Gear talk

@erniec I have a Cumulus Quilt 250 which is fine to 0°C, if you pack some thermals and a beanie. Below that I get some cold patches and need my down jacket to help stay ...

I'm using "OFF!" Tropical (the orange one) it is using Picaridin which is much less aggressive than DEET (as in: doesn't dissolve your ropes and clothes!) and still efficient enough. It is also the cheapest ...

I'm a big fan of lightweight gear, and have had this Rab Charge jacket for a couple of years and it's not let me down, stood up to the downpours last weekend on Greenstone track, ...

The weather forecasts were actually very accurate - the unpredictable part is having to book so far in advance (we got some of the last spots booking July 2017) and having no flexibility with any ...

Thanks for the links @wayno. They give a good example of why I feel the need to be my sceptical with bold statements we keep hearing on topics such as this: For example, looking at sunlight & ...

I bought some Outdoor Research Sunsleeves last year and they are fantastic. UPF 50. Keeps the skin cool while prevents burning. Use them tramping and MTBing. They used to do leg versions but discontinued them... https://www.outdoorresearch.c...

We have two (Zempire) Freedom Sequel 2 Person tents for family tramps and they have been excellent. The Sequel model been discontinued but upgraded and renamed as the Zeus. It has a slighty different profile ...

Kiwi Camping have a good range of affordable tents for all occasions. They would be my first stop for tents designed for NZ conditions.

Picked up some Bridgedale liner socks and just come back from doing the Tongariro crossing. They work as advertised ... hats off to you Honora. I didn't leave them in a hut though (day walk) :-D

Thanks for the original link, I didn't realize those guys delivered to NZ, or least didn't when I looked to order something from them a couple of years ago. That Tarps a decent size, I bought ...

Thank you so much all your reply... I appreciated your suggestion.

FrankB : ... because with out them you may as well just set your own arse on fire. ..... just had to laugh :))

the rab kinetic is actually waterproof

Sounds exciting!

He sounds like a delightful character and a big loss to all who knew him. Not sure what the natural causes were but extreme training can sometimes lead to hypertrophy of cardiac muscle and scarring. My ...

Thanks everyone, really good advice. I haven't yet tried one on but if it fits I will get one. The price and capacity is ideal for me. $150 ish now. I shouldn't be overloading it ...

After a very kind forum contributer gave me the reflective stuff, I've been applying it to markers on trips where I frequently walk in in the dark.... I've been very grateful on a few occasions walking ...

water filters are made in places like america where they are paranoid about filtering water when its not always necessary. friend did the 350km john muir trail and never used a water filter, it runs high ...

You can - and I've used them previously. I used to have wood heating so had a ready supply of fire-starters (now, new house, no wood heating, gas bbq). However, I don't like the smell. ...

Thanks for the info. Can't help you much with the boots, but I prefer something with mesh panelling. You can see the water squelch out with each step. Leather buckets are not so ...

One issue with NZ conditions is that for single skin tents (waterproof breathable fabrics) our climate makes this breathability really poor. I guess it's the relative humidity combined with cold temperatures. When the Macpac single ...

Between me and Frank we carry 3 lighters on our trips.

Boonies is slang for boondocks. Interestingly this is a Tegalog word from the region around Manila. It means mountain and is bundock in their language. I often tell Filipinos (and Filipinas) that we have a ...

Surely the restaurant you are taking with you will generate sufficient heat?

In May 2011 I attempted an unofficial record on the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, a 1000km hiking track running from Perth to Albany. I trained 6 months solid for it, only working 3 or 4 ...