Whats the one piece of gear you never go without?

[Cuffs]

We all know we need the basics... bag, pack, shelter, first aid rain gear...

but what is the one thing that when you are on your way to the trailhead and all of a sudden you realize you left home without that you would turn the car around and go back for? 

For me, its a piece of gear that I dont actually take on the trail with me.  I bought a fish weighing scale at WM a while back and the last thing I do before I lock my car up and start walking is weigh my pack, gear, water, food and all.  That way I can say.. I did a _x__ mile, __x__ day hike with __x__ pounds.  (60 mile, 7 day hike with 32 pounds, which included all food, water and fuel, the consumables...)

[ednotmilkman]

you really would turn around and go home just because you couldn't weigh your stuff?  I weigh my pack on the bathroom scales sometimes as I'm packing, but I sure don't write down lbs and miles.

I think I'd hike with no socks before I drove home to get them............ at least 2 hours for me.............. Wal-Mart would be closer.......... ............lets see, what HAVE I forgotten? OK, I once left my MP3 player in the back seat of a friend's shuttle car. I did not go back because I didn't know I'd lost it till it was gone, but I would have spent 30 minutes if I could to get it. Probably would go back for my headlamp if I forgot it.  I would attempt to hike without map or GPS if I had decent memory of the trail and plenty of food for unexpected opportunities !

Cuffs, You must be bored stiff like me this week with no work in this rain, to be spending so much useless time here dreaming again. I can't believe you even get KARMA with you posts. Last time I looked, you had more karma than posts.

[Nalgene Ninja]

My Big Agnes Air Core sleep pad, its the most comfy camp pad ever.

[PastorLarryT]

Though I "have" done a day hike without a pack, I would have to agree with BL... my pack (either backpack or lumbar pack depending on type of hike) would force me to change hiking plans. 

BTW, I did go by Target one time to buy a cheap lumbar pack so I could go hiking at Stone Mountain while I was in the Atlanta area for training.  I had not originally planned to do any hiking there, but couldn't pass up the opportunity!   

[auwesman]

Trowel   

Bring on the posts Cuffs!  I enjoy the "what if" questions!

[Cuffs]

The packs are necessary gear, I wont leave home without mine either.  But whats that odd something you would just feel sad about if you left and and would either go home and get it, or at least stop and buy another on the way to the trailhead?

[Graceless]

water filter( did that biology class BLEH!) ace bandage ,twine ,knife(def wouldn't go without that!) that should do me...

[TKOdom]

Aside from the essentials mentioned,

Day Hike,  Weekend  -- Nothing I can think of.

Longer than that ---  Book

[PastorLarryT]

The packs are necessary gear, I wont leave home without mine either.  But whats that odd something you would just feel sad about if you left and and would either go home and get it, or at least stop and buy another on the way to the trailhead?

That's a difficult one to answer Cuffs... I would really hate to forget my digital camera (I enjoy sharing photos of my hikes, though I AM NOT a photographer), but I wouldn't drive a distance back for it.  The essentials like water, etc. I would stop and buy.  Forgetting a map and compass (though I have backups for compass) would force me to buy another or re-plan the hike. 

I guess the "odd" item you're talking about would have to be my Trail Journal.  I would hate not to have it with me to record my thoughts, observations, meditations, and prayers while on my hike.  This would be especially true if it was a backpacking trip rather than just a day hike.

[Lesley]

Headlamp. Matt would buy another one, I'd just go to bed earlier.

[JRR]

Pocket knife.  I feel naked without one.  Except when I'm, well, naked. 

[Joshua Szulecki]

I have two. Dog and camera. The only time I'm not with one it is because of the other.

[Cuffs]

I guess the "odd" item you're talking about would have to be my Trail Journal.  I would hate not to have it with me to record my thoughts, observations, meditations, and prayers while on my hike.  This would be especially true if it was a backpacking trip rather than just a day hike.

The journal... thats a good one!  I always take mine and write each night, and I would probably be remissed if I didnt have it.  Id have to stop and buy some paper so something to write on!

[Rob]

Tooth brush and hair brush, I know, I know, but it's the way I am. Just don't like the scungy mouth and rats nest head in the morning thing.
Yea folks he got lost in the woods for two weeks because he didn't take a map or compass but his breath and hair were in good shape when we found him............. ....

[cwhiker]

tri-pod and filters for shooting waterfalls I am never with out the camera

[Joshua Szulecki]

Cwhiker,

I have to confess that a handful of times I've hiked without my camera, because I was hiking for the dog, not for photography, and a handful of times I've hiked without the dog, because I was hiking specifically for photography, and dogs and tripods are mortal enemies. Or at least you'd think so, since Scipio immediately wraps his leash around and through the tripod legs.

[Woody]

I can't think of anything non-essential I would go back for but I always take an extra trash bag, large black one. It has endless uses and weighs almost nothing. I even read how you can re-inflate a collapsed lung with one once. Talk about versatile! As far as nostalgia I guess I do not have any gear that fits the bill there I tend to leave sentamental items home for fear of loosing them. I have a swiss army knife my Mom and Dad bought me when I was about 12(14 years ago) and it looks brand new because I never used it. I did/do not want it to get lost, broken, or worn out. Kind of defeats the purpose I know. Maybe I will seek counselling 

[Rigormortis]

Duct Tape, warm clothes, plastic bag, knife, fire of some description.

[cwhiker]

dogs and tripods are mortal enemies. Or at least you'd think so, since Scipio immediately wraps his leash around and through the tripod legs.

This is so true Nicky used to do the same thing. it would never fail just as soon as I hit the shutter button on a long exposure she would find the most interesting bug or smell right under the camera and try her best to turn everything over.