Slinglight chair for me. Just what my bad back needs after a day on the trail.

"My other rediculously heavy stuff on some trips is my fishing gear on my hiking trips where fishing is a big part of the trip. I basically ignore weight when it comes to the fishing gear in favor of the "fun" factor"

Look into Tenkara. I just got my pole but won't be able to get out until the following weekend. Can't wait to try it out. The whole setup is so light, it can't even call it a luxury.

Mystery ranch pack with a good frame- heavy, but worth it in the way it rides
Tools and well stocked repair kit- I just like being prepared
Plenty of warm clothes- Weather can change quick in Montana, so this borders on essential.
GPS- I know my way around a map, but the gps is kinda nice sometimes.
Journal
Good food

I take a 1 liter Nalgene bottle. Nice to drink out of, works well with my Steripen. Can put boiling water in it. Easier to get in and out of side pockets than those flexible Platy bottles. Easy to clean. And the cap is attached. Lucky for me I don't have to carry much water where I hike.

After reading a lot of gear lists on BPL and elsewhere, it seems that camera and fishing gear are always omitted. With those two left out, my base weight is just a few oz. over the 10-pound boundary between "UL" and "Lightweight." In practice, of course, I always take my camera and, unless there are no fish where I'm going, I always take fishing gear (Tenkara, but I have to add a frying pan and extra fuel since I dislike both raw and poached fish and usually backpack where fires are a no-no). That gets me back up to 12 lbs. even for base weight. I'm happy with it!

Being an old lady with arthritis and such, I need a comfortable sleeping pad, although my current KookaBay insulated air pad (3.5" thick) is only 13 oz., not too far out of line. I also get cold easily so probably have a half a pound more "extra clothing" than most. I have some medical problems that require extra toiletries. On the other hand, I've never felt the need for a chair (a sit pad and a log or rock to lean against work just fine for me) or an extra heavy camera.

EDIT, LATER: I forgot to mention that my hiking buddy (also part of my sleep system) is a 70-lb. mostly Labrador retriever. He is much calmer at night in a tent (which he considers _his_ crate) than under a tarp, and certainly deserves his own bug-free space. That means I need a 1.5 to 2 person fully enclosed tent. However, by using a ZPacks Hexamid Twin, I can keep shelter weight, including stakes, down to 17 oz. I've previously used a GG/Tarptent Squall Classic, 27 oz. with stakes. I dearly love the Squall Classic, but was attracted to the Hex Twin by the lighter weight. So far, I really like the Hex Twin, too! I'll decide after a summer and fall with the Hex Twin which one I'm going to sell--it may be a difficult decision!

IMHO, one reason for paring the weight as much as possible elsewhere is to allow for a few extra comforts or hobbies! HYOH and YMMV definitely apply here!

Edited by hikinggranny on 05/05/2012 17:21:27 MDT.

First off, my jetboil sol. The simplicity is killer and it does its job quickly and efficiently.

Second item, a fully enclosed tent (although the tarptent notch is fairly light). It is really nice to not have to worry about bugs and critters at night after a year or so of using a floorless tarp.

Aaron >

Yep, my TT Moment solo tent is a gem and I agree with you, a few more ounces for a fast setup and COMPLETE protection from wind blown rain, critters and crawlies is worth it. Heavier than a Cuben tarp but SO much better.

My Prolite reg. mattress is a just bit heavy compared to a Ridgerest CCF pad but much more comfortable. And for 8 hours a night I need that comfort. Any tiny discomfort of a few extra ounces on my back is way offset at night.

And my REI Kimtah eVent parka is durable enough yet light enough that a lighter but flimsier Dri Ducks or Frog Togs parka is out of the question.

So my "heavy" items are really not that heavy except by UL standards. They all fall under the lightweight category. Experience combined with prudent shopping gets us to a reasonable carried weight. (Oh, my, I just said that naughty word - shopping!)

I've managed to cut my base weight in the "essentials" category to 9lbs, 9 oz, and so my luxury list includes an even 2 lbs consisting of:

Glasses Readers 0.70
Camera Equipment Panasonic LX3 w/ strap 9.80
Binoculars Zeiss 10x25 7.10
Entertainment Kindle 8.20
Fishing Gear Tenkara AYU 13ft 3.70
Fishing Gear Fly Case, Foam 0.80
Fishing Gear Forceps, Streamworks Micro w/ Scissors 0.60
Fishing Gear GG Hip Pocket, Large w/ Tenkara Line and Tippett 1.20

The Kindle is a new addition. A new toy that I love, and capable of pdf files, so I'll be adding favorite chapters from guide books, flora and fauna books, etc.

My buddy didn't bring condoms on a trip once and his wife got prego. That is a few oz. I can't live without.

Other items:
My camera is about 6oz. (a must for me, got to remember the hike)
Wet butt wipes are about 2oz. (nothing worst than buffalo butt on a hot hike)
Book
2 extra AAA batteries for head lamp. (I am a slow reader)

I am different than most hikers. I don't bring a stove above 32 degrees, and I got drink coffee. So I have a few oz. to give.

