I actually use the wine preservation version of the platypus for that reason. Tastes great.

I carefully ration it so I can enjoy a little every night :)

I have also been known to take most of a bottle of Balvenie on a week-long hike. I store mine in a couple 350mL Nalgene flasks, though. Heavier, but I don't want to lose that precious stuff. Rationing is key.

Took the cribbage board and a deck of cards on the last 7-day hike since we had a layover day on day 5. It got a fair amount of use between three of us.

iPod always goes for times in the night when I can't sleep.

Fishing gear when there will be opportunities. I have carried fishing gear on a 7-day hike even when I knew there would only be one good day's opportunity. But the fish in seldom-angled locations are always so fun. I have hauled a dozen nightcrawlers to locations unknown - a quarter of a Walmart nightcrawler is irresistable to a remote trout.

A Kindle is fabulous at times - have one in a nice case with built-in LED lighting that operates off the Kindle battery. Great to be able to read after the sun goes down and not burn up the headlamp batteries.

FACT: I buy UL gear just so I can take luxury items and not have an insanely heavy pack.

My thoughts...almost exactly...except I take Aberlour Single Malt for "medicinal" purposes!

I don't think these are naughty. But on my next trip, I'm probably bringing my Strumstick, which is like a little tiny guitar and weighs over a pound with the case. I'll probably bring a second pair of shoes, not so much as camp shoes, but just to try them out and see how well they do. I might even bring a third pair of shoes for the same reason. And food that isn't dehydrated.

I like to think I pack at comfort weight :-)

My dog
Damn state parks

At 190 proof, Everclear is 2.5 times as strong as regular 80 proof vodka, tequila, or scotch, making it the ultimate SUL party drink...

Classic SUL Marg...2 rounded teaspoons, (2/5 of an oz.), of Everclear. plus one envelope of Emergen-C Lemon-Lime, along with 8 oz, of water. Shake and drink slowly.

Not only intoxicating, but HEALTHY!

With that, we need an ultralightweight hangover remedy.

--B.G.--

I have a preference for taking a good 18 year old scotch especially on cold nights. The weight gets worse because I like to drink it from a metal flask. To me scotch and plastic just don't mix.
Other than the scotch I have a few smaller Vonnegut paper backs that I rotate on longer trips.

I once overheard someone at a Fun Run saying they "ran so they could drink".

I'm so glad I discovered I could cut the weight of all those frivolous things like shelter and warmth and leave more space for Red Wine....

I bring along my tenkara setup and my hammock when there is an opportunity to use them. I also don't get out as much as I'd like (young children), so when I do I bring along my DSLR and a wide angle lens to get some fun pictures. I always hate carrying it around, but I'm always glad I did once I get home.

Edited by catalyst81 on 05/26/2012 10:00:48 MDT.

Here's an update. I brought my luxury items: strumstick, extra shoes, full-sized paperback book, bivy sack (I brought a tent), coffee cup. The extra weight of the items plus having to carry 3 liters of water in a few sections KILLED me. I had terrible sciatic nerve pains from the waist band of my pack. I almost couldn't stand up after using my cathole at one point. I could barely hike downhill and dodging poodle dog bush was almost impossible with the inability to move my hip properly.

Sadly, I used and enjoyed all those items, with the exception of the extra shoes. I would bring them all again. The cup was especially nice because someone was giving out hot chocolate on the trail and I was so close to hypothermia at the time it really cheered me up. The bivy sack helped on that really cold night, too.

So now I have to decide: Should I lighten up next time or use a pack that can handle the weight? It was really nice to have things to do and to linger in camp over coffee, music and reading material.

"With that, we need an ultralightweight hangover remedy."

I'd point out that caffeine helps with headaches (hence its use in numerous OTC headache pills). And that for in lieu of your morning tea or coffee you can't get lighter than:

No-Doze tablets.

They are kind of rough on an empty stomach, though.

I like an extra small Ti mug so i can have a hot drink while dinner cooks in my pot, a small bit of light hand and face lotion, a few wet wipes and camp shoes, which are light teva Mush slippers.

If I'm heading to a beach or place to swim, I may also take a pareau and a child's size inflatable ring.

One item I have been wanting to take on longer hikes, but never have is my mini "Stick" which is a small massage stick, the kind with hard plastic beads over a flexible rod. At 8 oz, it's hard to justify carrying no matter how good it is at working out kinks and triggers points.