https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-IkTg4z6UY

The Derek Hansen continuous ridgeline. You asked for the best, you got the best :D

Bring more water than you think you need.

I'm bad at following instructions. Here's several tips. :)

• A washing bag (e.g. Scrubba). The bag and a dry bio-compatible laundry soap weighs the same as one pair of wool socks. Using it means you can cut out underwear/shirts/socks bulk for a slightly higher camp chore load. Very useful for weight/space sensitive camping and doubles as a dry bag!
• Prefer good clothing over sunscreen (big hat, long-sleeved shirts, buff, sun gloves, etc). It's lower weight, less greasy, and doesn't run out. When using sunscreen, stick form tends to be light and easy to pack.
• Camp shoes. Always bring them. Crocks, thin flip-flops, anything but a tight shoe that you spent the last 12 hours in.
• Avoid cotton in general, but also look for quick-dry clothing. Being wet sucks. Being wet for long periods of time can be dangerous.
• Umbrellas are amazing. Shade when there is none and amazing at avoiding wet-out. Very useful for short trips and car camping, though I sometimes bring it backpacking even with the added weight.
• Light (1lb / 0.5 kg) camping chair. If you're young enough you could skip this, but my god is it worth the weight after a long day.
• Wear warm clothing in your sleeping bag/quilt. Bag ratings are inconsistent, often assume you're wearing clothes, and are labeled for "won't kill you" rather than "you'll sleep like a baby."
• A good sleeping pad with a solid R value. It's as important as your top sleeping layer.
• Dry electrolytes, especially in warmer areas, like SaltStick or Gatorlytes. Hypotonic dehydration can sneak up on you and you cannot escape it by drinking more water. This is particularly dangerous with aerobic camping, like backpacking or bikepacking. Hypotonic dehydration can be mitigated with the food you pack, but it's a lot to plan ahead on and complicates re-hydration with caloric intake. Do not avoid high-sodium foods unless your doctor has you on a low-sodium diet (in which you should also discuss with your doctor about your outdoor activities).
• Sleep with your electronics. Cold weather will kill your phone's battery.
• A portable bidet (e.g. CuloClean). There are many places where you must pack out TP (sometimes everything). Less TP means less to carry in and out. It's also very clean feeling.
• Similarly, WAG bags are nice. Zero trace and you don't even need to dig a cat hole.
• Ear plugs. Nature is loud sometimes. People in campgrounds are even louder.
• A small towel or sponge to wash with. It's nice to wipe off sweat and dust, even if it's not as good as a full shower. It's multi-purpose too. Moisture on your single-walled tent? A quick wipe and no indoor rain for you.

if it isn't cold, fuck it just use a hammock, tie a rope running above the hammock, throw a tarp over it and you are good for rain.

Best? This is more for on-the-water activities, but always carry a sponge. Know those giant, yellow, cleaning sponges? Yep, one of those.

You can sop up messes, swamp out the kayak/canoe/boat, get the sand off the tent floor, cool yourself, cool your gear or seat, much more. Got the tip off /r/kayaking years ago when a noob asked for little known tips and tricks. Carry one on every outing now and get bummed if I forget it.

My other trick I never hear talked about is hair ties. Got sick of replacing rubber bands after every outing. I use them on every trip, in the woods or on the water. They make great zipper pulls, and you have one for use right there! I've held my shoes together in a pinch, lashed gear to my bag, can't even tell what all I've done. It's a rare hike that I don't use one. BTW, this thick rubber bracelets are great too, tougher but not quite as multipurpose.

I know we hate Amazon, but here is what I got. Bonus, they came shrink wrapped in tough plastic, totally flat and easy to pack. Not a sponge expert but the quality seems pretty good, I've had worse from Dollar General. A cleaning supply place would probably sell you a properly tough one.

Similarly, a pair of water shoes never leaves my truck. I have wussy feet, can't do without. Also, it's something else to wear if your drying your shoes/boots on the line. While we're at it, I always have a length of paracord. Too many uses to name.

I'm a big flashlight nerd, and this Olight lives on hiking bag's chest strap. Weighs nothing and I have yet to kill it in the field. The clip is secure but I still lash it on with a hair tie. Bonus: Steady red light to not kill your night vision, blinky red for emergencies or, as I use it, so my wife doesn't lose track of me on the trail. Clip it on on your front, Iron Man style, clip it on your hat brim, also has a magnetic base. Of all my good flashlight, it's the most used. OTOH, overnight, I wouldn't trust the tiny battery alone, always carry a spare light.

I'll stop now or we'll be here all night. I could go on about caribiners?

Earplugs or noise reduction EarPods

For car camping a double roll mat and double sleeping bag has made a world of difference especially for my wife who's a cold sleeper, sharing a bag let's her steal my warmth. We've had a Vango comfort roll mat for a good few years now and it doesn't pack small but it's nearly as comfy as my mattress at home.

I am trying to cross-post in Jerboa, and unless I'm missing it, there doesn't seem to be an automated way to do that. If you have tips on easy cross-posting, I'd appreciate any.