Edited by adb0406 on 05/09/2012 15:55:02 MDT.

It doesn't come out in cold weather but I love to have it in the Summer. This little guitar, MYOG case, Blue Chip pick and tuner takes my pack from 12 lbs to 13 lbs. It has never caused me regret.

well I do like my regulaer neo air..pretty nice, could and will end up with a 25 large soon though.
(so mine may go to gear swap soon)
I have and am upgrading to quality,functional,comfortable gear ONLY
I have put my body through hell over the years and I need comfort to sleep and I want a comfortable pack to carry it all(I now have a ULA ohm and 1 trip out so far...AWESOOOMMMEE
BASE with 3 ltrs water and food 22lb...I am getting there.
I also carry anew a deeply loved new member to the kit 8.2 oz slice of heaven (cant wait for the Ti version) Vapir NO2..it will turn the lights back on!!!
also I have built a remote cannister jetboil,pocket rocket/fire maple and its 16.oz total setup and
FAST and just a nice easy fool proof set..I think
plenty of starbucks via and real creamers..mmmmmmmmm
tyvek for a porch to chill and not have to be in a bug nest..cause I dont do bugs/snakes when i sleep
a real towel, good seat, wraps shoes in at night,keep a cannister warm,wipe condensation..lot uses
extra padding
too many clothes still..
$150 watch..that I only use to see temp really 2.2oz...ummmm
a full 7oz cannister always..
multiple light systems...why???
Too much FOOD always I never got the hiker hunger I got hurt to earlyon PCT lost 28lbs in 3 weeks
was giving food away
and locally I never do more then 10-15 miles anyway and always have food, dammit I run out of coffee and creamer, when I stupidly sit my nice fresh jetboil sol full of creamy goodness on a rediculus incline..see VAPIR NO2..lol
and dont have coffee for morning wake up..well see VAPIR NO2
ANYWAY RAMBLING AGAIN... SEE vapir no2.. Peace..Bipolarstroller701

I've tried many different packs over the past ten years, which ranged from a few ounces up to 6lbs. I finally settled on an 5 lbs. REI brand monster. Its heavy, I know, but it makes walking much more enjoyable and, in the end, I think that's most important. Also, it good for just about any type of trip I'm likely to take, summer or winter. One and done.

Also, I think good sleep is pretty important, so I lug around a Downmat 7. Super comfy and totally worth the weight penalty. It looks funny under a poncho tarp, but it's been done. Maybe I'll get the UL version some day.

My hammock. 100% useful and counts for shelter and sleep pad, but still added weight compared to my SUL ground setup. And no more rocks/roots/mud/bugs and a good night's sleep.

I always tell prospective volunteers for my service trips - a week of trail maintenance in the backcountry - that camp conveniences are essential for morale. What I call camp conveniences I suspect others on this thread might call naughty luxuries. Not actually needed to survive, but something that can make a rainy day less dreary or a blister easier to live with. Helps camping be fun, and fun (like safety) trumps saving a few ounces any time.

Mine? A hip flask with Jack Daniel's. My Kifaru field chair. Maybe a book. Spotting scope. Group cooking set-up for real food. Two-man tent for just me. Who knows?

Remember - it's supposed to be fun.

Richard

Mine would have to be cooking related. If its less than 15 miles the frying pan goes in the pack with fresh ingredients. There is something about eating fresh gourmet in the wilderness that is exciting. For some reason or another I enjoy preparing and cooking more in the wilderness than I do at home.
A close second would be the dslr with 10-24mm lense. That's a cool 47.2oz addition that can always be interesting to carry.

Exped Synmat 7 UL - weighs a pound, but is so comfortable and lets me sleep so well, it's now my regular pad.

If it's a sit-in-camp trip, I'll bring my butterfly chair. Without its bag! And also my Kindle. Nothing like sitting comfy, reading a good book by a mountain stream!

I bring the Settlers of Catan Card game. It weighs about 7 oz. but it adds great entertainment value. A game last 45-60 minutes and changes the game changes every time you play.

On hut-based trips I have been known to take a full-sized version of Settlers, along with a gas lantern and suitable snack supplies for games that go deep into the night.

When tramping with a large group, a large wok over an open fire provides all sorts of gourmet options.

Taking a Synmat UL7 isn't a luxury, it's a neccessity!

my 17 oz Sling Light is essential together with a Kindle reader. these two items allow me to stay awake long enough to get a farly good night of
sleep.

A full bottle of Balvenie Doublewood 12 year stored in a platypus. 2 lbs of heavy back breaking bliss. :)

"A full bottle of Balvenie Doublewood 12 year stored in a platypus. 2 lbs of heavy back breaking bliss. :)"

Two Questions

does the platy disturb the flavor?

And what do drink the second night?