HIKING GEAR

Front opening gaiters are the best solution to keeping mud and detritus out of your boots, and your legs protected.

The integrity of the closure is assured by the protection your boot affords, the velcro provides some protection to your shins, and it's easy to access your boot laces for adjustments.

• Front opening for ease of use
• Replaceable under-boot instep straps, easily adjustable, field maintainable and designed to help keep the bottom of the gaiter closed securely
• Our proprietary,durable, and dare we say it, cunning, adjustable front lace hook

Our “keep it simple - stupid” canvas day pack built for New Zealand’s rugged conditions. Clean, sturdy construction, minimal seams, C-Canvas for durable water resistance (and less noise in the bush) and that traditional, diamond-in-the-rough feel.

The size, simplicity and all-round toughness make this a popular pack for commuters, walkers, trampers and hunters alike. Also, in a nice (and, it has to be admitted, unplanned) turn of events, the Miklat meets sizing requirements for cabin baggage – another string to this pack’s bow. An extremely versatile Cactus classic.

• A generous size main bag, made of C-Canvas for water resistance and that soft but bombproof feel
• Comfortable foam padded harness and curved shoulder straps for all day comfort, and a 38mm webbing waist belt for stability
• 3D lid pocket for map, GPS, hat, gloves or spare ammo
• A double thickness base and rand for durability
• Compression straps on the sides to keep the load stable and snug to your back for bush bashing. You can also use the tabs for these as anchor points to add bungy if you want to secure items to the outside of the pack
• Hydro sleeve for keeping you hydrated all day and a lid that gives a nice tidy path for the drinking hose
• Made in New Zealand
• No Worries 5yr Pack Guarantee
• Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty

A stylish, functional, and Cactus-tough roll-top back pack.

The Ruckus is our ideal backpack for urban life – fits your laptop, lunch, bike lock, spare jacket, and still has room for that copy of The Luminaries you haven't finished reading yet.

• Internal mesh zip stash pocket, and external low-profile zip pocket –  for the detritus of urban life.
• The external sleeve is perfect for storing spare shoes or jandals.
• Slim profile for stealth and comfort.
• Roll, latch, cinch – adjust the volume to your needs with a roll-top closure that's quick and easy to use, secure and weatherproof.
• Cactus 'Device Drop Redundancy' design. The internal sleeve sits up from the base of the pack, to protect your laptop from meeting the concrete when you set down or drop your pack.
• Bike-light attachment tab.

Made right here in our factory on Lichfield St, Christchurch, NZ.

These back packs last for generations. How cool will it be when your Portal gets passed down to your children's children to tell them that it's one of only a few ever made right here in Christchurch!  An awesome day pack, school pack, uni bag or just an everything everywhere day pack.

Constructed using C-1000n6 and Cactus’ ethical construction techniques, the Portal is perfect for your round-town, to and from school, throw everything at it bag.

• C-1000n6 fabric
• Internal hanging pocket
• Large capacity 3D front pocket

The Vacuole was the first backpack ever made by Cactus. The fact that some of the originals are still around is testimony to its pedigree. The classic design lends itself towards versatility and this had ensured its enduring popularity. Over the years (25 and counting) we’ve updated it with new materials and ideas to maintain its relevance. If you are only going to own one pack, the vacuole is a strong contender. Designed for heavier day loads the harness sports our c-aircell fabric, and a 38mm webbing waist belt.

• C-aircell harness and a 38mm webbing hip belt all contribute comfort and stability be it lugging books to university or ski touring
• Internal hydro sleeve to keep you on the go
• Compression straps stabilise the load, take the stress off the zip, and allow awkward items
  (camera tripod, perhaps?) to be carried externally
• Ice axe loop and shock cord for crampons keep the winter options open, and can be used
  for other things – axe loop for your flashing bike light, shock cord for – well – anything…
• ‘Road kill’ front pocket for those wee items – keys, wallet, phone etc
• Includes No Worries 5yr Guarantee
• Covered by Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty

Our enduring, streamlined solution for mountain bike trips and running around the hills, or everyday urban existence. The Zero is a unit you hardly know you're wearing - until you need it, that is, when like the proverbial black hole it will consume just about anything you can throw at it (can fit a 6 pack of beer and still have room for a vege burger and chips).

The Zero is our choice for riding the Heaphy or Old Ghost Road, sit low for riding uphill and crank it down for the bumps. It'll take the cheese rolls and dates and it won't torque your lumber like a bum bag. 

