When I’m out there, I run a quick cost‑benefit check on every item. Can it feed me, keep me dry, or protect me in a fight? If it answers yes, it stays. If not, it goes. I’m not interested in fancy gadgets that can’t survive a storm or a hunt. I keep the knife that cuts, the fire starter that lights, the water filter that purifies, and nothing that adds weight without a clear use. The rule is simple: every pound on your pack must either directly support survival or have a backup function. Anything else? Drop it.