The Routeburn Track — Preparing for an Unforgettable Journey
The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular multi-day hikes, but its beauty comes with a reputation for rapidly changing alpine weather. On a trail like this, good gear isn’t a luxury — it’s what keeps you safe, comfortable, and enjoying the experience rather than just surviving it. With two / three days of tramping through Fiordland’s rainforest, alpine passes, and river valleys, every item in your pack needs to earn its place. If you're still in the planning stages, check out my guide for details on bookings and logistics.
⏱️ Quick Equipment Summary
- Pack: 46-60 litre size for multi-day hiking
- Clothing: At least one set to walk in and a dry set to change into at night
- Footwear: Hiking shoes / boots. Should be comfortable and well broken in
- Food: You cannot buy food on the track. Non-guided hikers will need to carry all the meals and snacks they need. It should be lightweight, fast cooking and high in energy
- Don't forget! DOC booking confirmation and ID
Core Packing List for the Routeburn Track
A reliable pack is the foundation of your trip — it needs to comfortably carry everything you require for a few days on the trail. Most hikers opt for a 50–65L backpack with a supportive hip belt, padded shoulder straps and a well-fitted rain cover. Inside, stick to the essentials: a dry-bag system for clothing and electronics, a lightweight first-aid kit, personal toiletries, a headlamp, and your DOC hut tickets. Organisation is key. Weather in the mountains can turn quickly, and you’ll want waterproof layers easy to grab rather than buried at the bottom of your pack.
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| My Routeburn Track technical apparel and gear configuration |
My pack of choice was the Osprey Atmos AG 50. It’s on the heavier side, but the trade-off is exceptional comfort, thanks to its seamless 3D suspension system—which really shines when you’re carrying a full multi-day load.
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| All that gear squashes neatly into the pack |
Clothing for Unpredictable Weather
Layering and flexibility are absolute laws on the Routeburn Track. This isn't a trail where you set a morning outfit and forget about it; you could—and probably will—experience all four seasons on your trip, occasionally packed into a single afternoon.
As the old hill-walking adage goes:
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There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.
My own Routeburn Track experience was a perfect testament to this. The trail threw a bit of everything at us: pockets of warm, radiant sunshine where we were down to t-shirts, quickly followed by cooler, moody cloud cover, and inevitably, some classic Kiwi rain.
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| Weather on the Routeburn Track can change quickly, as we experienced at Ocean Peak Corner |
The classic hiking layering system uses three main layers for adaptable comfort: a base layer to wick sweat, a mid-layer (fleece or light down jacket) for warmth and insulation, and an outer shell (waterproof/windproof) to protect from the elements, allowing you to add or remove layers to match changing weather and exertion levels.
This system keeps you comfortable and warm by managing moisture and regulating temperature efficiently, a key strategy for hiking in varied conditions. In persistent rain, it is likely you'll end up getting damp inside your waterproofs anyway, so core apparel comfort and quick-drying properties are key.
My system consisted of a couple of synthetic base layers (Montane Dart and MacPac Trail base layers), a fleece jacket (Arc'teryx Delta), an ultralight windproof jacket (Arc'teryx Squamish), a waterproof shell (Mountain Equipment Tupilak), and a lightweight synthetic insulation layer (Montane Fireball Lite).
For legwear, I carried a pair of shorts (Montane Dynamic Lite), soft-shell trousers (Mountain Equipment Ibex), and waterproof over-trousers (Montane Cetus). I also packed fleece leggings to wear underneath the waterproofs on days forecast to be relentlessly wet. I find this setup far more comfortable than wearing waterproof trousers over regular pants. Of all the things I packed, the soft-shell trousers were the only item I did not use. Below is a summary of my gear, excluding water, food, and electronics.
Footwear
Footwear is a personal choice, provided it is well broken in and comfortable. Your main options are hiking boots, approach shoes, or trail runners—all of which can handle the Routeburn Track. If you are carrying a heavier multi-day pack, a sturdy boot offers invaluable ankle stability on the steep, rocky ascent to Harris Saddle. However, keep in mind that waterproof Gore-Tex boots take much longer to dry if they flood, and alpine downpours can quickly leave you navigating water deeper than your boot cuff.
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Alpine Reality Check
DOC huts don't have boot dryers. If your footwear gets waterlogged on the exposed ridges, you'll be squelching until the end of the track. Skip the heavy membranes and opt for quick-drying trail runners or non-waterproof boots.
My personal choice of footwear for the Routeburn Track was the non-waterproof Scarpa Rapid XT, a leather approach shoe intended for summer hiking.
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The Lodges
The lodges are generally quite comfortable, and you may want to consider a set of lightweight clothes to change into once you've completed each leg of the hike, giving any wet wear that chance to be hung up to dry. Sandals or flip-flops (or jandals in local speak) will allow you to ditch those trail shoes for the evening.
Gadgets and Electronics
Inevitably, most people will be carrying a number of items that require power: phones, smartwatches, cameras, etc. If you are staying at the DOC huts, you will need a power bank to keep these items topped up. The lodges used by the guided tours have generator power, allowing you to charge your devices at the end of each day; however, the generators are turned off overnight.
Full Equipment List and Weight (Guided Trip)
Note: This total reflects apparel and hardware base pack metrics. Remember to factor in the additional fluctuating weight of water contents, trail rations, toiletries, and dynamic electronic choices.
With the logistics locked in, your gear sorted, and the alpine weather checked, it is time to lace up your boots and head to the trailhead. Whether you are stepping onto the track from the forested valleys near Glenorchy or navigating the initial climbs from the Milford Road side, the real journey is finally about to begin. Let’s dive straight into the dramatic landscapes, ancient beech canopies, and tumbling waterfalls of Day 1
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