Listed below are my suggestions for a good-quality Te Araroa Gear record. The Te Araroa has a repute for being exhausting on gear, with a lot of rain and dirt.
Once 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 Listing
As talked about above, the mud, the chilly, and the troublesome terrain make the Te Araroa path a troublesome path for gear. Nevertheless, it’s potential, however you should take high-quality light-weight gear on the path.
Greatest Light-weight Tent for the Te Araroa
The most effective tent for Te Araroa shall be light-weight, waterproof, bugproof, and capable of face up to windy situations. Here’s a record of the most effective light-weight 1-person, 2-person, and 3-person tents.
Greatest 1P Tent for Te Araroa
Greatest 2P Tent for Te Araroa
Greatest 3P Tent for Te Araroa
Greatest Backpack for Te Araroa
The most effective 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 greater pack.
Greatest Sleeping Bag for Te Araroa
There are numerous decisions of ultralight sleeping luggage for the Te Araroa Path. Listed below are my suggestions.
Greatest Ultralight Quilts for Te Araroa
In recent times many ultralight hikers have moved from sleeping luggage to ultralight quilts. I feel they’re a greater and lighter choice for most individuals. They perform properly till the temperatures get a few levels beneath freezing. At that time, a sleeping bag turns into a greater choice because it features higher in colder climate.
Greatest 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 all the things stays dry throughout the inevitable moist climate.
Footwear for Te Araroa
I wore 3 totally different pairs of path running sneakers on my hike to see which one I favored greatest.
However will Path Working Sneakers make your ft happier?
You’ve a alternative of carrying Light-weight Climbing Boots, Light-weight Sneakers, or Path Runners. There are execs and cons for every. I wore path runners however discovered they carried out poorly within the muddy situations. Climbing boots put an excessive amount of stress in your ft throughout the lengthy highway stroll sections and light-weight climbing sneakers don’t carry out as properly throughout mud. So which is greatest?
The reply is, there isn’t any reply. I hiked with path runners and so they carried out very properly on all sections of the path besides the very muddy sections on the North Island. Particularly 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.
Possibly light-weight climbing boots for the North Island and Ultralight Path runners for the South Island.
Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the most effective sneakers and boots for the Te Araroa hikers with vast ft.
Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the most effective sneakers and boots for the Te Araroa hikers with slender ft.
Don’t overlook a superb pair of climbing socks. I just like the New Zealand which you’ll be able to simply decide up on-line in NZ. If coming from abroad then Darn Powerful Socks are among the finest choices.
Insulating Layers – Down Jackets / Fleece / Baselayers
An excellent 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 objects of clothes that can work, are prime quality, and can be utilized together to see you thru every kind of climate situations. For probably the most half, there isn’t any must 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 will discover one make certain and purchase one as they’re good for the Te Araroa!
Fleece Mid Layer
Baselayers
- Macpac Merino – For lovers of excellent high quality Merino Wool.
- Macpac Geothermals – Low-cost however ok
- Macpac Prothermals – The Very best quality, lightest, and highest high quality base layers accessible. 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
Similar to your layering system of insulation talked about above it is best to take a superb have a look at what sorts of Shirts, Shorts, and Pants you can 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 number of the climbing gear guides that can advise you on the most effective gloves, Hats, and Sun shades for the Te Araroa.
Raingear for Te Araroa
It’s going to rain rather a lot when thru-hiking Te Araroa. Be ready with a high-quality light-weight rain jacket and rain pants. Listed below are a number of the greatest for 2024:
Climbing Poles
Do you want climbing poles for the Te Araroa? Quick reply, not likely. However if you’re like me and you employ them when long-distance climbing then check out my information beneath. Or for one thing light-weight from Macpac, check out the Macpac Carbon Trekking Poles.
Cookware – Stoves & Pots for te Araroa
You’ll recognize a heat meal at night time and possibly a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Listed below are some cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you will have for the path.
Water on the Te Araroa
Total the water high quality on the Te Araroa is kind of good however as with virtually each backcountry journey, it is best to deal with the water and carry sufficient in your wants. Listed below are some beneficial water remedy units and water storage bottles and bladders.
Cameras and Electronics
With so many electronics that we tackle the path nowadays, it may be exhausting to determine what to take and what to depart behind. Check out a number of the objects it’s possible you’ll want and comply with the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about which of them are the most effective.
- Greatest Cameras for Climbing – For the photographers. Most individuals shall be joyful sufficient with the standard of their smartphone.
- Greatest Battery Financial institution for Climbing – Crucial to have a high-quality battery to recharge all of your electronics.
- Greatest Climbing GPS – Not wanted for the path as most individuals can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
- Greatest GPS Watch – Increasingly more individuals are climbing with a GPS watch. They’re nice however will want charging each night time so make sure to take a conveyable battery financial institution with you.
- Greatest PLB and Satellite tv for pc Messenger – Extremely beneficial for thru-hiking the TA. Many individuals get into problem on the path and certainly one of these can save your life.
- USB Wall Charger for New Zealand /Australia+ Cables.
Different Gear
- Plastic zip lock luggage
- 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 along with your planning in a roundabout way. In case you want extra assist with all the most effective light-weight climbing gear then check out my Gear Guides.


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The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
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The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an outside retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s vital when utilizing and testing gear for evaluations like this.
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