My gear list

A gear list for walking summer Te Araroa sections

This gear list is a work in progress as I am continually reducing the weight of equipment I carry. I am certainly not an ultra lighter, those folks can get by with less than 5 kgs of gear.  I have my base weight (no food or water) down in the 8-9 kg level. This provides me with the essentials for survival at a bearable weight.

My old Vaude pack at Anne Saddle, St James Walkway in 2016

Anyway, I'm currently carrying a total weight of approximately 8.5 kgs. Added to this would be 500-700gms of food per day (dehydrated meals, snacks, tea/coffee, instant soup etc) and water.

The plastic water bottles I use are 1 litre volume and weigh 45gms empty. I carry two, one full and one empty. I would carry more water if going onto dry tops or to a 'dry' hut so 1-2 kgs of weight.


Using the Volt 75 on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, 2018


The Volt on the Lakehead Track, Travers Valley in 2018


I have shaved about 1.5 kgs of weight by buying lighter rain gear, cooking gear, a quilt and a lighter pack. 


My Te Araroa Trail shelter


I  purchased a new Ultra Light tramping tent, it is a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 1. This is a 3+ season free standing tent, it is for 1 person but is almost the same size as my Luxe two person tent.

This will now act as my main tramping and long trail tent it weighs 990grams!!!

My Big Agnes, Copper Spur UL 1 tent

I also carry a SOL emergency bivy bag with me on occasion, this is a breathable Mylar bag with heat retention properties.

A SOL emergency bivy bag

It weighs around 260gms but gives me an added level of protection especially when I am out tramping. You would freeze but at least you wouldn't die.....

I would dearly love a UL shelter made from Cuben Fibre but unfortunately my tramping finances don't run to that level. They are eye watering expensive to import into New Zealand.



Talking about my packs...


I have two packs I use when walking sections of the Te Araroa Trail, both are from Osprey. Because I am a section waking I can tailor my gear to the section of the trail I am walking.

My two go to packs are:

  • The Osprey Atmos 50 AG, 53+ltr -  this is my new overnight pack and can carry enough gear for 1-4 days if required. My tent gets lashed to the outside of this pack. Total weight is in the region of 1.6 kg empty


The Osprey Atmos 50 AG in Anti Crow Hut


The gear I carry on a non camping trip....

The Armos 50 AG on the Milford Track, Fiordland in 2018


  • Osprey Volt 75ltr - This is now my go to multi-day and long trail pack. This comes in at 1.7-1.8 kg empty which is heavy for a long trail pack. It gets used on longer sections where Im carrying a ton of food!


Osprey Volt 75 on the Travers -Sabine circuit track

The gear I carry for a longer multi day (3-7 day) trip, with a tent

My multi-day tramping gear list

This is a gear list for Summer multi-day trips, I do go out in the off season but only for day and overnight jaunts.


My 2019- multi-day tenting gear laid out for packing

Obviously if I was going out in the shoulder seasons (Autumn and Spring) I would carry additional warm clothing; perhaps my Macpac down jacket and extra merino hats/gloves/socks as warm spares. 

A summer tramping gear list:





















If I am carrying my Big Agnes tent, Osprey Volt 75 liter bag and quilt my total carry weight is 8.495 kgs. If I use my Exped down sleeping bag the weight is around 8.75kg. If using the Atmos pack the weights are 8.195 and 8.45 kgs.

Note this list is if I am wearing boots but I also have a pair of Salomon XA Pro 3D shoes I wear on the Te Araroa Trail. They weigh 380 grams the pair but need replacing with something similar as they are wearing.  

No comments:

Post a Comment