Sleeping bags are getting lighter and more compressible thanks to brands using high-loft hydrophobic down and lightweight fabrics.
When choosing a bag, pick ones that fits your budget and with a comfort temperature rating that suits the majority of your trips.
Gear editor, Mark Watson, breaks down the different parts of a sleeping, their functions and 17 of 2026’s top models in this year’s sleeping bag guide.
Missed yesterday’s feature? Artist Niels Meyer-Westfeld’s new book, Feathers of Aotearoa, is filled with exquisite drawings and intriguing facts. Deputy editor, Leigh Hopkinson interviewed Niels for this month’s Track Chat.
Quiz
What do the circles connected by lines on this map represent?
A - Telephone line on poles.
B - Powerlines on pylons.
C - Powerlines on poles.
D - Buried gas pipeline.
E - Deer fencing.
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
SKILLS CHECK: Get to know your compass with these pro tips. 🧭
Photo: Mark Watson
Your compass is a powerful, pocket-sized navigation device, and it’s an essential piece of equipment.
Compasses weigh next to nothing and don't require batteries, making them reliable at all times and in any weather.
A compass can be used as a primary navigation tool paired with a topo map, as backup or in combination with a GPS. Here’s what you need to know about your compass, its parts and functions.
Current Issue - March 2026
Every Tararua hut ranked, the possibilities of packrafting, three life changing journeys, 7 mapped trip reports, gear guides and dozens more articles!
The weekend weather at a park near you…
| Location | Today | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelus Hut |
 4°/13°
|
 4°/13°
|
5°/17°
|
6°/13°
|
| Aoraki/Mt Cook VC |
9°/22°
|
11°/20°
|
 14°/23°
|
 13°/19°
|
| Arthurs Pass |
8°/19°
|
9°/17°
|
12°/22°
|
 12°/17°
|
| Ben Lomond Summit |
2°/14°
|
3°/14°
|
6°/16°
|
3°/9°
|
| Brewster Hut |
3°/13°
|
5°/10°
|
9°/15°
|
 7°/12°
|
| Cape Reinga |
15°/21°
|
15°/21°
|
15°/21°
|
16°/21°
|
| Karangahake Gorge |
8°/22°
|
9°/21°
|
9°/21°
|
13°/21°
|
| Kaweka J Summit |
-0°/14°
|
3°/15°
|
2°/17°
|
5°/16°
|
| McKinnon Pass |
5°/11°
|
8°/12°
|
9°/13°
|
6°/12°
|
| Mt Heale Hut |
13°/18°
|
13°/19°
|
14°/18°
|
17°/18°
|
| Mt Pirongia |
4°/16°
|
6°/15°
|
8°/16°
|
 8°/15°
|
| Mueller Hut |
9°/11°
|
7°/10°
|
10°/13°
|
7°/10°
|
| Pinnacles Hut |
8°/18°
|
9°/18°
|
8°/19°
|
10°/18°
|
| Pouakai Hut |
4°/12°
|
6°/11°
|
8°/12°
|
8°/12°
|
| Powell Hut |
4°/12°
|
7°/11°
|
8°/17°
|
10°/14°
|
| Rotoiti/Nelson Lk VC |
7°/22°
|
8°/23°
|
9°/25°
|
13°/21°
|
| Roys Peak |
3°/17°
|
3°/15°
|
6°/19°
|
6°/11°
|
| Tongariro VC |
3°/17°
|
4°/16°
|
5°/18°
|
10°/15°
|
| Waitawheta Hut |
8°/19°
|
9°/19°
|
9°/19°
|
12°/19°
|
| Woolshed Creek Hut |
8°/21°
|
10°/23°
|
10°/23°
|
9°/16°
|
Report created on 05 March, 2026 at 07:11am. For a full forecast of the park of your choice, visit NIWA.
Featured Book
Above the Treeline
The essential publication for anyone interested in the natural world of alpine NZ, a guide to the plants, ferns, mosses, lichen, invertebrates, birds and lizards that occupy these rich and diverse environments.
Subscribers get a 10% discount.
Quiz
Answer C - Powerlines on poles.
The circles connected by lines represent powerlines on poles. They are only marked when they are away from roads.
Quiz provided by Heather Grady from Outdoor Training New Zealand.
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