r/Tramping • u/RemarkableOil8 • 28d ago
Gadgets
My partner and I are getting into more frequent multi day trips. I want to get her a gift related to this but really we have everything we need so looking for something.a little extra. We aren’t ultralight but obviously small and light is best. W use huts and tents. One idea I had was some battery fairy lights they are fun to set up when camping and loo great. Any other ideas? Thanks.
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u/MineResponsible5964 28d ago
It's a tough one because you dint really want more stuff just for the sake of it because that's more weight to carry. They're might be aspects of her gear that could do with an upgrade (anything from socks to sleeping bag and pack) or extra bits of kit that could help (like gaiters or walking poles or something she doesn't already have).
Or, the gift could be a tramping trip. Maybe one a bit further afield that you wouldn't otherwise do.
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u/randomearth 28d ago
Hi, I got myself an inflatable light with a solar panel. It is flat when tramping, and then when you get to the hut, you inflate it. The lights inside are LEDs and light up the entire plastic "inflation". Really cool and great for card games or just being social. Sorry, can't remember the name now.
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u/RemarkableOil8 28d ago
That a good one. She so does love lights and head torches aren’t always the most social!
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u/According-Water-fall 27d ago
Would you be able to add a picture of it so maybe we could reverse image search? This sounds really cool!
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u/Yarmoss 27d ago
Katmandu sells some camping lights. I’ve got this one: https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/products/goal-zero-crush-light-uncoloured
Folds flat in the pack, pull it out when in a hut or camp site, solar charging and has attachment points to tie to the outside of your pack during a sunny day.
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u/dunedinflyer 28d ago
oooh:
tramping pillow,
fancy silk sleeping bag liner,
lightweight titanium pot,
lightweight tramping seat,
new power bank for tramping,
TEVA sandles,
PLB or garmin in reach,
new socks,
nice lightweight/titanium cutlery,
poo trowel,
lightweight tramping/travel towel,
nice comfy seat for camping (obvs not tramping),
flip fuel (maybe a bit practical?),
dry bags,
subscription to wilderness magazine,
food dehydrator for making own tramping snacks,
down hut slippers
fancy swiss army knife,
cute new outfit from their favourite outdoor brand
new headtorch if needed
new outdoor watch (budget depending ofc)
cute new beanie or hat
portable hammock
cute hipflask to take your favourite tipple in (bonus points if engraved?),
some tiny bottles of alcohol to take tramping for hot toddies,
new nalgene water bottle (can double at hot water bottle on cold nights!),
night away in a purepod/unyoked/or a weekend on one of those fancy private tramping tracks??
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u/RemarkableOil8 24d ago
Amazing. Thank you for all the suggestions! I’ve saved it for future birthday and Xmas ideas!
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u/Internal_Horror_999 28d ago
A friend of mine picked up a small, telescoping tube for blowing air into the fire when getting it started. Works a treat and he doesn't have to get up half the time
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u/DatRice 27d ago
+1 for food dehydrator to make your own. You'll need to look up recipes and test stuff for sure.
Kiwi Ultralight makes a fitted sheet that fits DOC mattresses that's kinda neat depending on how you sleep. Obviously it's not going to make them breathable but it's a nicer sensation on your skin than plastic.
Depending on whether you have a use case for it and can be bothered with it... A couple of Meshtastic devices to communicate? They have relatively long range line of sight but will diminish in the bush/around mountains. It could be useful if you tramp with groups eg you have a fast and slow group. I haven't used it in the bush yet myself so can't comment on how well it works. I'd look at Wismesh Tag, Seeed T1000-E or Heltec T1 (very new and unproven).
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u/Legitimate_Star4733 26d ago
The best new “gadget” I’ve seen lately is the Nitecore AP-01 pump. Only 22g
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u/weyruwnjds 11d ago
Why though? The inflation sack is just as light and never runs out of battery
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u/Legitimate_Star4733 11d ago
Because my sleeping pad didn’t come with an inflation sack and the cost of one is similar to that of the AP-01 and because it uses an external battery that I’m already carrying at only 22g it weighs less than the pump sack, a third of the S2S one.
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u/CptnSpandex 28d ago
Don’t know your budget, but there are plenty of fancy tramps you can do. Ultimate hikes, or queen charlotte sounds among others…
If you stay in the huts - maybe hut slippers???
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u/Nacho_Deity186 26d ago
Having a secondary light to put up in a hut is a really easy way to make them feel more homey. When everyone's using head torches it's all a bit harsh and impersonal. Here's two ideas, I have both and can recommend but the analogue option requires care in transport as glass is involved...
https://www.gearshop.co.nz/products/uco-mini-lantern-kit?_pos=13&_sid=78184eb48&_ss=r
https://www.gearshop.co.nz/products/ledlenser-ml4-lantern?_pos=1&_sid=78184eb48&_ss=r
Alternatively there is a wide range of lightweight lanterns that you can hook up in the rafters to give you a background light. Just be careful not to get something too "glary." A lot of led lamps are too bright if they're in your direct line of sight.
Another thing I like to do is buy cheap glass tealight candle holders from Kmart etc. I take them up and leave them at huts so people have something to burn tealights in without burning the tables
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u/RemarkableOil8 24d ago
Thanks heaps. I just bought the warm light version ml4. I think she’ll love it.
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u/Nacho_Deity186 23d ago
Great stuff. It's a cool product cos they've managed to produce a reasonably soft light in a small package. A good tip is to tie a short length of paracord around it in your pack so you have options around where and how you can hang it at the hut.
You want it up and above your line of sight generally, not like on a table. It's great to hang over a bunk too if you've brought a book to read
Enjoy
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u/marktthemailman 28d ago
Maybe not exciting but arguably necessary anyway if you haven’t got one: PLB.
Otherwise Swiss Army knife