There’s something wildly freeing about realizing you can live out of a small bag , not just survive, but truly live.
This time coming to New Zealand, we made a conscious decision to bring less clothing than ever before. Not because we had to, but because we wanted to. We used the extra baggage space for race related gear and for the boys’ bikes, knowing we’d leave them here for future visits. But more than that, we wanted to simplify. To strip things down to the essentials.
Because the truth is, no matter how many options we bring, we all always end up wearing the same favorite pieces over and over again.
And New Zealand has been the perfect place to test this philosophy.
Summer here keeps you humble. One day it’s hot and golden, the kind of warmth that sinks into your bones and then the next day it’s cold, raining sideways, and you’re wearing every layer you own. Through all of it—camping missions, route setting, long drives, home days, and everyday adventures—these are the clothes we’re living in.
The Kids: Clothes That Let Them Be Kids
When it comes to kids, the best clothes are the ones they never think about.
The pieces that don’t restrict them. The ones that dry fast, stay comfortable, and let them move freely through whatever the day becomes.
Kids Patagonia Baggies Lined Shorts
If the boys could choose one item to wear forever, it would be these.
They swim in them. Bike in them. Climb trees, dig holes, and build worlds in them. They dry incredibly fast, which means they go from ocean to campsite to dinner without missing a beat. They’re tough in that way kids’ clothes need to be, able to handle endless abuse without showing it.
They’re not precious, they wear well and that’s exactly why they’re perfect.
Kids Patagonia Outdoor Everyday Jacket
New Zealand weather changes fast, and these jackets have been their constant companion.
Light enough that the boys will actually wear them, but protective enough to handle wind, cold, and rain. They live on handlebars, get stuffed into backpacks, and come out when the weather turns – which is often.
Kids Salomon Speedcross Shoes
These have been the boys hiking adventure shoes for a while now.
New Zealand trails are steep, muddy, full of roots and unpredictable. These shoes grip, even on slippery wet rocks along the coast and along rivers. They’re comfortable for long days out and are extremely easy for the boys to take on and off themselves which has been huge for transitioning from car or campsite to trailhead.
They let them move confidently through wild places, which leaves one less thing to worry about for Jason and I.
Socks They Actually Want to Wear
The boys have been living in their Smartwool Kid’s Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks.
These socks hit the sweet spot of comfort and durability. The light cushioning gives just enough protection for long days running around camp, scrambling over rocks, or riding bikes, without feeling bulky inside shoes. And because they’re wool, they don’t stink—even after multiple days of hard use.
That’s the magic of merino. They stay warm when wet, breathe when it’s hot, and somehow make it through days of adventure without needing constant washing.
As a mom trying to pack light, that’s everything.
The Layers That Became Pajamas, Base Layers, and Everything In Between
Their Stio PeakWool tops and tights have become one of the most valuable pieces we brought.
Specifically:
These pieces are incredibly soft and cozy, which means the kids actually want to wear them. No complaints and no itchy wool battles.
They’ve become:
- Pajamas
- Base layers on cold mornings
- Cozy camp layers
- Travel outfits
- Emergency warmth when the weather turns
On cold nights in the tent, these layers make sure they stay warm and comfortable.
On travel days, they keep them cozy without overheating.
And as a parent, there’s something incredibly reassuring about knowing they’re warm, dry, and comfortable—no matter what the day throws at us.
Sun Protection Layers: Our Secret Weapon for Kiwi Summers
One thing we didn’t fully appreciate before spending extended time in New Zealand is just how intense the sun is here. With less atmospheric protection, when the sun comes out, it’s no joke. Even on cooler days, the UV can be fierce. That means coverage becomes less about warmth and more about protection.
That’s where the Stio Kids Eddy Shirt LS has become one of our most important daily pieces.
This shirt is incredibly lightweight and breathable, making it easy to throw on over whatever the boys are already wearing. My t-shirt-loving kid can keep his beloved tee on underneath, then simply pull this on when the sun comes out strong. No arguments, no convincing — just easy coverage.
The fabric dries quickly after swims, offers excellent sun protection, and regulates temperature beautifully, keeping them cool when it’s hot and adding just enough warmth when the wind picks up.
It’s one of those pieces that quietly does everything — sun protection, warmth, and comfort — while letting kids just be kids.
And as any parent knows, the best gear is the gear they’ll actually wear.
My Everyday Uniform
This time, I didn’t bring variety, I brought reliability.
Every piece had to earn its spot by working across multiple roles: training, working, camping, traveling, and living. Since now when we come, 75% of it is spent out setting the Magnificent and exploring, we are often living out of two backpacks between the 4 of us.
The following layers are earning their spot day in and day out.
Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers
If I had to choose one item that defines this trip, it would be these joggers.
They’ve been my morning coffee pants. My travel pants. My cool-weather running pants and my bushwacking pants. They are my constant and most trustworthy layer here.
They’re incredibly lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying, with just enough warmth for chilly mornings and enough airflow for movement. They pack down to nothing and somehow still feel like a full comfort layer.
They’ve become less of an item, and more of a second skin.
Stio Drifter Shorts
These have been my go-to on warmer days.
They’re light, comfortable, and versatile enough to handle anything from running steep hills while setting race course to coasteering and sitting on the beach with the boys. They dry quickly, move easily, and never need adjusting.
They’re equally at home in motion and at rest.
