I was wondering, do you bring anything that should really be considered not necessary at all when you backpack?

I always bring a small container of pure Rose Oil. I take it out now and then just to take a whiff of it. It has no other use, it's a total luxury on the trail yet I always put it in my pack before leaving even if I know I've already packed too much.

Kindest Regards,

Bill

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In case you're curious, here's where I get it....

http://www.bulgarskarosa.com/essentialoils/oils/roseoil.phtml

I wouldn't go anywhere without my pillow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Paperback books. Plural. One novel, one non-fiction, sometimes a short story or essay collection, too.

I like my pillow. Totally don't need it but it just makes the nights all the more pleasant and comfortable.

1 ***Hammock*** (I can sleep on the ground under a tarp. - I just like my luxury..)

also a luxury, because I don't strictly need it:

Camera - Olympus 725SW

All sometimes carried:

- Paperback book or two.
- Hot Chocolate Packets
- Cask Strength McCallan (or other tasty vitamin S)

This question gets asked periodically, but it is fun to revive it and let the current crop of posters loose on it.

I rarely go backpacking without a paperback book. Even my camera gets left at home sometimes, but never a book. But, of course, my second most taken luxury is the camera.

Combined, these two luxuries of mine account for about 1 pound, depending on the exact book I take. They aren't really necessary, but they do make the trip more fun.

I carry a pillow and a myriad of camera equipment. My camera equipment has almost become part of my essentials because I receive so much joy out of recording my adventures. I recently did a weekend trip where my camera broke on the first day and it kind of put a downer on the rest of the trip; not because it broke, but because I could not take pictures and video of some amazing places.

This season I started packing a frying pan for my Jetboil. It is completely not need but man it really opens some new doors for cooking in the middle of nowhere.

Camera & mini-tripod, compact binoculars, and thermometer. I got one of those Coghlan's "Digital Danglers" for Christmas (watch & min/max thermometer) which may replace my separate watch and thermometer.

I'd consider a solar shower if I had one, and I intend to try an inflatable pillow I just received.
I keep intending to take a closed-cell foam sit pad, figuring to put it under my feet at night, but I haven't yet included it.

A book. Good old thick thriller type. My MP3 player with FM, so that I can get news of the "other" world. Some moisterizer, to feel my face fresh after a quick wash.

On longer trips, I always take a book; one that I wouldn't have the patience or inclination to read at home. I have carried the same copy of War and Peace on ten trips now and am about 1/4 of the way through. And, since I discovered it, I usually take my Ipod along. There is something about listening to Mendelssohn or Mozart while watching the sun go down that I really enjoy.

A little bottle of vanilla extract. Smells really good <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> but tastes really bitter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Would work if you had to bake something, to.

I take it everywhere on my keychain.

billk, I used to bring a solar shower my second one with thermometer, very nice to have a hot shower. I was disappointed with my straw inflated pillow. Too hard, tends to shift too much unless you stuff it into an article of clothing.

I'm surprised at how a pillow is considered a luxury. You mean you carry a regular bed pillow with you? Or, do you have one that's just for the trail?

I always fold my lightweight rain jacket into it's hood and cover it with a T-shirt for a pillow.

I got a hammock for Christmas. It's one of those with a mosquito net. I've never slept in one before so I'll probably bring it with me on my next trip.

I used to always carry a camera, but I find I'm doing that less now. Not sure why, probably just laziness. I never carry music with me. I prefer the sound of the forest. I wouldn't mind someone bringing an iPod with ear buds, but it's tough for me to listen to any kind of music playing when I'm out rambling.

The one other luxury I bring is beer. Good, microbrew beer. It's way too heavy and bulky, but if I can squeeze in a quart or two I'll carry the weight and savor it one small cup at a time <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill S.

Always a book and--when possible--my Thermarest 'trekker lounge' attachment so I can comfortably read in bed.

Ham radio geek stuff.
Shortwave radio...sometimes. VHF/UHF radio, always.
1/2 pint of favorite bourbon or scotch.
Huge astronomical binoculars....IF the skies are clear and I'm not hiking far.
Harmonica, or tin whistle.
Kite of some kind.
Book.

