Thread: Lightweight camping for a solo hunter

The answer to this question depends on quite a lot of other factors. Are you in the north or south island? Do you head out in winter and\or bad weather or is it strictly a summer fine weather thing. How badly do sandflys annoy you?

My advice is to go find out what works for you before spending big dollars on gear. Go camping in your back yard or next to the car after a day hunt and see what you like.

e.g. a bivi bag is great but you will go mad if weather traps you inside it for days on end. A really small tent sounds great in theory but if you can't sit up in it comfortably you may as well have a bivi bag.

I use a hammock and am never short on spots but it's not that light and not everyone likes them.

Personally for me, bug protection is high on the list. If I get rained in I want to spend a comfortable day under cover sandfly free.

Remember all this gear adds up. You may move slowly in the bush but you will move a lot more slowly with a big pack full of overnight gear on your back. If you shoot something a days walk in you then have to carry all your gear + meat back out. Generally it's not worth the effort and you are better off getting up at 4:00am and walking further with a lighter load. Having said that camping out in the bush on your own is a lot of fun.

And the best place to watch the walking dead episodes is on your phone, in your tent, alone in the dark with your rifle beside you.