Hazel Phillips regularly goes off on ‘adventure benders’, one of which resulted in her recent book Solo: Backcountry adventuring in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Pack

I recently replaced my old Berghaus pack with an Osprey Renn 65. It’s adjustable and super comfy, and it’s already withstood a massive hammering.

Sleeping bag

I have three sleeping bags with use depending on the season and the nature of the adventure. My favourite is a Rab Summit 600, which I bought in a sale from Outfitters Store. It’s a cheery shade of purple and has kept me warm on many autumn and winter nights.

Clothing

I love supporting Kiwi brands, so I tramp in a Cactus Outdoor polar fleece (a men’s one – much roomier) and a merino t-shirt by Opus Fresh, a local Ohakune brand. I’m quite sentimental about my Arcteryx jacket – it’s about five years old, faded and patched and we’ve been through a lot together.

Bivvy

The Outdoor Research Helium bivvy is my weapon of choice. I pair it with a Sea to Summit Escapist tarp, which is lightweight and can be pitched using walking poles. It’s not sandfly-proof though, so it’s a North Island rig only.

Cooker

My cooking setup is haphazard but lightweight. I’ve got an old pot and pot grabber from a 1990s Trangia set plus a tiny 75g Kovea fold-up cooker. I pair this with my secret ingredient: a 1l ice cream container, which is used as a bowl and plate, and to house my cooker when in transit. I’ve also got a titanium spork, which I enjoy waving around with wild enthusiasm at dinner while talking about upcoming trips.

PLB and headlamp

I have a KTI Safety Alert PLB. It’s a must, particularly as I often tramp by myself. I’ve got a Black Diamond headlamp, which I find bright enough for night tramping. It goes into the ice cream container with my cookware during transit to prevent it being accidentally switched on (which can happen even when it’s locked).

Bum foam

I recently won this Malin foam thingy in a tramping club photo competition and it’s become my new best friend. Or should I say, my bum’s new best friend. Luxury!

Footwear

I reckon you can’t go past a good pair of Crocs for your hut or camp footwear. Mine are a fetching mixture of pink, purple and blue.