• Mesh phone/wallet/keys pocket for the daily essentials
• Hydro sleeve bladder holder to keep you going up the last big hill of the day
• C-Aircell padded back and straps for comfort, and a 25mm waist belt to keep things stable
• External shock cord for load compression and/or that extra item of clothing

The Henry backpack is our fast and light adventure pack for a big day, or even weekend, out. Top loading to handle different size loads easily, we’ve kept things as minimal as possible, using lightweight fabrics where feasible, to enable you to forget about the pack and get on with the task at hand.

The reasonably large main bag will mean adventure racers and speed freaks will push the limits of what is viable with such a lightweight bag, yet the C-Aircell harness and shoulder straps keep the comfort levels high enough for a ultra lightweight multi day MTB trip. A shock cord compression system allows easy stowage of a jacket on the outside, and our oversized lid means lots of storage and maintains protection for the main bag closure if the bag is full or if you’ve got stuff under the lid. Run, hike, bike, ski, you name it - the Henry backpack is your number 1 lightweight option.

• Easy access side pockets with one handed closures so you can get to food or water bottles on the go
• A mesh pocket on the back panel
• Internal hydro sleeve with convenient routing for the tube to keep you hydrated
• Bladder tube retainer on the shoulder straps to keep the tube handy. The tube runs on the outside of the shoulder strap, not internally where it could end up rubbing you the wrong way
• External shock cord for excess clothing, and for load compression to keep things stable on your back

The Cactus Hip Bag is a modern incarnation of anw old classic Cactus Scumbag.
The larger carrying capacity, internal utility sleeves and super-supportive padded waist belt make the Hip Bag a little more versatile, and a little more user-friendly.
Originally conceived for cyclists, the Hip Bag fulfils a variety of alternative end-uses:

• Travel – keep your rubles, lira, ringgits or dinar close to hand when roving far-flung quarters 
• Events commerce – stash the takings from your organic yoghurt sandals booth at this summer's Luminate festival
• Climbing – cut a lap on any multi-pitch without the burden of a backpack to hold your GUs and topo
• Running – the stability and comfort of the padded waistband will help you get wherever it is you're off to in such a hurry
• Dog walking – provides a handy reservoir of meaty treats

Features include:

• Large main compartment plus zipped front pocket
• Internal accessory sleeves
• Reflective strip
• Padded, adjustable waist belt
• C-Aircell mesh fabric backing
• Made in Christchurch, NZ
• Lifetime warranty on materials and workpersonship

Now we can say that we can dress you head to toe in good quality kit.

We're not reinventing the wheel here. A sock is a sock. But like all things Cactus, we've made sure that these ones will go the distance. We did the ultimate test and made Rob wear a pair. Cactus socks will keep your toes toasty warm, make your shoes more comfortable, last for ages and being merino - shouldn't stink.*

For all you old school people out there who think they'll be too warm for summer, merino is not only super warm in the winter, it's also super breathable in the summer. 

The Cactus socks come in black and in three sizes. Made in New Zealand.

*depending on personal hygiene, they will stink after several days of wear without washing. 

Bottom line, this fleece jersey does what it says on the packet. A straightforward pullover made from the highest quality microfibre polyester fleece on the planet. Super lightweight, warm, packs down small, easy care and fast drying.

• Two arms - one for your left and one for your right. Both just the right length.
• A hole for your head to go through.
• Premium Quality Pontetorto Polyester Micro Fleece - 150gsm
• Made in New Zealand.
• Construction backed by a lifetime warranty on materials and workpersonship

Tired of waterproof breathable jackets that wear out and don't keep you dry? Then the Cactus Rain Jacket is for you. Built from ultra-tough 3 layer WTF-3 fabric, this heavy-duty jacket will protect you from rain, wind, snow, and whatever else nature throws at you - and is guaranteed to last the distance in tough New Zealand conditions.

Similar in concept and design to our proven Mountain Jacket, the Rain Jacket is a longer cut so it keeps your shorts dry and protects your butt when you sit down for a brew in the rain.

Tired of waterproof breathable jackets that wear out? The Cactus Mountain Jacket is for you. Built in ultra tough 3 layer WTF-3 fabric, with real exterior pockets and no bogus lighter-weight pocket linings that leak, this heavy duty jacket will protect you from the elements with way more durability than your average cut-price waterproof/breathable garment.

Here's what our testers thought of it:

"I thought the fit of the jacket was spot on. The storm flap definitely did the job of keeping snow out of the pocket - even when I forgot to zip it up I didn't loose any goodies from the pocket. I really like having no hip pockets, as there is nothing to hinder and bunch up when bending at the hip. The pockets were sufficient for carrying all the stuff I needed for ski patrolling. Another feature I thought was pretty tiptop is the foldaway collar, it works nicely when snow is blowing everywhere."

