I think that some people herr use their bear gryllys craghopper pants quite happily

As to nalgenes .... They are uses often by many here in the winter

Hmmmmm

Hey, Cuba is still out there.

Cotton

Heavy metal and implements of destruction: big knives and multi-tools, machetes, axes, hatchets, shovels, large saws

Anything that says "Bear Grylls" or "survivor" on it

Weird multi-function gadgets, including Swiss Army knives with more than three layers

Cooking gadgets

Packs with top lids that turn into fanny packs or day packs

Chairs

Digital compasses

I'm surprised Dale. You left off line tensioners.

LOL at the line tensioner comment =D

I've always used the "what if" rule for these kind of things.

Asking "what if" makes me take a few things on your list regardless of weight. What if things go bad? If I'm not quite so good as I think and get lost will I be feeling clever for leaving my GPS behind? Nope, I pack the GPS. Bear Spray?... worst case scenario, I won't be around to regret that decision... but I pack it as my last resort if needed. Flashlight/headlight?... I've stumbled around enough times on the trail without adequate light to never want to make that mistake again. First aid kit?... has to be practical but will definitely make life easier even with good survival/first aid skills. I've used mine enough times to know that I need one.

On the other hand... camp chairs are the ones I scratch my head over the most. "What if" I didn't take a camp chair? Well actually I never have so that's easy.

Camp shoes? "What if" I didn't have camp shoes?... I guess I'd have to wear the shoes that I hike in... is that roughing it?

Potty Trowel? I will assume this could be handy depending on where you hike but they sell them in our local sporting good stores and I can't figure out who buys them. Any place I hike has more sticks around than you can shake a stick... never mind!

A fun exercise, I've enjoyed reading this thread.

Edited by skopeo on 11/17/2011 02:00:16 MST.

Enjoy,













The last one was for Dale. ;-)

Party On,

Newton

Anything cuben or a "SUL" down quilt.

You could outfit a backpacker entirely with the amount of money some people spend on a single 5x8 tarp or quilt.

This whole list is dead on! There are those people who like to take the gourmet cook kits, but I find that after a long day of hiking I'm just too lazy to do anything but boil water. Also I favor the one pot meals on an average day anyway and with a little planning and a good dehydrator I eat like a king with that boiled water.

I just have to agree with L Miller, the cost to weight ratio of Cuben is an absurd waste of money.

Haters gonna hate I suppose.

I proudly carry yes an ENTIRE roll of the softest TP with me on trips. Look, TP doesn't weigh much and I prefer it. You all can drip dry and have dingle berries and or use leaves that are wet and or have bugs on them.

I'll carry my TP. Doesn't make me any less hardcore I might add. And I cannot tell you just how many times I have had someone see that roll wrapped in a gallon freezer bag and pleading ask for a little.

Hah.

Lol...after reading all the comments on "Gourmet cookpots" what I think you are all thinking is multiple pot sets and whatnot. When actually most cooksets now are not that way!

Do you all know the real difference? Most sets now come with one pot and lid and then they add mugs and bowls or plates. Or maybe a frypan second lid. That is it! Nothing says you HAVE to take all of it with you. Sheesh. Oh and the pot sets are often 2L or so in size, not a rinky dinky .9 Liter size. Although you can get a cookset of say 1.2 or 1.3 Liters with the accessories.

Just saying that some of you need to actually go shopping and check out what is actually on the market!! Granted I am not of the norm in that I own somewhere in the 30-40 sets of cookware but hey, it is my work. But the assumptions here are way off.....

Depends on the trip. 3-season trips, one can afford usually not to bring trowel, shovel, and, on long summer days, dispense with camp comforts. One can go pretty minimal in winter down South too, though a fire and friends and booze helps to face a long night in the single digits, even in the southern Gila. If I were backpacking up north, I'd have to add mobility tools and at least camp insulation. If on a gourmet trip, with gourmet cooking, it's gonna be cookware, a photography trip, it's going to be camera and extra lenses, etc...

