Hiking

My needs and environment are very different from yours, but here are some tips.

Keep a text list and modify it as you go. This is how you learn and improve.

Mount the stuff you find yourself using the most, or want to get to quickly, on the top of your pack's straps. For me that's a cheap knife, compass, monocular, reading glasses, extra gun magazine. Gun is of course optional, I don't know what it's like where you're at, nor the laws. Probably not a lot of bears, panthers or gators in the Austin area! But remember, 2-legged threats and crazy asshole dogs are more realistic problems. In any case, I sometimes pop off a few for fun. Don't forget ear pro!

Here's my overland gear, and me looking like a dork. There may be some ideas here for you.

• Emergency whistle
• eBay mag pouch for the monocular and small flashlight
• Olight flashlight on the chest band (extra lights inside)
• Casio watch. Super cheap, super tough. Just got one with tide and moon predictions! And there's one for $45 on eBay that has a compass and temperature sensor.
• Extra cold weather clothes like the neck gaiter and gloves. (I had just got home from the cold.) Also pack a hat for warmth, sun or rain, depending.
• First aid kit with bandages, gauze, antibiotic goo, etc. Pills like Tylenol and allergy and kratom. You do you.
• A camp towel is super nice!
• Use molle gear! It's the standard system for attaching goodies that the military uses. Pouches, clips, whatever are cheap on eBay. Just added a smallish pouch to me waist strap. Very nice for temp storage.
• There's a flare and emergency beacon in the the back for OMG-broken-leg issues. Lot's of military craft overhead around here, may not help you much.
• Extra food like nuts, protein bars, jerky, etc. That really saves me on most trips!
• Small thrift-store cooler for beer. Just discovered that freezer packs are far better than ice!
• Thrift store boots and my god did I luck out. $7 and those are the most comfortable and warm boots I've ever had, day one. And no, they weren't broken in at all, very new. They're what I call "duck boots", good for swampy terrain. I can vouch for these combat boots for dry terrain. And these socks have lasted me 5-years.
• A handful of carabiners and a little paracord goes a long way.
• Trash bags should be at the top of this list. Take Walmart style bags, fold them over 3 times, burp the air out, roll tight, rubber band. Pro tip: Grab the trash you find on the way out. No use packing it both ways.
• Lots of hair ties! So very useful in the field! Think: Tough rubber bands. Thin Velcro straps are nice as well.
• Tiny and flat space blanket and poncho, in case I'm caught after dark and have to tough it.
• Lighter and a small container of dried napalm. Nothing is so fine to start a campfire! Stuff unleaded and styrofoam in a pickle jar, dry on a cookie sheet, chop into little bits.

Above ALL things, your gear must be comfortable. Can you run, climb and jump in it? What if you get all screwed up and have to walk 20 miles? Anything rubbing, even the tiniest bit? For example: See how my gun is mounted? The barrel barely clears my elbow as I walk. Don't put up with anything even mildly annoying. That shit adds up fast.