Christchurch 360 Trail: Pilgrims Way Coastal Track, Awaroa Godley Heads: 31 January 2021

 Walking on the Port Hills to Godley Head...

I was working on a bit of fitness walking for my upcoming tramp of the Paparoa Track so I decided to go and walk one of the sections of the Christchurch 360 Track that I had yet to finish. I have been working on this project for awhile now and only have two sections left to walk...from Godley Head to Sumner and the section from Spencer Park to Brooklands. 

The Pilgrim Way Coastal Track starts at Taylors Mistake

The section I walked was the Pilgrims Way Coastal Track..a high quality track from Taylors Mistake to Godley Heads on the Port Hills. It is a great wee track and I will be back to walk parts of it again in the near future. 

View of Pegasus Bay from the Pilgrim Way Coast Track

WWII defense positions on Godley Heads

This time around I walked up to the defense installations on Godley Head and then followed the MTB track back to the Godley Heads Loop Track to make a circuit. It was busy on the main track with hundreds of people making the best of the lovely weather to get out and about on the Port Hills. 

Heading down to Taylors Mistake on the Pilgrim Way Coast Track

You start and finish the track in Taylors Mistake one of many small bays around the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula. My school buddies and I used to spend a bit of time at Taylors Mistake back in the 1980's when we were into surfing and wave riding. It has always been one of the premier surf breaks in Canterbury and you will often see Boof-heads out catching some waves over the weekends...

Carpark at the surf club in Taylors Mistake

It was a great three hour walk and very enjoyable...so lets have a look at the detail of what you can expect on this track...

Walking the Pilgrims Way from Taylors Mistake to Godley Head:

The track starts from the carpark behind the Taylors Mistake surf club off Taylors Mistake Drive. There is plenty of parking here for several hundred cars. Even so it will be busy on fine weekends so try to get here early to secure a good spot. 

Map: the Godley Head track network

The full circuit to Godley Heads and back to Taylors Mistake is approximately 7 kilometers and will take from 3-4 hours to complete. Make sure you are equipped to be exposed to the elements as there is zero cover for all of this time...carry gear for both sunny/warm and cold/windy conditions as you will probably experience both. 

It was HOT and sunny so I slathered myself with sunscreen and wore a wide brim hat so I didn't roast myself....

Looking back to a full carpark at Taylors Mistake

On the start of the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Taylors Mistake was first spotted by a seaman navigator by the name of Taylor during Captain Cooks first voyage of discovery so they named the cove after him. Cook thought Taylors Cove was a large inlet or harbor as it was foggy at the time...it later proved to be a short bay hence the use of  Mistake in the name....

The officers of Cook's ship actually though Banks Peninsula was an large island and period maps show it as such. Back then the entrance to the Avon Estuary and Lake Ellesmere were much larger than they are now. It looked like there was a shallow channel right around the base of the hills but as they were worried about shoaling the Endeavour they did not investigate further. It was only later that Europeans discovered there was a plain of low land surrounding the bottom of the Port Hills. 

Start of the climb out of Taylors Mistake

You start climbing immediately after leaving Taylors Mistake...the gradient is ok for walking on but you will be spending most of the next hour climbing steadily up towards Godley Heads. The track is rated as intermediate but there are a couple of steep, rocky sections along the way...

Taylors Mistake is a great surf break...

Pilgrim Way Coastal Track: heading along the track near Taylors Mistake

The track is really excellent...flat, wide and well maintained it is a very easy track to use. It was super busy on the day as this was the first fine weather weekend for nearly a month. There were hundreds of people walking, running, strolling and pushing babies along in buggies. It was lovely to see so many people out and about...

View of Taylors Mistake from the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Stay away from the track edge folks...there are some big drop offs along this coastal pathway and it is close to the edge in a number of spots. Stay to the right and common sense will see you through....

Pilgrim Way Coastalal Track is wide, flat easy walking...

There are great views of the coast, ocean and the many bays you pass along the track...you can see the course of the track winding its way along the coast in a number of spots. The track is really obvious as the gravel used on the track is a light tan/grey color that really sticks out against the side of the hills. 

The Pilgrim Way Coastal Track snakes along the coast...

