Gear tips for smaller adults

WEEKEND WEATHER: See where the best tramping this weekend will be!

January 22, 2026

Gerry Trevella is a rural GP who spends one month a year working on Rēkohu Chatham Islands as part of a rotating medical team.

Arthur’s Pass forms the basis of much of her tramping, but she also enjoys the Chatham’s unique walks.

At only 152cm tall, finding gear that fits comfortably has been a lifelong challenge, and the move to lighter, smaller and female-specific items has been a real bonus.

Missed yesterday’s feature? Bag multiple huts in one weekend in this quiet part of the Ruahine.

Quiz

Where is the best place to cross?

  • Point A – About hip deep in the middle, where the riverbed is smooth, with a very slow flow.

  • Point B – About knee deep in the middle, where the riverbed is smooth.

  • Point C – About shin deep, where the riverbed is rocky but seems obstacle-free.

  • Point D – Two steps thigh deep and then ankle deep where the riverbed is smooth.

  • Point E – Ankle deep as far as you can see where the riverbed is smooth.

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…

GEAR REVIEW: Exped Ultra

This lightweight bag is a great option for trampers and climbers who need high-end features to keep out the cold. The close mummy-fit makes the most of this bag’s 850 fill-power down for plush comfort, but it lacks water resistance for damp conditions.

Current Issue - Jan/Feb 2026

The weekend weather at a park near you…

LocationTodayFridaySaturdaySunday
Angelus Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
9°/13°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 3°C at 7pm.
5°/9°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
3°/8°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
1°/8°
Aoraki/Mt Cook VC
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
10°/18°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
6°/15°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
6°/10°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
5°/13°
Arthurs Pass
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
12°/18°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
8°/13°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
7°/11°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
7°/14°
Ben Lomond Summit
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
6°/14°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -1°C at 11pm.
2°/8°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
1°/6°
Rain and snow. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-0°/5°
Brewster Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
8°/15°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 3°C at 11pm.
5°/11°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
3°/11°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
2°/11°
Cape Reinga
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
18°/21°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 90 km/h.
17°/21°
Partly cloudy. Gale with gusts up to 110 km/h.
15°/18°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 90 km/h.
14°/19°
Karangahake Gorge
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 90 km/h.
18°/23°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
16°/22°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
13°/18°
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
12°/19°
Kaweka J Summit
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 4°C at 12am.
8°/16°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
6°/15°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 110 km/h.
3°/10°
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
1°/11°
McKinnon Pass
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
10°/16°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
5°/11°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
4°/10°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
3°/10°
Mt Heale Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Strong wind with gusts up to 90 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
17°/21°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 90 km/h.
17°/20°
Chance of light showers. Gale with gusts up to 115 km/h.
15°/17°
Partly cloudy. Gale with gusts up to 100 km/h.
16°/17°
Mt Pirongia
Persistent rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 100 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
12°/17°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
11°/15°
Light rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 125 km/h.
9°/11°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 115 km/h.
8°/13°
Mueller Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 4°C at 2am.
5°/11°
Rain and snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -1°C at 11pm.
1°/8°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
-2°/2°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-1°/4°
Pinnacles Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 90 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
15°/20°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
13°/19°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 110 km/h.
11°/15°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 110 km/h.
10°/16°
Pouakai Hut
Rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 100 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
10°/15°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
8°/11°
Rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 115 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 7am.
6°/8°
Rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
6°/9°
Powell Hut
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 80 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
10°/15°
Rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 125 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
8°/11°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 2°C at 6am.
5°/9°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
5°/10°
Rotoiti/Nelson Lk VC
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
14°/20°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
10°/16°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
8°/13°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
8°/15°
Roys Peak
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
7°/15°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 11pm.
4°/10°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
2°/9°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
2°/9°
Tongariro VC
Rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
12°/17°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
9°/13°
Heavy rain at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 2°C at 9am.
5°/9°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
6°/10°
Waitawheta Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
15°/21°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
14°/20°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
12°/16°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 100 km/h.
11°/17°
Woolshed Creek Hut
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
10°/16°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
7°/15°
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
6°/10°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
7°/13°

Report created on 22 January, 2026 at 7.07am. For a full forecast of the park of your choice, visit NIWA.

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Quiz

Answer: Point B – About knee deep in the middle, where the riverbed is smooth.

Being on the straight, this point is less likely to have a deep channel than a curve. The depth and riverbed are good, and it is wider than the rapids at C. This means the current will be less. If you lost your footing, you would be swept into the slow pool, which would be easier to get out of.

Quiz provided by Heather Grady from Outdoor Training New Zealand.

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