New Zealand's Walk1200km challenge — a year-long push to cover 1,200 kilometres on foot — has teamed up with outdoor brands to recommend gear that makes daily walking easier, and Wilderness Magazine has rounded up the picks. Even if you're not chasing a distance goal, the list is a handy shortcut for anyone building a walking habit at home or gearing up for a tramp.

Leading the food options is Back Country Cuisine's Nasi Goreng, a freeze-dried meal from NZ$13.99 that needs only boiling water. It's a mix of rice, pumpkin seeds, vegetables and egg in a mild Asian sauce, and it's both vegetarian and gluten-free — the kind of packable dinner that works just as well on a multi-day hike as it does after a long evening walk when you can't be bothered cooking.

On the comfort side, the Pstyle (NZ$34.99) is a reusable urination device designed so women, non-binary people and trans walkers can pee standing up without fuss. For anyone who's crouched awkwardly behind scrub on a trail with no toilet in sight, it's a small item that removes a genuine barrier to getting outdoors — particularly useful in New Zealand, where many walking tracks are remote and facilities are sparse.

The broader idea behind the list is straightforward: small, practical purchases lower the friction of walking regularly. A reliable meal in the pack means you can stay out longer; comfort items mean you're not put off by logistics. That's the spirit of Walk1200km, a New Zealand initiative encouraging people to average roughly 23 kilometres a week — about 3.3 kilometres a day — a target most people can hit by swapping short drives for walks and adding a weekend outing or two.

Why should a traveller care? Because walking challenges like this are an easy way to explore a destination slowly. New Zealand is packed with day walks and multi-day Great Walks, and the gear logic transfers anywhere: light food, comfort solutions and a modest daily distance goal will make any walking-focused trip more enjoyable. If you're planning a walking holiday, testing your kit at home first — meals included — is one of the smartest things you can do before you fly.

Full gear rundown via Wilderness Magazine NZ.