Well, let's assume I'm just going out for a walk with no real intentions other than to practice a few skills, do some plant/tree id, check out the sights, maybe gather a few things, have a snack/lunch, and maybe even fish.
First: I'm not fond of mint tin survival kits - that's me. I'd like my entire haversack to be a kit that I can use in case I am in trouble.
Secondly: This isn't a go/E&E/BOB bag. This is a hiking bag.
In no particular order:
1-Water! I'm not a fan of steel bottles because I can't see my water level, and they are heavier than a Nalgene plastic bottle, which is my preferred choice of water carry. 32oz bottle. I'd carry a few purification tablets if needed, but I'll also carry,
2-GSI Glacier cup! I have a couple of these, one for nesting with my bottle when hiking and one that is a cook kit for my overnight pack. As an option, I might carry a lightweight woodburning stove or an alcohol stove if I plan on cooking lunch in a place where a regular wood fire would be frowned upon. Both options add negligible weight (1.5oz-4oz).
So, in just those two items, I have like 2.25lbs of weight. I could probably cut that if I went titanium with a mug, but...C'mon. $30+ for a titanium mug? $10 for a GSI cup? If you need to fashion a lid for the GSI cup, you can use the top/bottom of a fruit can, there is a size that's just perfect and that weighs nothing.
3-Food! I'll always carry a little packet of spices, hot sauce, tea and drink mixes. Not a lot. Trail food might include jerky, nuts, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, pepperoni, etc. If I plan to have lunch... Who knows? Rice or rice noodles, smoked fish, cous cous, dehydrated veggeis, whatever. Foraging and fishing may add to the lunch?
4-Shelter?! Yeah. I like to have a tiny tarp with me when roaming for a couple reasons. I like shade and I don't like getting rained on. If I get too hot (I overheat easily), then I'll either aim for shade or make my own. I would set up a wind break or tarp when fishing as well, especially along a stream. Ideal size would be 5x7, and while you can get those made by Etowah for a certain, erm, business... I'd rather not buy from that business anymore. So, I think my next step is making my own, perhaps even out of silnylon to keep the weight down in this hiking pack (though, I prefer the heavier duty tarps for overnight, as silnylon and sparks don't mix well).
5-Cutting tool(s)! Yeah, we all carry one or two pocket knives or a multitool, but I'd also carry my fixed blade. If fishing, I might even consider a folding fillet knife. Opinel makes a great one. These aren't pack items, so much, but if I am carrying a multitool, that's always in the pack and not weighing down my pantaloons. YMMV, you might even choose a hawk, folding saw, or hatchet.
6-Forage bag! Ziplocks will do. Homemade are fun. Use them for foraging nuts, berries, and other wild edibles. Use them for packing out your trash. Use them for gathering tinder. Use them for holding fossils, indian artifacts, beach glass, shark's teeth, or feathers.
7-Fire kit! Depending on mood, this could be a lighter and a ferro rod or a full blown fire kit that has five or six ways of making fire.
8-FAK! Doesn't have to be a big first aid kit. This is where a mint tin might excel. Bandies, pills, lip balm, etc. You all know what goes in a FAK.
9-Fishing kit! I'm working on a nice handline kit, but I also have a pack rod that breaks down to about 12" for each section, add an ultralight spinning real and you have a lot for little weight. A small tackle box can be no more than a small ziploc to a film canister to a mint tin to one of those small Plano tackle containers. This is for me specifically, because I like fishing.
10-Compass! Because.. Compass!
11-Bandana! Lots of uses.
12-Cordage! Doesn't have to be a lot. For the weight, bank/trot line is pretty good and you get a lot more of it compared to paracord (which is great as we all know). I carry both. Sometimes I even carry hemp (cord, people, cord!).
13-Journal/Sketchbook! Self explanatory. I bring a pencil, usually. If I'm feeling really artsy, I'll bring a small watercolor pan and a brush.
Okay, I think those are the basics... I might be missing something and I might swap things in and out. I might add stuff depending on mood.
