| oh man, i do not consider any gear "must take." it all depends upon the type of hike. i wouldn't take anything for a short flat trail hike except maybe a bottle of water or a snack.
generally, my minimum gear for a dayhike involves a backpack with hydration bladder (1-3L water depending upon demands of hike) and a snack/lunch. i keep a wistle on my pack, so i guess that qualifies too. usually a camera as well. nothing else is essential. if i am not familiar with the trail, i will bring a topo map. various layers of clothing depending upon the weather. night trips requires a headlamp and flashlight. etc. etc. etc. it would take me many paragraphs to list all the various gear combos i utilize depending upon demands.
essentially, if i haven't utilized gear for some purpose after bringing it on a dozen hikes, it is probably not needed, especially on more popular weekend hikes.
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