A heavy pack used to just be part of tramping. But hikers today are taking a different approach.
This content was prepared by Kathmandu and is being published by The New Zealand Herald as Advertorial.
Not long ago, carrying a heavy pack was considered part of the tramping experience. Today, many hikers are taking a different approach.
Around the world, advances in fabrics, insulation and pack design are changing expectations about what outdoor gear can do. The focus is shifting towards systems that reduce weight without compromising durability or performance, helping hikers move more efficiently across long distances and varied terrain.
It’s a trend Kathmandu has embraced with the launch of XT Series, the brand’s most advanced technical hiking system.
Rather than creating standalone products, Kathmandu designed XT Series as a modular system, with each piece engineered to work together to help hikers adapt to changing weather, terrain and activity levels.
“The goal wasn’t simply to make lighter gear,” says Kathmandu Head of Materials Chad Leeder.
“Every gram saved had to earn its place without giving up the durability that allows hikers to go further, lighter and faster.”
The XT Series spans five key categories: LayerOne base layers, LayerTwo hybrid mid-layers, HeatLock insulated jackets, HydroProof rainwear and the XT Series 40L Pack.
Together, the range is designed for hiking in places like New Zealand, where conditions can shift dramatically within a day. Hikers can add or remove layers depending on temperature, elevation and weather, carrying only what they need while maintaining protection and comfort. Underlying the system is a focus on sustainability, with the XT Series engineered for longevity, durability and the use of responsible materials.
Recycled Octa fleece is used across base and mid layers to provide warmth and breathability at around half the weight of traditional fleece, helping regulate temperature during sustained movement.
Recycled Cordura features across rainwear, down jackets and the hybrid midlayer, delivering enhanced durability, waterproof protection and breathability. The fabric was custom developed for Kathmandu.
The XT Series 40L Pack showcases one of the range’s most advanced materials: Aluula composite fabric. Originally developed for high-performance applications requiring exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, the material delivers impressive durability while keeping pack weight to a minimum. The result is a pack with a 1.1kg base weight.
The pack also incorporates a practical feature: small tears can be repaired using heat and a supplied patch, helping extend the product’s lifespan.
Durability was a key consideration throughout the range. The products underwent extensive laboratory testing for waterproofness, breathability, abrasion resistance, tear strength, pilling and snag resistance, alongside testing in New Zealand conditions.
That combination of technical innovation and practical performance has already attracted international recognition.
Two XT Series products received 2025 ISPO Awards: the Women’s XT Series Hybrid Octa Fleece Hooded Jacket was recognised for its lightweight construction, breathability and body-mapped design, while the XT 40L Pack was awarded for its innovative use of advanced materials and versatile construction.
“The XT Series brings together the most advanced materials, the lightest construction and the highest level of testing we’ve ever applied,” says Leeder.
The result is a system for hikers designed to help them spend less energy carrying gear and more energy enjoying the journey.