Bridge over a gulch on the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

There are many bays along the coast of Banks Peninsula

There is rock fall danger at points on the Pilgrim Way Coast Track

There was a particular type of coastal plant in flower along most of the track at this time of the year. Cotyledon Orbiculata or Crassulaceace is an endemic plant on the Port Hills/Banks Peninsula and is particularly nice between November and March when the stems hold flowers. I have also seen these plants on the Te Ara Pataka Track, Mt Herbert and at Birdlings Flats. 

I really like the appearance of this succulent...it has interesting broad leaves and a tall stem with orange/red petals at the tip. Really striking...it looked picturesque scattered across the hillsides in profusion...it would be worth walking the track at this time of the year just to see these plants. 

The track sidles along the side of the hills for most of the way to Boulder Bay roughly 100 meters above sea level. You have awesome views along the coast and down to the rugged rocky coastline in between the various bays. There is plenty of evidence of the volcanic past of the Port Hills on display with ochre and red colored rock formations, lava tubes and layers of ash all visible......

View of Harris Bay from Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Moki Point and Scarborough Cliffs from Pilgrims Way Coastal Track

Approaching Boulder Bay Settlement on the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Boulder Bay is a small grouping of houses in one of the small bays along this coastline...there are only half a dozen homes most of which would have been in the same family for decades. This is all DOC land now so no more houses can be built and those that remain will eventually disappear as the leases on the land run out. Eventually all these buildings will be removed. 

You start the climb to Godley Head past Boulder Bay

Information panel about Boulder Bay

From Scarborough Cliffs to Boulder Bay, Port Hills

Past Boulder Bay you start the real climb up to Godley Head....all of the track from this point on will be up hill. It is only about about a kilometer from here to the main defense installation and you pass a number of other defense works on the way.

Climbing to Godley Head on Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Back in 1939 and the start of World War II the New Zealand government struggled to provide defenses for the various large ports along our coastline. Lyttleton was the third largest port at that time so it was decided it urgently needed defensive works. As a stop gap a couple of heavy artillery pieces from the Great War (60 Pounder howitzers) were installed on purpose built pads on the heads.

Taylor Battery 60 Pdr artillery base pads at Godley Head

The Taylor Battery guns had a great view to Lyttleton Harbor entrance

This was only a stop gap measure and over the next two years more extensive defense works were developed with mounted 6 inch naval guns, search lights, listening posts and barracks. At its height there were over 500 defense personal stationed here...mostly Home Guard, Navy and Women's Auxiliary.

The guns were never fired in anger but they were needed as Japanese submarines probed the defenses of Lyttleton harbor and there were several German commerce raiders early in the War who sank a number of ships around the New Zealand coast. We may think we are immune to conflict way down here in the South Pacific but that is a fallacy as modern warfare is truly global. Even in WWII subs had a range of 12-15 000 kilometers....

Fixed 6 inch gun battery position at Taylor Battery, Godley Head

Information about the defense installation at Godley Head

These Taylor Battery pads had 6 inch naval guns fitted....

Another interesting item on Godley Head is one of Captain Falcon Scott's huts which was originally meant to serve as a weather survey hut in Antarctica. It never made it toff the ship and was returned to New Zealand where it was used for many years as a residential garden hut up on Clifton Rise. 

After the Christchurch earthquakes the historic hut had to move as the house it was at was destroyed. It was donated to the Department of Conservation restored and moved to this site in 2012. It is just off the main track and can be visited by following a short side track or from a sign posted farm track which descends to the hut from near Godley Heads Campsite. 

BTW: All you avid hut baggers...this beastie and the new Lighthouse Cottage are on the Hut Bagger site and can be bagged as DOC huts....

Scotts Cabin at Godley Head, Port Hills

Interior of Scotts Cabin, Godley Heads, Port Hills

Information panel about Scotts Cabin at Godley Heads

From Scott's Cabin it is either back down the track to the main Pilgrims Way OR you can sidle cross country on one of the many sheep tracks. This is what I did and it eventually dropped me back onto the track just near the start of the main defense installation at Godley Heads. Alternately follow the farm track from Scotts Cabin up to the campsite on the crest and walk back down the section of track I missed on this trip. 

The last section of Pilgrim Way Coastal Track to Godley Head

The sheep track I followed to Godley Head

View down to the temporary gun emplacements...Taylor Battery, Godley Heads

This is a lovely track with great views of the coast and if you want you can just turn around and walk back the way you came. I decided to be a bit more adventurous and do the full Godley Head Loop Track by walking back to Taylors Mistake via the Breeze Col MTB Track. 

