Mathew Denys has been tramping all his life. His favourite type of trip involves a week or longer off track in the backcountry. 

“In the last couple of years I have upskilled with some snowcraft courses and I am now beginning to explore Aotearoa’s alpine environments,” he says. “I suspect 

my life might be more pleasant if I had lighter gear, but I haven’t got around to replacing it yet.”

Mathew’s base gear weight is 9.5kg.

Pack

I’ve had a 65l Cactus Hector pack for years. It’s large enough for 10+ days, sturdy enough to withstand any bush bashing, and has just enough straps to attach everything I need. It weighs 2900g. Something lighter would be nice, but it will probably last forever. I use an FMC pack liner and compartmentalise gear into dry bags. I keep a whistle attached to one shoulder strap and a lip balm tied to the other.

Alpine gear

For alpine trips I take my Black Diamond Half Dome helmet, Singing Rock ice axe and Grivel G10 crampons. I also take additional warm layers, waterproof pants, a hat that 

fits under my helmet, waterproof gloves, some liner gloves, and even a backup pair of thermal gardening gloves (warm and waterproof).

Food

I have a battered aluminium billy and a small Macpac cooker. It’s slow but gets the job done. I keep a flint and steel in my pack in case matches get wet or a lighter runs out. A 1.5l drink bottle is usually sufficient, but I take a HydraPak Soft Flask if additional capacity is needed. When there are streams around, a mug attached to my chest strap with a carabiner saves me carrying water.

Sleeping

I use a Macpac Minaret. It’s a sturdy two-person tent (but even better as a one-person). 

A $10 tarp from Bunnings works as a ground sheet. I have a Macpac sleeping bag and silk liner (great if the sleeping bag is too hot in summer or too cold in winter) and an Exped Versa 1R sleeping mat. It’s not the warmest, but I have found it to be sufficient above -10°.

Clothing

My walking gear is a lightweight shirt or thermal top, a pair of shorts, and some long johns if it’s cold. Extra layers include a Marmot windbreaker, a Macpacraincoat, a Rab Kaon insulated jacket, a warm hat and a Buff. My end-of-day dry gear is usually a thermal top, Hunting and Fishing polar-fleece pants and sandals.

Essentials

A PLB, first aid kit, strapping tape, head torch, spare batteries, spare matches, emergency blanket, compass, waterproof notebook and a pen. Earplugs are high on the list if I am staying in a hut. For longer trips I might add a battery pack.

Footwear

I have recently downsized to a pair of Scarpa Rush TRX. They are lightweight and haven’t given me any blisters. For alpine trips I use Scarpa Manta Techs. My Outdoor Research gaiters have lasted longer than some other brands.