Watch: my gear, explained
This is the gear I carried on the Te Araroa. I recorded a video going through every item. Moreover, all the gear is linked below. I hike light, not ultralight. I did not buy all of this at once, but have built this set up over the past years. Lastly, gear that works for me might not work for you, so go to your local store and test your gear on smaller trips.
None of the gear is sponsored and the links are not affiliated. This is all a volunteering project :).
Sleep system
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tent | ZPacks Duplex | 504g | ZPacks |
| Sleeping bag | Zenbivy Ultralight, -12°C | 737g | Zenbivy |
| Quilt sheet | Zenbivy Light sheet | 53g | Zenbivy |
| Sleeping pad | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT | 440g | REI |
| Pillow | Sea to Summit Aeros Premium (large) | 104g | Sea to Summit |
Pack & carry
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpack | Durston Kakwa 55 (Ultra 200X, the tougher fabric) | 895g | Durston |
| Pack liner | Mountain Safety Council Pack Liner | 189g | Macpac |
| Dry bags | Sea to Summit Lightweight dry bags | 45-81g | Sea to Summit |
| Food bag | ZPacks food bag | 38g | ZPacks |
Footwear & clothing
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoes | La Sportiva Bushido III | 500g | La Sportiva |
| Camp shoes | Teva sandals “original” | 156g | Teva |
| Rain jacket | Mountain Equipment waterproof Raintower jacket | 308g | Mountain Equipment |
| Rain/wind pants | Salomon Bonatti trail-running pants (not available anymore – linked similar one) | 121g | Salomon |
| Down jacket | Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer | 220g | Mountain Hardwear |
| Mid layer | Outdoor Research Vigor grid | 292g | Outdoor Research |
| Hiking shirt | Mons Royale merino long sleeve | 140 | Mons Royale |
| Shorts | Patagonia shorts multi trails | 113g | Patagonia |
| Leggings | Lululemon Speed Up tight | — | Lululemon |
| Sleep shirt | REI long sleeve | — | REI |
| Socks | Smartwool / Feetures / Darn Tough (rotation) | — | Darn Tough |
| Cap | Ciele Athletics FSTCap SC Field Iconic SL | 48g | Ciele |
| Gloves | The North Face Etip Recycled | — | The North Face |
| Towel | Nomadix Tiny Towel | 12g | Nomadix |
| Buff | Buff neck gaiter | 35g | Buff |
Cooking & water
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stove | MSR PocketRocket 2 | 73g | MSR |
| Pot | Bo-Camp Explorer 0.8L pan | 300g | Bo-Camp |
| Spork | TiTo titanium long-handled spork | 13g | Amazon |
| Knife | Swiss pocket knife | 32g | Amazon |
| Filter | Sawyer Squeeze | 232g | Sawyer |
| Coupling | Sawyer Squeeze coupling ring | 10g | Sawyer |
| Tie | Gear tie to hang bladder | ~5g | Nite Ize |
| Water bladder | CNOC Vecto 2L | 79g | CNOC |
| Pot cleaner | REI Multi Towel Mini | 12g | REI |
| Pot scraper | GSI outdoors pot scraper | <12g | REI |
| Lighter | BIC Mini x2 | ~11g ea | — |
Toiletries
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth brush | Plain tooth brush | — | |
| Tooth paste | Small tooth paste | — | |
| Hair brush | Dille & Kamille Bamboo Comb | — | Dille & Kamille |
| Contacts | Contact lens solution & cleaning | — | |
| Ear plugs | Silicone ear plugs | — | Macks |
| Sun block | Sun block factor 50 | — |
Electronics & safety
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank | Anker Powercore power bank 20,000mAh | 345g | Amazon |
| Headlamp | Nitecore NU27 (600lm, USB-C) | 56g | Nitecore |
| Watch | Garmin Forerunner 955 | 52g | Garmin |
| PLB | Rented in NZ (see tip below) | — | — |
| Ereader | Kobo Clara BW | 174g | Kobo |
| Charging | Charger and cables | — | — |
Trekking & misc
| Item | What I used | Weight | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trekking poles | Leki Khumbu Lite (also pitch my tent) | 500g | Leki |
| Trowel | Dirtsaw Deuce #2 | 17g | REI |
| Sit pad | Foam sit pad | — | Ace Camp |
| Pee cloth | Kula cloth | 14g | Kula |
| Massage ball | Rawlogy classic cork massage ball | 40g | Rawlogy |
| First aid kit | First aid kit | — | — |
| Repair | Gear Aid Tenacious tape | — | Gear Aid |
| Misc | Ziploc bags for organising | — | — |
Insider tip — you can rent a PLB in New Zealand. A personal locator beacon is essential safety gear on Te Araroa (cell coverage is patchy and the terrain is serious), but you don’t have to buy one or fly with it. I rented mine from Macpac in NZ — cheaper than buying, and accurate specifically for NZ.
