Gear

There’s a lot to remember when you’re packing for a trip. Here are some handy lists of what to bring.

Use our trip checklist to confirm you have everything you need, or customise your own version with this spreadsheet.

Please do not bring alcoholic drinks, jeans or cotton clothing, or glass containers. Bring what you need, but don’t bring too much extra either. A few extra items can easily add up to another kilo or three to carry.

If you are new to tramping, check out these videos from the Mountain Safety Council:
– Clothing for the outdoors
– How to pack for a tramp


Gear for day walks

  • Rain jacket
  • Sturdy shoes or boots
  • Sunhat / sunglasses and suncream
  • Warm layers (top and bottom)
  • Hat and gloves
  • Camera
  • Day pack
  • Water bottle (minimum 1L)
  • Lunch and snacks
  • Map and compass
  • Personal medication / first aid
  • Foil survival blanket


Gear for weekend tramps

  • Pack
  • Plastic pack liner
  • Ground sheet (approx. 1.8m x 2.5m for sleeping under a fly in an emergency or if the hut is full when you arrive) – go to a hardware store and look for a plastic tarpaulin, which you can cut to size.
  • Cord, approx 2.5mm dia x 15m
  • Sleeping mat (inflatable), needed for full huts, tents, or fly in an emergency.
  • Sleeping bag (and liner if desired), ideally in a dry bag
  • Shorts
  • 2 polyprop/wool tops
  • 1 pair longjohns
  • Polar fleece jacket/jumper or down jacket
  • 1 pair of tramping socks and underwear (cotton can be cold – specialist sports underwear is better)
  • 1 pair of hut socks, spare underwear and base layer for hut
  • Gloves (waterproof in winter)
  • Warm hat
  • Waterproof parka (rain jacket)
  • Waterproof over-trousers
  • Gaiters
  • Sturdy tramping boots (look for ones with good ankle support)
  • 1 pair hut shoes (jandals, sneakers, crocs)
  • Sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
  • Knife, spoon, bowl, mug
  • Torch with spare batteries
  • Camera (optional)
  • Matches or lighter
  • Map and compass
  • Water bottle – minimum 1L
  • Toilet paper
  • Personal first aid kit and toiletries
  • Wallet (or plastic bag with a couple of cards and cash)
  • Emergency food
  • Plastic bags or dry bags (for clothing)
  • Plastic bags (for rubbish, wet clothes, etc.)
  • Mobile phone (optional)
  • Hut tickets or annual hut pass
  • Ice axe, snow goggles and crampons (if directed by your trip leader)
  • In winter, you might want to add: another top layer, another pair of long johns, a hut hat, firelighters, candle.

Your trip leader will organise flys / tents, cookers, billies, a personal locator beacon (PLB) and communal first aid kit for the group. All of these items can be borrowed from the club at no cost.  You will be asked by your trip leader to collect some of these items from the club and carry it on the trip.


Extra gear for packrafting/ kayaking/ canoeing

  • Paddle jacket
  • Dry bags
  • Helmet (for river paddling)
  • Wetsuit or drysuit (if required by conditions).


Personal First Aid / Safety Kit

  • Personal medication
  • Insect repellent
  • Pen and Notebook
  • Antihistamine
  • Pain killer (e.g. Paracetamol)
  • Scissors
  • Safety pins
  • Strapping tape
  • Whistle
  • Needle and thread
  • Vaseline
  • Iodine tablets (for water purification)
  • Suncream and lip balm / chapstick
  • Sticking plasters (dressing strips are great)
  • Blister prevention (eg second skin, strapping tape, trampers’ wool)
  • Rehydration sachets*
  • Foil survival blanket**

Hand sanitizer is great for alpine trips, and longer trips might find a five-day course of general antibiotics useful to treat infected wounds.

  • Rehydration sachets or powder are available at your local supermarket or outdoor shop eg. Replace.

** Foil survival blankets are available from most outdoor shops. Small and light in weight, they should always be in your pack.


Food

Day Trips: one lunch and snacks.

Weekend Trips: two breakfasts, two lunches, contribution towards a communal dinner, and snacks.

Some ideas on what food you could take with you on your trip
Breakfast: Granola / muesli or instant porridge. Add bananas and honey for a natural energy boost

Lunch: Bread / rolls, crackers or pita bread with cheese, salami, spread (eg jam, marmite, peanut butter).
Dried fruit

Dinner: Communal meal – your trip leader will tell you what to bring

Snacks: Biscuits, scroggin (nuts, seeds and dried fruit), chocolate, muesli bars, packet soup

Drinks: Tea bags, coffee, Milo, powdered juice (eg Raro), powdered soups