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Recommended Tramping Kit

​The checklist below covers the clothing and equipment that’s good to have on an overnight tramp, as well as food plan ideas. 
Having the right gear is a key factor in feeling comfortable and enjoying yourself. And the right gear can save your life, or another person’s life.

​Whenever cadets go on a camp, course or day's activity it is strongly advised that they always bring water, sunscreen, a wide-brim sun hat, a weather-proof jacket.
​

Please note that these lists are only recommended. ​​If you are unsure what to wear, ask.
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Clothing

Use quick drying & light fabric – don’t use cotton
  • boots
  • wool or wool/thermal blend socks
  • spare pair of socks (if trip is more than overnight or you’ll get wet feet)
  • gaiters
  • quick drying shorts
  • merino/polyprop bottom layer (long sleeved is more versatile)
  • merino/polypro top layer
  • fleece/woollen jersey
  • polypro/merino long johns
  • sunhat/cap
  • sunglasses
  • parka – wind & waterproof (test for waterproof at home – stand in shower/get someone to aim hose at you – though no parka is entirely waterproof in dense and continual rain!)
  • woollen hat or balaclava
  • wool or polypro gloves
  • wind and waterproof Over trou (essential for tops travel; not needed for bushcraft)
  • spare bootlace
​
For camping/’hut’
  • ‘hut’/camp shoes – crocs or something light
  • light socks
  • warm leggings, top

Packing

No pack is waterproof, and certainly not after you have dunked it in a river. That’s why you need a good pack liner and bags around things inside the pack liner.

It’s essential that you have dry warm clothes to change into in the evening, a waterproof parka, and keep your sleeping bag dry in your pack
  • pack the heaviest stuff near the top and closest to your back – this helps with comfort & balance
  • pack veges/fruit in a billy
  • pack fuel outside your pack liner
  • pack things you need during the day at top or in pockets
    e.g. snacks, map & compass, food, sunblock, 1st aid, camera, headtorch, extra top, lunch

If tramping at night, can be useful to have sleeping bag at the top.
​
Make sure your pack is adjusted properly so it is secure on you – so it doesn't slide around as you tramp. This is important for balance and comfort.

Equipment

  • pack
  • pack liner
  • waterproof/solid plastic bags to stow gear in pack & keep it dry
  • sleeping bag
  • sleeping bag liner
  • inflatable sleeping mat (if camping or if even small chance the hut you are aiming for is full)
  • headtorch and spare batteries
  • matches or lighter in waterproof container
  • survival blanket
  • whistle
  • map and compass
  • pen and paper
  • DoC hut tickets or hut pass
  • water container – 1 litre minimum – good to fill at home
  • mug, plastic/light metal
  • bowl or plate, plastic or light metal
  • spoon and knife, plastic or light metal
  • Toilet paper
  • Soap & small towel/wettex
  • Toothbrush & paste
  • Other personal toilet gear
  • Personal first aid kit – plasters, sleek, panadol, antihistamine, antiseptic cream, any personal medication (e.g. asthma inhaler)
  • Sunblock & lip salve
  • Insect repellent (if needed)

Depending on inclination, nature of trip:
  • camera
  • reading material
​
Group Gear
  • tent, fly, poles and pegs
  • billies
  • stoves and fuel - check out stove to see it’s working before the trip
  • first aid gear
  • ladle/stirrer
  • pothandler/potmitt
  • washing up gear (detergent and cleaning cloth)
Rangitoto Tramp
Cadets Tramping on Rangitoto Island, 2014

Food

Weight and packing
Food has to be light, sturdy (or protected), long life, compact, quick and easy to prepare, nourishing, filling – and tasty. All food and ingredients, utensils, plate, mug, billies etc need to be carried.
Meals usually take longer to cook when you are tramping. Try and bring things that need short cooking and preparation times and are quite simple. If you can cook everything in one billy that is best – remember you will probably only have one stove. The shorter the cooking, the less fuel you need to carry.

On multi-day trips the weight of food that you carry becomes all-important. The more dehydrated food you can bring (either commercial or home-made) the less weight you carry. This isn't so important on overnight trips.
To save weight and space put small amounts of things into bags, plastic containers, e.g. film canisters are good for spreads. Don't bring large jars, glass containers.

Overnight trips – you can make and freeze a casserole dish – it will slowly defrost as you tramp during the day, ready to heat up in the evening! Ice cream containers are good to take a frozen meal, wrapped in a bit of newspaper and a bag.
If you are buying packets of things check quantities carefully. For example – pasta meals might say four servings – but that is half a cup each – not much when you’re tramping. Rule of thumb – if it says “serves two” when tramping it only “serves one”. Also check what ingredients you will need – most packet meals require more than just water to be added although some you can do without.

You have to carry out rubbish, including vege cut-offs etc so take things out of unnecessary packaging. Bring spare bags for rubbish.

Individuals are responsible for their own breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Meal Idea's

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Breakfast possibilities:
  • Cereals, muesli, instant porridge
  • Instant mashed potato with instant soup, cheese etc
  • Fruit loaf
  • Rice and raisins
With these, powdered milk, fresh milk, yoghurt (if overnight), dried fruit (can soak dried fruit overnight for extra flavour)
Need something filling – to last you all morning, quick and easy so that you can get away.

​Lunch possibilities:
  • Crackers/cabin bread
  • Bread (Sandwiches)
  • Pita Bread/bagels etc
  • Spreads such as cheese, hummus, salami, peanut butter, vegemite, canned fish etc - something tasty & filling – protein & some fat.
  • Boiled eggs
  • biscuits/cake
  • fruit/vegetables (eg cherry tomato; carrot or celery travel well cut up). Mandarins, apples – depending on length of trip, overall pack weight.
Snacks:
Scroggin (trail mix), nuts, dried fruit, muesli bars, energy bars, chocolate, sweets – expect to stop once or twice each morning and afternoon.
Dinner ideas:
Usual constituents come from the non-exhaustive list below.
  • Soup: 2-3 minute sachets
  • Carbohydrate: Pasta, Rice, Potato, couscous, quinoa
  • Protein: Meat, Beans, lentils, Fish, Eggs
  • Vegetables: Dried or fresh (can be good to cut veges up in advance)
  • Salt, herbs & spices
  • Drinks: Tea, Coffee, Milo, Drinking chocolate
Dinner is organised as a shared meal within food groups. Each group organises its dinner: a main course, and entrees and desserts if required. In your group decide who will do what. For example one person brings entrees, two the main course, one dessert. Find out if anyone is vegetarian, gluten-free, allergic, hates something; knows from experience that they need more to eat than others on a tramp. ​

Dessert: 
​Cake and custard, instant pudding and dried fruit, sponge puddings, cheesecakes, anything chocolate…… Turkish delight etc
Bring something to make it in if it requires it (e.g. instant pudding)
Beverages:
Drinks – breakfast, when you arrive at hut/campsite, evening, sometimes at lunch: bring what you enjoy; instant soup is very good for arrival at end of day.

Useful Links

Hiking Guide
The above link from outdoorwithj.com provides a detailed explanation for

​Basic list with pictures
​Checklist of items
Printable list from D.O.C.
Links from Tararua Tramping Club:
  • Tramping Information
  • Trip Information
  • Gear List
  • ​Weekend Gear
  • Food List
  • Weekend Food
A lot of the information on this page has been compiled from the Tararua Tramping Club website.
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