7 GIFTS FOR HIKERS IN NEW ZEALAND

Are you looking to buy a hiking gift for someone in New Zealand?

These are seven presents that I’d be happy if someone got all one of them for me.

And yes, they’re all available to buy in New Zealand, and online (including the fun #7). I’ll link to them where I can.

Alright, here are a few somewhat unique presents for hikers that may make their hiking life that little bit better.

1. BACKCOUNTRY HUT PASS

If you’re looking for a present for someone who is planning to spend a lot of time in backcountry huts (maybe they’re doing the Te Araroa Trail), get them a Backcountry Hut Pass. It’s something they’ll use and get value from.

A hut pass means that they don’t need to worry about buying hut tickets for the majority of the huts around the country, and they can even staying at most huts on the Great Walks out of season using the hut pass.

Just make sure they haven’t got a pass yet!

To buy one, head to the DOC website, where you’ll need to create an account first and then click ‘passes’ on the top right corner – on a laptop.

2. MINI LANTERN

This is the first of two lighting devices on this list, and I was surprised by how useful I find this lantern.

The mini lantern isn’t a super must-have gift for hikers, but if you’re looking to buy a hiker a present who likes a gadget then getting a mini lantern is an excellent addition to their kit.

While a head torch is useful, the mini lantern is great to have a light source that doesn’t move while you’re eating, making food, or just general chatting whether in a hut or tenting.

And you’ll earn bonus points if the person is travelling in a campervan as they’re also super useful at night in a campervan.

You can buy the mini lantern I have online at Macpac or in stores.

You can find other gift ideas from Macpac here.

3. PLB

If you’re really really worried about your hiking human, then investing in a PLB for them is something that they’ll appreciate, and will no doubt give you peace of mind.

There’s a variety of PLB’s, and the best one to get depends on your budget and their preferences. I’ve always hired a PLB when required, but if you are thinking of buying one, make sure to ask for as much information from them as possible. Or just say you want to buy them one, but aren’t sure which one will best suit there needs.

Here are a few PLB options you can buy:

• McMurdo Fast Find 220 GPS Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) via Bivoauc
• ACR RESQLINK™ 400 via Further Faster
• Garmin Inreach Mini via Torpedo 7

4. GOODR SUNGLASSES

Going hiking with a pair of sunglasses that cost a few hundred dollars isn’t a good idea. I love my Goodr sunglasses for hiking because they’re:

• durable
• good looking
• have fun branding
• are polarised
• reasonably priced (~$50)

I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t like their Goodr’s. Buy them at Goodr.co.nz.

5. DRY BAGS

Dry bags are a funny thing. They’re kind of like packing cells for travel. If you don’t have them you wonder what all the fuss is about, but once you have them life is better.

If you know your friend doesn’t have any dry bags, get them a few and they’ll find all sorts of uses for them, especially on multiday hikes around the South Island…raining or not.

There’s a few options to buy dry bags at Macpac.

6. HEAD TORCH

If you know the person you’re looking to get a hiking gift for doesn’t have a great head torch, getting them an upgrade is something they’ll appreciate. Especially if they’re travelling on a budget.

Buying a cheap headtorch is fine…but it’s not until you get a powerful one like the Knog Bily Run 400 that you realise how helpful they can be.

There’s a whole host of headtorches out there. If you’re after minimum requirements, I’d suggest looking for one that’s:

• at least 250 lumens strong
• rechargeable

I like the rechargeable ones as they’re so much easier to deal with compared to remembering to buy batteries etc.

You can buy Knog’s at Macpac or Further Faster.

7. WINE FLASK

These Platypus wine flasks are awesome!

I’d never heard of these until my friend ordered me one and it now comes with me on the majority of my overnight hikes in the Queenstown area.

They’re a simple concept, you simply pour a bottle of wine into the flask (they do fit an entire bottle).

And yes, they’re durable enough where I’m happy to put red wine in them and not fear ending up with red wine everywhere. Overall, it’s easily the best way to bring wine when hiking.

p.s. when you bring the wine flask out at a hut, people will be jealous.

You can buy the wine flasks at Further Faster and OUtside Sports.

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And there you go, a short and sweet list of things to buy for the person going hiking in NZ.

If you have any questions about these hiking gifts, let me know in the comments below or email jub@churnewzealand.com