I'm certain everyone has a secret luxury thing or two they carry. What are they? Mine are baby wipes and coffee.

-K

Edited by Kimberlymae on 05/07/2007 20:45:23 MDT.

Valrhona chocolate and chocolate coated espresso beans

chocolate and a ula amigo that doubles as a shower

sometimes an mp3 player (depending on the trip length)

wee bit of dewar's scotch whiskey :) (works better than benedryl to get to sleep)

I guess I'm something of a sybarite by UL backpacking standards. I carry a whole load of luxuries aimed at tricking myself into getting some sleep (never an easy task for me, even at home after a long day's work).

* Lightweight silk long underwear top and bottom ("pajamas")
* Small open/closed cell pillow with cloth cover
* Small supply of bourbon
* A few wet wipes

Sometimes I also take a small mp3 player like an ipod shuffle. Collectively, these extravagances come to over half of a pound, not including the whiskey. The long underwear does at least do double duty as an extra layer of clothing and a means to keep my sleeping bag clean.

I use a Creative Zen Nano mp3 player. 1.2 oz and a whole day of music. I love this when I want to get into a zone on the trail. I don't use it all the time but sometimes, hearing some sweet tunes while cruising throught the forest is just the best!

I also love my Advil PM. It's a comfy mattress and a big pillow in one tiny pill!

For shorter trips, some fine Tequila or a bottle of wine in a Platypus is a real treat.

The ultimate though, is my son Henry and a few of his favorite toys. Bringing him into the backcountry is my ultimate luxury. :-)

Hammock- 1 lb version
Baby Wipes
Pillow

but as I grow older it feels more like the above list falls into a "essential" category over a luxury item... LOL

A small 0.9 oz hairbrush to detangle my long hair. Sure, I could detangle with my finger tips, but the brush makes it so much easier!

A small (0.6 oz) pack towel, a 1.6 oz 'Mapdana' bandana, and a 2 oz (large size) Gladware bowl and lid. They're all multi-use, but really nice for washing up before going to sleep at night when it's hot and humid. I'm thinking about using a smaller bandana and a smaller bowl to save another 1-2 ounces.

My biggest luxury though is taking a bit more clothing and insulation than I think I will really 'have' to have for the expected temperatures. I could probably save another 8 oz to a pound there, but I like being warm!

Pam

Aye, single malt for me,and more than a wee bit:)

BUT, I hadn't thought of wine in a Platy. Nice idea Doug.
Paul

Single cup size gourmet hot chocolate mix from land-o-lakes sipped while watching the sun-set.

Dave

A .5L Nalgene wide mouth hard lexan bottle, at 3.2 oz. It means I never have to get out from under my sleeping bag (or quilt) at night, no matter what my bladder says. And there's probably a lighter bottle out there that will work as well.

Sorry, but chocolate (GOOD chocolate) is a necessity, not a luxury!

I bring a small packtowel and small vial of Dr. Bronner's soap so I can go to sleep clean. And I bring a pair of Teva flip-flops -- they're extremely lightweight, and even though my boots aren't heavy it's really nice to get out of them at the end of the day. Next will be resoling them with 5.10 rubber!

I agree with the Bronner's. Clean to bed.

And clean(ish) sleeping clothes. A tshirt and boxers, or longsleeve T and LJs if cold.

Hammock - there is a small weight penalty vs. ground sleeping. Oh but the sleep.

Oh yes, I also agree with a nip of tequila. 100% blue agave - personal favorite is Cazadores.

A small aluminum frying pan and oil, mostly just for brook trout, wild leeks and stumper mushrooms.

My SlingLight Chair

Really Dennis? You carry a 1 pound chair? I've looked at these before (online) and folks that use them seem to rave about them. What makes this so good that you'd want to haul one when backpacking? The rocks and meadows behind the hikers in the photo look plenty comfy to me...

Not knocking your luxury at all- I'm just curious!

Thanks,
Doug

Doug,

With the snow in the background, green equals damp. I've had my SlingLight for going on 22 years and, when I decide to carry the extra weight, it provides comfort for my old bones in the extreme. I most always leave the headrest at home and use a jacket or some such piece of gear instead. The chair may weigh a pound but it's like my MB Thermawrap: it feels sooo light for so much comfort.

Also Doug,please remember, I'm a Californian from Marin County, where we keep the Hot Tub hot, the Champagne Cold and the Peacock feathers handy.

Unlike those of us in the Northwest where we let the volcanoes keep the hot springs hot, keep the Pinot Noir room temp. and keep the REI catalog handy.

Edited by kdesign on 05/11/2007 14:15:50 MDT.

A 0.02oz strip of tough and scratchy duct tape to cushion the grip of my bare carbon fibre hiking pole. But only during winter time. Just kidding. I use a full-length sleeping pad (but only a "petite size",ha!)and a double-wall tent since I cannot stand condensation. Did I mention not sawing off the handle of my tooth brush? And that is independent of season!!
Cheers,
Sven

My luxuries. A 4gb Sandisk m260 mp3 player with many audiobooks, my hiking partner walks about 1/2 hour ahead of me - I can't keep up with him, so I listen to books while I walk. I can squeeze easily 20 unabridged books on the player. It uses only one AAA battery - a lithium battery lasts about 3 days, and they're much lighter than alkaline batteries. Another luxury, a McMurdo Fastfind PLB (11 ounces) which is my Linus blanket on the hike. And yes, finally, I admit to carrying bear spray can. Call me the paranoid backpacker. I hike the High Sierra Trail, am doing a 16 day round trik hike this July-August.

Right on Denis- NOW I get it...It's a Marin County thing! Peacock feathers and Slinglight chairs. :-)

Seriously, those chairs look cool.