"The Ten Essentials" for hikers according to a bunch of mountaineering guys from the 1930's are:

Not bad, not bad.  But also not very specific.  Here are a some additional essentials for your outdoor excursion that are a bit more detailed.

1. Extra socks

Unless you're a mountain main with thick, leathery, calloused feet, your poor delicates footsies will probably take a bit of a beating on a day-long trek.  And depending on the conditions and how much your feet sweat in your hiking boots, you may find yourself with some seriously damp and raw feet halfway through your trek.  An extra pair of clean, dry socks can be a life saver when you're getting ready to turn back.

2. Four additions for your first aid kit

First: Add a tube of polysporin or similar cut/burn treatment gel.  Being out in the forest is dirty business and if you get a gash you want to be able to fill it and cover it so you can get back home and clean it up properly.

Second: Add tension bandages - the kind you use to wrap around knees and ankles.  Aside from small cuts and bruises, the most common injuries from hiking happen to your knees or ankles when you twist one or bail.  Having a proper tension bandage to wrap around make a huge difference when you're limping home and can prevent further damage.

Third: Add extra band-aids (real ones).  Often the strips in first aid kits are just garbage.  Do yourself a favor a pick up a variety pack of brand-name bandages from your local pharmacy.

Fourth: Your medicine!  If you're asthmatic, why would you hike into the boonies without your inhaler?  If you have any kind of chronic condition or are on medication, do not forget to bring it in a waterproof container!

3. A ball of brightly-colored yarn or ribbon 

Preferably a bright orange or pink and preferably a natural wool since it will bio-degrade.  And no, this is not so you can knit a bright pink sweater if you get lost.  It's so to can tie it to tree branches or bushes to mark your path.  When the trail gets to be not so well-worn this little trick can prevent you from wandering in circles in the bush.

4. A REAL knife

You don't have to go Crocodile Dundee or Rambo with big giant blade, but those Swiss Army knives are pitiful and have a tendency to slice the tips off your pinky fingers when you least expect it.  Get yourself a proper lockblade with a little carrying case you can attach to your belt or boot.  In case you've never heard of one before, a "lockblade" is a folding knife with a locking mechanism so the darned thing doesn't slice your fingers off.  A blade over 5 inches is really unnecessary.

5. Binoculars or a small telescope

You don't need anything too fancy: even 10x magnification will do.  There are simply times when you need to see what's up ahead (or what you've left behind).  This is a particularly important item if your hiking in an area frequented by bears (or sasquatches!)

6. Rope.  Lots of it.  (And learn a few knots!)

Even if you're not planning on scaling any cliffs you're a moron if you venture into the woods without a decent length of rope.  At the very least you're going to want 18 feet of high-quality rope that will hold a knot and can hold your bodyweight.  Handy,  life-saving, and probably the cheapest part of your whole kit.

7. Toilet paper and a folding trowel

This is one of the most commonly forgotten items on any day trip.  What, you thought that because you are out in the wilderness you won't have to poop anymore?  Pop out the tube and squish at least one roll into your pack.  The trowel is so you can dispose of the mess properly. Not details needed there, right?

8. The best darned hat in the universe

Go to this web site, choose your country and choose a hat.  Tilley Endurables makes the last hat you'll ever need to buy.  Remember how Indiana Jones' fedora was indestructable?  These hats are even better. 

That's all the essentials I have for now.  How about you?  Post a comment to add to the list!

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