High Sierra Topix

What items do you carry that are dirt cheap yet are worth there weight in gold
while your out backpacking. Ziplockbags for example have multi purpose uses
and weight next to nothing and cost is very low.

larger sized zip ties.. Holds a boot sole on your toe in a secure manner to get out. Could also be used to splint a leg, not that i want to experience that use.

Duct tape (wrapped around my water bottle).

A whistle ! Low cost, low tech "emergency hailing device" ......always have one in my pack.

The quarter in my pocket to open the bearicade bear can. I also have one taped to the can.

Worth its weight in gold? Nothing. Not even Cuben fiber comes close.

Gold is about $1300 an ounce right now and I'd give you all of my ziplocks, twist ties, duct tape, quarters, and pretty much everything else I'm carrying that I don't actually need to survive long enough to hike out and go to the bank if I could trade it for the same weight in gold. I'd love to hike out of the mountains with 20-30 pounds of gold. That would be a trip I'd remember.

A Bic lighter

A gargbage bag. I use it for my tent entrance, an emergency pack cover/liner/poncho, a waterproof seat, you can carry water with it, hang food in it, and most of all pack out my garbage and the flotsam and jetsam from the careless and thoughtless. You can also stop a leaking tent seam by placing the bag over the leak and tying it off at the corners to keep it in place. I use the construction bags. Pretty tough. If you're in camp long enough, you can heat water in them in the sun for a good wash. Roll down the top until it turns into its own sink after the water warms.

Tin, ah em...Aluminum foil. Crazy glue. Dental floss.

Bandana