Jonty Crane is the host of ‘The Tramping Life’ podcast. His gear has had as much use in the Himalaya, Hong Kong and Timor-Leste as in New Zealand. After two years volunteering in Timor-Leste and Fiji, he is looking forward to returning to the backcountry. His pack base weight is 10kg.

Pack

My 88l Osprey Xenith is huge, but is comfortable and easy to pack.

Sleeping

I pair my Exped Lite 900 down sleeping bag with a silk liner or a Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme liner, depending on the season. My sleeping pad is a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm, and I like my Kathmandu inflatable travel pillow so much that I use it at home too.

Footwear

I’ve been through four pairs of Lowa Renegade Mid GTX boots over the years, and recently wore a brand new pair on a two-and-a-half-week hike in the Himalaya with no issues.

Clothing

Regardless of the weather, I tramp in green shorts and a khaki shirt, looking unintentionally like a DOC ranger. I hike hot but soon cool down once I stop, and warm up with a couple of Macpac down garments (a sleeveless vest and a Nebula Jacket) over a merino base layer. I love the woollen beanie my mum knitted and possum mittens from New Zealand Natural Clothing. My shell is a Rab Kangri GTX.

Medical

Anthisan provides relief from the inevitable sandfly bites. After a decent day of tramping, particularly in hot weather, a sachet of rehydration powder makes a big difference to recovery.

Accessories

I carry a Sony A7III camera with 16–50mm and 55–210mm lenses, an iPad for reading, and an iPhone for listening to podcasts, so I also take a solar panel for anything more than an overnighter.

I use Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles whether on a multi-day epic or just heading out for a short walk, and carry a Blunt umbrella, and a Therm-A-Rest Z-Seat sitting mat for hard surfaces.

All my gear goes into dry bags which, combined with a pack liner, gives me reassurance in wet weather, plus makes packing easier.

Food

Breakfast – 200g of rolled oats with raisins and milk powder – keeps me going with few snacks. For lunch and dinner I have Back Country Cuisine or Radix meals. 

Before hiking the 12-day Larapinta Trail in Australia, I bought a plastic trowel from Bunnings for digging toilet holes. On day one I realised I had forgotten my spork … The trowel has never been used for its original purpose, but works well for stirring and eating dehydrated meals.