Following are traveler-proven useful items for some packs.
- Viscose towel
- 2 oz., $2-$10. Available under a brand name in outdoor shops, or for half-the-money and twice-the-towel in the auto section of Walmart as a product for cleaning and drying cars. Viscose absorbs ten times its weight in water, and then wrings 98% dry with a few twists. I carry two or three pieces. Because they dry quickly when strapped to the outside of your pack, Viscose towels don't begin to stink after a few days like a heavy, bulky, cotton bath towel.
- Swiss army knife
- 2 oz. I recommend going for a light one that still has a corkscrew, which is the one instrument most likely to make you a Superhero.
- Folding scissors
- 0.5 oz. Very useful. Better than the ones on big Swiss Army knives.
- Tweezers
- Important for removing splinters, spines, etc. Definitely worth the 0.25 oz. weight.
Photo: I find a small Swiss army knife (mine's a $3 but good Czech), folding scissors, and quality tweezers more useful than a bulky 28 function knife with awkward scissors and useless tweezers.
- Duct tape
- Repairs everything. Roll a few yards around a short pencil.
- Bandanna
- 0.5 oz., 100% cotton. For wiping eyeglasses, and as a combination sunshield, water-activated cooling device, sling, disguise, headband, fashion item, snotrag, etc.
- Earplugs
- Foam type, several pairs. Good for noisy hostels, hotels, discos, video buses, etc.
- Padlock
- 3 oz. Some developing world hotel rooms require your own padlock. Also useful for hostel lockers and fastening your pack to an overhead rack.
- Maps
- A 1:250,000 scale map shows far more towns, villages, and roads than a 1:500,000. A 1:1,000,000 map shows
only coarse detail, and is not useful for venturing off the beaten path. With a finer scale map, among other things, you can see where the good hitching points are likely to be, and perhaps why where you are now, sucks.
- Topographical maps (topos)
- Have a fine 1:24,000 to 1:50,000 scale which allows a skilled user to determine geographical features. All points on a line are the same elevation, and more closely spaced lines indicate a steeper rise.
- Topographical compass
- $10, 1 oz. A compass like my Silva System 7 which is used with a topographical map to triangulate position and direction. It takes knowledge, practice, and a topo map to use properly. (Most rational travel backpackers don't need either topo.)
- Flashlight
- The Mini Mag Light ($12, 3 oz.) uses two AA batteries, produces an adequate, adjustable beam, and easily fits in a pocket. It is waterproof, made of machined aluminum, and stores an extra bulb inside. A reliable flashlight with a spare bulb is essential when night falls while still on the trail. Twist-on flashlights such as this are superior to push-button types since push-button
types always eventually get pushed by sinister forces inside your pack.
- Flashlight headband
- 1 oz., $5. Velcro-closing headband that holds a 2AA flashlight. You get light wherever you look. Very convenient for reading and cooking. I leave one permanently wrapped around my Mini Mag.
- Alarm watch
- An inexpensive digital alarm watch does not attract unwanted attention. On those rare occasions when I must arise before I want to, I fasten it around my neck with a bandanna.
- Nylon cord
2 oz. Forty feet of 1/8 inch braided nylon cord is all you are likely to need for clotheslines and such. It is strong, easy to work, and weighs only an ounce. Burn the ends to prevent fraying.
- Magnifying glass
- 0.5 oz. Bring one if you are interested in the natural world, or a strange creature poking out of your foot.
- Mini binoculars
- 9 oz. You simply cannot see wildlife well without them.
- Candle
- A long-burning candle saves on batteries, and is more romantic when the lights go out, which happens regularly in many developing countries. Think safety--fashion a reflector/safety stand from a can.
- Emergency blanket
3 oz., $3. A thin aluminized sheet measuring about four feet by seven feet that reflects most of your body heat back to you. Comes in handy for spending the night in a cold train station, supplementing your sleeping bag during a cold snap, or if your bus breaks down along the Silk Road. I've used and loaned them numerous times, and try to always have one in my pack.
- Mini umbrella
- 5 oz. For passive resistance. Most backpackers, of course, bull their way through.
- Paperback book
- I suggest one with a travel theme. When finished trade it with another backpacker or a used book store.
- Rubber bands
- Five or ten for holding stuff together, apart, or closed.
- Sewing Kit
- Some thread and a needle or two. Maybe even a button.
Photo: Viscose towel below Mount Taranaki, New Zealand.