Say you're going on a camping/hiking trip, what are the top 3 things you take along?

Question

...not a drive to the campsite and set-up camp thing. A leave the vehicle, and go out on foot for week thing. Not alone. With at least one friend along...

I know a good backpack, good shoes, and clothes appropriate to the season, so leave those out, please. We all know that.

What are the top three things (not a pack, shoes, or seasonal clothes) you think of to make sure you bring?

Note to self - Hammerhead too damned cranky to risk on a week's hiking trip. :P

Some answerers seem to be confused and think my question was "please teach me how to trek the outdoors." I'm looking for new ideas--the chocolate thing was cool, and so is the thing about the firestarter logs. People who think I asked for tutorial in camping themselves need a tutorial in reading comprehension. Sorry, but I don't know how to say it without sounding like as big a jackhole as the lecturers--both the clever and the humourless--themselves.

Thanks to the people who understand this question for what it is.

Answer 1

Aside from the obvious stuff...and I'll include a knife, survival gear, 1st aid stuff, etc. in the stuff that's obvious, here are some of the toys & extras I regularly bring with me on backpacking trips.

1. My Crazy Creek Chair. Nothing like having a nice chair to sit in at the end of the day,and if you are really hardcore you can skip taking your Thermarest or foam pad and just use the Crazy Creek as a foam pad. It's not quite as comfy as a nice pad, but it'll do.

2. My Java Press. I never go backpacking or camping without coffee. My newest one fits right into the pot of my JetBoil stove. I can boil up a cup of joe in about 90 seconds flat.

3. Toys. I almost always have a Fisbee (It doubles as my eating plate.) I've been know to pack in a small kite. Minature or travel versions of games are also something I take. I have a mini-version of Yahtzee that is no bigger than a fim container. There's a Hacky-Sack permenantly in residence in one of my ditty bags with my survival gear, sunscreen, bug dope, etc. I never leave without that bag.

Here's a list of things I've NEVER FREAKIN" NEEDED:

Axe, Saw, Machete, Hatchet, Shovel, Entrenching Tool, etc.: Weighs too much and any fire you make can be fueled with found, downed wood. The only tools I've ever needed were my pocketknife and the things in my repair kits. (Scissors, Stove Repair Wrench, etc.) I do have a small trowel to make cat-holes in order to dispose of my poop when needed.

Firearms: Unless the purpose of my trip is hunting, I've never found a need for a gun while backpacking.

Bear Spray: If you take all of the needed precautions and know how to act when you encounter a bear you'll never need the stuff. I've run into a lot of bears while backpacking. Never needed any bear spray.

Have Fun!

Answer 2

Despite his alleged crankiness, Hammerhead is pretty on the money. You're going backpacking. Leaving your "givens" aside (you fail to mention shelter, food, or a stove and fuel (also givens I hope)) the most important thing I try to bring is information. Learn about where you are going, what to be ready for, any pertinent restriction/laws. Find out stuff like available water sources (or lack thereof), what animals are in the area and how to avoid confrontation with them. Other important things to know are your owns limits and those of your group. Does anyone have any medical issues that need to monitored (severe allergies, diabetes, etc).
The next most important thing is TP and a little shovel. A trip without that can get nasty fast!
Make sure you have a map and compass and/or GPS. Oh yeah, and know how to use them or they are a waste.

it is also a good idea to let someone know where you are going and when you should get back...just in case.

Have an awesome trip!

Answer 3

1. For food you should check out EMS or a store like that-they have the dehydrated meals in a pouch, all you need for most of those is hot or cold water, and they are GOOD! Not too expensive either, and they have some pretty good varieties like Czeshuan (sp?) Chicken and even ice cream! Sounds gross I know but they are GOOD! My brother is an avid hiker and I always get him a load of those for Christmas every year.
2. A few of those aim n flame lighter thingies, not matches, which can get wet.
3. A box of those firestarter logs, not the big log, but a box of the small ones, the box is about the size of a box of Pop Tarts (hey, bring Pop Tarts too!) Those little logs are invaluable for getting a really good fire started.

Have fun!!!!!

Answer 4

water, a way of both carrying it, and of purifying it in the field such as a katidyn filter. a source of fire, be it flint and steal, strike anyware matches, lighter or combination of each. And lastly, my survival kit which contains the basics to keep me alive in an emergency" a candle, flint and steel, dried soup mix, tea and coffe bags, hi energy hard candy, small fishing kit, knife, cordage, basic first aide supplies ( found that a few small bandaides and 2 large trauma bandages are best cuz it seems like you either get a small cut, or a major one) a signal mirror and a clear plastic tarp big enough to use as a rain shelter, but small enough to fit in my emergency kit. It also makes a good solar still etc and all of that fits into a small coffee can with a plastic lid. That works as a cooking pot, a water holder, a way of heating water to purify it, and a lot of other uses.
Those are my 3 suggestions.
Hope it helped.
Good question!!

Answer 5

1. An ipod and a small set of speakers is my recent must have. (Don't judge until you try it)

2. Lifesavers in my pocket for those long uphill marches where your mouth gets dry.

3. Zip lock baggie of shortcut items (not to be mistaken for a first aid kit). This is mine, it never leaves my pack and doesn't replace the packing the standards i.e. lighter or mag light.
Waterproof matches (dip regular ones in clear nail polish), Wind-up Flashlight, Ny-Quill capsules, Playing Cards and Duct Tape.

Answer 6

Maybe you need to make a map of where you are planning to go, and leave it with someone. When you don't come back at least someone knows where to start looking.

First, bring a machete. It will cut anything.

A GPS unit with pre programmed areas, hopefully where you are going. I doubt you could read a map or use a compass.

And for #3, a flare gun. It'll flag down the rescue chopper, scare the bears, light a campfire, and cook that squirrel you ran over speeding through the parking lot.

Answer 7

The word you're looking for to describe this outing is backpacking, not camping/hiking. And I don't even know what you're trying to ask for? A backpack, shoes and clothes are just randomly chosen off the list of things one would take backpacking, so I don't know why you assume they are a given. People hike naked and/or barefoot, and some people stuff all their gear in their pockets a fanny pack or on the backs of their goats. If you're going backpacking the top three things you should bring are shelter, food, and maybe fire making materials? If you're a survivalist you could make your own shelter out there, scrounge for food, and rub two sticks together to make fire so you'd need only a knife or maybe nothing?

Answer 8

willie's list of stuff not to take is really good. I like to take my on kind of trail mix i can control how much extra chocolate or my favorite craisins in with the kinds of nuts i actually like. another non essential i like is a good dig camera and extra sd card/batteries the ability to capture breathtaking pics is something i really love and imop worth the extra weight. my third fave is my utility knife i really love it and it is really universal.

I personally wouldn't bother with the firestarter log it is extremely heavy and takes up a lot of space. not to mention that depending on where you go you may not be able to have open flames. you can lookup online how to make firestarters out of dryer lint, and a paper egg carton. they are a lot smaller and lighter


*note to rhea, if you take your ipod please use earbuds not speakers. i and many others go hiking/camping/backpacking to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and to escape the noise of everyday life I don't want to hear whatever music or podcast you happen to be listening to

Answer 9

1.) Definitely chocolate - like M&Ms

2.) 15 or 20 feet of some lightweight rope

3.) The trusty Swiss army knife!

...and yeah... definitely *leave* Hammerhead. If you took the gun someone else suggested you may end up with a manslaughter charge before you finish setting up the first camp. roflmmaoiao1!1

Answer 10

1. Camera
2. Trash or Garbage Bag
3. Tissue Paper