Originally Posted By Jimshaw
Other questionable "essentials" include repair kit, sun protection, first aid kit, fire starter, and flashlight. It might be nice to have these things, like the whistle that has somehow been dropped, BUT are they essential? That is - are they required? All of this is assuming that the fertilizer hits the fan smirk and you want something [technology, medicine, etc] to make it better. This is ballanced against - how BAD does it have to be to create a "bad trip" crazy and what does all that stuff cost and weigh?

I wouldn't consider a firestarter, flashlight, or cutting tool (not neccessarily a knife) to be "questionable" at all. Those are all no-brainers IMO. The size/weight/cost of those three is neglegible. A small ferro rod costs a couple of bucks. A squeeze-type single LED light is tiny. A 2" blade is adequate for most any cutting task. My repair kit consists of the paracord bracelet on my wrist, and a couple of feet of duct tape wrapped around my trekking pole.