Gear List for mountaineering in New Zealand - winter trips

This clothing and equipment list is compiled with winter in mind. Layering is the key to this system. Make sure your system works by trying it out as best you can beforehand.

Items with * are trip dependent.

Boots – Ice Climbing; Insulated B2 Rigid sole boots like La Sportiva Nepal Extremes or similar, double boots are best if camping eg La Sportiva G3

Boots – Ski Snowboard Touring / Mountaineering A touring type boot with a walk mode, please check compatibility with crampons as many combinations don’t work.

 Socks – 2-3 Pairs of socks and/ or liner socks if that makes your boots fit and your feet protest less.

Soft shell pants or similar, something lighter than storm pants if in spring or doing lots of vertical.

Fleece pants and Merino, Polypro or capilene thermals/ long johns – some climbs will warrant either or both of these depending on the weather and altitude.

Storm Pants – Gore Tex or E-Vent style with full-length zips.

Long sleeve tops: At least 2 of the following combinations: Merino or Fleece or Polypro (eg 1 x 100 weight, 1 x 200 weight). Preferably with a high zip collar.

Fleece Jacket or Windstopper style soft shell

Parka/ Storm Jacket – Gore Tex or E-Vent style jacket ideally not a heavy ski jacket.

Down /Synthetic Jacket – PrimaLoft, or Goose down jacket, ideally with a hood, mainly for as a belay jacket while climbing or at night huts at night.

Climbing Gloves – 1 X Fingered polypropylene and 1 X Mittens or ski gloves. can be lightweight polypro and dachstein woollen mitts.

Winter weight Gloves or Mitts if  ice climbing

Sun Hat – Baseball or Legionnaires if in spring

Neck Gaiter –  Buff  or similar

Wool/ Fleece/ Windstopper hat

*Gaiters – Ice climbing not ski / snowboarding

Avalanche Transceiver, Shovel and Probe – no plastic shovel blades

Crampons (Ice climbing) – pair with vertical front points

Crampons  (Ski / Snowboard Touring) – lightweight pair ideally steel not aluminium if on a board you may need special wide pair

Crampons (Ski / Snowboard mountaineering) – no aluminium, 12 points are best

Ski / Spilt Board / Snowshoes – Trip dependant eg 120mm wide skis are terrible for skinning up in NZ conditions

Skins and ski crampons that fits well the setup you’re bringing

Ski / Walking Poles collapsible are better when ice climbing

Ice Axe – for ice climbing it needs to be for steep ice, whereas light is better ski touring

*Ice Hammer – for steep winter or ice climbing only

Helmet – ski type for ski touring otherwise discuss with guide

Expedition Pack minimum 55-65 litres (that allows to carry skis or board if touring)

Harness and belay device – an alpine style harness is light and easy to get in and out of with crampons on. Ideally a belay device that works with thinner half ropes.

Prusiks – 6mm nylon cord (must be rated rope) 2 medium length (navel to chin when tied) and one long (toe to navel when tied)

Ice Screw – min.17cm ski touring otherwise 22cm.

Locking carabiners – x 5 (Two large pear shaped and 3 small D shaped)

Snaplock carabiners – x 2

Sewn slings – one 90cm X 18mm or 120mm X 12mm

Sleeping Bag – Rated 3-4 seasons tenting or winter

*Sleeping Pads – Thermarest/ ExPed/ Ensolite. Bring your repair kits too. A cheap closed cell foam pad can give you extra comfort.

*Tent – Please let me know if you have a suitable tent that you want to test out, otherwise leave it at home.

Water Bottles – 1 x 1litre Nalgene style bottles. Buy or make an insulating pouch to allow you to keep hot water hot and stop liquids from freezing. Camelbak or Platypus hoses freeze.

*Cup, Bowl, Spoon and knife – Camp life will be just fine without a fork. We will mostly eat foods that are chopped finely, easy to chew and digest.

Watch – Preferably with alarm and Altimeter

Ear Plugs – optional

Camera, memory cards and batteries.

Headlamp

Sunglasses and Snow Goggles – BOTH please!

Stuff Sacs/ dry bags/ plastic bags – make sure they are sturdy if they are plastic. It’s amazing how much more organized your gear will be with different coloured bags.

Zip lock bags – For your notebook, camera, maps, phone. Note pad and Pencil (Or iPhone) – For jotting down your memoirs. The best ideas are hatched in the hills.

Hand Sanitizer and personal toiletries think very minimal

Pee bottle – optional

Blister Kit (compulsory) – Tape AND Moleskin or Second skin or Compede) I will be carrying a group first aid kit.

Sun Cream – No tanning cream. Preferably 50+ SPF

Lip Balm –Also with SPF  30 minimum, preferably 50+ SPF

Chemical Hand warmers – optional

Simple Pain relief – Aspirin, Tylenol, Panadol