LivingLite - The Minimum Inventory for Outdoors

This is the full inventory of what we "need", as personally established over 9 years of walking and outdoors living.

Everything that is assumed in "normal" living is present here altho in a much reduced form, but never-the-less all the enjoyment and luxury of modern living is present using this minimum tool set as long as we remain organised, focused and positive. If we allow ourselves to get exhausted, hungry, thirsty, wet and cold this will obviously damped spirits be us outdoors or in a mansion!

Shelter
Bivvy Bag (keep sleeping bag dry). Essential on mountains where rigging tarp in wind unreliable.
Sleeping Bag (4season) - keep in bin bag
Roll Mat (insulation from ground)
Ground sheet; thin;waterproof (easy to see bugs + lost items, protects from mud)
Tarpaulin;2.5mx2.5m (waterproof)
Tent pegs x4 (can peg 4 corners of tarp down flat on ground for high wind resistance; 2 sides peged + 2 sides high for a basher)
Bungie chords x2 (allows for taught but flexible attachment for tarp)
String 1m x4 + 3m (alternative to bungies; can rig 4 corners high as a portable ceiling - Ray Mears style; use long string to create A frame tent in terrible conditions)
Mist netting/net curtain (insect barrier - absolutely essential for comfort and health against midge + mosquito)
Tent - optional if taking tarp. Has advantage of complete isolation from environment, extremely useful against insects and persistent poor weather, comfort improves x3 compared with tarpaulin which means can travel for longer. Disadvantage: heavier.

Food
Stove (MSR Whisperlite International works well for me); can make camp fire, with practice can make very small and burn completely to leave only fine grey ash which is easily dispersed to leave no trace.
Cigarette Lighter in waterproof holder (+emergency back up)
Pans/Mess Tins x2 (boiling water; cooking)
Reused Boil in Bag (useful for cooking noodles/soups etc; eating from)
Knife (sharp e.g. pen knife 4 preparing food)
Spoon (can improvise chopsticks from any sticks)
Water 1.5L x 2 (adjust as required)
String or equivalent (tie up food packets to stop spilling out)
Water purification tablets (can also bring to boil clear water - no sediment - and let cool to make utterly safe to drink. If sediment present boil for much longer. No protection from chemical contamination can try spagnum moss packed into plastic bottle with bottom removed as natural filter. Collect immediately drinkable water from near springs and uphill from cattle and human habitation. Have collected rain water funnelled from tarp or roll mat into pans before.)

Clothes - keep in bin-bag
Waterproof (lightweight)
Jumper (as needed)
Underwear x1
Shirts x2 (rough, smart)
Trousers x2 (longs, shorts)
Socks (1x long pair - protect ticks/scratches, 1x short for casual)
Trainers/light weight walking shoes x1 (buy more if required)
Swimming trunks (in using a pool)
Detergent (optional for laundrette); have used hand soap in sink/scrubbed on rocks in river=gets whites white again!/ to try vinegar)

Transport
Rucksack/Paniers etc
Compass (can use sun + watch)
Map
Train tickets/Passport/Visa as req
Insurance as req.
Tools for bike (if using)
Alarm clock (for maintaining schedules - mobile will work)

Toilettries
Soap
Towel (optional, useful in winter when drying a problem)
Razor
Toothbrush/paste
Tweezer; recurved (thorns, ticks [do not crush tick when removing as can inject disease] etc)
Toilet paper (burn after use) - (books say spread faeces about to aid decomposition, I think messy + attracts flies. Bury in small 1/2L hole but mix thoroughily with soil using a short stick)

Accessories
Torch (optional windup)
Bin bags x2 (min)
Plastic bags (general organisation, keep dry)
Radio; light weight (weather, entertainment + +ve psychology if travelling alone for long periods, listen to local radio for insight into community)
Camera (+ battery recharger)
Phone (+ recharger)
First Aid (bandages, antisceptic cream) - [have never used as prefer let body toughen up by itself] - also natural remedies and experimentation can work, faced with a rash once I strapped some dock leaves on - it vanished within an hour. Open sachet of butter strapped on a sore blister improved it but smelt awful! Willow bark is a source of asprin. Soap wort, soap. Garlic/turmeric etc antiseptic. Pepper on wounds stops bleeding and aids healing. etc
Insect repellent (ticks, mosquito, midge) - (can transmit debilitating diseases + extremely uncomfortable -> poor sleep/psychology - at time of writing it is 10days after multiple deer tick bites, possible 14 day incubation period for symptoms, serious problem if occurrs while walking. 2007 possibly contracted leptosporosis in Cornwall from tick bite; in sleeping bag for a day and weakened for a week with low mileage.) Wind blows midge/mosquitos away. DEET. Avon Skin-so-Soft body oil works. Can try eating marmite against midges.