comms hit the nail on the head,"intensely personal"
behind me at the moment are the two Duluth Packs i'll be taking on my two week canoe solo.i have been packing for these trips since the early 80's and while i have the general idea down pat every year it seems new all over again.
it's not the big stuff like the tent and sleeping bag it's the small stuff.should i take my good working knife,the Mora 2000,or go with the somewhat fancy Karesvando with the Birch handle. a simple Gaz burner and some carts or a classic Primus stove for fun and photos.i was on the phone with a East Coast Buddy a few days ago and he was of the same mind.take of leave a few feet of copper wire "just in case"
packing the BOB's and the EDC's are just as bad,if not worse,because with them there is no going back..