Lightweight backpacking has almost become a religion for backcountry travelers, but after spending roughly 30 miles on the trail over the last month, I’ve had some time to reflect on what’s worth its weight. Here are some essentials that should never be left at home.

1. Fire starter – Packing a lighter or matches is a no-brainer for the backcountry, but if you want a campfire, some kind of lightweight starter to get it going is essential. We learned this the hard way at Deseret Peak. Despite being in the middle of the west desert, it had consistently rained for a few days before we arrived. There wasn’t a dry piece of kindling to be found. For subsequent trips, we packed cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. They’re lightweight and provide a sustained flame for several minutes. Try it out. You’ll be amazed at how well they work.

2. Moleskin — In a perfect world, our shoes fit perfectly and our packs never rub. I learned a long time ago that in spite of our preparations and best intentions, we don’t live in such a world. Moleskin is a cushy, adhesive material which helps prevent blisters. It can also buffer formed blisters from further rubbing against the offending material. It can save your hike from becoming relentless torture. It weighs next to nothing. Be sure to stash a pack in an readily-accessible area.

3. Collapsible water tank — We used a 4-liter pourable plastic bladder with a nice, soft handle. While I don’t recommend hiking with one while it’s full if you’ll be near reliable sources of water, it’ll save you multiple trips to the stream while at camp. The U.S. Forest Service prohibits camping within 200 feet of water sources, and those 200 feet get pretty tiring when you’re tripping down ravines and huffing up drainages to filter more water for cooking. 

4. Creature comforts — You’re out backpacking to have fun, so sometimes it’s worth a mini-splurge to keep things comfortable. My hiking partner liked to bring a small, foldable stool so he didn’t have to sit on the cold, hard ground. I sometimes brought my iPad loaded with digital books for the downtime at camp. And sometimes, when we know the trip isn’t going to be too steep and our packs have a little extra room, we like to pack a pale ale to celebrate the summit or enjoy with dinner. 

5. Toilet paper and a small shovel — Hopefully this needs no explanation.

6. Camera — It doesn’t have to be huge, but you went so far and worked so hard, so it’s nice to have a way to remember all your efforts. Also, good low-impact backpackers know that pictures are the only things we should be taking with us out of wilderness. Unless you count fish and you have a valid fishing permit. 

What are you must-haves in the backcountry? Send reporter Leia Larsen your thoughts at llarsen@standard.net.