"I was surprised at how well this thing breathes given how burly the fabric is. I never got hot skiing in it, and it’s obviously gonna last forever. Had a couple of stormy days in it on the mountain, it was totally wind and snow proof and the fabric didn’t soak, so it stayed supple yet bombproof in nasty weather."

We've stepped it up a notch in the fleece department. We've not only got the most simple, trusty Fleece you could want, but now we've introduced an extreme, heavy-duty, work specific fleece jacket. It's ideal for when your Down Jacket is just too much but you need more than just your merino.

This jacket hasn't happened over night - it's a result of customer requests, rigorous testing and some well thought out designing. 

It's called the Windpro Jacket for a reason. It's made from Wind Shield fleece to withstand those nasty cold winds. The blurb on the packet says it's 3 times more wind resistant than traditional fleece, greatly reduces windchill, provides warmth without the weight, it's extremely breathable and does not retain perspiration.

Because we never do things by halves, we've also added a tough windproof polyester/cotton reinforcing fabric on the front, shoulders and arms – ideal for when you've got the 4x2 on your shoulder or when you're grovelling around on your elbows. Did we mention the chest pockets? Yep - there are two. One has a top opening with a flap, and is positioned for keeping your note pad and pen handy. The second is a sneaky side-zipped number on the other side. 

Add in some deep fleece-lined hand pockets, positioned high and out of the way of pack or tool belts, and we reckon you've got quite an awesome warm, durable functional garment. Enjoy!

Made in New Zealand and like all of our products, comes with a lifetime warranty on materials and workpersonship. 

Hangdog Shorts are a reinvention of our classic Hangdog climbing shorts from the 90s. Only nowadays they've been revamped to suit to a more holistic, lifestyle-based approach to recreating outdoors.

Hangdog Shorts are made from a soft but durable polycotton drill fabric that also has a wee bit of mechanical stretch. We've rigorously wear-tested these by spending heaps of time out biking and climbing in the Port Hills. Product development can be a hard job eh, but someone's gotta do it! We've come to the firm conclusion that Hangdogs are the ultimate go-to shorts for doing good, active stuff outdoors, and they don't leave you feeling like a dork at the cafe or bbq afterwards.

Available in any colour, as long as it's slimming black.

• Low-profile zippered thigh pocket
• Reflective strip above back pocket (safety first)
• Triple stitched crotch
• YKK zips
• Lifetime warranty on faulty materials and workpersonship
• Made right here in NZ (of course)

Hangdog Shorts are a reinvention of our classic Hangdog climbing shorts from the 90s. Only nowadays they've been revamped to suit to a more holistic, lifestyle-based approach to recreating outdoors.

Hangdogs are made from a soft but durable polycotton drill fabric that also has a wee bit of mechanical stretch. We've rigorously wear-tested these by spending heaps of time out biking and climbing in the Port Hills. Product development can be a hard job eh, but someone's gotta do it! We've come to the firm conclusion that Hangdogs are the ultimate go-to shorts for doing good, active stuff outdoors, and they don't leave you feeling like a dork at the cafe or bbq afterwards.

Available in any colour, as long as it's black.

• Low-profile zippered thigh pocket
• Reflective strip above back pocket (safety first)
• Triple stitched crotch
• YKK zips
• Lifetime warranty on faulty materials and workpersonship
• Made right here in NZ (of course)

Cactus's answer to 'softer' shorts. These have been through some rigorous wear testing and we have come to the firm conclusion that they are the ultimate summer go-to shorts for biking, tramping and heading to the beach. 

The SOS's are the shorts version of our SOS Trousers. The same cut and fit, only shorter. 

They're made from a lighter, polycotton drill fabric, which has mechanical stretch and is super durable - and our idea of durable is based on the Cactus Supershorts so we don't make that claim lightly. 

Great features like quick drying fabric and mesh pockets, ideal for water drainage post jetty jumping. Triple stitched crotch. YKK zip and of course they come with our lifetime warranty on faulty materials and workpersonship. 

Available in any colour, as long as it's slimming black.

Made right here in NZ. 

Please note: In June 2020, the fit of the SOS was changed. Please check your size against the size chart if you are re-purchasing.

If the size you want is not showing, we are probably out of stock. Email or call us on 0800 122 682 to find out when they will be here or to place a backorder.

These are Cactus's answer to 'softer' shorts. These have been through some rigorous wear testing and we have come to the firm conclusion that they are the ultimate summer go-to shorts for cycling, tramping and heading to the beach. 

The SOS's are the shorts version of our Womens SOS Trousers. The same cut and fit, only shorter. 