More about that later....

At Godley Heads:

They had the gates open at the main Godley Head defense installation so I went in to have a bit of a look around. By the end of 1941 they had proper underground and or armored embrasures for the naval guns they had stationed up here as well as the full support facilities a gun battery required. Most of these are underground...there is a huge complex of tunnels and underground storage areas under these fortifications. 

The start of the Godley Head defense installation...

Gun pits and observation bunkers, Godley Head

There is a fence in front of the gun emplacements...don't be tempted to climb over it as there are 60-100 meter high cliffs right along here. Falling of the cliff would be a most unpleasant way to head off to meet your maker....

Embrasure for one of the 6 inch fixed guns at Godley Head

View from Godley Battery gun pit along Pegasus Bay

The guns posted here could lob a shell as far as the mouth of the Waimakiriri River and up to 10km's out to sea. The guns were only fired once in the late 1940's as a training exercise and the shots shattered most of the concrete in the gun pit used. How they would have faced up to a bombardment from a big Japanese battleship or even a Nazi commerce cruiser is questionable. I don't think they would have lasted very long.....

On the track to the Lighthouse Cottage, Godley Head

There are great coastal views from Godley Head

After visiting the gun emplacements I headed along the Godley Head access road through the campsite and down to the picnic area at the Godley Head car park. I passed the new Lighthouse Cottage on the way and noted the various people spending the weekend camping at the campsite. Both Karen and I are keen to come camp up here some time...

Lighthouse Cottage...Awaroa/Godley Head campsite

Jon on the track past Lighthouse Cottage, Godley Heads

Awaroa/Godley Head campsite, Port Hills....

There were three or four groups staying in the campsite...both tents and caravans/camper vans. It would be an interesting place to camp but you would need a good tent as it is heinously windy up here on occasion. There are a few trees but they don't do much to cut the wind. 

View along the Port Hills from Godley Head Campsite

Godley Heads car park and toilet...

There are lots of good tracks from Godley Head car park

There are 3-4 picnic tables next to the Godley Head carpark so I sat down and had a rest for 10 minutes before continuing on my way. There were lots of people parking here and heading off in all directions to follow the various tracks that start here. There is shade, toilets and water available at this picnic area so it is a great spot to rest before continuing on your journey. 

My Vaude Brenta 40l pack at Godley Heads picnic area

Lyttleton Heads from the Godley Heads car park...

There is a small picnic area at the Godley Head car park

I had a quick look at the information panel at the carpark as I had forgotten to bring my topo map I had printed off just to confirm my location. It would be hard to get lost but you should always have a map of your walk even if you think you know where you are going. 

Panel showing the Godley Head Track network...

I sent Karen a quick text before heading off just to let her know I was O.K. and hadn't fallen off the track to splatter on the rocks below.....

Breeze Col Track to Taylors Mistake:

From the Summit Road the walking is much easier...first along the Breeze Col MTB Track and then down the distant Godley Head Loop Track. If you decide to walk along the MTB track like I did be aware of the cyclists using the track....you are using their track so they have the right of way. I would occasionally cast a glance back to see if any MTB riders were coming and if so I would move out of the way. 

The Summit Road goes from Godley Head to Gebbies Pass

Start of the Breeze Col MTB Track at Godley Heads

Because this is a MTB track the gradients are very gentle...no massive hill climbs to undertake but of course there are undulations as no track is perfectly straight. It is about 1.5 kilometers from the carpark to the point where the track starts to descend to Taylors Mistake once again. 

On the Breeze Col MTB Track, Port Hills

View back to Godley Heads from the MTB track

Pegasus Bay from Breeze Col MTB Track

Good view of Taylors Mistake from the MTB track

There are some nice views down to Taylors Mistake along this track and it is lined for most of the way by the same bright succulents as the Pilgrims Way. The Summit Road runs along just above you for most of the way to the next track junction so you will be able to watch cars creeping along the sporty narrow winding road...

The Breeze Col MTB Track follows the Summit Road

You can see the Godley Heads Loop descending to the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Making way for MTB riders on Breeze Col MTB Track

Eventually you will arrive at a track junction for the Breeze Col MTB Track, Breeze Col Walking Track and the Godley Head Loop Track. Just stay on the main track in front of you and follow it as it starts to slowly wind its way back down towards Taylors Mistake.

