I received another email from REI today pointing to REI’s Backpacking Checklist. I appreciate good checklists so the article was immediately of interest. It seems like a worthwhile item for discussion, even if many items seem so obvious. The link below has a further link to REI's Ten Essentials

Backpacking Gear List: What to Bring on a Backpacking Trip - REI Expert Advice Are there any not-so-obvious items that could be added?