@ home in the hills home page
Tips 'n Tricks for Trampers |
New Zealand |
Planning |
Weather |
Food & cooking |
Clothing |
Equipment |
Packing |
Shelter |
Walking |
Navigation |
Above the bushline |
Rivers |
Plants and Animals |
Thinking safe |
Emergencies |
Health |
Creature comforts |
Treading lightly |
Glossary |
Hiking equipment
The gear you carry when hiking has a large bearing on your comfort and safety. So it makes sense to think carefully about exactly what you should take.
It's also important to consider what NOT to take, because carrying too much weight can make life unpleasant, or even unsafe in extreme cases. Once you have packed all the necessities, if you
have room to spare and strong legs, then you can consider the luxuries!
"I used to have it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I have is not it, and what it is is weird and scary." Adapted from Homer's Dad, The Simpsons.
Carrying the load!
 |
Basic hiking equipment list
In deciding what to take, you need to consider the nature of the adventure that you are undertaking, and the unpredictable influences of the environment.
No two tramps are the same and it is important to consider each journey's requirements afresh. Having said that though there are core items that most tramps require. The following list
will give you a good idea of what is commonly carried by New Zealand trampers. |
Equipment...
- Backpack (with rubbish bag or waterproof pack liner, always make the assumption you will fall in a deep lake 2 minutes after leaving camp!)
- Boots
- Gaiters (to keep snow, mud, stones and other alien invaders out of your boots)
- Sleeping bag
- Personal first aid kit
- PLB (Personal Locator Beacon), mountain radio or sattelite phone. These items are recommended in more remote areas and can be hired (see Links)
- Toiletries (tooth brush, soap, small towel/cloth, toilet paper etc)
- Ground pad or Thermarest (TM)
- Tent, fly/tarp or bivvie bag (if planning to sleep out or to avoid crowded huts)
- Sun glasses (100% UV rated, with retainer cord)
- Sunscreen (UV radiation is very strong in NZ, for any given altitude/latitude you will burn faster here than in Europe, North America or possibly even Australia)
- Torch or headlamp (with spare batteries and bulb)
- Water bottle/bladder (enough to carry 2-3 litres)
- Water filter or water purification tablets (a useful precaution in some more popular trekking areas)
- Map, compass and perhaps GPS (see Navigation to learn more about using these items)
- Notebook and pencil
- Plastic bags (for an endless list of handy applications, sealable zip-lock bags are great, but plain bags tied at the tops can also be very versatile)
- Pocket knife
- Strong cord (for replacing bootlaces, making washing lines and a million other useful tasks)
- A lighter, matches or fire steel (in a waterproof container; also a short stub of candle, some strips of tyre inner tube or some fire lighters are also useful for getting fires started)
- Gas, white spirit or meths cooker
- Pot/billy and pot grip/handle
- Plastic bowl and eating utensils
- Trekking poles (personal preference)
Download a printable gear and clothing list by clicking PDF Gear List