What is your one piece of "GEAR" you can't do without?

[hikerboy57]

On my section hike I had everything I needed and needed everything I had.

[LadybugPicnic]

I wouldn't want to do without several pieces of my gear - my hammock, rain tarp, insulation, sleeping bag, backpack, and hiking poles. My luxury item I wouldn't want to do without is my Kindle Reader

[Panzer1]

pants.....

[WingedMonkey]

On my section hike I had everything I needed and needed everything I had.

Then why did you quit?

[hikerboy57]

Then why did you quit?

i got hurt.smashed my shin right above the ankle on a log when i had slipped just 4 days out, kept hiking on it for probably 50 miles more than i should have till it worked its way to a full blown sprain. i hiked to chairback through a full day of torrential rain, took a zero the next day, was running low on food, tried to push on to monson, but finally got off at third mtn, took a side trail to a logging road which brought me to the amc gorman lodge where an amc guy gave me a ride into greenville. itook 4 days off, coach lou came up and we did 2 nights in the bigelows,didnt feel i was strong enough to get to gorham on the stlll sore ankle, decided to catch a ride home from lou.i had a great time for the 3 weeks i was on the trail, and was satisfied to go home at that point. my biggest disappointment however was accidently erasing some 150+ pictures the very last night i was out. im going to have another try at it next year.
im still on the learning curve with poles as i had only hiked with them 3 times before maine, and im still learning when i should be using them and when to put them away. i think using them at the wrong time contributed to my slipping, where before using poles i was always pretty sure footed, i became a bit tentative looking for places to put both poles and feet.even when i was scrambling up chairback, i first was looking how to use the poles, then put them away and just used my hands, felt much more secure. i guess if there was one piece of equipment i could have used would have been a medic.

[Drybones]

pfft... easy my Wenger 16999 Giant Swiss Army Knife
Attachment 17102
http://www.amazon.com/Wenger-16999-G.../ref=pd_ybh_23

Is the UL version all they offer?

[Wise Old Owl]

Leash..............................

[Sarcasm the elf]

Is the UL version all they offer?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000J4...919503&sr=8-10 ;-)

[AKBOb]

i got hurt.smashed my shin right above the ankle on a log when i had slipped just 4 days out, kept hiking on it for probably 50 miles more than i should have till it worked its way to a full blown sprain. i hiked to chairback through a full day of torrential rain, took a zero the next day, was running low on food, tried to push on to monson, but finally got off at third mtn, took a side trail to a logging road which brought me to the amc gorman lodge where an amc guy gave me a ride into greenville. itook 4 days off, coach lou came up and we did 2 nights in the bigelows,didnt feel i was strong enough to get to gorham on the stlll sore ankle, decided to catch a ride home from lou.i had a great time for the 3 weeks i was on the trail, and was satisfied to go home at that point. my biggest disappointment however was accidently erasing some 150+ pictures the very last night i was out. im going to have another try at it next year.
im still on the learning curve with poles as i had only hiked with them 3 times before maine, and im still learning when i should be using them and when to put them away. i think using them at the wrong time contributed to my slipping, where before using poles i was always pretty sure footed, i became a bit tentative looking for places to put both poles and feet.even when i was scrambling up chairback, i first was looking how to use the poles, then put them away and just used my hands, felt much more secure. i guess if there was one piece of equipment i could have used would have been a medic.

I feel your pain! I took a pair of Lekis on a trip into the back country for a 2 week trip once (no trails) and they finally ended up lashed to my pack when got one of them stuck between boulders and nearly to a 6,000ft ride down a scree coved mt.

[AKBOb]

I feel your pain! I took a pair of Lekis on a trip into the back country for a 2 week trip once (no trails) and they finally ended up lashed to my pack when got one of them stuck between boulders and nearly to a 6,000ft ride down a scree coved mt.

Need to fix my spell checker

[hikerboy57]

I feel your pain! I took a pair of Lekis on a trip into the back country for a 2 week trip once (no trails) and they finally ended up lashed to my pack when got one of them stuck between boulders and nearly to a 6,000ft ride down a scree coved mt.

I'm going to try using office shoes next time.

[AKBOb]

I'm going to try using office shoes next time.

LOL, office or official?

[q-tip]

Steripen---Mont Bell Puff Jacket

[Rasty]

I'm going to try using office shoes next time.

Black or Brown? It matters!

[Water Rat]

Black or Brown? It matters!

The black shoes would go so much better, with many more outfits. The brown shoes might clash with some of the dirt on the trail...

[Rasty]

The black shoes would go so much better, with many more outfits. The brown shoes might clash with some of the dirt on the trail...

You carry more than one outfit?

[Water Rat]

You carry more than one outfit?

Ha ha! I never said I carry more than one outfit. Good grief, no! But, if HB carries more than one outfit, he will definitely be in good shape. Just don't wear white after Labor Day!

[Longstrike]

My Buff! Keeps the sweat, as well as my hair, outta my eyes, without feeling like my head is totally covered...

+1 My buff goes with me everywhere
next up would be my field knife. I can survive for at least a litte while with just that and my brain

[kombiguy]

Coffee maker.

[Water Rat]

New item I apparently will not be going anywhere without... Stuffed lobster. Louie Louie is my new hiking buddy.