Awesome gear room set up 🎉 Love the insights on different types of rain jackets and how rain resistant is not at all the same as rain proof. The distinction is important. Also the two different water proof bags is a good one! Thanks for sharing your lessons learned.
My husband and I are doing this in February and cannot wait! We plan on using Ultimate Hikes poles but bringing the rest of our gear. Couple questions--did you check your backpack as luggage to NZ and any tips on doing that? Also, we are planning on wearing hiking shoes not boots (they bother the heck out of my ankle bones) and these are not waterproof. I keep reading that you are going to get wet no matter what and it is more important to be comfortable and non waterproof shoes will dry quicker anyway. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you for an amazing video--I love your enthusiasm!
Thanks for watching and being on the journey with me! You two have an epic adventure ahead! I only went to NZ with a carry on, as I love to pack light. Since you are renting poles, you could absolutely avoid checking your backpack unless you're bringing more luggage. For shoes, it's all about comfort and tread. If boots bother you, trust that! You will get wet no matter what but that is part of the fun!
You might find this and my Milford Track videos helpful if you haven't seen them yet. In this one I break down two different ways to pack th-cam.com/video/K8cJEZVQSA4/w-d-xo.html
@@ExploreThisShow we watched both videos and love them! We are definitely doing your minimalist packing one. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to watch more of your videos and follow in your footsteps!
@ so glad you are going with the minimalist pack and excited to share more adventures with you. Have an amazing time in February! New Zealand is magical!
Oh yes I absolutely got those at Ultimate Hikes. I bought rain pants called "Mac in a Sac" and they roll up into a ball, so they take up little space. I've been thinking about doing a packing list video for this trek so thank you for your questions because it inspires me to put it together!
Personally as a Kiwi very rarely wear rain pants when tramping (what we call hiking). In heavy rain conditions I never found them stopping getting legs wet, particularly as you sweat a lot through you legs, particularly on trips like the Milford with a lot climbing and descending. Generally most experienced NZ trampers would wear on the legs a trip like this would be calf length hiking gaiters + hiking shorts. If it gets so cold (and we talking very cold) then we throw on thermal leggings but most kiwi trampers would have not bothered on the trip conditions Jen had. . With Fiordland rain, its so heavy, I mean this region has 12-13 metres of annual rainfall, rain pants are drenched through in half an hour. They take much longer to dry than the gaiters and shorts and by in large you end up walking in wet long pants for rest of trip. Would only wear full pants if I'm well above the vegetation limit (which the Milford track Mackinnon pass zone isn't- the pass is covered with snow tussock) during winter.
Love your good energy! We are doing the same hike in November, and have completely reset our weather expectations after watching your adventure. Would you recommend bringing your own gortex waterproof jacket or are the jackets that ultimate hikes loan out good enough?
Thanks Dean! You are going to love it. If you get rain, I promise you it will be amazing because that's when the waterfalls appear. I don't know about the type of jackets Ultimate Hikes has, and I always so with the philosophy of bring your own gear if you can because you're comfortable with it. If you're doing the Routeburn Trek too, I'll be posting a video about that great walk as well. Have fun!
It worth getting you own jacket, What you buy will almost always better than what a company will lend or hire to you. Thats not just because of cost considerations (and frankly NZ tourism took a massive hit during covid so companies like Ulimate are not spending like they did prior) but they also placing more importance on jackets which are hard wearing vs breathability and being well fitting. Remember they are supplying gear for a whole lot of people, not just 1 specific person. Go to a good outdoor shop and get lots of advice plus try on lots difference designs of jacket and find one which suits. As November in NZ is even more highly weather changeable/unsettled plus it tends to be more windy (its our major Spring month) you'll get good use of quality rain jacket outside of the Milford track experience just doing normal tourist things in NZ.
What mistake really stood out? 👇Check out my Milford Track Essential Gear over on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/jenahana/list/1GDX20M6J4D12
Thanks for being on the journey!
If those are black diamond collapsible poles, you need to pull them out until it clicks - they won’t collapse.
Yes! I figured that out AFTER the Milford Track! 🤣
Awesome gear room set up 🎉 Love the insights on different types of rain jackets and how rain resistant is not at all the same as rain proof. The distinction is important. Also the two different water proof bags is a good one! Thanks for sharing your lessons learned.