The Godley Heads Loop Track descends down to Taylors Mistake

Start of the Breeze Bay Walking Track at Godley Heads

If you stay on the main track Crater Rim Walkway it will eventually drop you at Evans Pass where you can walk down to Sumner. Alternately you can keep walking and make your way along the rest of the Crater Rim Walkway which is all part of the larger Christchurch 360 Trail. The whole Christchurch 360 Trail around the outskirts of Christchurch is over 140 km's long....

The Christchurch 360 Trail continues along the Port Hills...

MTB friendly bridges on the track to Taylors Mistake

The Godley Loop descends back down to the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

Halfway along the Godley Head Loop Track is a side track for the MTB riders...this is the Anaconda Track which drops much more steeply to Taylors Mistake. You can walk this way if you want but be super careful of bikes as you may not see them coming on this narrow winding trail...

Anaconda MTB track to left....Godley Heads Loop Track to right...

I stopped just off the track near here and had a rest break while sitting on a handy rock ledge and enjoying the visual surrounds. 

Scarborough Heads from the Godley Loop Track

On the Godley Head Loop Track heading down to Taylors Mistake

View of Taylors Mistake from the Godley Head Loop track

The views of the ocean are spectacular at Godley Heads....

The Godley Heads Loop Track eventually rejoins the Pilgrims Way Track and then heads back along the first kilometer of that track to Taylors Mistake...there were a lot of people on the track as it was getting on to late afternoon and the weather had been improving as they day went on. 

Pilgrim Way Coastal Track from the Godley Head Loop Track

Rejoining the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track...

There are interesting views of Taylors Mistake as you drop down to the beach....the tidal range on the Banks Peninsula beaches is quite high so a wide expanse of the beach was now exposed as it was low tide. 

Heading back down the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track to Taylors Mistake

The tide is well receded at Taylors Mistake, Port Hills

Descending down to the settlement at Taylors Mistake

One of the Taylors Mistake cribs....

Christchurch 360 Trail marker on the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track

I walked down and past the cribs, houses and holiday homes along the edge of Taylors Mistake...this is the other start point for the track. These homes are more substantial and some of them are on freehold land so are more likely to survive into the future. Most of them have a BoHo surfer feel to them as this has always been a more alternate residential area of Christchurch. 

On the beach track at Taylors Mistake

More Taylors Mistake cribs.....

I ended the track just behind the Taylors Mistake Surf Club...this is the actual start/finish of the track and there are toilets and water fountains at the children's playground. No one was using the play equipment...it would be hard to ignore that lovely big beach right next to it....

End of the Pilgrim Way Coastal Track at Taylors surf club

Taylors Mistake toilet block....end of the track!

Godley Head information panel at Taylors Mistake

It was stinking hot by the time I finished this track...take sun screen and use it or you will get the full all body roasting action going on. Who really wants to look and feel like a Sunday chook cooking in the oven.....

Start of the Godley Head tracks at Taylors Mistake

The Silver Surfer parked at Taylors Mistake

This is a really awesome track and really deserves more promotion...it has great ocean views, a lovely easy to walk track, historical interest and ease of access. What else do you need...come on out and try it on for size. 

This article has been included in Twinkl's "Get Up and Walk' campaign and is part of their article...Some great ideas for Get Up and Walk February

Access: From Summer take the Scarborough Road and then Taylors Mistake Road to the Taylors Mistake surf club carpark The road is narrow & winding so watch for other vehicles. The track starts right behind the surf club toilet block.

Track Times: From the car-park it is 1 hour 45 minutes to Godley Heads, 3-4 hours return via Godley Heads Loop Track, all tracks are well marked and signposted. 

Hut details: Lighthouse Cottage: Serviced/Sole occupancy, 4 bunks, water, power, electric heating...book on DOC website.

Campsite Details:  Godley Head Campsite: DOC ranger on site over summer, water tank, toilets

Miscellaneous: This track is exposed to all weather so it can be blisteringly hot and cold, wet and windy. Come prepared for all eventualities. Public toilets at Taylors Mistake, the Godley Head campsite and at the Godley Head car-park.

Tramping mugs...which one is for you?

What makes for a great camping mug?

One of the great pleasures of tramping and other outdoor activities is sitting around with a group of like minded people and chatting about life, love and the general state of the world. These types of encounters are always enhanced with some kind of drink in hand and make the physically demanding rigors of walking for hours carrying a pack more bearable. 

