A few more random comments from the peanut gallery..
2 gallon ziplocks to pack clothes in
there's yer pillow!
2L blacklite pot from MSR + potholder + stuffsack + washcloth that protects pot from being scratched by potholder
On the rare occasions my pot is dirty enough to warrant it because it has done more than boil water - I scrub it out with sand/rocks. I don't care about it getting scratched - this is why I don't like "non-stick" coatings - and my pots
don't have them
GSI ‘gourmet’ bowl/mug combos X2 – these are the triangular shaped ones. I know this probably isn’t strictly necessary as we could eat out of the pot, but if my BF and I eat out of the same bowl, I’ll get shortchanged with food!
Take 'em back and buy two of the disposable ziploc "bowls" at your local grocery store - lighter and have a lid - work great for this.
Serving/cooking utensil– swivel spatula from GSI
A stick.. your spoons? I certainly don't take anything other than a spoon and small pocket knife
Matches
Lighter (should I think about getting one of those firesteel things?)
No - take an extra lighter..
Leave at home unless you're planning on cooking something crazy.. if just fbc and quick cook stuff you won't need it
I never take such a thing, but see above comment about rocks and sand
3L platypus big zip (perhaps overkill as I plan on hiking in Michigan mostly, but I get bad headaches when I’m in the sun too long and drinking loads of water really helps)
1L platypus plusbottle (just in case my hydration bladder decides to leak)
I actually carry a 2 and 3l - I hardly ever (unless I know I'm going to be a long time from water) ever put more than a litre and a half in one of them that I am carrying during the day.. I fill them up (and may use as a pillow) in camp when cooking tho.
First aid kit – includes loads of aspirin and aspirin equivalents for the aforementioned headaches as well as bandaids, antibacterial cream, a couple butterfly bandaid thingies, a gauze roll, an ace bandage, Benadryl and my preferred (24hr) allergy medication, anti-itch cream and moleskin.
consider some iodine/betadine, and some 4x4 gauze pads, with some good tape. (I carry those, even in a very small kit. They get used) skip the gauze roll - if you need a bandage take a knife to a shirt. I don't take the ace bandage, but I know some people swear by it. An (unscented un-perfumed, etc.) plain old maxi-pad is a fantastic nasty wound dressing, and may be worth having in there.
It’s homemade and just in a plastic bag currently.
So is mine. and has been for many years
I would ask why on earth you would ever need two, but a very creative use of two was recently posted by a long time forum member... do you need these when also carrying a buff?
Set of extra batteries (should I just change them right before going on the trail?)
I don't take extra batteries - I have a very small coin cell LED backup light. lighter than extra batteries.
Duct tape (wrapped around a piece of cardboard)
mine is wrapped around my trekking pole.
I don't take this - what for? - I do take some small bits of utility cord. (the kind that can make a tarp tie-out)
If you're already bringing a keyboard for an e-reader/phone - can this be used in place of the deck of cards? I stopped carrying these when I carried the e-reader. I also don't spend a lot of time "in camp sitting around" - so depends on your trip.
Wet Ones Package (20 or so wipes)
I take two a day, to clean my bum, and my hands, after number 2
If I take wet ones, I don't take this - I use a bit of extra stove alcohol for this purpose.
Deva cup (seriously, if you have not tried a menstrual cup, you really, really should)
Panty liners (enough for 2 a day if during that time of month (menstrual cups can leak a bit), or one a day so I don’t always have to use toilet paper)
and since you're new, I'll give you a reminder about the above - treat it all (new and used) like *FOOD* with respect to animal avoidance - bears, raccons, critters all love to get into this stuff. you won't want to clean up the mess they'll make in your tent over it.