Into the Backcountry: Everything You Need to Get Started

Into the Backcountry: Everything You Need to Get Started 

Heading into the backcountry doesn’t have to be complicated. With a bit of smart planning and the right gear, your trips can become some of the most rewarding days of the year. It’s about staying warm, keeping things light, and setting yourself up to enjoy those quiet valleys and crisp mornings that make hiking in autumn and winter so special. Here’s where to start. 

Start with the Big Three 

Shelter, sleep system, pack. Nail those and everything else follows. The Mono 1 Person Tent is built for this, lightweight tunnel design that compresses small to save space, quick to pitch when you reach camp, and tough enough to earn its spot in your pack on every adventure. 

Layer up for the cold 

Heading into cooler months means being smart with your layers. Start with a warm base, like the Merino baselayer top to keep moisture off your skin. Add a packable mid-layer such as Women's Trailhead Fleece Jacket for extra warmth when the wind bites. Finish with a wind-and-rain proof shell, like the Women’s Trailhead layer rain jacket to stay protected from whatever the New Zealand backcountry throws at you.  That trio handles just about anything giving you the freedom to hike longer, explore farther, and enjoy crisp mornings without feeling cold or weighed down.  

Settle in and soak it up 

After the day’s climb, pull up something comfortable, like the Retreat Lightweight Chair. At under a kilo, it gives you a front row seat to still mornings and crisp sunsets. 

Backcountry hiking isn’t about distance, it’s about immersion. Carrying your home on your back. Waking to quiet valleys and air that smells like freedom.