Hut life...a mixed group enjoying the pleasures of the hut....

The beverage you are consuming could be hot or cold...alcoholic or teetotal but the one thing they all have in common is they need some sort of drinking vessel to hold them in. A cup or mug suitable for holding a variety of liquids is one of the most important pieces of kit you can carry. What is that morning cup of coffee without a sturdy mug to hold in your hands....?

A tasty pre dinner Cup-O-Soup at Wharewharangi Hut

I have used a multitude of different cups and mugs during my tramping adventures and I thought it might be a good idea to look at what makes a great tramping mug. We will also look at some different materials used for cups/mugs and discuss their pros and cons. 

Jon enjoys a pot of tea at North Arm Hut, Rakuira

Finally I will discuss what I personally carry when going out into the backcountry. 

What constitutes a great tramping mug?

Before discussing materials and product options I think we should first consider what makes a great drinking vessel for tramping. Different people will have different criteria depending on the type of tramping they do, the style of their outdoor adventures and how much they are wiling to carry. For example a ultra light long trail walker will probably drink from their cook pot (if they even have one) whilst your cyclist, kayaker, car camper or 4 W/D enthusiast has a vehicle to haul heavier items in. 

Using my cooking pot as a tea cup...John Tait Hut, 2018

I have a hierarchy of criteria based on my own needs which dictates what I am carrying and they fall into the following areas:

1. Weight: How heavy is the item and is it heavier than necessary or can I find something lighter? This will be dictated by your tramping style to a certain degree. You should always try to minimise weight when purchasing new outdoor gear. Extra weight leads to more fatigue, slower pace and a less enjoyable tramp. 

2. Purpose: What do I need it for and can it fill more than one purpose negating the need for extra equipment? What is it going to hold..cold and hot drinks, soup, cold soak, cooked food etc?  Can it be used for multiple outdoor activities? A multipurpose piece of kit is better than one with a limited set of uses...

...multi purpose gear...using a large metal mug as a cook pot.....

3. Material: I mostly tramp/walk which means bashing, drops, knocks and general rough handling conditions. Anything I carry must be sturdy & rugged enough to survive the hard life it is going to endure. Don't go overboard here...it doesn't have to last for 40+ years but it should survive me dropping it on the hut floor a couple of times. 

4. Size: What size of mug do you need for the adventures you undertake? Do you enjoy massive cups of coffee of a morning or just a stronger thimbleful?  Will your mug have a second role as your food bowl? You should probably go for a larger size so that it can be used for a multitude of uses but be cognizant of weight issues... 

BTW: in JonWorld (TM) an oversized tea cup is actually called a BBT or Big Bastid Tea...just so you know...

Now that is one big bastid of a tea mug.....

5. Cost: This is a lesser concern but do I want to spend lots of money on a super-duper branded item or can I buy something similar from a chain retailer for much less. Don't spend big on those ancillary items...plates, cups, basic clothing etc. Spend your money on the essential items (pack/mat/sleeping bag/wet weather gear/boots) which favor using quality brands. 

6. Ascetics: This is not important to me but a lot of people must have the right shape, color, size, design. I could honestly care less...if it does the job I'm quite happy to suck my Lifers Juice out of a pink princess cup.....

What you are looking for should be a combination of all these factors which addresses most if not all of them. You will probably need to compromise as very little equipment is going to perfectly fit all your criteria..just get as close as possible.  

Types of drinking vessels for tramping.....

There are a variety of materials used in the production of outdoor drinking vessels but some materials such as glass, ceramic, bamboo and wood are not suitable mainly due to weigh and durability issues. The vessels commonly used basically break down into three main materials. These are metal, hard plastic and soft plastics (such as silicone).

Enjoying a brew at Totaranui Campgrounds in 2019

 Lets have a look at each of these in turn and consider their good and bad points. 

Metal mugs:

Metal is an excellent material for outdoor cup ware as it is rugged, easily cleaned, cheap and durable. the main problem with metal cups are that they tend to be heavier than plastics and they conduct heat well which means you often burn yourself on them. Many different metals are used: aluminum, tin, stainless steel, titanium and enamelware. Prices range from just a few dollars for cheap enamel mugs up to $50 for a quality branded titanium mug. 