Toilet Paper to me is not just a convenience issue but also a health issue. I always carry it and usually it is more than an adequate supply. I always attempt to clean very well and avoid getting anything on my hands. In addition carrying hand sanitizer and using it after every movement. I think this limits chaffing and the transmission of bacteria to places such as your eyes or mouth. Im sure there are a number of thru-hikers that suffer from digestive issues that were self inflicted and not water consumption based. Wet wipes are even a good thing to use at the end of a day to clean up and prevent chaffing over the long term. Unlike TP the wet wipes get packed out.


My leathermen micro is an invaluable tool for minimal weight. The scissors are the most use full, opening packages, trimming nails, trimming facial hair, trimming excess materails from gear. the small knife is used daily for food, nail file is used occasionally, extra small flat head saved me from going with out glasses when a screw would pop out. Tweezers are used heavily in tick season or for a splinter. And unlike the small Swiss army tweezers these actually will hold the pressure adhered to them and not be all flimsy. I had many fellow hikers ask to borrow this tool, usually for the scissors.

I agree with Stuff Sacks, I too have a stuff sack full of stuff sacks

I like small multi-tools like the Micra, but my Wave stays at home. The Leatherman Style and Style CS are cool little tools as well.

If you really want scissors, there are many very light and high quality scissors available. I've gotten into "what-if" games trying to find a good combination tool, with scissors be the sticking point and realized they are easy to find a a single tool. I carry a Classic as backup knife and general repair tool and the scissors get regular use.

I would love to see a Swiss Army knife with a locking blade, saw, and scissors-- period. That is really all I look for in tools on the trail. One of the 111mm frame knives with one-hand-opening locking blade, the excellent SAK saw and a pair of scissors would be perfect.

I carry a Leatherman Squirt PS4 in my pants pocket all the time, whether I'm backpacking or not. It includes pliers and scissors. I've found it invaluable and won't ever leave it behind.

I can't comment on what the others meant, but when I say gourmet cook pot I mean anything that holds more than 2 cups of water that has more pieces than just the pot, lid, and spoon. I frequent REI and other outdoor stores like it and do know what's out there and you're right, the cook kits have gotten a lot simpler but still serious overkill for me. I also subscribe to freezer bag cooking Mike C style.

I like the "what if" game (what if I don't bring a solar charger for my phone!?), that narrows it down a bit. I'm a huge fan of simplicity; the less stuff I carry, generally the more fun I have. I realized after I typed that, an angry old man is gunna see that and say "Well than don't bring anything". Love the internet :P

I can go on record as a fan of TP, the grain of this thread is more about not buying a mini roll of "Camping TP" for $7 :)

Sarah, didn't mean to hit a cooking nerve :P Yes, I'm a spoiled man whose wonderful partner stuffs full of culinary delights. I've also convinced her that we can cook good food on the trail with freezer bags and a dehydrater. I'm still baffled by three piece "backpacking" cutlery sets that come with a butter knife.

I do carry a SAK classic (which target has for $9, btw). I bought a Wave a few years ago on a whim, I don't think I've used it once.

A big part of this is not buying things at a sporting goods store just because they say "Camping" on them. Camp Soap, Camping TP, Camp Meals, etc.

Cough cough....just so you all realize something: I am the one behind FBC (freezerbagcooking.com) - and I fully believe there is a time and place for everything. Yes, I have developed over a thousand or more FBC recipes but lets face it - I also like cooking one pot style as well (hence that is where trailcooking.com came out of - where I combined the FBC website into it a couple of years back).

Thing is 4 cups of water isn't overkill. A typical FBC meal takes 1-2 cups water leaving none for hot drinks. Even on solo trips I take a 4 cup kettle just for that reason! I happen to like 2 cups water for herbal tea at dinner....and prefer to not boil twice. If you take 2 people or 1 adult and 2 kids or 2 adults and 2 kids and so forth you cannot do it with a 2 cup pot. A 2L pot is needed to just boil enough water for everyone's meals, be it FBC or whatever.

This is years of snooze inducing trail research speaking here. I won't bore anyone with that. Lol!

I always take my Squirt Ps4. And I nearly always end up using it. Amazing little tool. Knife, scissors that work, file, opener, screwdrivers and effective pliers/wire cutter for less than 2oz.

I would like to add to that list:
Don't buy a 70L pack with pockets everywhere that weighs 5lbs if you are just going to be out no more than three days. If you walk into a store, most salesman will try to put a newbie in an Osprey Aether 70L style pack.