Which, I’ve learned, is rare.
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Trail Running Shoes
These are my mountain workhorses.
New Zealand terrain is no joke—steep, muddy, technical, and unforgiving. These shoes give me confidence to move fast and freely across all of it. The grip is exceptional, and they feel precise and stable, especially when the bush gets unforgiving and unpredictable.
They’re built for real mountain days, and that’s exactly what they’ve gotten with plenty more big days to come.
Patagonia Live Simply Low-Impact Sports Bra
The older I get, the more I value comfort without sacrificing performance. The Patagonia Live Simply Bra is exactly that piece.
It’s soft, breathable, and supportive enough for strength sessions, travel days, and everyday wear. It’s not my high-impact running bra—but that’s not its job. Its job is to be the bra I forget I’m wearing. And honestly, that’s the highest compliment.
It’s the one I reach for on long travel days, recovery walks, core sessions, and pretty much any day that ends in “y.”
And true to Patagonia form, it’s built with recycled materials and the intention to last—which aligns deeply with how I want to consume gear and clothing.
Carve Designs Tofino Top + Mae Bottom
As a mom, athlete, and adventure-lover, I don’t have time for swimsuits that only serve one purpose.
The Carve Designs Women’s Tofino Top and Carve Designs Women’s Mae Bottom are my go-to adventure swim kit.
This isn’t just a bikini. It’s:
• A paddle outfit
• A river swim uniform
• A lake-jump essential
• A hot-spring soaking kit
The top stays put. The bottoms stay comfortable. And the high-waisted Mae Bottom offers coverage that lets me move freely without thinking about it.
Because when you’re chasing kids across a rocky shoreline or diving into alpine water, the last thing you want to think about is adjusting your swimsuit.
These pieces let me be present in the moment, which is really the whole point.
FITS Light Cushion Crew Socks
Socks may be the least glamorous item in your wardrobe—but they might be the most important.
The FITS Women’s Light Cushion Crew Sock are, hands down, some of the best I’ve worn.
They’re:
• Breathable
• Durable
• Comfortable for long days
• And somehow never bunch or slide
Whether I’m running, hiking, traveling, biking or just living life, they keep my feet happy.
And when your feet are happy, everything is better.
Especially on day three of a family adventure.
Patagonia Women’s R1 Air Jacket : Midlayer MVP for Wild Weather Days
If I had to pick one piece that truly defines New Zealand summer living, it would be this fleece. Because here, summer isn’t always summer. One minute you’re sipping coffee in the sun, the next you’re digging through your bag while the wind and rain roll in sideways.
The R1 Air has been my daily armor.
It’s incredibly lightweight, but somehow still warm. The fabric breathes beautifully on hikes, bike rides, and long days outside, and it never feels swampy or heavy. The grid-style fleece is designed to move moisture and dry quickly, making it ideal for high-output adventures or constantly changing weather.
I wear it:
- On cold mornings at camp
- Tossed over a sports bra after swims
- Layered under a shell when the weather turns
- Or simply with joggers on slow home days
It’s technical, but it doesn’t look technical. It feels like comfort—but performs like gear.
This is the fleece that made the cut when everything else stayed home.
Paradis Sport Natural Fiber Womens Bikini Underwear
This is one of those pieces that quietly becomes essential.
It’s:
- My every day underwear
- My training underwear
- My swimwear
The fabric is incredibly soft, breathable, and comfortable for all-day wear. It dries quickly and never feels restrictive or synthetic. It moves with you instead of against you.
Which matters when your day includes:
Swimming. Hiking. Parenting. Sitting. Running. Repeating.
It’s minimal. Functional. Comfortable.
And in a capsule wardrobe, pieces that can serve multiple purposes are everything. Use “Chelsey10” at check out to try some!
Sun (and Rain) Protection That Earned Its Place
One piece I’ve added to my daily uniform here in New Zealand is the Skida Calamity Jane Original Brim Hat, and it’s quickly become non-negotiable.
The sun here is intense, and having something that properly shields your face makes a huge difference in how long you can stay outside comfortably. The brim is big enough to protect my face, ears, and neck, but the hat still feels lightweight and breathable enough that I forget I’m wearing it.
What’s surprised me most, though, is how well it performs in the rain. When I’m out on long setting missions—hours in and out of the bush, moving through constantly changing weather—it keeps the rain off my face and out of my eyes, which makes it so much easier to keep moving and stay focused. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference over the course of a full day.
It packs down easily, bounces back into shape, and works just as well at camp as it does deep in the field.
It’s become one of those rare pieces that handles everything New Zealand throws at you—sun, rain, and all the miles in between.
What Living With Less Has Taught Me
Deciding to bring less felt daunting at first and a bit limited. “We will be there for 2 months, surely we need more!” I thought.
However, the minute I landed and unpacked, it’s felt expansive.
Less laundry.
Less decision-making.
Less managing stuff.
More time outside.
More freedom.
More presence.
The boys don’t care what they’re wearing. They care that they’re outside riding bikes, climbing rocks, and exploring new places.
And I’ve realized I feel the same.
These clothes have given me everything I need and nothing I don’t.
And in that space, something unexpected has happened.
Life has felt simpler.
Lighter.
More focused on what matters.
Because in the end, it was never about having more clothes.
It was about having the right ones — and then forgetting about them entirely.
