Our guide to summer's top hiking clothes

GEAR REVIEW: How do these toe socks stack up? Plus weekend weather near you.

January 08, 2026

Gear up for your next warm-weather adventure with our curated guide to the top summer hiking clothes. These technical clothes provide sun protection, wick perspiration, and have anti-odour treatments so they can be worn for hikes both short and long.

Missed yesterday’s feature? Read why NZ’s top outdoors brands are supporting Walk1200km in 2026!

Quiz

You are in a group of five people, a mix of adults and late teens. You are all fit and have no pre-existing injuries or illnesses. You have a 4-hour hike planned starting at 8am. What food should you take?

  • A. No food is required.

  • B. Snacks like muesli bars and scroggin.

  • C. Lunch and snacks.

  • D. Snacks for the teenagers.

  • E. Lunch, snacks and some extra food.

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…

GEAR REVIEW: Injinji Spectrum Trail Midweight Crew

These toe socks are designed for long runs and fast-paced hiking. Gear editor Mark Watson put them to the test on both local walks and trail runs. Read his full review.

Current Issue - Jan/Feb 2026

The weekend weather at a park near you…

LocationTodayFridaySaturdaySunday
Location 47
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
5°/15°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
7°/14°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
8°/12°
Heavy rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
6°/11°
Location 5
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
12°/21°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
15°/21°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
13°/21°
Heavy rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
10°/18°
Location 52
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
10°/20°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
13°/20°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
13°/17°
Heavy rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 115 km/h.
10°/16°
Location 61
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
4°/11°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
6°/14°
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 2°C at 6am.
4°/13°
Heavy rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
3°/9°
Location 26
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
8°/12°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
8°/14°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 4°C at 5am.
6°/12°
Heavy rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
3°/10°
Location 51
Sunny. Fresh wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
17°/22°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
17°/22°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
17°/24°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
17°/23°
Location 76
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
14°/24°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
14°/24°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. Some chance of high temperatures, reaching 26°C at 3pm.
17°/26°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
16°/27°
Location 63
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
5°/16°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 105 km/h.
7°/17°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 100 km/h.
9°/21°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 155 km/h.
10°/19°
Location 24
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
7°/11°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
7°/13°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
6°/12°
Heavy rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 115 km/h.
4°/12°
Location 57
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
16°/21°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
16°/20°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
17°/22°
Sunny. Fresh wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
18°/20°
Location 66
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
11°/17°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
10°/16°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
12°/18°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
10°/19°
Location 44
Persistent rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 75 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 3°C at 6am.
7°/10°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 3°C at 10pm.
7°/10°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Strong wind with gusts up to 100 km/h. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 3am.
6°/10°
Heavy rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 140 km/h.
2°/9°
Location 23
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
13°/21°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
13°/21°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
15°/23°
Sunny. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
13°/24°
Location 10
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
9°/16°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
9°/15°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
10°/15°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
11°/14°
Location 16
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
9°/18°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
10°/14°
Light rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 135 km/h.
11°/13°
Heavy rain. Gale with gusts up to 185 km/h.
11°/14°
Location 32
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
9°/25°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
13°/24°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
13°/21°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
13°/19°
Location 58
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
6°/13°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
8°/17°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
6°/15°
Showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
4°/11°
Location 40
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
8°/21°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
9°/20°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
10°/21°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
10°/18°
Location 62
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
13°/22°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
13°/21°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
15°/23°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
14°/25°
Location 55
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
9°/22°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
10°/22°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
9°/21°
Showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 120 km/h.
9°/19°

Report created on 08 January, 2026 at 7.45am. For a full forecast of the park of your choice, visit NIWA.

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Quiz

Answer E - Lunch, snacks and some extra food.

Always take extra food. On a 4-hour trip even a short delay means lunch will be needed. And it’s a good idea to have extra food for a longer delay. If you become hungry and are continuing to walk your decision making will be affected. If it is cold you won’t have the energy to maintain your body heat so are at a higher risk of getting hypothermia.

Quiz provided by Heather Grady from Outdoor Training New Zealand.

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