New outdoor gear for 2021....updated!

 New Tramping Equipment acquired in 2021

I am a total outdoor gear head...I like new gear, I am interested in new outdoor innovations and like to read about gear other outdoor enthusiasts are using. Can you have to much tramping equipment? No...I don't think anyone can have too much tramping equipment provided you are actually using it. If you buy equipment and it sits in a cupboard gathering dust then yes you have too much. 

My Vaude Breta 50l pack on the Nina Valley Track

 This is a post about tramping gear I may acquire over the rest of this year...this will be an annual feature. I will start the post in January and note any new acquisitions over that year, I may possibly comment upon items and in some cases review how it is working for me. There may be an accompanying post in more depth on certain pieces of gear which I think you might be interested in. 

My post about the MSR Windburner stove...

As far as my outdoor gear cupboard goes I am more or less supplied with all of the basic equipment I need to under take my varied outdoor adventures. There are no new big ticket items I hunger for so any new purchase's will be replacements for broken gear, gifts or necessary upgrades.

My ACR ResQLink beacon is due for replacement in 2021...

Right-o...so lets us look at some new gear I have acquired so far this year...

Tents:

Coleman Camper 2 tent:

Karen and I recently went for a camping trip to Hanmer where we were using my Coleman Coastline  three person tent to sleep in. After using it for this trip I decided it might be too difficult for me to set up on my own when I go for car camping or base camp trips.

Coleman Coastline 3 person tent at Hanmer holiday Park

Plenty of space for two people in the Coastline 3.....

I happened to be in Hunting and Fishing the week after we returned and saw they had Coleman Camper 2 dome tents for sale for $99 so I brought myself one. I intend to use it to fill the role of single person base camp tent. I used it on my recent visit to Nelson Lakes NP where I was walking some of the day tracks like the Mt Robert Circuit. It worked well and will become a piece of kit you are likely to see again on these pages.  

My Coleman Camper 2 set up at Kerr Bay Campground, St Arnaud

The Camper 2 is a freestanding dome tent...

The tent is a two person version but is better utilised as a single person car camping tent. It is 2.4 kg's with a 8000mm PU floor and 2000 mm rain fly. Dimensions are 2.6 (L)x1.6 (W)x1.2 (H). It is a free standing design so I can easily erect it on my own in less that three minutes.  

Plenty of space in my Camper 2 for myself and base camping gear

Kerr Bay is a great base for tramps in Nelson Lakes NP

This tent will get a bit of use in the future as I have several places where I would like to go for base camps.  It would even be good for a trip to places like the Abel Tasman Coast Walk for an overnight visit to one of the beaches accessible by water taxi. I just don't want to be carrying this sucker for more than 100 meters...

Sleeping Mat:

Roman King Single Air Mattress:

I have a multitude of air mats and mattresses but I didn't have a single person car camping air mattress to use on my recent trip to Nelson Lakes NP. I had a bit of a look around and settled on a Roman brand King-Single air mattress. 

Roman King-Single air mattress

Roman is a well known Australian camping brand here in New Zealand and they sell mattresses, tents, sleeping bags and ancillary camping gear. This mattress cost me $60 NZ dollars (in a summer sale...) at Hunting and Fishing and I found it to be comfortable to use and more than wide and long enough to accommodate my carcass. It is 1.9(L)x1.1(W)x30cm(H) and weighs approximately 3 kg's. 

The Roman air bed set up in my tent at Kerr Bay

 

I put an closed air mat under it to better insulate it from the ground and this seemed to work well as I was still warm even in -2 degree weather. You are going to see this beast in posts in the future...

Camping Stoves:

MSR Windburner stove:

Lovely Karen brought me an excellent MSR Windburner stove for Christmas and it is awesome. I have long coveted a personal cook system by they are heinously expensive ($300...) and I just could not justify the cost. I am very lucky to have such a lovely thoughtful partner...thanks love!

The complete MSR Windburner stove system...

MSR are a well known and respected brand and these stoves have an excellent reputation for boiling speed, gas efficiency, quality and robustness. It will boil a 1 liter pot of water in half the time of my other stoves and it can heat 500ml in just over a minute. 

