What's your favorite piece of equipment you always take and why? No matter if you need it, weighs too much or is not always used.

Mine is a camp pillow. I have a Kelty pillow that I always take no matter what. I just need a soft pillow. Not a bag full of clothes, a pillow...

I don't know if I can limit it to one! But high on the list:

Hennessey Expedition Hammock
CCS Lean 3 (I have only used it in the yard but already like it)
Littlbug Senior stove for boiling water
CCS Tarp
Platypus gravity water filter
Cache Lake hash browns and fry bread
Boga grip
Handheld depth finder

does a journal and a pen count?

I'm with Kanoes; journal and pen. Also a couple of books; Sig Olsen, Robert Frost, Thoreau, or something similar.

I'm sorta fond of the canoe and paddle.

Rod and reel.

20lbs. of camera equipment

fishing tackle and camera gear.

That could be a long list if I started tallying up little things. Extra socks and long underwear, duct tape, spare batteries, etc.

I always have at least one CCS tarp, maybe two and maybe even some nesting poles. The tarps are my favorite item, I enjoy working out just the right rig (engineer). I consider tarps essential though.

But my number one entry for favorite & non-essential would have to be my "Cliff's favorite chair" from Piragis. It's my favorite too. This is no lightweight affair, over three pounds but worth every once IMHO. I've use the chair every day of every trip I've taken since I got it.

quote Merganser: "...
But my number one entry for favorite & non-essential would have to be my "Cliff's favorite chair" from Piragis. It's my favorite too. This is no lightweight affair, over three pounds but worth every once IMHO. I've use the chair every day of every trip I've taken since I got it."

I should have added that same chair to my list - it is a real back saver. Likewise a canoe seat with a back. I prefer Sitbacker but the thermarest type work well too.

I could forget the paddles, PFD, whatever, but if I forgot my camera equipment, I think I'd just sit down and sob like a baby.

good rain gear

quote CaptnDan: "Also a couple of books; Sig Olsen, Robert Frost, Thoreau, or something similar."

CaptnDan too much thinking how about Harry Potter or John Grisham or Stuart Woods? much less thought involved.

hammock

Hammock & binoculars.
Hammock to relax in after a hard days paddle & binoculars to find my campsite & hopfully view some wildlife from a distance.

1. Bell Magic
2. camera
3. rod and reel

tent and sleeping bag

-My Kifaru 4-man tipi with stove if I know it'll be cold
-Corona saw for ripping thru firewood like nobody's business
-GPS!

quote heavycanoe: "

quote CaptnDan: "Also a couple of books; Sig Olsen, Robert Frost, Thoreau, or something similar."

CaptnDan too much thinking how about Harry Potter or John Grisham or Stuart Woods? much less thought involved. "

Grishim and Rowland books are too heavy for the pack. Frost and Thoreau pack a lot of thinking into a light weight book....kinda like grain alcohol.

Bota Bag, filled.

Good Cigar

Camera equipment and a good book. I like taking my camera and wandering into the woods at our site looking for flowers and things to photograph. A good book is the best for wind bound days and lazy afternoons at camp.

quote Savage Voyageur: "fishing tackle and camera gear."

I'm with SV on this one...plus I like my pillow, AHH!

Dave

I guess the boat, paddle, pfd are a given.
My favorite is my CCS tarp. Makes camping in the rain no big deal and is a great place to sit and watch the storms blow over.

All my gear has necessary uses or it does not go. In the context of this question, I guess I'd have to say poncho.
When it rains and rains and rains and rains etc...It's nice to have that extra shell layer over everything else. Also, its good for tarping whatever. You can make it into a stretcher if needed too.

Probably the ENO hammock.

I have a butane lighter that my son gave me over 25 years ago that I wouldn't go without. Still works!

A book.

Permit?

If not I'm with Kanoes, Journal and a pen

At the moment when I am in the BWCA my favorite accessory is a chair. I never regret bringing one. Although, months and years later as the memories of the chair fade away, I am always grateful that I packed my good (heavy) SLR camera. I love looking at the high-quality pictures from trips past.

I have to have my chair to sit in when I journal

My girlfriend, with her goofy hat on! Pflueger rod and real a close second.

Only filet knife taken is my canoe partner's. AND he won't let me use it.

Love a hammock for relaxing - or entertaining kiddos. Also love my 2-burner Xpedition stove.

Last trip, my favorite piece of gear was either my canoe seat (first time with one) or my rod/reel. Next trip, I'm certain my favorite piece of gear will be my sling light chair. My buddy had one last time and every time he got up, it didn't stay empty for long. Glad I now have one in my possession.

Camptime Roll-a-Chair. Would never take a trip without it. Best chair without a doubt.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___41193

My favorite item is the one I look at and think, "I sure am glad I brought this!"
The flip side, of course, is the item that gets unpacked at the end and I ask myself, "What was I thinking?"

quote Koda: "My favorite item is the one I look at and think, "I sure am glad I brought this!"
The flip side, of course, is the item that gets unpacked at the end and I ask myself, "What was I thinking?""

Isn't that so true. I try to think, "Okay, we don't need this anymore." I seem to have less and bring more. So it always balances out to be the same. You should see the first aid kit my wife puts together. I keep saying that we don't need some first aide items for 7 days. If something terrible happens, we're heading out.

With her, I try to make it nice and cozy, warm, and shady...

My Optimus Nova stove. I just love to find an excuse to use it. This is the most reliable and well simmering stove I know.

I have to admit the Coleman Apex ii and 550B is good stoves too, more easy to use, but more "lumpy" to pack. It may be I change to the Apex, but I doubt. For use in a tent, the Coleman makes more CO, but this is only a winter-problem. (The CO production was tested by NATO some years ago)

dsk

I would have to go with my Jetboil Flash w/ French Press accessory. Nothing like a great cup 'o joe in the morning!

Hennessy Hammock is a close second.

This is quite a varied list.

Hard to pick one, but I'll say my Taj tent.