Zoubawanderer1000m to 2000mPacking list: How to pack for tramping in NZ

Packing list: How to pack for tramping in NZ

Reading time: 6 minutes

Whilst I still consider myself a relative novice in tramping / multi-day treks, I found my packing list working pretty alright for me in my past trips (October – February) and hope someone might find it a useful list to begin with!

My fully loaded packs weighed about 9-12kg depending on whether I brought my tent and the water and food I got. My gears are moderate weight — not ultralight but not unbearably heavy either. It is a delicate balance, and impossible trinity, between performance, price, and weight after all.

I use a basic 40-litre pack from Decathlon given to me by Dad. So here goes what’s in my pack:

Sleep

  1. Sleeping bag
    • I use a down sleeping bag, weighing approx 1.3kg including the compression sack which I find to be a little too heavy for my liking. Hoping to upgrade eventually but given the price tag of good sleeping bags, I’d stick with the one I currently own for a while more.
  2. Sleeping mattress
    • not necessary if you’re staying in Serviced/Standard huts since they would have mattresses available
    • Otherwise, there are generally two types of mat people use. One is an ultralight inflatable air mat and the other is a foam mat which can be a roll mat or a closed cell “egg tray” type like the classic Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite. I started with an unbranded closed-cell foam mat which I used in Thailand, but decided it was too bulky to bring around so invested in an ultralight inflatable air mat for my subsequent trips. My mat is S size, mummy-shaped, and weighs approx 440 grams.
  3. Tent
    • Camping provides benefits like trip flexibility, lower cost, etc. I use a CloudUp 2 20D which weighs approx 1.6kg without the ground sheet. Again, not the lightest but so far it does the job. I got mine from Shopee Taiwan but they have sellers on most e-commerce sites including Amazon. I’ve seen a couple of campers with the same tent as mine, or the 1-person version, here in NZ. One couple who bought it off Amazon said their tent leaked during the night at Lake McKenzie Campsite. Mine was fairing fine for the same night. The quality seemed to be hit-or-miss and so far I’m happy with mine.

Food

All my food goes into one foldable dry bag and I’m using an Exped M size 8L bag (35x19x14cm) which weighs 45 grams.

Some people get dehydrated/freeze-dried ready-packed meals from the supermarket which is super convenient. Brands include Back Country Cuisine, Real Meals, The Outdoor Gourmet Company, etc. However, these cost around $10-$20 per packet and can quickly add up in cost. From my chats with other trampers on the Milford Track, these are not the tastiest food to have in the backcountry either.

I have not tried any of these and opted to self-assemble my meals instead. I try not to bring fresh food which has high water content (e.g. tomato) or has a lot of waste (e.g. avocado, banana) to minimise the weight I carry. Some trampers bring bok choy wrapped in paper bags which is great but I just haven’t been bothered enough to try it. Some of my meals don’t look the most appetising but well neither do the Back Country ones (:

Even though I end up having the same menu every day, I am fine with it. Also, take my menu with a pinch of salt as it is still very much a work-in-progress. I found it was inadequate in supplying the energy I needed during my last 7-day tramp.

I pack all the items in separate zip-loc bags.

Sample menu:

  1. Coffee powder
  2. Milk powder
  3. Quick cook/instant oats
  4. Linseed meal/pumpkin seeds/sunflower seeds/peanuts
  5. Dried apple rings/cranberries
  6. Boiled eggs
  7. Staple
    • I have been doing either quick-cook noodles (e.g. soba, rice noodles, etc.) or cous cous. I don’t bring pasta as it takes too long to cook and thus uses too much fuel. Cous cous and rice noodles are amazing since the cooking instructions ask for just boiling water and letting it stand for 2-5 minutes — fuel-saving!
  8. Tea bags
  9. Dried mushrooms & wakame
  10. Dehydrated plant protein
  11. Soup powder/base
    • like cream of mushroom soup, miso soup paste etc.
  12. Snacks
    • I have quick-to-go items like muesli bars/energy bars and chocolates during my tramp and typically don’t take a lunch

Cookware

  1. Stove / Gas Burner
  2. Fuel
    • I typically bring the 230g sized canisters and these easily last 8 days for my usage.
  3. Pot
    • I don’t bring bowls/plates etc. and eat out of my pot. Got a 1.3 litre titanium pot which is a decent size & weight.
  4. Cup
    • Also titanium for its lightweight property
  5. Utensils
    • I use a stainless steel and foldable fork and spoon from Daiso Japan. I like that its very compact. Whilst writing this article, I just realised Daison now sells titanium ones!! I need to get them in my shopping bag!