The Windburner in action near Wainui Hut

The stove has gone on one trip so far to the Abel Tasman Inland Track and will mostly be used if I am camping or in an alpine area as they are very wind resistant. They are also excellent on ice and snow but I am not a mountaineer or heading to Antarctica so the stove is unlikely to find itself in those environments. 

The Windburner packed ready for transport...

I look forward to using this stove for many years to come....

Campmaster backpackers stove:

I was in Bivouac Outdoor one day and I saw the stove below on sale for $29 dollars and I thought...hey...I really need another tramping stove. I mean honestly...how can you go past a sub $30 camp stove? You can find these cookers in many different shops including Bivouac Outdoors, Torpedo 7,  Mitre 10 and Bunnings. 

The Campmaster backpackers stove...

I haven't used it except to trial it at home and it works a treat...a little faster to boil a 500ml pot of water than my Firemaple Ti stove slower than the MSR. It is always good to have a variety of tools to complete a job of work as nothing can fulfill every role at all times.

My Firemaple Ti stove...only 48 gms!!!!

I recently loaned this stove to my sister as she was walking the Abel Tasman Track with some of her nursing buddies. I also loaned her one of my older stoves ( a Kovea backpacker...brought in 1990 and still going strong) as one of her companions did not have a small tramping stove to use.

 

The Campmaster stove has a plastic storage box...

I will ask her how the Campmaster backpackers stove performed out in the field...BTW: I will be taking the stove on some tramping trips this year. 

Outdoor cooking kit:

Sea to Summit X-Mug:

Karen brought me a MSR Windburner stove for Christmas and I found that my Sea to Summit Delta mug I brought last year made the package too bulky in my pack. I needed a smaller (...or better yet flatter...) cup so the package was smaller. 

I brought myself a collapsible Sea to Summit X-Mug.

Sea to Summit X-Mug...mine is orange!!!

The X-Mug has been around for a couple of years now and they have quite a good reputation for durability. The base and rim of the mug are hard plastic but the main body is folding silicone. When flat it is about 8 mm thick and fits very nicely onto the top or bottom of my stove system. This has cut a good 8-10cm or more from the overall size of my packed stove.

The Sea to Summit X-Mug in the collapsed state

I have taken the X-Mug out with me a couple of times and it works really well...it is easy to fold/unfold, lite weight and insulated enough that I do not burn my hands. All in all it is a very fine bit of kit and given it cost me only $15 very economical as well. There is a whole range of this Sea to Summit folding cookware including cups, bowls, plates and even metal bottomed pots & kettles. 

There is a variety of different X-Series cookware...

I will continue to use my Delta mug with my lite weight Ti stove as I can pack my gubbins inside the mug which then fits into my cook pot. 

Outdoor Clothing:

Bridgedale Socks:

I have to replace my tramping socks about every two years or so as they start to glaze and begin giving me sore feet, blisters and other feet complaints. I have been exclusively using Bridgedale mid weight tramping socks for the last five years as they are comfortable quality for your feet.

My preferred Bridgedale socks...

I brought another two pair of these socks during a summer sale in January and wore them for the first time on my recent tramp of the Paparoa Track. They were $29.50 down from $39.50 which considering how good they are is a magnificent price. I would have brought more but they only had two pair in my size (XL=13 UK or 14 US/48 Euro)

I have several pair of these Bridgedale Hike socks...

The Mid Weight Trekker/Hike are a Merino/synthetic mix and sit mid calf on my legs...they are good at heat management (not too cold/hot) and have great durability. I normally wear the XL size which is good for feet from 13-15 UK or 47-49 European sizing. I carry two pair on a 3-7 day trip and use one pair for wear (..I wash them every two days...) and one spare. 

There is lots of technology in these Bridgedale socks

I have always brought these from Hunting and Fishing but I noticed recently that they do not have as good a selection as previously. Hopefully it is just a Covid supply chain problem as I really like this brand and would like to keep using them. 

