This would be the ultimate system for absent-minded hikers if it were smaller and supported multiple tags:



You can actually get RFID chips that could be epoxied on all your equipment. However, the readers are still bulky industrial-strength affairs that would be extreme overkill (and too heavy) for backpackers. As the technology percolates down to the consumer level, expect someone to offer a pager-sized device that will scan for the chips and compare what it finds to a checklist - any missing chips would be flagged. When you break camp, you just push the button and see what's missing.

I do like the lanyard idea though...I'll have to use that until something better comes along.

-Jim