What's on your gear list?

Depends on the trip but here's a generic list (optionals in brackets) -boots, woollen socks, shorts, t shirt, watch, sunhat, gaiters -pack (75L), liner (plastic survival bag), sleeping bag & liner -polarfleece jacket, polarfleece jersey, polar fleece beanie, polyprop bottom, waterproof jacket & overtrou, pack cover, toilet paper (gloves, daypack) -spare socks, trousers, polyprop top (polyprop bottoms & top, towel, jandals, spare t shirt) -headtorch, toothbrush/paste, (hut tickets, cards, deodorant sorry yes that is optional only) -2L platypus water bladder, compass, map, camera, mug & bowl, fork/spoon, sunblock, insect repellent, chapstick, strapping tape, spare plastic bags, (foam mat) Group gear -aluminium pot, pot handle, gas cooker, lighter, gas, first aid kit, pocket knife, (Macpac Olympus tent, candles)

Here's my basic summer list. Leather boots, merino socks, synthetic shorts and shirt, thermal top and long johns, merino mid-layer top, light fleece, raincoat, merino hat Pack, liner, sleeping bag. Gas cooker (one of the tiny ones that screw onto a canister), one pot with detachable handle, metal bowl (which also serves as a lid), knife/fork/spoon, plastic mug, pocket knife (which is just a knife with two blades). No lighter as the cooker is self-igniting. Head lamp, toilet paper, toothbrush and paste (I keep an almost empty tube), 1L water bottle, digital SLR and telephoto lens (these items are very heavy), map, small book, iPod, insect repellent, sunblock, first aid kit, notebook, pen. For food I often take pasta or couscous (fresh pasta and a sachet of pasta sauce on easy overnighters). I find parmesan works well, and bagels with hummus and sprouts work for lunch if you buy the pea-like, less green sprouts. Also, garlic pita is glorious fried if you take a small bottle (i.e. a few mL) of oil. For breakfast I take cereal and milk powder, and I also carry sachet chocolate drinks. I despise mixed snack food such as trail mix, but I generally carry a small block of chocolate, a small bag of nuts, and some muesli bars. I would take a tent (2-3 person although I really should get a smaller one), inflatable mattress and compass as required. I don't usually take a sleeping bag liner, gaiters, spare socks or shirts, long pants or sandals/clogs. I am generally also carrying my phone, keys and wallet as I don't want to leave these items in the car -- particularly the keys.

hey all, what sort of weight do you guys on average lug around? say for a weekend tramp of this time of year march/april. Just curious to see what different people carry.

with water and food for two nights 10 to 12kg summer and about 15kg dead of winter

I use a MacPac Pursuit for everything. I have completed several (20+) 9 day alpine ski-touring/ climbing and tramping trips over the past twelve years. On 2-3 occassions I've used my Macpac Ascent. The bigger the pack, the more crap one tends to fill it with rubbish you don't need. There is no point carrying your houshold items with you (wallet, tube of tooth paste etc for a weekend tramp) there are no ATM machines in the bush, whats a day out of not brushing/ flossing your teeth - its not the end of the world. The key is to "streamline" your gear that suits you, your particular needs and activities you pursue, without compromising your safety or the safety of others. You can have all the gear in the world but, its no use to you if you don't know how to use it when it counts, and its limitations. If your carrying 15+kg in wieght for a weekend tramp, its 15+kg too much.

Who carries a tent all the time? say you know you are going to be staying in a hut for the one night (on a weekend tramp) do you still carry one in case something goes wrong? Im new to the game so just curious what the 'regulars' take. Or woud a bivy bag be suitable incase of emergencies?

Kia ora TeMPus, All the above are great to have in an emergency, however, you don't need to carry a tent with you. A tent would be great in an emergency if you had the time to set up (but, would require reasonably "flattish" ground" to make a good job of it. Unfortunitly, emergencies happen where they "happen", and not always on sunny and favourable terrain/ ground. So a tent-fly is invaluable in most cases.

I think it is good hut etiquette to always bring a tent or other shelter so as to not to inconveniance other hut users. It is not good to turn up and find the hut already full and expect others to make room for you. This is especially so for groups, but in a group you can share tents between people to minimise weight. It can also be usefull to be outside if there is a group of noisy of anoying people inside. Also on the topic of wallets in the bush, it is good to bring it but it is a good idea to remove any coins to save weight. As to my pack list: Here is a list of the gear i take on a day tramp and another for overnight tramps Day tramp: food-usually just lunch. A can of tuna on four pieces of bread for me water-usually two 750ml pump bottles is enough for me or a 2 litre water bladder snacks- six + snack or muesli bars and possibly chocolate and lollies map- if it is available or is given to me compass-on me at all times in the bush jersey- polar fleece raincoat-nylon leather boots socks-three thick pairs of woollen socks (i know its a bit extreme) gaiters-good breathable pair hat- wide brimmed and waterproof shorts- short nylon pair from the warehouse shirt-synthetic sports shirt from the warehouse polypro top-shirtsleeve from the warehouse polypro long johns-from the warehouse survival kit of: bivi bag first aid kit medication matches and rubber paper and pencil pack liner-rubbish bag wallet and phone-in a plastic bag day pack knife-in my pocket at all times gloves-fleece gloves balaclava-woolen notebook and pencil-in plastic bag sunscreen-small roll on bottle insect repellent-small roll on bottle, doubles as fire starter spare batteries-AAA for torch torch-LED toilet paper-in plastic bag chap stick whistle-within easy reach at all times Over night tramp: The same as a day tramp with these extras tent-1.5 man more clothing sleeping bag synthetic gas cooker bic lighter more food more snacks over night pack spoon pot

Wow. Some good gear lists here. For a 2-3 day tramp in most weather conditions, intending to stay in huts I take: *Pack 55 / 65L (I have both sizes. which one I take depends on who I am with and what the weather is doing) with pack liner. *Sleeping bag with silk liner already inside (saves space). in winter, I take a thermal liner (like sleeping in a flanellette sheet, but MUCH lighter weight. VERY cosy!). Sleeping bag gets packed inside another large plastic bag (being down I dont want it wet) *Map and compass (even when on track) *One wet / one dry set thermals (i prefer merino personally) *down jacket for in the hut *spare lightweight, warm top for moving in if needed *nylon running shorts *one or two (depending on trip length) t-shirt (wear outside in good weather, wear to sleep regardless) *Hat, gloves, sunglasses. *one or two spare pairs of socks *good raincoat (in all conditions), overtrou (if weather looks potentially iffy) *Bowl, mug, KFS. teatowel, dishwash liquid in medicine bottle (Steelo on longer trips / in bigger groups) *Wallet and cellphone (no way am I leaving them in a car at the road end, and in any case, they can come in handy at times) *First aid / emergency kit. *2l Hydration bladder, plus 750ml Pump bottle (for making sweet drinks at the end of the day) GROUP *Tent fly - especially in larger groups *cooker, gas (even if hut usually has it supplied), billies *mountain radio if our plans are likely to change or we are heading off major track systems I think thats about everything. All up, I think I have it down to about 9kg including food for 3 days. I dont actually think it gets much lighter on shorter trips because there isnt a lot to take out, and on shorter trips I take more heavy food, rather than going mainly dehy. I did the Abel Tasman in Jan, and we planned the food so we would eat really well, thinking the weight wouldnt matter because the track was easy. but damn those packs were heavy!!