Mountain biking:

Merida Big Nine 20 (XL frame):

I was super frustrated by the the Covid -19 lockdown last year as it meant I could only go for limited walks within my suburb. In New Zealand you had to stay within an hour of your home although I don't think anyone outside of Auckland (...the New Zealand Covid epicenter...) was prosecuted for going further than this. I cast covetous eyes on all those people blasting around on their bikes when I did not have a road worthy one to use. 

Walkers and cyclists during lockdown but no cars....

As soon as the shops opened I went and brought a brand new Merida Big Nine 20 MTB and some gear to go with it. It cost me $1000 (down from nearly $1200) and it is fine for all of the possible cycling adventures I might want to use it for. It has a lite weight aluminum frame, front shocks, Shimano gears/disc brakes, 29" wheels and quality components so it will be good for some cycle touring, road rides and easier MTB tracks. 

Merida Big Nine 20 (2019)

I was a total MTB nut back in the 1990's and used to get up to all sorts of crazy adventures back then. The bike I was riding at the time cost me over $4000 ( a heavily modified Bauer hard tail with uber expensive tires, brakes and Rockshox's fitted...). I was especially into the hard core downhill stuff, rough trail riding and long distance road riding. I would like to get back into these sort of activities if not at the pitch I pursued them at that time. 

I rode down the Bridal Path a couple of times...sporty!!!

I have my eye on some cycle trails...Otago Rail Trail, Alps to Ocean, West Coast Wilderness Trail, Timber Trail, Old Ghost Road etc. Eventually I am going to get too old to swing a pack and I'm going to head into kayaking and cycling as an alternate. 

Im keen to experience the Old Ghost Road Track...

I will need some gear for these tracks...MTB clothing, spares, racks, bags, a better seat etc.

Ancillary Equipment:

Leki Eagle trekking poles:

I have been on the lookout for a new set of trekking poles for quite some time now but to no avail. One of my Leki Makalu poles broke while walking the Travers-Sabine Circuit back in 2018 and the second pole is getting a disturbing bend in the smallest of the sections. I basically wanted something similar to my existing poles...Leki brand, basic in design, soft plastic handle, robust and not too expensive.

My old Leki Makalu pole up the Hawdon Valley in 2020

I brought Karen a set of walking poles last year for her birthday and I liked the design of them so much I went out and brought myself a set of the exact same poles. These are Leki Eagle trekking poles which I purchased from Torpedo-7 here in Christchurch on sale for only $119 a pair. 

Leki Eagle tramping poles

I have already used the trekking poles on a number of tramps...a recent visit to Godley Head Coastal Track and my Paparoa GW trip a couple of weeks ago. They performed very well and I am impressed with the quality and workmanship of these Leki products. They are much lighter than my previous poles as they do not have the the older style shock system those poles used. 

A Leki pole at the Upper Pororairi River bridge...

They will be going with me on the Kepler Track next week and will be my main trekking poles going forward. You are sure to see them in a number of photos over the next couple of years. 

My Leki Eagle pole on the Croesus Track last month

Eagle trekking pole stowed on the recent Godley Heads day trip

I had my previous poles for over 15 years...we will have to see if these ones can match that level of longevity!

Pack cover, Tatonka 50-65l:

I lost the iconic orange color Vaude pack cover I have been using for many years on my recent tramp of the Paparoa Track. I had it tied to my pack with some cord but a massive wind gust literally ripped it off my pack and over a massive bluff never to be seen again. 

Poop.....

My pack with cover fitted on the Lakehead Track, Nelson Lakes NP in 2017

I am often walking in rain so I had to find an alternate...the obvious solution would be an Osprey cover but there is zero stock in New Zealand due to Covid 19 issues. In the interim I have brought a cheap Tatonka pack cover as a stop gap...it cost me just $25.   

The Tatonka 40-55l pack cover.....

If it performs ok it will probably continue in service but otherwise I will replace it with a Osprey cover specifically designed to fit my Osprey Atmos AG 50 pack.

The Tatonka pack cover is elasticated top and bottom...

My pack cover looks the same as this red one but it is a light yellow color. I suppose the color is good for safety...obvious to SAR searchers and it will help me to not get blasted by some novice hunter during the Roar! 