Gear guide: what to consider by item
Wondering why I brought (and didn’t bring) certain items? Below some considerations to think about.
Backpack
You’ll want enough capacity for up to ~7 days of food (most lightweight hikers land on 45–55L). Hikers use both the ultralight packs (e.g., Hyperlite, Gossamer Gear, Durston, ULA) and the ‘regular’ packs (Osprey, Gregory, Deuter). I hiked many years with a Gregory Deva 60, but once that started to break down and I knew I had big hikes lined up, I went with the Durston Kakwa 55. This is much lighter, and I find it more comfortable. However, don’t feel the pressure to go ultralight if you have pack that still works.
Unless you go ultra-ultra-light, I would not go without hip belt. Test a pack (with weight!) in store/at home before committing.
Shelter
The big decision is freestanding vs. trekking-pole tents. Freestanding can be set up anywhere, even without stakes, trekking-pole tents are lighter. Both types are very common on the TA, so if you have a good tent, just take it. I took my Zpacks Duplex (trekking pole tent) because that is the one I own. Could set it up anywhere in NZ, so that wasn’t a worry. It held up perfectly, even in wind gusts of 90 kms/h.
Condensation is common in NZ due to the damp air and single wall tents are known to have more issues with condensation. I definitely had wet tents on many mornings. However, because of how damp NZ is, all those mornings the double-wall tents around me had the same amount of condensation. Don’t let that be a reason not to bring your trekking pole tent.
Sleeping bag
Depending on when you hike (season wise), nights get genuinely cold in the South Island alpine, so don’t under-rate this. Look at the comfort rating rather than the “limit” figure. I took a -12 Celsius, but -5 should be enough. I took the Zenbivy Ultralight quilt, which is great for side sleepers. Both quilts and mummy bags were popular on the trail, so go with your own preference.
Sleeping pad
Two things matter: R-value (insulation from the cold ground, important for those alpine nights) and comfort. A higher R-value pad like the NeoAir XTherm (R-7.3, what I carried) is worth it if you sleep cold or hit shoulder-season conditions. However, in general I think you need an R-rating of 4. Know that how warm you are at night depends on both your bag and pad, the season, and on your on body. Test before you go.
Both inflatable pads and foam pads are common on trail. Inflatable pads are more comfortable, but have a risk of punctures. Make sure you bring a repair kit. Foam pads are less comfortable and have to be carried on the outside of your pack.
Footwear
Probably the most personal choice on this list. Most thru-hikers prefer trail runners over leather boots. They are lighter, more comfortable (especially with road walking on the North Island), and dry faster after the endless river crossings and wet bush. My estimate is that 90% of hikers uses trail runners.
Downside is that they wear out faster than leather boots, so you’ll need to replace them. On average, hikers tend to use 2 pairs per island. Check whether your shoe type is sold in NZ before you leave.