'Brewing up' in the bed of the Blue Grey River back in 2015

One of the iconic items of Kiwiana is the enameled metal cup. These have been a fixture of the backcountry and outdoor living for as long as Europeans have lived in this country. Made by many companies they are great as a camping mug as the enamel makes the metal less likely to burn you. They are also very hard wearing, easy to clean and cheap. 

A typical cheap enamel mug...

You often see people (especially older trampers) using these mugs in huts and at campsites. 

An enamel and a stainless mug at use at Onetahuaiti Beach...

Another option is one of the many different types of cup-canteen used by military forces around the world. Made of heavier grade aluminum or stainless steel they are made to be carried in webbing gear with an integral water bottle. I have one from my Army days which was manufactured in 1972 so it is nearly 50 years old and still as good as the day they made it...

Military style cup canteen (US Army circa 1960-1990)

The handle often folds down or under the cup canteen making them a smaller item to store. These may double as your cooking pot which negates the need for another piece of kit. I have seen modern iterations of this in stores recently...Gerber/Bear Gryyls was one of the brands also Coughlin's, Esbit and no name Chinese knock offs.

A Gerber/Bear Gryyls cup canteen

The most regularly seen mug is one of the many metal camp mugs made by just about every outdoor retailer in the world. If using a metal camp mug it is a good idea to look for a double skin version as they will allow you to drink without burning your lips. They are also slightly insulated so will keep your drink warm for longer. 

A cheap Campmaster brand mug from Mitre 10 Hardware

Any of these mugs would work a treat outdoors but we should also consider the other material camp mugs are often made from which is plastic...

Hard plastics mugs:

Most people today will be using some form of plastic cup or mug when they are out on their outdoor adventures. Plastic is an ideal material for camp ware...it is light, durable, easy to clean and cheap. You can spend as little or as much on a mug as you like.

A white plastic mug I have used in the past...

 

Possibly the cheapest option is to go to a big box store like the Warehouse, Briscoes or even the local supermarket and look at what they have to offer. I have a white plastic K-Mart mug I sometimes take on trips that cost me $3 NZD and it works fine. Have a look around home...I bet you have one of these mugs in the cupboard...

A cheap hard plastic mug from a chain store...

If you wanted to go a bit more upmarket you might look at one of the cheaper outdoor stores like Mountain Equipment or Hunting and Fishing. These stores sell all types of outdoor cook ware...the melamine mug below is from Mountain Equipment and costs only $6. They are usually more colorful and show purpose design features.

Melamine mug from Mountain Equipment

If you are a total gear head then the sky is the limit...you can spend up to $100 buying a outdoor mug (don't...that is stupid money for a plastic cup...) from a brand like Kathmandu, Macpac, Sea to Summit, REI, Marmot, GSI, MSR etc. etc. A Sea to Summit X Mug or Thermo Mug will retail for around $15-$20 and some of these fancy ones will have lids, thermal sleeves, volume graduations etc. 

A Sea to Summit Thermo Mug

Are they any better? No...not really...they are branded but they basically do the same job as that cheap $3 dollar K-Mart mug. If buying a hard plastic mug just be aware that it will get bashed around a lot on trail. Try not to buy very hard plastics like Melamine as they easily shatter. The mug should have a degree of flexibility so a semi hard plastic is the best base material.

Soft plastics:

Aside from hard plastics there is a growing range of softer silicone based mugs and cups on the market. The premium brand in this area is Sea To Summit with their X-Cup and X-Mug range. The body of these are baffled, folding silicone with a hard base and lip. When stored they make a neat round package about a cm thick and they unfold into a 250ml or 480 ml drinks vessel.

Sea to Summit X-Cup

There is a whole range of this folding camp ware from Sea To Summit; cups, mugs, plates, bowls even metal bottomed pots/pans/kettles. The main advantage of this system is the small size of the folded item...it will easily fit under the cook pot in your cooking gear storage bag. 

The whole Sea to Summit X range of camp ware

UCO use a similar idea but with their own particular twist...their cups/mugs have a solid top and handle and a folding bottom. This means they are easier to hold and drink from but with the added space saving aspect the folding bottom provides. 

A UCO collapsible mug in silicone and plastic

Here is another example of folding cup used by the British Army....the top of these silicone mugs fold down into the main body. This makes them smaller and easier to pack into a mess kit or cook pot. Not a bad option...I have used one of these before and it works adequately enough to be considered. 

