Great Walks of New Zealand
Drinks
Coffee is life and there is no reason to start each day with dirty old instant coffee. You can do better than that and there are lots of good options to get a proper espresso hit before the day's adventure begins.
After a long day on the track there is nothing better than sitting by the lake or the mountain with a little tipple. NZ is known for amazing wine, and this is a great option on the Great Walks. For those that don't mind carrying extra weight, a can of beer (or two) can often sneak into a hiking pack. The most popular drop on the trail is spirits known for their high alcohol to low weight ratio.
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Check out come essential items that make it into our packs and could make it into yours
Collapsible Drinks Bladder
A great wine or spirits bladder for hiking that will remove excess air and is 100% taste free. Flexible, collapsible, and lightweight. Leave those heavy glass bottles at home. There are lots of options online but avoid cheap versions. Just like hydration bladders they can leak or have an unpleasant taste if you choose lower quality options. Some bladders come with a carabiner to attach to the outside of your pack so you will always find room to sneak this in.
Platypus Wine PlatyPreserve 800ml
Wacaco Portable Espresso Machines
Many hikers will stick to instant coffee and powdered milk and some portable cooking systems like Jet Boil have plunger attachments. But if you need decent espresso coffee there are some other options.
Wacaco make portable espresso machines that can take ground coffee, pour over coffee or nespresso pods. Add coffee and boiled water to the machine and you will have barista style coffee on the trail. Wacaco have recently released the Pixapresso machine which can now also boil the water. Without a doubt the machine is definitely heavier than instant powdered coffee, but if you are happy to carry a few extra grams check them out.
Wacaco Espresso Machines
Shot Glass and Flask Set
Spirits are a favourite of many hikers due to the weight vs alcohol ratio. Carry whatever takes your fancy, just remember liquid is heavy.
Durable and packable these Stanley shot glasses are a great way to share your spoils when you get to the top of the mountain. The flask may be a little heavy for hiking trips, so consider a bladder instead. The shot glasses nest together in a stainless-steel carry case, but we tend to leave the carry case at home to reduce excess pack weight. Yeti also offer double wall insulated shot glasses and carry case.
Stanley Shot Glass and Flask Set
Yeti Shot Glasses with Carrying Case
EASYS - Cocktails
If drinking straight liquor is not your vibe and you want to get a bit fancy on the trail, try EASYS cocktails for the outdoors. These lightweight sachets contain real ingredients and are low in sugar. Just add the sachet, water, and your liquor of choice. Available in Margarita, Mojito, and Pina Colada flavours.
EASYS
