Te Araroa Gear Record underneath 6kg / 13lb [2025] BikeHikeSafari

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Listed below are my suggestions for a good-quality Te Araroa Gear record. The Te Araroa is understood for being onerous on gear, with a lot of rain and dirt.

After I hiked the Te Araroa, my gear record was round 6kg (13lb), which put much less stress on my physique in contrast with another hikers who carry heavier hundreds. As I’ve hiked many long-distance thru-hikes, I accomplished a light-weight gear record for the Te Araroa.

Ultralight Te Araroa Gear Record

As talked about above, the mud, the chilly, and the troublesome terrain make the Te Araroa path a tricky path for gear. Nevertheless, it’s attainable, however you need to take high-quality light-weight gear on the path.

Finest Light-weight Tent for the Te Araroa

The perfect tent for Te Araroa shall be light-weight, waterproof, bugproof, and stand up to windy circumstances. Here’s a record of the very best light-weight 1-person, 2-person, and 3-person tents.

Finest 1P Tent for Te Araroa

Finest 2P Tent for Te Araroa

Finest 3P Tent for Te Araroa

Finest Backpack for Te Araroa

The perfect backpack for the Te Araroa shall be light-weight and have sufficient capability to hold all of your meals and kit for as much as round 5 days. For many light-weight via hikers a 50 litre pack shall be sufficient. Some hikers who haven’t dedicated to carrying a light-weight and compact load may have a barely larger pack.

Finest Sleeping Bag for Te Araroa

There are numerous selections of ultralight sleeping baggage for the Te Araroa Path. Listed below are my suggestions.

Finest Ultralight Quilts for Te Araroa

Lately many ultralight hikers have moved from sleeping baggage to ultralight quilts. I feel they’re a greater and lighter choice for most individuals. They operate effectively till the temperatures get a few levels under freezing. At that time, a sleeping bag turns into a greater choice because it capabilities higher in colder climate.

Finest Sleeping Mat for Te Araroa

Light-weight and compact with good insulation is what you want in a sleeping pad for the Te Araroa. Listed below are some nice choices.

And don’t overlook a superb high quality ultralight pillow and a pack liner to make sure every part stays dry throughout the inevitable moist climate.

Footwear for Te Araroa

I wore 3 totally different pairs of path trainers on my hike to see which one I appreciated finest.

However will Path Working Footwear make your toes happier?

You may have a selection of carrying Light-weight Climbing Boots, Light-weight Footwear, or Path Runners. There are execs and cons for every. I wore path runners however discovered they carried out poorly within the muddy circumstances. Climbing boots put an excessive amount of stress in your toes throughout the lengthy highway stroll sections and light-weight mountain climbing sneakers don’t carry out as effectively throughout mud. So which is finest?

The reply is, there isn’t a reply. I hiked with path runners and so they carried out very effectively on all sections of the path besides the very muddy sections on the North Island. Specifically the mud close to the very northern sections of the path and the Tarraroa Vary within the southern part of the North Island. The mud and tree roots destroyed my path runners.

Perhaps light-weight mountain climbing boots for the North Island and Ultralight Path runners for the South Island.

Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the very best sneakers and boots for the Te Araroa hikers with broad toes.

Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the very best sneakers and boots for the Te Araroa hikers with slender toes.

Don’t overlook a superb pair of mountain climbing socks. I just like the New Zealand which you’ll simply decide up on-line in NZ. If coming from abroad then Darn Powerful Socks are the most effective choices.

Insulating Layers – Down Jackets / Fleece / Baselayers

A great layering system that features a heat down jacket, fleece mid-layer, and a light-weight base layer shall be wanted and far appreciated on the Te Araroa. One of many key issues about this layering system is to not overdo it, or overthink it. Take gadgets of clothes that may work, are top quality, and can be utilized together to see you thru every kind of climate circumstances. For probably the most half, there isn’t a have to look any additional than New Zealand model Macpac.

Down Jacket

• Macpac Icefall Down Jacket – This jacket appears to be on clearance so is kind of low cost, if you could find one make certain and purchase one as they’re excellent for the Te Araroa!

Fleece Mid Layer

Baselayers

• Macpac Merino – For lovers of excellent high quality Merino Wool.
• Macpac Geothermals – Low cost however adequate
• Macpac Prothermals – The Very best quality, lightest, and highest high quality base layers obtainable. I’ve been carrying a pair of tops and bottoms for greater than 5 years, and love them.

Don’t overlook underwear, once more check out Macpac. I like the Merino Underwear.

Climbing Pants / Climbing Shorts / Climbing Shirts

Identical to your layering system of insulation talked about above you need to take a superb take a look at what sorts of Shirts, Shorts, and Pants you may be carrying.

Climbing Shirts

Climbing Pants

• Macpac Trekker Pants – Light-weight softshell. I’ve been carrying them for the final couple of years.

Climbing Shorts

Gloves / Hats / Sun shades

Check out a few of the mountain climbing gear guides that may advise you on the very best gloves, Hats, and Sun shades for the Te Araroa.

Raingear for Te Araroa

It’ll rain loads when thru-hiking Te Araroa. Be ready with a high-quality light-weight rain jacket and rain pants. Listed below are a few of the finest for 2025:

Climbing Poles

Do you want mountain climbing poles for the Te Araroa? Brief reply, not likely. However if you’re like me and you employ them when long-distance mountain climbing then check out my information under. Or for one thing light-weight from Macpac, check out the Macpac Carbon Trekking Poles.

Cookware – Stoves & Pots for te Araroa

You’ll respect a heat meal at evening and possibly a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Listed below are some cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you will want for the path.

Water on the Te Araroa

General the water high quality on the Te Araroa is kind of good however as with nearly each backcountry journey, you need to deal with the water and carry sufficient in your wants. Listed below are some really helpful water remedy gadgets, water storage bottles, and bladders.

Cameras and Electronics

With so many electronics we tackle the path as of late, it may be onerous to determine what to take and depart behind. Have a look at a few of the gadgets chances are you’ll want and observe the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about the very best ones.

• Finest Cameras for Climbing – For the photographers. Most individuals shall be blissful sufficient with the standard of their smartphone.
• Finest Battery Financial institution for Climbing – Crucial to have a high-quality battery to recharge all of your electronics.
• Finest Climbing GPS – Not wanted for the path as most individuals can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
• Finest GPS Watch – Increasingly more persons are mountain climbing with a GPS watch. They’re nice however will want charging each evening so make sure you take a conveyable battery financial institution with you.
• Finest PLB and Satellite tv for pc Messenger – Extremely really helpful for thru-hiking the TA. Many individuals get into problem on the path and considered one of these can save your life.
• USB Wall Charger for New Zealand /Australia+ Cables.

Different Gear

• Plastic zip lock baggage
• Cash / ID / Credit score Playing cards
• Blister pads
• Strapping Tape
• Foot an infection anti-biotic
• Ibuprofen
• Tweezers
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Security Pin
• Needle
• Deet insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm
• Rest room tissue

I hope this helped together with your planning in a roundabout way. In case you want extra assist with all the very best light-weight mountain climbing gear then check out my Gear Guides.

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