Clothes

I keep all my clothes in one fold dry bag which not only act as additional safeguard to keep my clean clothes dry but also very handy in compressing my clothes for space saving. I’m using an Exped M size 8L bag (35x19x14cm) which weighs 45 grams. Except for my underwear, which I may bring extras, I only bring one set for all the other “clean clothes”.

  1. Ultralight Down Jacket
    • Sometimes I don’t use it but I’d bring it anyway just in case I need it. I use an old Uniqlo one that I’ve owned for 8 years now.
  2. Fleece layer
    • I bring one fleece pullover as it gets chilly in the evening
  3. Base layer (top & bottom)
    • The “hut wear” / “clean clothes” to change into in the evenings. On colder days I bring my Smart Wool 250 Merino top but otherwise any other long sleeve top should work.
  4. Socks
    • I like to bring Merino crew socks which I can also tramp in. I only do this when I’m walking out to the carpark and no longer feel like putting my feet in wet socks.
  5. Beanie
  6. Neck gaiter
    • This is my must-have item as it does wonders to keep you warm when it gets chilly. I use Merino ones (where’s the surprise) and was sad to lose the Decathlon ones I bought from Singapore. I got a replacement from Macpac.
  7. Gloves
    • optional in summer and can be done without. I bring liner gloves which don’t take up much space
  8. Undergarments

Sun Protection

NZ’s sun can be quite brutal. Protect yourself by covering up and using sun protection! I tramp in a long-sleeved 220 Merino from Macpac as I’m usually too lazy for sunblock.

  1. Cap
  2. Sunscreen
  3. Sunglasses

Rain protection

  1. Plastic lining
  2. Rain pants
  3. Weatherproof jacket
  4. Rain Cover

Other important stuff

Health & Safety

  1. Personal Locating Beacon (PLB)
    • Expect no cellular connection in the backcountry. Satellite communication is the only way to communicate and get help when needed. There are generally two options for this– (1) PLB whose one job is to send distress signals when activated (2) a Communication device like the Garmin InReach which has more functions like allowing the ability to send safety messages etc. Regardless of which option, they can be quite pricey at first sight but hey, when compared to the cost of your life that amount is peanuts. Whilst I value being able to send safety messages to my family/ communicate with rescue personnel, I didn’t want to be tied down to subscription plans by a particular private organisation and was convinced that a PLB would activate a search response more effectively. I ended up getting the Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB 1 at NZD$497 and I feel like a responsible human being when I carry my PLB into the backcountry.
  2. First aid/emergency medicine
    • Bandages, plaster, panadol, etc.
  3. Emergency blanket
    • Costs and weighs nothing but could be life saving. No reason not to bring.
  4. Sandfly repellent
    • Oh yes, the brutal sandflies of NZ’s summer. Absolute must-have. Period.
  5. Water bottle(s)
    • I bring one 800-ml bottle from Decathlon and another 400-ml insulated flask from Tiger. I’ve been tramping in Fiordland where clean water is readily available (I drink from the river) but for future trips, I might add another 800 ml bottle to the list

Hygiene

  1. Trash bag(s)
    • I use dog poo bags I got from Temu. Super small and light, does the job just fine
  2. Toilet paper
    • Bring more instead of less!! I undercalculated the amount of tissue paper on my last 7-day trip and it was a painful ration
  3. Toiletries & hand sanitiser
    • Toothbrush, toothpaste and soap/dishwashing liquid

Others

  1. Power bank / Portable charger
    • I’m using a 10,000mAh charger got off an e-commerce site and it weighs 200grams
  2. Slippers
    • For walking around in the huts and going to the toilet. You won’t want to wear those boots after a long day of tramping.
  3. Headtorch
    • Important for using the toilet at night, etc.

Miscellaneous / Optionals

  1. E-book reader
    • I bring my Kobo with me to read in the hut
  2. Camping sheet
    • I use this to lay on top of the mattresses in the huts to act as a separation layer between my sleeping bag and the mattress. This is a personal preference since some mattresses don’t look the most well-maintained. My only regret is getting the M size which is only 100cm long instead of the L size which would have covered the entire length of the mattress.
  3. Sleeping bag liner
    • I use this as a protection layer for my (expensive) down sleeping bag and for extra warmth at night.
  4. Ankle guard
    • This is my must-have since my ankles are very weak from old injuries. Most people probably don’t use it.

Related Posts