Things I could have left at home

In discussing packing tips, it's almost always about useful things to bring whereas, from my own experience, the real problem is that we bring too much stuff with us. Too many things which are easily available when and where we need them, or a result of just plain overestimating the need for clothes/shoes nifty-looking equipment gadgets etc.

How about sharing a few of the items which you found to be basically a waste of space

For me, despite refining my packing after many trips, I still bring more clothes than necessary despite knowing that inexpensive, comfortable stuff will be available and the space I save by not bringing an extra pair of long pants or 2nd long sleeve shirt or whatever will be useful later on.

how about you?

Too many consumer durables thats me!! My last trip I had a camera complete with 300mm lense, binoculars, CD player and 60 CDs plus a transformer to run the thing and two sony speakers!! (also with transformer) and to top it all an roll up extension lead with three plug holes so I could plug the whole thing into the single socket afforded you in most hotel rooms. I've got no room for clothes!!
I have realised this has got to change so it's back to traveling with my 35l pack this year and no "toys" well less anyway!!
I can't wait!!

the sound gear reminds me of a fellow who arrived in Arambol a couple of years ago with a huge aluminum trunk in addition to an athletic equipment-sized duffle bag and a regular backpack. An enormous boom-box with sub-woofer and 100 or so CD's were just a small part of the audio gear as fortunately he also had a diskman and very sophisticated set of head phones. He wasn't able to use his boom-box in the guest-house of course, but he did a tile-rattling test of some German beer-hall music one time. Occasionally he would be seen with one remarkable gadget or another, but I really have no idea what all he had with him -- the duffle was large and bulky enough to smuggle a body in .

Wolfgang (his name) stayed a month or so and then left the aluminum trunk with the hosts for an eventual return. (he did return, 2 years later)

I notice a few things left behind by guests -- there are a couple of hard-bound coffee-table books on India (which no doubt were farewell gifts from well-meaning friends), as well as a few large text books in amongst the regular pocket book novels guests leave/share as well. Extra shoes and unusually large sizes bottles of toiletries still half-full (e.g. a 1 litre bottle of shampoo) not uncommon either, but most people try to give away their excesses as gifts, which are usually welcome, or mail them home. I was left a 1kg bag of licorice and a couple of post-it pads by one guest passing through, for example.

Surely there are a few more illustrative examples out there for our packing guidance

the most unnecassary thing is a return ticket

It's possible I can claim one of the most unecessary, pointless, space-wasting and heavy items known to modern travellers.

Before last trip i paid a visit to travel shop, specialising in travel security, to buy some handy locks for my backpack, and one of those iodine water bottle thingies (also useless), and the bloke managed to persuade me to buy a portable travel safe!

It looked like such a good move at the time - a steel box, the size of a paperback, that you could just get a passport, flight tickets and cards inside. The idea being that, as a backpacker, I would continually be going swimming, and leaving my valuable documents in the dubious care of my hotel safe, or worse, on the beach.
I still think its a good idea, but won't be taking it with again, unless I go for a beach holiday in thailand (unlikely!).

The best thing I took away last year (from the same shop) was a device to make mozzie bites stop itching (and thus getting infected, as you don't scratch them). It was a tiny plastic thing, that could generate a small spark/electric shock when you pressed the button on top of it (it worked like a ciggie lighter), and was continually in demand. I had several offers to sell it, and will be taking a small stock with me this time.

I must admit though, I will find it very hard not to bring my cd player + speakers with me, although I know that without them, I could probably move down a size of rucksack.
I think what I need, is an IPOD with a built in solar panel, and speakers - anyone know where I can get one??!

I think an ipod is better than a cd player (although far more expensive) because you can cut down on bringing stacks of CDs..

umm.. but the battery life is not so good. i would rather have something that takes AA's.
also, tapes are so cheap and good in India, it would make me want to bring a walkman AS WELL!

I've got a very small solar panel the size of a pack of playing cards (but a little longer) that works.. but it takes almost the whole day to charge a battery! and there are outlets pretty much everywhere making it redundant unless your going trekking or something..

but really..

- Does anyone know of very portable yet still decent quality speakers? -

I brought some small sony battery operated things that cost 20$ but they are just way too quiet and terrible quality.

on the other end of the scale I met a German guy in Vaishisht who brought along this big "portable" fender amp/P.A. with these two 100-watt a side speakers that attached and detatched in a modular design.