Gear List

You know that feeling you get when you're packing your bag for something, that irrational niggle that you've forgotten something you'll need later? Well this list won't help with that, but it does give a swell overview of the things one may want or need on a sojourn into the woods.

The gear list here is general, to give you an idea of what you'll need, and broken down into categories for extra usefullnessness!

Without further ado, here's our gear guide:

ESSENTIALS:

As the title suggests, going tramping without this stuff would be pretty shit

• A pack: some would say the most essential item. Depending on your preferences and your gear, anywhere between 35-70 litres could be

  

  My pack, the Osprey Aether 70

  appropriate.
• Sleeping bag: down-filled are generally better than synthetic (they're lighter, pack smaller, are often  warmer, but cost more).
• Pack liner - a large, thick polythene type bag that goes inside your pack. Keeps things nice and dry, and doubles as a survival blanket.
• Footware: laced, comfortable,with good ankle support.
• Walking clothes: Layers! Including but not limited to: 1-2 sets of thermal undergarments (shirt and long johns), t-shirt, shorts/hiking trousers, some pairs of good quality socks, warm outer layer (e.g. technifleece - doubles as hut clothes)
• Waterproof outer layer: high quality waterproof jacket, gaiters (and waterproof trousers if that's what you're into).
• Beanie, gloves (it's a good idea to always take these, regardless of the season).
• Head torch, batteries
• Gas cooker & gas (go for something simple and reliable, lightweight is good but costs a bit more).

  

  
  

• billy/cooking set
• mug, plate/bowl (may be part of cooking set)
• cutlery/utensils.
• Knife (like a swiss army knife or a hunting knife. For cutting stuff, carving wood, and dismemberment)
• Water (remember 1 litre of water =1kg)
• Food: dehydrated or freeze-dried is good. Outdoors stores sell meals designed for tramping. Pasta Snack type things work too. Sandwiches are good, chocolate and muesli bars for snacks.
  Be mindful of weight, tinned stuff is less than ideal.
  Depending on how much weight you like to carry,  for shorter trips (e.g. overnight) it's an option to take heavier "normal" food (suggestion: bacon).

  

  Back country cuisine
  - freeze dried meals made for tramping

• Map and compass (ALWAYS use Topo50 maps, they're the only ones with enough detail and are the current Topo map standard in NZ, and are used by rescue services)
• First aid kit
• Misc essentials: matches/lighter, candles, loo paper, hand sanitiser, spare batteries, pot scrubber
• Personal Locator Beacon (PLB): super pricey, but invaluable should the worst happen - hence they're in the "essentials" section. Hire/rental options exist.

Not quite essential, but very nice to have: 

You'll get on fine without it, but if you don't mind carrying it can make life better for you.

• Sleeping bag liner - available in cotton, silk or polyprop, these line your sleeping bag, making it warmer (polyprop ones usually add 1 "season" to the bags rating), and keeps it cleaner (it's much easier to wash a liner than a sleeping bag).
• Hut clothes: pants and top, 'hut shoes' optional. 
• Camera
• GPS
• Smartphone: you probably won't have cell signal, but by now you should be aware that smartphones do more than make calls. Uses include: GPS substitute, camera, e-books.

Situation dependent:

• Tent: for when you're not going to a hut (or, if you're going to a small, popular hut in peak season and expect there to not be room)
• Sleeping mat: for popular huts in peek times when mattresses are in high demand, or if you're tenting.
• Fly/bivvy bag: depends on where you're going. If you're new to tramping, the trips you're doing probably won't require these, but for longer, more remote trips they become more important. Also a bit weather/location dependent.

Very optional stuff:

• Gas lantern: small, portable gas lanterns are a nifty idea if (a) you have room (b) you don't mind the weight.
• Battery lantern: given where battery and LED tech is at, are valid alternatives to gas lanterns. Again, this is the kind of luxury item you can take if you really want to.
• Alcohol. PRO-TIP: for the best alcohol percentage-to-weight ratio, choose spirits over beer and wine!