Luxury Items

What is your favorite luxury item that you carry with you on your backpacking trips? Is there one piece of gear that absolutely has to go, no matter what?
For me, it has to be a self-inflatable sleeping pad. No matter how light I try to go, I've got to have a decent pad to sleep on. I've tried the closed cell foam pads, without much success or sleep, for that matter.
UL

I know what you mean by the pad UL... especially the closed cell ones. Might as well be a rock far as I am concerned. And the bad thing is that I am getting worst and worst about it. I have a ORIGINAL Thearmal Reast full lenght pad that simply will not die.. this thing I have had for I know over 15 years.. its the bunny rabbit of pads I guess. And it still has the original valve in it. lol go figure. Its prob my #1 peice.. oh that and my butler that hauls all my other crap hahah..

I would say my sleeping pad is probably right up there too. I have a rough time getting decent sleep without it, but I hiked for a long time without one. It's one of those things that, once you use one, you can't go without it.

And no matter what the forecast, I ALWAYS carry a rain jacket. I can't help it. I left it at home one February, got a surprise rain shower, and FROZE. I'll never do that again.

Well my Hennessey Hammock is hard to part with these days. My wife and I both have a hard time sleeping
on the ground. And yes we do have air mattresses (which are also a favorite). We both love our HH. Best
sleep I have ever had in the wild. Just wish there was a easier way to use them in cold weather.

OH:
Have you tried using your insulated pad in your HH in the winter? I have read that this is what some do in the winter.
UL

I have tried hammocks.. just never could get comfy in them... never on the trail, just around the house. Don't know why but never could lol.

SPE This I believe is the way to go for insulating you in a hammock.
I just haven't gotten around to ordering one yet. The main problem
with staying warm in a hammock is the convection of air. You need
some form of insulation in a hammock when you get to 70 degrees
and below.

Eddie, have you ever tried a Hennesey Hammock? It is assemetrical
and you can actually lay flat in it.

OU,
I too am a hammock sleeper. I espically love them for summer time, no pad or poles to carry. I am curious though, other than price, why do you go for Speer's pad setup over a underquilt? The only reason I ask is because I get a lot of condensation in those "middle" temps when I use a pad. You know the ones that are just cold enough that you need some kind of insulation.

Oh yeah, I guess my must bring piece of gear would be a Bible that I have printed on waterproof paper, and the sections fold like a map. Some would say its a luxury, but I've gotta have it!

No never tried one.... I mostly backpack at temps below 40degrees, down to about 0 is my limit. I never thought much about them as I usually am using a 4th sess. tent mainly for the wind. But around the house, the cheap hammocks I cant get comfy in. Never thought about the more expensive ones but never really had a need for them. Like I said, you guys always talking about summer time and fair weathers, I hate being out there then..lol. If I could find one that would take me down to about 10 degrees then "Maybe" but for my money I will take my Eureka APEX K2X any day, with the right pad. lol. just my 2 cents. lol

eddie,
You're right, it can get a little expensive to hammock in the real cold temps because you're talking about having two down bags (essentially; a Under quilt and a top quilt), but it can be done and done comfortably. I usually make my hammocks, so they are pretty comfy to me. However, for the warmer temps, you can't beat sleeping under the stars in a hammock.

Wilkey1,

Guess the main reason is price. I just don't have the money to shell out for an
underquilt. I would love to have a underquilt but that would be for sure a
"luxury item" at least for me..

I can see where the draw is with the Hammoks. I personally just never really considered them. I do love my Eureka Tents and my Columbia's lol. I will put up with the extra weight of the tent rather than the 2 bags to worry about.. lol. Guess it boils down to preference. If I were going to go warm I might consider the hammocks.

actually you can probably get warm on the ground for less weight. Definantely for less money. I just like hammocks for the star gazing. But if I'm going really light, I stick with a tent in the winter months.

Yea thats what I meant. If I were going warm weather then I prob. would think about a hammok as they would be cooler. lol

I am having trouble understanding the answers to this post. Is a hammock a luxury item if that is all you have to sleep to protect you from the outside, no it is your shelter, which is not a luxury item it is a necessity. And for some a sleeping pad is a necessity because they could never sleep without one therefore making there trip miserable. A luxury item is something like an Ipod, or a coffee maker, maybe a book, something you don't need but bring anyway. I would say my luxury item is my camera, I will never leave it behind but again it is not something I need. I too have never been able to get comfortable in hammocks and I have a friend that got bit in the ass by a racoon sleeping in one.

well, I was looking at this as maybe not a luxury item, but a better way to go since you don't have to carry a pad. Which would mean less weight and bulk, and for me that traslates in to a more luxurious trip. Something that I try to remember also is my ipod Shuffle. It is really light and helps me get to sleep since I'm used to having a radio going when I'm at home.

Snow:
Glad to see you back on the board.
I guess that if you consider a closed cell foam pad as the basic sleeping pad, then a self-inflatable pad would be considered a luxury.
Just my way of thinking,
UL

Self inflatable definately a luxury in terms. Depends on preference though. I know lots who prefer a thick closed cell over self inflatable and would consider these a luxury considering there bulk and weight. Mountain Hardware has a mix closed and inflatable that is very comfortable but heavy and thick. Would that be considered a luxury if it is a pain in the ass to carry, I guess in the morning it is but during the day carrying it it may not be.

Snow:
Here's the one that you were talking about:
http://www.mbstores.com/mohabaco50pa.html
You're right, it is pretty heavy and for the length (50"), you can find something quite a bit lighter.
http://www.thermarest.com/product_selection.aspx?cID=1
http://www.bigagnes.com/str_pads.php?bid=3
I'm like you, not much of a luxury if you have to put up with a lot of un-needed weight.
UL

Food is something else that I almost take to the point of luxury. I usually take way more than I need, because I want to have a wide varity of flavors on the trail. Sometimes I think I eat better on the trail than at home. I know food is a necessity, but sometimes I hike in (and uaually end up hiking some out...haha) so many different foods that it with out a doubt becomes a sort of luxury item.

Food can definately be considered luxury. I don't get to crazy in that department, just what I need for energy and substanance. I have done two weeks on ramen alone for dinner. Not exciting at all but light and add some dehydrated beans and onions and it gives you a hearty meal. I have hiked with people that have made some pretty luxurious dishes on the trail, salmon, lobster scampi, spaghetti and meatballs(homeade), scrambled eggs bacon and homestyle potato's. For some people coming up with the most tasty trailside dish is the most exciting part of the trip for them. So yes indeed food can be luxury. Books are luxury too, even though Kyle you must travel with with your bible it is a luxury, out of curiosity when do you choose to read the bible on the trail, I was picturing maybe when you find a beautiful outlook and the beauty of it compells you to reflect on it, or is it before lights out time.

I usually do my reading in the early morning watching the beginning of the day unfold, or at night before I go to bed (sometimes both). They are both awesome times to reflect.