Many ultralight backpackers will claim that every item they carry with them is an essential, but this classification is often more subjective than they’d care to admit. For example, there are folks who consider a stove essential and wouldn’t dream of leaving home without one. I also once met a backpacker with a 12-pound base weight who always carried an umbrella for shelter from sun and rain. But whether it’s an umbrella, bandana, bottle of camp suds, or smartphone, there are items you’ll want to bring that are, at a minimum, debatable as camping essentials. I refer to these items as “importan...