They're made from a lighter, polycotton drill fabric, which has mechanical stretch and is super durable - and our idea of durable is based on the Cactus Supershorts so we don't make that claim lightly. 

Great features like quick drying fabric and mesh pockets, ideal for water drainage post jetty jumping. Triple stitched crotch. YKK zip and of course they come with our lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship. 

Available in black only.

Made right here in NZ. 

The Foray is our take on the classic, single compartment backcountry tramping pack.
Going backcountry often means trips of a week or more, so we’ve sized and designed the Foray to meet the challenge. When tramping in NZ you are bound to meet a good sized mountain (or many), so we’ve covered all bases by including two ice axe or walking pole attachment loops and a crampon patch. 

The eminently simple and reliable Foray will still be comfortable and likely the least of your worries at the end of a big mission. As with all our packs we’ve opted for a fixed length harness and a single main compartment for the Foray – this is intentional as they both reduce complexity and weight, while greatly increasing longevity.
In the case of our fixed length harness, thousands of happy converts from our competitors adjustable systems should be all the proof you need. In the main body of the Foray the Ultra 12oz C-Canvas is inherently water resistant without relying on an easily damaged, laminated inner coating. Up through the storm throat we’ve continued this integrity by using a lighter C-210n6 polyester Oxford. We also take advantage of nylon’s higher abrasion resistance by reinforcing pack wear points with C-1000n6.
• Generous 75L internal volume to fit everything bar the kitchen sink
• Fixed length harness to maximise strength for long term use under heavy loads
• Constructed from Ultra 12oz C-Canvas, C-1000D & C-210n6 fabrics for superior long term durability and water resistance
• Big lids are good – ones that double as a pillow or portable secure storage unit are even better
• Single compartments are lighter, increase water resistance and stronger
• Three dimensional shaped framesheet enables a customisable fit to your back, keeping the load close for maximum comfort under load
• Large compression panel improves weight distribution and allows pack size to be reduced when carrying less gear
• Twin ice axe/walking pole and crampon holders
• Includes No Worries 5yr Pack Guarantee
• Covered by Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty

The Hector is our proven dedicated tramping/trekking dream pack – featuring genuine "Ultra Canvas", a single main compartment and a comfortable, modular harness system. Honed by our collective decades of experience in the New Zealand backcountry, the Hector has more of what you want (strength, comfort, simplicity) with less of what you don’t (excess weight, Murphy’s Law complexity, dangly straps and feature-bloat).

We’ve designed the Hector with shorter multi-day trips in mind. It’s got a single axe/walking poles attachment point, and good sized zip up front pocket, which is perfect for a damp pack towel or dirty underwear.

The removable lid allows you to keep valuable items close by in a hut, can be used as a pillow and includes a security pocket. We even include straps to convert the lid to a bandolier bag for your map, camera, water bottle and jacket - perfect for the summit assault or that end-of-day sunset photography side trip.

If you think you are going to be out in the hills closer to a week, or need a slightly more technical tramping (as opposed to alpine) pack, sidle over and talk to our Foray.

• True Ultra Canvas fabric – be wary of imitations
• Front pocket with vertical zip for easy access or for stuff you don’t want in the main compartment
• Removable lid – doubles as a pillow, triples as a close-at-hand security store and quadruples as a shoulder bag
• Three dimensionally formed framesheet – keeping the weight tightly fixed to your back
• Seamless front panel ensures good water resistance
• Made in New Zealand
• Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty
• No Worries 5yr Pack Guarantee

Although, as the name suggests, initially designed specifically for ski patrollers, the Patrol Pack is also the most versatile large day pack we make.

It seemed unfair to limit this pack to purely professional ski field users considering that happily, through some sublime alignment of the comfort/capacity/common-sense parameters, the Patrol has found an appreciative audience amongst – well – just about anyone wanting a good all around pack.

Hunters, photographers, climbers, skiers day-tripping off piste and lightweight trampers all seem to find the Patrol pack fits the bill. A contender for the most versatile pack we make?

• Cushy padded C-Lam harness and waist belt for all day comfort
• Front shovel pocket, for fast access to your shovel when you really need it. In summer it’s a great place for your jacket and scroggin
• Ice axe loops (of course)
• Side pockets for shovel handles, water bottles and internal pockets for a hydration bladder or avalanche probes
• Ski tail straps on the lower sides, with a side release buckle on the upper compression strap for easy ski carrying
• Compatible with our DB Boardstraps (sold separately) for carrying your snowboard
• Boxy base shape to fit the unusual loads that ski patrollers often carry