That yellow pack cover sure stands out....Brod Bay Shelter

MSR Salt and Pepper Shaker:

While Karen and I were in Wanaka recently we went for a stroll down the main shopping area of Wanaka including several outdoor stores. There are quite a few outdoor retailers in Wanaka as it is in close proximity to tracks in Mt Aspiring, Mt Cook and Fiordland National Parks. 

On Helwick Street in downtown Wanaka

I happened along this item in Southern Wild (one of the shops there)...it is the MSR Salt and Pepper Shaker. I don't really care that it is MSR brand I brought it because I have been looking for a small seasoning shaker like this for some time now. That and it was only $10.00 on sale....

MSR Salt & Pepper Shaker

This tiny unit fits inside your closed fist and weighs only grams...salt at one end and pepper at the other. You could use these for any other type of spice as well...

MSR Salt & Pepper Shaker

I'm a practical man...price and durability usually beats brand name with me. 

MSR Salt & Pepper Shaker

I have been using paper salt and pepper sachets up to now which I justify as the paper can be burnt in the fire after use. I will give this shaker a go and see if it can fill the gap in a more environmentally friendly way. BTW: Southern Wild had a fair selection of Stoney Creek outdoor wear if that is your thing...

Icebreaker Merino Gloves:

The gift shop at the Hermitage in Aoraki/Mt Cook NP had a sale on Icebreaker gear...tops, leggings, hats, gloves and socks. I brought myself a pair of merino gloves as the polypropylene ones I have been using got a hole in them on the Paparoa Track. They were $39 dollars down from $60.

My new Icebreaker merino gloves

They should keep my hands a bit warmer when wet as they are merino wool and they should dry faster if they do get a bit moist while out tramping. I have a set of Outdoor Research gortex over-mitts to wear with these. The mitts got a good amount of use during the cold, windy and wet traverse along the Punakaiki Escarpment recently...

The new ACR ResQLink 425:

I had reached a bit of an impasse as I could not decide what my next step would be...in the end I just brought a new ACR beacon. One of my favoured online retailers Gearshop had a two day sale with over $100 off the price of a new ACR beacon so I jumped at the chance to buy one for a decent price. The new unit cost me a total of $400 including post which is a real bargain as I have seen these units in stores for $500-$600 dollars. 

Some of the features of the 425 ACR ResQLink beacon

I brought a newer ACR model the 425 which has a five year battery life (...good to July 2027 so really six years...) and while it is slightly larger than my previous unit it is one 2/3rds of the weigh of the older model. The 425 model of ResQLink has a digital screen on the front which will show you a variety of messages when it is in operation.

Front of the new ACR ResQLink 425 PLB

  When you push the test button a [TEST] message will appear on the screen to show the unit is functioning correctly. If you activate the SOS function [406 SENT!] will appearing showing that the National Rescue Center has been informed. You will also be able to see your global GPS location. This is a nice feature but not actually vital as there is a light which flashes if the unit is transmitting a rescue message to SAR. 

The digital screen on my new ACR ResQLink

The new beacon is now waterproof down to 20 meters and buoyant which were two of the faults on the older models. Previously I carried my PLB in a sil-nylon drybag to protect it from water but this will no longer be necessary. 

ACR ResQLink: instructions and tech specifications are on the back...

My new PLB came with a couple of accessories...a lanyard to carry the beacon around your neck (not the best way to carry it), a shoulder carry case and an attachment to put the beacon on your belt. I will not use any of these means of carry as all three are prone to losing the beacon when bashing through dense bush or during river crossings. 

ACR ResQLink belt attachment clip...

I will dispose of my old beacon in the proper fashion...they can be handed into some Police offices or sent back to the local supplier so it can be professionally decommissioned. If you are in the market for a new PLB here is a post I wrote about buyers tips for selecting a Personal Locator Beacon. 

My buyers guide post from 2015...recently updated!!!

I hope this beauty will never need to be used but if I do find myself in a situation of peril it is good to know that I have a way of alerting the authorities. 

"...and into the future...."

I will continue to add details of any new gear I buy over the course of 2021 so watch this post for updates....

Every track an adventure...every hut a palace...every meal a banquet...