Gear On Trips
If you are new to tramping or just want a reminder as to what to bring on the different type of club trips here you will find a couple of handy lists of what to bring. 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.
Day Walking
While you might not be far from civilisation or the vehicle that brought you to the track, we should still be prepared for unforeseen circumstances as weather can change rapidly and not all locations have a mobile phone signal.
| • 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 |
Weekend Tramping
This sort of trip can take you deep into a forest or up on the tops of mountains for extended periods and not having the right gear can make a fun weekend become miserable. Your trip leader will advise on flys/tents, cookers, 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 may be asked by your trip leader to carry these items on the trip.
| • 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 |
| • 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 |
| • Route 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. |
Kayaking
Mainly you will require your own equipment to participate in these sorts of trips. The trip leader will bring the club personal locator beacon (PLB) and first aid kit along with a throw rope for the group. Invariably you may get wet, so remember to pack a spare change of clothes to keep in the car for the end of the trip.
| • Boat |
| • Paddle |
| • Personal Flotation Device (PFD) |
| • Helmet |
| • Drybag |
| • Camera/Mobile Phone (Optional) |
| • Water (1 Ltr) |
| • Snacks |
| • Wetsuit (If Required) |
First Aid Kit
Here is a list of the essentials you may want to consider bringing in your own personal first aid kit. Remember to check these every 6 months to ensure the products are still useable. To keep weight down they can be kept in a sandwich bag.
| • Whistle |
| • Personal medication |
| • Antihistamine |
| • Pain killer (e.g. Paracetamol) |
| • Insect repellent |
| • Suncream and lip balm / chapstick |
| • Sticking plasters (dressing strips are great) |
| • Blister prevention (eg second skin, strapping tape, trampers’ wool) |
| • Scissors |
| • Safety pins |
| • Strapping tape |
| • Needle and thread |
| • Vaseline |
| • Iodine tablets (for water purification) |
| • Pen and Notebook |
| • Rehydration sachets* |
| • Foil survival blanket** |
Food
Carrying the right amount of food is dependent on your personal needs. You are welcome to cook up a Michelin star menu but be aware of the weight in carrying it in. Many opt for dehydrated meals or meals that give enough protein to feed your muscles.
| • Day Trips: | One lunch and snacks |
| • Weekend Trips: | 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner and snacks |
| 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), Pancake batter mix, Eggs |
| • Lunch: | Filled Bread/Rolls, Crackers or Pita bread with Cheese, Salami, Spread (eg pate, jam, marmite, peanut butter). |
| • Snacks: | Dried fruit, Biscuits, Scroggin (nuts, seeds and dried fruit), Chocolate, Muesli bars or Nutella Sandwiches |
| • Dinner: | Backcountry Dehydrated, Sausages & Powdered Mash, Canned Chilli and Rice, Beef Strogonoff and Rice, Continental Pasta Sachets + Vegetables |
| • Drinks: | Tea bags, coffee, Milo, powdered juice (eg Raro), powdered soups |