Jub Bryant always had an interest in the outdoors, and when he arrived in Queenstown in 2020 his time on the trails really took off. “The longer I’m here, the more I learn about different routes you don’t always see on maps. There’s a lifetime of adventures to be had.”

The following gear is what he packs for an overnight trip. “I’m lucky enough that I’ll only go if the forecast is looking decent.”

Tent

I’ve had Gossamer Gear’s ‘The Two’ (865g including poles) for about nine months, and although I won’t be replacing it anytime soon, I struggle with the condensation. I do like that it’s light, roomy and easy to set up and pack down.

Sleeping

I was a quilt sceptic but am now firmly a fan, thanks to the Kiwi Ultralight down quilt (0℃, 605g). If you’re on the fence about the switch, jump. For my pad, I have a Macpac ThermAir Ultralight (540g), which is great value.

Pack

I really like the OMM 32 Classic (685g). I borrowed it from a friend for a night and then bought it off him. It’s sturdy, easy to pack and fits me well, especially if I want to run sections of trail. The hip belt pockets are nice, but I do need to get bottle holders for my soft flasks (I prefer them over traditional bottles). If I need to pack more, I use the Kiwi Ultralight Tui 42 pack.

Footwear

For the last 18 months my go-to has been NNormal Krejags. I use the ‘good’ pair for the trails, and older pairs transition to an everyday shoe. I like how light they feel while still giving me confidence on most surfaces.

Food

I’ve never been one to use a stove. For snacks and electrolytes, my goodie bags are full of Vitasport, dried mango, Bhuja, cashews, Frooze/bliss balls and Peak Fuel gels. Dinners are usually some form of sandwich (peanut butter and banana is a solid option). Radix breakfasts (version 9) have been my staple (though v10 contains dairy, so I’ll need to look elsewhere soon).

Clothing

I live in Macpac Trail short sleeve tees and Fast Track shorts. For baselayers, underwear and socks, I’ve been switching to various brands of merino. I like the Macpac Prothermal fleece as a midlayer, and alternate between a Zorali Airgrid fleece or the Macpac Pisa jacket as an outer layer. I always pack a Macpac Tempo rain jacket.

Luxury item

Three cans of beer. They’re the last things that go in the bag, and always worth it. And the pack is a kilo lighter on the way home. Success. I also like the Platypus Preserve to carry a bottle of wine.

Safety

I have a Fenix HM65R-T head torch. The downside is it doesn’t have a red light, but I like that it’s bright, rechargeable and has a long battery life. As Macpac staff we get free PLB rentals, so one comes with me for overnight trips.