Te Araroa Trail Gear List

Below is my Te Araroa trail gear list, which I’ve combined a little with my South West Coast path gear list (slight differences between the two). It would be a useful guide for any summer multiday tramping/hiking. You may also want to check out my planning page for Te Araroa trail.

 

Maps and Rescue

• Personal Locator beacon – Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB and registration for NZ 
• Map phone app 1 – Guthook Te Araroa Hiker – full thru hike download and made available offline (for use in airplane mode)
• Map phone app 2 –Backcountry Navigator Topo maps – with Te Araroa trail gpx files download and made available offline (for use in airplane mode)
• Paper maps – Available from Te Araroa trail website colour printed, double sided A3 (sections posted forwards to myself)
• Compass – Sunto A-30 baseplate compass
• I carried the South West Coast path guidebook for the UK hike.

Pack

• Te Araroa Trail pack – Lowe Alpine Air Zone trek 45-55 pack (including luminous pack rain cover)
• UK South West Coast Path pack – Osprey Eja 48 litre (top flap removed, size small). Chosen in preference to the Lowe Alpine for UK thru hike and all NZ hiking since, as it’s a lighter pack and better fit for me.
• UK South West Coast Path packcover – Osprey Ultralight raincover
• Bum bag / fanny pack – Patagonia lightweight travel mini hip pack
• Stuff sacks – Lowe Alpine stuff sack/dry bags – various sizes

Poles

• Trekking poles – Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
• Pole Tips – Any brand

Tent

• Tent – Hilleberg Enan
• Tent Footprint – Hilleberg Enan Footprint (always attached)
• 2x Spare tent pegs – MSR Groundhog stakes mini

Sleeping

• Sleeping pad/mat – Therm-a-rest Neo Air Xtherm – R value 5.7
• Sleeping bag (quilt variety – no hood) – Katabatic gear Palisade 30F down quilt, 850 powerfill treated goose down for moisture resistance
• Seat to Summit ultrasil compression sack XS 6 litres
• Inflatable pillow – Sea to summit Aeros pillow

Sitting

• Seat to stop bum getting wet – An empty Farrah’s wrap packet. Added bonus of Farrah’s wraps being the best choice for lunches 🙂

Cooking

• Te Araroa Trail – stove – Jetboil flash
• Te Araroa Trail – bowl – Sea to Summit X-bowl
• UK South West coast path – stove – MSR Pocket Rocket. Chosen in preference to Jetboil for UK thru-hike. See article on cooking and trail food on South West Coast Path
• UK South West coast path – pan – Toaks Titanium 900ml pot. Chosen in preference to Jetboil for UK thru-hike
• Gas – 100g canisters, available NZ-wide
• Utensils – Sea to summit titanium spork /  Kiwifruit scoop (for spreading peanut butter)
• Cup – Old plastic camping cup with handle

Water

• Water filter – Sawyer Squeeze
• Water pouches 2x 1 litre (evening) – Sawyer squeeze pouches. I used a 2 litre plastic bottle on UK hike and all other NZ tramping – as they are easier to fill
• Water Bladder (day) – 2 litre Camelbak
• Spare bite valves for Camelbak

Contact lenses, toiletries and washing

• Contact lenses – I wore soft lenses 24/7 and replaced them monthly. I carried tiny vials of eye drops and saline solution. I didn’t take my glasses.
• Wash cloth – Small piece of exfoliating washcloth
• Soap/shampoo – Carried a 50ml bottle (repurposed Dettol hand sanitiser bottle) of body wash.
• Razor, toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, dental floss, 3x pairs of foam earplugs, sanitary items, 50 ml pot of Nivea Creme moisturiser, 2x spare hair ties

Toilet

• Toilet roll, titanium potty trowel, (cheaper version here)
• Pee rag – Piece of Chux kitchen wipe (tied to outside of pack)
• You may want to try a Pee funnel / female urinary device like a Pibella or She wee

Electronics

• Phone – Samsung Galaxy 8
• Phone case – Lifeproof ‘Fre’ waterproof case with (own) lanyard attached
• SD card – Samsung 256gb micro sd card
• Solar charger – Anker 15w solar charger (South Island only)
• Power bank – Anker Powercore +10000mAh
• Wall charger – Dual usb wall charger

First Aid

• Crystaderm antiseptic ointment, latex free plasters, medical tape, 2x 5cm wound pads, small alcohol/antiseptic wipes, compeed patches for blisters (various sizes), hikers wool for blisters, paracetamol, Voltaren, electrolyte sachets, Imodium Instants/Zapid, antihistamine, Ural sachets (in case of bladder infection) steroid cream (for eczema), zovirax (in case of cold sore), sunscreen, insect repellent with high strength Deet, Dettol hand sanitiser, probiotics, ‘Boost‘ effervesent vitamin drink, emergency blanket, 1x pair hand warmers

Repair Kit

• Tenacious repair tape (clear), large needle & thread/dental floss, safety pins, elastic bands, 2x pegs, marker pen, Thermarest repair kit, spare zip lock & carrier bag, 2x cable ties, spare carabiner, decent lengths of duct tape wrapped around both trekking poles

Other Miscellaneous

• Towel / Sarong / Scarf – Length of muslin fabric from ‘Spotlight’ – enough to wrap around me
• Head Torch – Black Diamond ReVolt – 300 lumens, waterproof, rechargable via usb
• Swiss Army knife – Victorinox classic swiss army knife (blade, file, scissors, pick, tweezers)
• Whistle
  
• Pee rag and cleaning – Range of 3 chux wipes – pee rag (red), wiping down tent (yellow) wiping other dirty stuff (green)

Clothing – Worn

• Sunglasses – Oakley Bottle Rocket
• Cap – Asiics lightweight running cap
• Headband / ear warmer – Buff
• Sports bra/croptop – Champion Absolute sports bra
• Singlet – Icebreaker ‘cool-lite’ merino blend t-shirt or singlet
• Shorts – Macpac running shorts with built-in underwear – No longer stocked
• Socks 1x pair – Smartwool women’s phd ultralight mini socks
• Trail runners – Merrell Allout Terra – No longer stocked. See similar option
• Camp shoes – Xero Umara ztrail sport sandal women
• Gaiters – Dirty girl gaiters – skulls day of the dirt

Clothing – Spare

• Shorts – Mapac fast track shorts
• Singlet – Icebreaker ‘cool-lite’ merino blend running vest/singlet
• Mid layer / long sleeve (for bed) – Icebreaker long sleeve merino mid layer (150g)
• Long johns (for bed) – Macpac kids merino long johns
• Underwear 1x pair – Patagonia active hipster knickers
• Socks 1x spare pair – Smartwool women’s phd ultralight mini socks

Clothing – Outer Layers

• Merino gloves & beanie – Katmandu
• Rain jacket – Outdoor Research ‘Aspire’ – Waterproof jacket size XS Blue
• Rain Skirt – Antigravity Gear Rain Kilt – Used twice on North island only
• Rain Pants – Outdoor Research ‘Helium’ rain pants – Used on South island (required for warmth).
• Puffa jacket – Mountain Hardware ‘Ghost whisperer’ down hooded jacket. Qshield down moisture resistant.

Admin

• Doc hut pass – 6 months $92 or discount with YHA below
• YHA membership – get letter from YHA for for ‘low carbon traveller’ discount
• Te Araroa Trail donation – $500
• South West Coast Path membership (includes guidebook)