Whats your favourite piece of kit?

[mattmacman]

Hey guys, never noticed such a thread so I thought I would open pandoras box.
I'm always wondering what everyone else's favourite piece of equipment, or item of clothing is because I know that even though we all love every part of our vast collections of gear we always have a favourite bit.
I know I wear my Icebreaker Igloo hoodie everywhere and it has served me well in India, Kakadu, on the Bib and in everyday situations.
What's your favourite piece of equipment or clothing?

[Strider]

My Black Diamond Contour Elliptic poles. Never will I laugh at someone with poles and no skis ever again.

[Pongo]

Nice one strider, my black diamond 3 piece poles came to mind too. A wicked bit of kit, (reliable too after having a fairydown pair fail on me)... but they're edged out ever so slightly by my aarn load limo.

Having since found this bad body, I can carry more, more comfortably and further. Load distribution has helped with plantar fasciitis that I have been battling; and the front pockets have meant really convenient placement of my gear - namely a scroggin pouch, as well as ventolin, a chap stick, my beanie, hat (on a carabiner) and water all at chest height and immediately accessible. Everything I need on the run that I would have other wise depacked to access. I can't praise this pack enough.

[Miyata610]

Yep I'd agree with the load limo. It's not perfect, and after only a few months it's showing some wear and tear. Backup service has been great, but it's needed it.

It makes a big difference to how comfortably you can carry a little weight. Not just because of the balance pockets but also because it has a rather sophisticated suspension system that directs the weight to the hip belt. Also having front pockets means you can access gear/food/water without taking the pack off. So trip times can be reduced and the risk of injury from getting a pack on and off is also reduced. Yeah it's got my vote. (oh and yes I can still see my feet... An oft used argument by those who dismiss it without trying it. Lol)

Also worth a vote is my little indestructible Rab eVent "tent". That's what I want to be in when the weather gets ugly.

[ollster]

My crappy plastic mug. I'm pretty sure it's the only bit of "original" gear I have left. It's probably been on a several hundred days worth of multi-day walks.

[ULWalkingPhil]

This is difficult to answer, I've got so much gear that I love. I couldn't really pick a favourite. But I guess if I had to choose between my Merino top and Patagonia Capilene top for cool weather I'll pick the Merino top.

For warm weather my Montane superwool light top is my favourite.

[stew]

My floppy black hat ... which is not really black anymore

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Would have to be my Zebralight H501 headtorch.
I could EASILY get a two week hike out of a single AA battery.
The low-low mode, which is more than enough for reading in the tent at night, lasts about 600 hours on a single lithium AA.
The high-high which only lasts 3 hours on a lithium, is more than enough to light an entire room like a 60w incandescent globe.
It's less than 60g including battery and headband. I dont need multiple batteries, nor spares. It is completely waterproof. The anodising on the aluminium body is flawless, and withstands drops and scratches with ease.
Only gripe is the switch activates too easily. Have to twist the tail cap off slightly before putting in my pack to prevent accidental activation and battery drain.

[wayno]

toss up between salomon cosmic boots... supportive, springy. comfortable. snug fit.... sturdy... decent tread depth.... not too heavy, not too light....
black diamond pack - infinity 60 Litre- comfortable harness and belt system, great flexibility. shoulder straps that shorten and lengthen dynamically with your stride, moves well with your body, carries weight well. fantastic harness system, light but not too light. hardly know you're wearing it.

[Moondog55]

My old heavy duty stainless steel army mug, even if it is a dinosaur like me

[DebFar]

yep have to be my stainless steel mug as well, so much so its sitting on the kitchen sink as I just had a cuppa tea in it...I take it away with me and use it here at home...got lots of other nice cups and hubby rolls his eyes and says not that cruddy tin mug!!, use a nice china one!! nope luv me mug.

[Ent]

O'boy so much to chose from. Agree BD poles are great but still can not decide if it is my Scarpa SL3 boots, PP Vista jacket, One Planet McMillan pack or Hilleberg tent. I think I will give it to the McMillan pack but on a freezing temperature dropping day raining like mad the Hilleberg is a home that I want to be in as once pitched all feels right with the world.

[Bluegum Mic]

Oooooh. Its a tough one. I love my cheery red tarp from Terra Rosa Gear on a sunny afternoon. But that being said I loooove my dangerbird hammock. Custom for me. Just the way I wanted it. Brilliant.

