Kathmandu Holdings is reporting a 31.6pc rise in third quarter sales, with same store sales for the 13-week period up 23.2 per cent.

There are zillions of peaked caps around these days but but this Kathmandu product does have a few special features to make it stand out for the traveller.

Kathmandu, the outdoor equipment and clothing chain, said first-half profit will rise as much as 26pc after summer sales and improved margins.

The New Zealand sharemarket rose yesterday when many other markets were weak and a large volume was traded in the shares of New Zealand Oil & Gas, the 29 per cent shareholder of Pike River Coal Ltd.

I've bought a lot of trek pants over the years - mostly from Kathmandu - but these are the best yet.