Five Essential Backpacking Items

[The Night Rider]

The author covers most of the basics with some notable gear MIA, but I don't think he thought about a few things, like proper footwear, and not prepared for sudden localized weather changes which can happen up high. I've lost count of the folks I've seen up high wearing flip-flops & having no water.

There's a new trend here of people going hiking Barefoot because it "grounds" them to the Earth.

 

[The Night Rider]

This discussion got me thinking. I'm 56 years old. I don't do a whole bunch of overnights anymore. It's not worth it for me to trade in my old school gear for ultralight.

If I was starting over and I knew what I know now. I'd keep my Camelbak backpacking pack and my synthetic Coleman 0° rated bag and everything else would be as ultralight as I could afford.