[blacksheep]

Quite a few things in our r& d room in sample testing come to mind, but of the current kit I can't surpass macpac merino boxers..everyday, anywhere, any activity..( not cool to say out loud, but multiple days in a row with ease when travelling too..)

[mattmacman]

Better than cotton after a few days =D

[byrnesy8]

I agree on the macpac merino briefs they are really god for walks and everyday wear

[pazzar]

It's either got to be my trust MD's Neutrino 1 tent - absolutely bombproof and lightweight (not a plug - bought before I was employed there) or my trusty old Mont Zodiac 700 sleeping bag. That bag has seen me survive below -10 (with my tent!), and is still compact and cool enough for most summer trips. It is the first sleeping bag I bought, about 10 years ago, and hopefully it lasts another 10!

[Franco]

3 items that I always have with me regardless of where and when are my Casio Pathfinder (no it does not find the way for me...), my small Opinel knife and my merino/possum down hat .

[nq111]

Down pullover.

250g of luxurious warmth at the end of a tough day.

[Tony]

I have thought long and hard about this and I am struggling to come up with a definitive answer.

I have lots of favourite gear.

My Lightwave pack, it is so comfortable I mostly do not know I have it on.

My Zpack Hexamid tent, super light, and a great summer tent that I love sleeping in.

My Sleep system, WM Summerlite sleeping bag, BPL 180 synthetic quilt and WM Flash jacket and pants, used individually or as a complete system, covers all conditions that I would encounter.

My Berghaus mountaineering pants, comfortable, tough as, warm in winter, has good ventilation when needed, dries quickly.

My Darn Tough Socks, I have used the same two pairs for many years now, I have spent days walking in water with them, they have kept my feet warm in very cold conditions and they are still in very good condition.

My Neoair sleeping mat, ultra comfortable, light, improved my sleeping no end.

My bumbag/camera bag, worn on my front, I keep day food, tourch, compass, knife, matches, sun cream, camera, etc in it use this bag most while walking.

My Kovea, Supalite Ti stove, it has never failed me, event though I am always pulling it apart to making it into a remote canister stove for winter use.

But what do I think is my most favourite, it is probably my very old (+20 years) polypro thermal top, it is the first item I put in my pack for both day walks and O/N walks and the first bit of clothing I put on when the temperature start to drop, it is so old that I do not remember where I brought it from or what brand it is, the label and washing instructions are long faded, it is probably half as thick as when it was new. I also wear it when cycling on those -5C mornings.

Tony

[tsangpo]

For me it would be a toss up between my Zebralight and my Kookabay mat.

[Strider]

For me it would be a toss up between my Zebralight and my Kookabay mat.

My Zebralight arrived in Melbourne this morning. Not long now!!!

[Kinsayder]

I'm not sure if I have a single favourite. If I did it would be drawn from my SnowPeak double walled titanium mug, Black Diamond Spot head torch and my Leatherman Skeletool CX. Fairly simple pieces but I find each to be absolutely perfect for my needs.

[gayet]

Down booties.
Just heaven at the end of the day.

Ok, not taken on day walks but still great when you get home.

[Kinsayder]

I hear you there, Gayet. After I've settled into a hut at the end of a big day, there's nothing like having a meal of god-knows-what and putting on the down booties.

[gayet]

Yes Kinsayder, and equally as good in a tent. Take the outer off and slide into the bag with the booties on and never have cold feet!

[RSD]

I got a pair of those down booties and pretty much wear them all the time around the house in Tassie now

[north-north-west]

Load Limo . . . Camera . . . Asolo boots . . . Buff . . . Snowshoes . . . Nallo . . . NeoAir Allseason . . .
Naaaah! It's the car. I love that car. Without it, I couldn't get to the start of the walk. Or back at the end. It's beautiful.

[Kinsayder]

I forgot my Buff! Such a simple little thing but I really love it!

[phan_TOM]

Thats a hard one. My new tent has to be a contender, my sleeping bag is pretty good (especially when smugly peeking out on those frosty mornings before the desire to pee destroys the smugness) or maybe my camera 'cos I don't go on a trip without it and it's been so trusty...
If I really had to choose one thing it would probably be my headlamp, I love having a light that straps to my head. No more holding a torch between my teeth or trying to balance one on the ground whilst setting up camp, cooking or doing camp chores, the light is on my head wherever I look and I don't know how I ever managed without it