Zero-drop shoes (e.g. Altra Lonepeak) are popular, but come with a warning. The zero drop, a very flat shoe where there is no height difference between your heel and toe, is something your body needs to get used to. For some people, this takes months. Not adjusting means achilles heel or foot issues during your hike. A shoe is very personal, so go to your local store, test and only buy what feels good.
Popular shoe choices are Hoka Speedgoat, Altra Lonepeak, Brooks, Topo, Merrel. However, personally I did not like any of these and landed on La Sportiva Bushido III. Only to say: it’s a personal choice so try and test.
As a rule of thumb, if you have blisters, lose toe nails or have foot pain, you have not found the right shoe yet!
Rain jacket
If you are as “lucky” as me, you will use a rain jacket a lot. Look for genuinely waterproof (not just “resistant”), reasonably breathable, and durable; pit zips help losing heat on climbs. I used the Mountain Equipment Raintower jacket as I found it on sale, but there are many good options on the market.
Insulation (puffy)
Worn at camp and on cold breaks. Judge it on warmth-to-weight and packability. Don’t go too heavy, you won’t be on a glacier. I brought the Mountain Hardwear Ghost whisperer, which is very light but still has 800 fill power. Found it at Feral in Denver (second hand outdoor store), so check your local second hand store!
Layers
Apart from the shirt you hike in, bring a few layers for camp or to stay dry/warm at breaks. I had a merino singlet from Kathmandu for warm nights, a longsleeve, a microgrid fleece and a down jacket. You don’t need more, you can consider leaving the microgrid at home as it is a luxury when layering up.
Water treatment
NZ water is often clean but not always safe. Farmland runoff and giardia are real risks, so treat it. I used the Sawyer squeeze filter for a few reasons. One, it has never failed me. Two, I don’t like to work hard when I drink, so I avoid the filters where you filter as you drink. I combined it with a Cnoc Vecto 2L and a coupling ring, to create a gravity system (see video above).
Cooking system
Simple canister stoves are most common, and gas is available in trail towns. Some hikers go stoveless (cold soaking) to save weight. A small pot plus a long spoon covers most needs. I ran an MSR PocketRocket 2 with a single Bo-Camp pan and a titanium spork. No cup, no plate, that is all unnecessary weight.
Power bank
Your phone is your primary navigation, so keeping it charged between towns matters. Around 10,000mAh suits many hikers; I carried a larger 20,000mAh Anker as I also had to charge my headlamp, watch and ereader. This also allowed me to do longer stretches.
Personal locator beacon (PLB)
Widely considered essential on Te Araroa. The choice is a PLB (one-way SOS, no subscription) vs. a satellite messenger like a Garmin inReach (two-way messaging, subscription). The TA Fund recommends a PLB as the location is more accurate in NZ than the Garmin. However, there are many hikers who bring a Garmin as well.
Trekking poles
They save your knees on the long road walks and steep, muddy descents, and steady you in river crossings. I would go for aluminium instead of carbon, as that is more durable. Make sure you test the grip in store, as it needs to feel comfortable to you. I prefer telescope over the flexible ones for hiking, as they are more sturdy. I have the Leki Khumbu Lite and they have never failed me in over 5 years of trekking.
The small essentials
Don’t overlook these: a solid pack liner and dry bags (waterproofing is non-negotiable in NZ), Leukotape for blisters (near-universal among thru-hikers), a headlamp, a first-aid and repair kit, sunscreen, sandfly, and a trowel for backcountry toileting. Other essentials in my opinion are a cork massage ball (for those tense muscles), a pot scraper (to clean) and an ereader (for introvert time).
Gear is personal, and the “best” setup is the one that gets you to Bluff/Cape Reinga comfortably and safely. Use this as a starting point, not a shopping list to copy wholesale. When you’re ready to plan the walk itself, head to the planner — and if you’ve got gear questions, the Te Araroa NZ Trail Facebook group is full of people who’ve been there.