Old thread, but since I'm gotten into hiking quite a bit I'll share what I carry:

3 Liters of water, 2 of which are in a bladder.
Sawyer filter in case I need more water
Couple of energy bars and some trail mix
Map of the area I'm hiking in
Compass
Whistle
ENO hammock and hanging straps
Space Blanket
50 ft paracord
50 ft 3/8 rope
spare socks
Medicine bottle of petroleum Jelly cotton balls
Lighter
Flint
First aid kit
Poncho
ESEE-4
Spyderco Endura in pocket
Gerber multi-tool on belt
Headlamp and another flashlight, plus extra batteries for each.
Glock 19 on belt (also supported by waist strap on pack)
Extra mag for pistol
(Pistol and mags if allowed, some places we're not allowed to carry)
If firearms not allowed, the ESEE-4 goes on my belt.


All included, my pack starts out in the neighborhood of 22 lbs and gets lighter as I drink the water out of the bladder.