Munich - German hikers typically are demanding consumers, but they usually aren't materialistic, according to a recent survey.

When they buy an article of clothing to wear while hiking, it has to be of high quality and they tend to keep it for a long time, a survey of 1,002 consumers in Germany found.

The survey showed that the majority of hikers in Germany is female - 59.9 per cent. Compared to average consumers, this group possesses more than an average number of garments designed for their outdoor activity from well-known outdoor brands.

However, they don't pay much more for the clothing. Just over half - 50.2 per cent - of hikers said they spend less than 50 euros (79 dollars) a month for sports clothing. In the general population, the percentage of people who spend less than 50 euros a month on sports clothing is 56.8 per cent. About one out of every 10 hikers invests between 
100 euros and 250 euros monthly.

An additional finding of the survey revealed that 57.5 per cent of the men who participated said the most important aspect of the garment is comfort, while 63.7 per cent of the women said its functionality is the most important criteria.

As for where the survey participants liked to buy sports clothing, 65.6 per cent said in department stores and 64.9 per cent said sports specialty stores. An informed sales clerk was important to 92 per cent of hikers, while 84 per cent of consumers of other sports clothing cited sales clerk knowledge as important.

The study was conducted on behalf of an international trade show for sports articles and sports clothing in Munich. (dpa)