Reddit mentions of Vapur Eclipse Flexible Water Bottle - with Carabiner, .70 Liter (23 oz) - 2 Pack - Olive

Edit: I'll keep adding things as I remember them. I'm not adding the usual stuff like laptops, ipads, gym gear, etc, because those seem...common sense?

Updated: 24 Nov 1252 hrs AST

• Cold meds with pseudoephedrine
  
• Magnets (for lockers if you get one)
  
• 3M command hooks of varying weight limits
  
• Strong plastic coat hangars
  
• 550 cord (I'd say no more than 30' of it)
  
• Headlamp with red and white light (find one that you don't have to go "through" the white to get to the red!)
  
• 2-3 good quality plastic clothes pins to hold curtains closed or some other task (the ones linked are identical to the ones at the Dollar Store for, I think, $4 for 12)
  
• Knife sharpener
  
• Pocket knife
  
• Suction cup hook for the shower (if you use a bath scrubby)
  
• Nail clippers and nail file
  
• Small FA kit (bandaids, etc)
  
• Small sewing kit with the right colours of thread
  
• GoToobs for stuff like shampoo and body wash (and aloe gel if you burn)
  
• Bose noise cancelling headphones (with a spare battery)
  
• Camera (don't be the guy that brings a DSLR with 5 lenses)
  
• Couple of power adapters if power is different
  
• Water bottle (and denture cleaning tablets to clean it if there's no bottle brush)
  
• Couple of locks (combo or keyed-alike, varying sizes)
  
• Travel blanket
  
• Inflatable neck pillow (the best one I've ever used)
  
• Anker USB battery bank (love Anker products!)
  
• Anker PowerPort
  
• Depending on living accommodations, I also have a "travel kitchen" that I take with me that has a good Santoku knife, cutting board, pepper grinder and garlic press.
  
• 2-3 tide pods because it could be a few days or a week before you get to the PX
  
• If you know your sleeping arrangements, buy a "bed in a bag" for that bed size. Nothing like having your own good sheets to slide into after a rough day. Make sure you wash everything before heading over, so they're soft and ready to go when you get there.
  
• A collapsable shoe organizer that you can use to store gitch, socks, t-shirts, etc, or even a collapsable sweater organizer (or two) if you want more horizontal space and less vertical.
  
• If you're coming home or going somewhere on HLTA, don't forget to pack a civvie-pattern backpack. Don't be the guy wandering around a foreign airport wearing your day pack and combat boots in jeans.
  
• Birthday/Anniversary/special event cards that you can mail from your location (shows you were thinking of them well in advance of your departure and before the event). Bonus points if it's a mushy anniversary card to a significant other, ensuring that your return is "extra special".

If you want the most durable/best water bottle, Definitely go with
Takeya http://www.amazon.com/Takeya-Classic-Bottle-Silicone-Sleeve/dp/B0055PCR0Q/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp.

If you want one better for packing, go with vapur (foldable)http://www.amazon.com/Vapur-Eclipse-Water-Bottle-1-Liter/dp/B00BI9AM1O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380850077&sr=8-2&keywords=vapur .

For best headlamp, princeton tech http://www.amazon.com/Princeton-Tec-Remix-Headlamp/dp/B002T67YR0/ref=pd_sim_sg_2 .

I've had every brand and these are the ones I stick by.

u/Bicoastalshrimp, I see your water bottle and raise you a collapsible water bottle.

Also, spicy ice cream.