The 2026/27 Outdoor Gear Guide

A family campsite, a Great Walk hut and an exposed backcountry camp need very different shelter systems.

For a tent, start with capacity, weather protection, packed size, ventilation and how easily it can be pitched when the wind arrives before you are ready. A tent that is perfect beside the car may be completely wrong to carry for two days. A lightweight hiking tent may feel unnecessarily cramped for a family weekend.

KEA does not make tents or packs. For those categories, compare specialists such as Macpac for hiking equipment, Zempire for campsite and family shelter, and Cactus Outdoor for hard-wearing packs. Buy for your real use, not the trip you imagine taking once.

Whatever you carry, add a pack liner or reliable dry storage. A pack cover helps, but wind-driven New Zealand rain has a way of finding openings.

New Zealand conditions change quickly. Your clothing needs to keep working when warm turns cold, dry turns wet or a straightforward day takes longer than planned.

Fit matters more than the logo. Wear your rain shell over the layers you will actually carry. Walk in new footwear before a long trip. Check tread, laces, seams and insoles. If boots have spent winter in a cupboard, do not discover their first problem eight kilometres from the car.

For New Zealand-made outerwear, Earth Sea Sky is worth comparing. Macpac offers a broad range of rainwear and hiking equipment, while Cactus Outdoor is a strong place to look when durability matters more than minimal weight. We do not sell these categories; we simply think a useful gear guide should say where else to look.

A sleeping bag is only one part of a sleep system. Your mat insulates you from the ground, your dry layers preserve warmth and a few small comforts can be the difference between enduring the night and waking ready for the next day.

For hut trips, the KEA NEST is a fitted sheet designed for DOC mattresses and smaller inflatables. For campsites, huts, road trips and evenings outside, KEA COVER is a packable insulated outdoor blanket. It is not a replacement for a temperature-rated sleeping bag in conditions that require one.

The best sleep gear is the gear that matches the temperature, stays dry and lets you recover properly.

Plan water around the route, temperature, effort and reliability of available sources. Most trampers need about two litres a day, with more needed in hot conditions or on demanding trips. Treat that as a starting point, not a universal rule.

Your system may include bottles, a bladder, purification tablets, boiling or a filter. Know what your chosen method can and cannot treat, and never assume a freshwater source is safe simply because it looks clear.

For food, pack what you expect to eat plus a simple emergency reserve. Favour food that is familiar, energy-dense and easy to prepare when you are tired. Test the stove before leaving and carry a lighter or ignition backup separately.

Safety gear is only useful if it is complete, appropriate and accessible.

Choose equipment for the location, trip length and forecast, while still carrying enough for a worst-case change in conditions. Always leave your intentions with someone and use a trip-planning resource such as Plan My Walk.

Organisation matters here. A first-aid item buried loose at the bottom of a pack is not truly ready. The KEA KIT range is designed as an empty, modular home for the medical and survival supplies you choose. The important part is not the case itself. It is knowing what is inside, where it is and when it was last checked.

A used item, passed expiry date or changing trip does not mean you need a whole new kit.

Open the first-aid and survival kit you already carry. Remove anything used, damaged or no longer suitable, check dates and personal medication, then refill only the gaps. KEA Supplies gear packs group related essentials so you can update an existing KEA KIT—or any kit you already trust—without starting again.

Choose individual packs for a specific gap, or use the Gear Refill Bundle when several parts of the setup need a complete seasonal reset.

It is easy to plan what goes into the outdoors and forget what has to come back.

Carry a dedicated system for rubbish, food scraps, wet clothing and anything that could leak through the rest of your gear. Keep waste secure around wildlife and pack out everything you take in.

Leave No Trace begins before the trip. Less packaging, better organisation and a clear plan for waste make responsible choices easier when you are tired.