I like my toys!

Rarely all of the above and sometimes none of the above....all depends on who I'm with or solo, when and where, and how far.

Now that's all fun stuff! I'd go rambling with you anytime <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Bill S.

Really strikes home as a good HYOH example for me. It's funny that. I'm a band geek, and a computer geek, I typically listen to music everywhere and can really understand that. The interesting thing is since I'm usually not without an ipod or a laptop full of mp3's and headphones, I just do *not* take them backpacking.. I can't really explain why, I've thought about it, (I agree, mozart's perfect) and always decided "no, I'm happier without" - I've got an ipod shuffle, so it's tiny tiny. I wouldn't get on an airplane without it, but for some reason the thought of taking it backpacking is just, somehow, not right for me in my frame of mind when I head out.

I understand the music issue. I love music but don't carry it into the back country, for a variety of reasons. Not that it's a problem when someone's got an iPod or something out there.

I carry a pretty low powered set of binoculars. 'Bout half a pound. I also carry a little 6 ounce camera.

I sometimes bring either a relevant, in depth field guide (for example a keyed guide to the trees and shrubs of the region) or a good paperback to read. Varies from half a pound to a pound.

On my next longer trip I'm going to bring two 30 gallon trash bags, fill 'em up partway with water, leave them in the sun, and use them as a bath <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Read that online someplace, seems like it might be a good variation on the solar shower.

I guess my hammock is fairly luxurious. If a hammock is a luxury perhaps a tent is as well though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I always take a radio, I am mostly solo so I listen to in the tent at night before I go to sleep. I never listen to it while hiking. I have a radio with short wave so I can always get something to listen to although sometimes I have to lower my standards quite a bit.

I am surprised at how many folks mention a pillow. I have a therm-a-rest stuff sack which holds extra clothes etc so it is more than just a pillow.

I consider my pack and everything in it to be luxuries <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Lol, my pillow is strictly a trail pillow. A nice light one that fits in a small stuff sack and serves the purpose of keeping my head nice a comfortable. I think I'm about to go and get a new one though because it has gel in it, but I really don't need it, hehe.

I'm with phat on this one, I always think that maybe I should take my Ipod with me, but for some reason it just never sits right with me. I do agree though, some good music with a good time always goes well together. Maybe I'll break down and bring it along one day, lol. Or I could just bring a kazoo and make my own music. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

30 gig Ipod classic and sometimes the means to recharge it. There's nothing like the sound of classical music on a high Sierra pass. And at night I like to doze off to a movie.

Hmm....

- light 8x monocular, sometimes my night vision scope (only if I plan on doing wildlife observation)

- Always take my PDA Phone and GPS module (nav, site marking, breadcrumbing, geocache finding, reading and reference, tunes, email and phone in/near town). I bring the keyboard if I think I'll be doing a lot of journaling.

- AM/FM/Weather radio on trips longer than a weekender or if the weather is very changeable.

- One of the digital cameras and now the Panasonic flash memory camcorder I got for Christmas. Which I take depends on what I plan on doing "out there".

- Bear spray (if I really expect bears) or the smaller 4-oz "Personal Protector" (for everything else). Experience has unfortunately taught me that two-legged predators at the trailhead are more problematic than all the four-legged ones on the trail.

- All those electrical devices need power, so there's one or two 5.5 Ah lithium batteries in the pack for recharging on longer trips.

I guess for me the electronics are the main luxuries. I know I could do without them but they help me document my travels so I'll have something to drool over in my old age!

-Jim

"There's nothing like the sound of classical music on a high Sierra pass."

Or the alternative...me playing 'faux' Celtic rills on my tin whistle. I keep a low profile in deer season...or any other season involving firearms. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't own an iPod (except my smart phone which stays behind) but my super tiny ham radio walkie talkie also receives standard broadcast as well as shortwave. At certain times of night there is gorgeous symphonic music played by foreign broadcasters and some of the best jazz on earth coming out of Cuba. I normally only listen after tucked in for the night.

Pillows...if car camping, yes, if backpacking, it's a jacket with something soft stuffed inside. I'll trade a true pillow for something with more fun value.