Collapsible silicone mug as used by British Army

The main downside of all of these mugs is durability...these will not last as long as a metal or hard plastic mug. They can also be more difficult to use as the heat is more readily transferred through the material...you might burn yourself with these. The constant folding/unfolding is likely to cause splits especially on the ones which have baffles. 

Thermo flasks:

We should not forget the thermos flask as a possible outdoor mug...when I talk about thermo flasks I really mean those thermo travel mugs you get for coffee and other hot drinks. 

A Kathmandu thermo travel mug.....

They actually make good camp mugs as most of them are made from light materials, they are durable and most have a lid to keep the heat in. If you are going to use one of these have a really good look around and find one that is as light as possible. 

Thermos coffee travel mug...

You shouldn't discount actual flasks either...there is a bewildering range of them available in many different shops and they work well to keep hot drinks warm and cold drinks cool. 

A metal thermal vacuum flask...

Again look for as light as possible and make sure the inner is metal and not glass as the glass ones break very easily. 

Karen's thermal flask in use in Hanmer Forest Park

Thermos Flasks also have a time and place in the outdoors but they tend to be very heavy so they are not suitable as a mug for trampers and hikers. These are excellent for holding a brew/soup on a day walk or casual stroll...Karen has a quality Stanley flask that will keep the contents warm for up to 6-7 hours....

Classic Thermos flask....

So now we have looked at materials and types of mugs let us look at what I am currently using when I go on my outdoor adventures.

What I use when tramping....

My gear is constantly changing and evolving...I think about how my gear has performed after each trip and if it is not ideal I look for an alternate. I have also started to swap out my initial gear with newer better equipment as finances allow. 

This is my currently gear load:

Sea to Summit X-Mug: 

Karen brought me a new tramping stove for Christmas so I brought myself a new folding X-Mug to go with it. These mugs are made of silicone with a solid base and rim and fold down to a disk about a cm thick and it fits perfectly on top of my stove in its storage bag. Yet to be used in the field....I brought mine from Bivouac Outdoor for around $20.

Sea to Summit X-Cup...open and folded closed

The Sea to Summit X-Mug 

Sea to Summit Delta Mug:

I replaced my metal camp cup with a plastic Sea To summit Delta Cup early last year so it went on all of the overnight trips I undertook in 2020. It is an excellent mug...thick enough to let me hold hot drinks, tough, easy to clean and it has graduations on the inside for measuring hot water for meals. I will continue to use this mug and in fact I have brought Karen one as well....

A hard plastic Sea to Summit Delta Mug...

Here are some photos of the Delta Mug in use...

Its propping up my Cheez-its but you get the idea...

Breakfast of champions...O-Meal Hashbrowns and coffee!

Brew time at Moonlight Tops Hut on the Paparoa Track

A mug of soup with dinner...Luxmore Hut

This is my main mug for overnight and multiday trips using my lite cooking kit...they cost from $12-$20.

Kiwi camping metal mug:

Prior to the Delta Mug I was using a double walled Kiwi Camping metal mug on my outdoor adventures. It had accompanied me on a number of trips over the years but has been relegated to my day pack as a mug for tea, soup etc. when out day walking. 

Morning coffee at Howdon Hut in late 2019...

Having a brew in my Kiwi Camping mug..

Dinnertime at Woolshed Hut in 2020...

A perfect example of why this material makes for a good mug....

Toaks TI 1.3l pot:

In an effort to lighten my load I sometimes just leave the mugs and plates etc. at home and eat/drink straight out of my cooking pot. My main pot is a Toaks Titanium 1.3 liter pot...it certainly fulfills the role of Big Bastid Tea vessel very well...

Boiling water in my Toaks Ti cook pot....Hawdon Hut

My lite weight cook kit in action at Bark Bay Hut, August 2020

I'm getting old now and I prefer the comfort and class of drinking out of a mug and I actually enjoy not burning my lips on the edge of the pot....

Generic thermo mug:

Karen and I brought a couple of cheap metal thermo mugs for use when we go camping and tramping. We have used them a couple of times on day walks...they are excellent camp mugs as they have a lid to keep the contents warm and they keep bugs out of your brew. 

Using my travel mug at the Pororairi River in 2020

Well...hopefully that will help some people decide what kind of drinking vessel they will carry when they head outdoors. 

BTW: I am walking the Paparoa Track next week so come back soon for some new Trip Reports including this Great Walk track...