List:03 What to Bring

My Packing List:
Not everything goes on every trip, this is what I have taken that I will take again.

Backpack with rain cover
Fanny Pack
Stuff Sacks

Shelter:
tent with poles and stakes and fly
tarp/ground cloth

or hammock, net and rain fly

Sleeping bag and liner
Sleeping pad
inflatable pillow

Kitchen:
stove
Fuel

lighter/matches
Kettle or pot

cooking pouches
extra baggies
long spoon
sporks
toaster fork/foil
water bottles
mug
water purification system

Clothing:
weather reliant layers
always bring a knit hat and extra wool socks
camp shoes
sunglasses and sun hat
bug net for your head
poncho or rain gear
light fleece jacket or puffy
You can use extra clothes in a stuff sack as a pillow or find room for one.
sleeping clothes

Lighting:
headlamp and tiny flashlight that I clip to my pack zipper so I can see inside it
Luminaid lantern

Repair kit:
Tenacious tape
2 small zip ties
small multitool
ripstop nylon patches
3-4 large sturdy safety pins
2 sewing needles and a length of dental floss
extra buckle
air mattress repair patch
tent pole repair sleeve

First Aid:

Small packet of wet wipes
tiny tube of hand sanitizer
self-sticking wrap
6-8 bandaids in a couple sizes
butterfly closure strips
tooth cement (a tiny plastic container of numbing agent to pack into a cracked or broken tooth)
Saline misting spray if anyone is prone to nosebleeds
Tylenol
Benedryl
antibiotic ointment
tweezers
Pepto tablets
2 gauze pads
extra tampons
moleskin
tiny nail scissors

sunscreen

lip balm

bug dope

stick-on forehead thermometer
foam ear plugs

Also:
Map of trail
compass
trail guide if possible

2-3 clips (mainly to attach wet clothing to dry on your pack, you will find many other uses)

trash bags (compactor bags are good for this)

small umbrella (light rain or hot sun protection, just tuck the handle in your pack strap)

hiking poles or stick

towel/chamois

paracord

toilet paper and trowel
toothbrush and paste
comb/hair holders

notebook and pen

camera/battery
bandanna (more than one)

It looks like a TON of stuff, but everything on the list adds up to a little over 20 pounds!  Most of it is tiny.

Ultralight gear is awesome AND it's $$$ AND it is very often made with fragile materials to keep the weight down, making it something you have to really care for every step of the way to keep from getting shredded. I advise going for the lightest you can afford that still has good durability, so 20 to 25 pounds is a very attainable goal. Your Big Four are pack, shelter, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Get the weight down on these-even if you have to swap out as the money is there to do it-and each upgrade will improve your situation.