until you need to get out at night without climbing over your partner.
Look at weight and packed size next. A two-person tent around 2.4 kg is a good compromise; going lighter usually costs durability. Check the waterproof rating of the fly (1500 mm is enough for the floor, 3000 mm for the fly) and make sure the seams are taped.
Finally, pitch it at home before the trip. Ten minutes in the garden saves an hour in the dark.
Pebble trail socks
€16.50
Cinder cook set
€44.00
Dune sleeping mat
€64.00