I tend to travel fairly light in the peaks, especially in the less remote and severe areas (essentially anywhere south of the Snake Pass). So I'd tend to have normal walking clothes (incl warm midlayer, full waterproofs, gaiters, hat, gloves, buff), a bit more food than I really need, maybe a flask of soup, maybe a spare / extra midlayer or two if I'm going a bit further from civilization (I've got a lightweight primaloft thing for this now), and the usual head torch, survival bag, compass, map, first aid kit, whistle etc.
I kind of take the view that most of the 'what if' scenarios that I'd take lots of extra stuff to deal with if I was in the Lakes or Scotland (or possibly on Bleaklow or Black Hill) can be dealt with either by toughing it out or escaping to the nearest road, especially since the conditions are unlikely to get quite as extreme...
I too sometimes take a stove on day walks to brew up. It's a good way of using up those 80% empty gas cartridges I don't want to take backpacking.
I always take 2 torches, I've had one fail on me at the summit of Moel Famau. Don't laugh, it's a completely different place in the dark, especially if you've got the steep descent to Cilcain. I've also had a Tikka plus somehow switch on in my pack and I discovered this on the first night of a backpacking trip. In a moment of weight stripping madness I'd thrown out the spare batteries before the trip, thinking I'd never need them. The backup light saved me on both occasions. I always check my light when packing now.
Led lighting technology seems to move on that quickly that your upgraded old light makes a great backup. My main light's now a Tikka XP with a Tikka plus (batteries removed, but packed) as a backup.
I manage fine with most of the stuff reccomended here in a 20 ltre sac including up to 3 litre of water although if its just a dayhike I dont need to fill the bladder completely. I suppose once you have the basics like Ian lists in his first post the rest are really luxury/comfort items.
For a 10 miler its all about common sense gauge the terrain, check the weather forecast and walk out of your front door and see what its like and prepare for that and then some for eventualities. On a ten miler if it goes wrong, turn back the car isn't far away. You live and learn and get better at it.
As for warm flasks. That ain't a problem when you have a zorgi!
10 miler? Hardly worth getting out of bed for. My Aladdin will keep drinks hot 'til the end of a 30 miler across Dartmoor. That's a full 10 - 12 hours worth of hot drinks.
I carry a Pepsi stove, fuel and pot normally, although I do carry a flask on the odd occasion.
For those interested, the stove, pot, fuel and a bit of coffee, weigh approx 150g
And you wont ever see me brewing up, because I'm hiding fromn John Burley, as I'm not convinced about his vaseline theory.
So to be serious, I carry the above stove, insulated mug, lightweight waterproofs, gaitors, windproof top, insulated body warmer, first aid kit, poo kit!, food (just to get used to it), maps, compass, water in fizzy type bottles (in silver to look chique!).
In the lid pocket I carry spare batteries, spork, spare lighter, emergency sweets, gloves, fleece hat, army issue tin opener, paracetamols and anti histamine tabs.
I carry my head torch in one of the hip belt pockets, and my camera on one of the load bearing straps, while I have a set of dog tags, and a permanent marker on the other (marker is for making notes on laminated maps, or for first aid use)
Finally I also carry a foam sit mat, and everything is wrapped up in a dry fold pack liner.
BTW john, the vaseline jibe was a joke, as I know your scientific mind will only allow you to carry truly melti use and essential things. But I cant help thinking of an old cold weather (re: lips) saying....."vaseline for chaps!)
Double finally!. I only carry SPARE batteries, and SPARE lighter for maybe obvious reasons. I dont carry spare gloves/hat etc, as I have found that folks who carry spares are more prone to lose the first set, while those that dont, wont!
Interesting comments. As a novice at this I read with interst all the previous comments. I had to pick my daughter from University yesterday in Stockton on Tees and took the opportunity to take some kit and go for a mornings walk on Urra Moor on the North Yorkshire Moors. I had most of the things described by other members - all packed nicely in one of those new Inov8 lightweight 18 litre sacks. I also had a small steel flask.
I didn't carry spare gloves etc. I would agree with Rays comments on losing spares.
My point - Thank you to all of you for reassurring me that I'm getting some things right, as I am one of those quote " who would usually tough it out"
I guess the other piece of general advice is to start off taking too much and then leaving out the stuff you never use (except emergency stuff, obviously) - for instance, I'm just starting to do scottish winter walking, and am taking more warm clothing than I can imagine wanting, until I get an idea of how much I'll actually need. The same applies for things like food and drinks...
for scottish winter walking don't bin to much just because you don't use it. Remember to be prepared for the worst ie a night on the hill, maybe injured. I often think that I carry too much, however that's because I make it without any mishaps. As a solo walker I don't think you can be to careful.
I'm going to need a bigger rucksack or even a Land rover!
Thanks for all your answers, some of it I carry already, but a lot of it I had never even considered.
There seems to be a consensus on most of it, with the only real point of contention being flask or stove?
Being of a naturally lazy disposition I think I will try a flask to start with and see how I get on, might even try an Aladdin, thanks for the tip Ian.