I Spent 48 Hours With Kathmandu in NZ – Here’s Why I Like Where They’re Heading

When Kathmandu invited us to head across the ditch to learn more about their new XT Range we couldn’t say no. In fact, Ella reckons their new direction is really promising.

Three years ago, I never would have imagined I’d find myself in New Zealand with Kathmandu, testing their latest gear alongside a group of outdoor writers, creators, and adventurers. Yet, after nearly two years at We Are Explorers and close to two decades spent hiking, climbing, and general outdoor enthusing, gear has become a huge part of my world.

It’s always a privilege to visit these places

Working with brands in the space means I’ve developed some fairly strong opinions about what makes great equipment. When you’ve spent years lugging packs up mountains and sleeping in questionable tents, you get a pretty good sense of what works and what doesn’t. This isn’t a sponsored review by the way – I was simply invited along for the trip – don’t pretend you’d say no!

 

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Kathmandu brought 25 outdoor enthusiasts, media representatives, and industry tastemakers to New Zealand to experience its new XT range in the environment it was designed for. Having already tried the gear, I was keen to learn more about why Kathmandu was taking this approach.

After 48 hours, I came away impressed. Here’s why.

They’re Pivoting Back to Technicality

Over the past few years Kathmandu’s done a great job making the outdoors feel more accessible. Their focus has largely been on bringing more people outside. And while there’s a lot to love about making the outdoors more approachable (not too sure on these backpack charms though), the XT range is a deliberate nod to Kathmandu’s more technical roots.

Designed for more demanding hiking and built for people who spend serious time outside, the range is a result of years of testing, refining, and rethinking. Hearing Head of Design April Burrows and Head of Material Chad Leeder, talk through the process, from obsessing over seam placements, working with new fabrics, and revising pieces again and again, made it clear how much thought has gone into every detail. Senior Product Manager Daan Dijkstra was there too in his fresh role, but he’s been working at Kathmandu for 12 years.

Good gear is the stuff you don’t have to think about when you’re out there. It just works. 

But it takes a lot of care, and a lot of testing, to make gear that becomes a staple and melts into the background. I can genuinely see some of these XT pieces becoming staples in my hiking kit for years to come.

Coffee cart – an Explorer essential!

They’re Prioritising Recycled Materials and Mono Fabrics

Sustainability claims are everywhere in the outdoor industry, so it’s easy to become a little sceptical when brands start throwing around the same recycled buzzwords. What stood out to me about the XT range was that Kathmandu seems to be looking beyond the headline and thinking about the bigger picture.

Every garment in the range uses 100% recycled main fabrics, which is a pretty significant step in the right direction. But the more interesting conversation was around what happens at the end of a product’s life. The design team has been exploring mono-material construction, creating pieces from a single type of fabric so they’re easier to recycle when they’re eventually retired.

It’s not the kind of innovation that screams for attention, but it’s exactly the sort of behind-the-scenes thinking that can create meaningful change over time.

They’re Focusing on Real People in the Outdoor Community (No Fine Dining or Logo-Embossed Macarons?!)

Ok here’s where my marketing nerdiness will shine through. These days outdoor brand marketing and events feel like they’re more akin to a soiree you’d see at New York Fashion week. Why do we need DJ’s playing and branded cocktails to talk about a new rain jacket? 

More than ever, outdoor brands are feeling completely removed from their core audience of customers who, you know, use the gear? Kathmandu’s approach felt like a refreshing step back into a place where brands should be investing more of their time. 

Friend of WAE Bec Conroy lapping it up

Instead of fashion influencers who’d never seen a trail and luxury experiences that had nothing to do with the outdoors, the room was full of climbers, runners, photographers, hikers, and people who genuinely spend their weekends outside. 

Their goal was to inspire and educate, allowing us to have meaningful conversations with the team and to genuinely improve the product for next time while having some fun. It made the conversations feel a whole lot more authentic and I’m guessing we’ll be seeing it bleed through the rest of their marketing too.

Vertical Life Editor-at-Large Wendy Bruere spotted!

And Lastly, the Kathmandu Team Themselves Are a Bunch of Frothers

The thing that stood out most during the trip wasn’t the gear, it was the people behind it. The Kathmandu team are a bunch of genuine outdoor frothers, and it was obvious within about five minutes of meeting them that this isn’t just a job; they love being outside, they love their brand and they love their products. 

That enthusiasm is infectious and it’s always a good sign – when the people creating the gear are the same people who are genuinely excited to take it outside themselves – good things happen.