Yes definitely look for waterproof! There is a big difference. Thanks for watching!
Потрясающе эффективно использована площадь стен! Умница!
Спасибо за разбор ошибок -- это не ошибки, это ценнейший опыт путешественницы!
Thank you so much, and yes that is exactly right! Happy to share my lessons :)
My husband and I are doing this in February and cannot wait! We plan on using Ultimate Hikes poles but bringing the rest of our gear. Couple questions--did you check your backpack as luggage to NZ and any tips on doing that? Also, we are planning on wearing hiking shoes not boots (they bother the heck out of my ankle bones) and these are not waterproof. I keep reading that you are going to get wet no matter what and it is more important to be comfortable and non waterproof shoes will dry quicker anyway. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you for an amazing video--I love your enthusiasm!
Thanks for watching and being on the journey with me! You two have an epic adventure ahead! I only went to NZ with a carry on, as I love to pack light. Since you are renting poles, you could absolutely avoid checking your backpack unless you're bringing more luggage. For shoes, it's all about comfort and tread. If boots bother you, trust that! You will get wet no matter what but that is part of the fun!
You might find this and my Milford Track videos helpful if you haven't seen them yet. In this one I break down two different ways to pack th-cam.com/video/K8cJEZVQSA4/w-d-xo.html
@@ExploreThisShow we watched both videos and love them! We are definitely doing your minimalist packing one. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to watch more of your videos and follow in your footsteps!
@ so glad you are going with the minimalist pack and excited to share more adventures with you. Have an amazing time in February! New Zealand is magical!
I’m confused as your collapsible trekking poles lock up top…
...and one more, what about rain pants? I'm now very concerned about how to keep relatively dry given the potential for extreme conditions.
Oh yes I absolutely got those at Ultimate Hikes. I bought rain pants called "Mac in a Sac" and they roll up into a ball, so they take up little space. I've been thinking about doing a packing list video for this trek so thank you for your questions because it inspires me to put it together!
Personally as a Kiwi very rarely wear rain pants when tramping (what we call hiking). In heavy rain conditions I never found them stopping getting legs wet, particularly as you sweat a lot through you legs, particularly on trips like the Milford with a lot climbing and descending. Generally most experienced NZ trampers would wear on the legs a trip like this would be calf length hiking gaiters + hiking shorts. If it gets so cold (and we talking very cold) then we throw on thermal leggings but most kiwi trampers would have not bothered on the trip conditions Jen had. .
With Fiordland rain, its so heavy, I mean this region has 12-13 metres of annual rainfall, rain pants are drenched through in half an hour. They take much longer to dry than the gaiters and shorts and by in large you end up walking in wet long pants for rest of trip.
Would only wear full pants if I'm well above the vegetation limit (which the Milford track Mackinnon pass zone isn't- the pass is covered with snow tussock) during winter.
South island, NZ weather is like 4 seasons in one day.
Exactly! Lol
Love your good energy! We are doing the same hike in November, and have completely reset our weather expectations after watching your adventure. Would you recommend bringing your own gortex waterproof jacket or are the jackets that ultimate hikes loan out good enough?
Thanks Dean! You are going to love it. If you get rain, I promise you it will be amazing because that's when the waterfalls appear. I don't know about the type of jackets Ultimate Hikes has, and I always so with the philosophy of bring your own gear if you can because you're comfortable with it. If you're doing the Routeburn Trek too, I'll be posting a video about that great walk as well. Have fun!
It worth getting you own jacket,
What you buy will almost always better than what a company will lend or hire to you. Thats not just because of cost considerations (and frankly NZ tourism took a massive hit during covid so companies like Ulimate are not spending like they did prior) but they also placing more importance on jackets which are hard wearing vs breathability and being well fitting. Remember they are supplying gear for a whole lot of people, not just 1 specific person.
Go to a good outdoor shop and get lots of advice plus try on lots difference designs of jacket and find one which suits.
As November in NZ is even more highly weather changeable/unsettled plus it tends to be more windy (its our major Spring month) you'll get good use of quality rain jacket outside of the Milford track experience just doing normal tourist things in NZ.