What's in your general "field" kit?

I always struggle with this. I went out the other day to shoot wildflowers and the variety of birds was really ticking me off LOL. I wished that I had brought my monopod and a birding lens.

Do you use a tripod? a monopod? shoot BIF handheld etc? What's in your kit? I always try to reduce the weight and end up missing something that I left at home.

TIA.

I guess it depends largely on the distance you travel and your physical condition.

There's always something I "wished" I had with me but I have to go with the odds and limits for the distance I'm walking. I have backpacks but from experience I know that once I arrive where I shoot I have to find a place for it on high ground and when the temps reach the 90F mark every extra pound starts to really count.

I admit being fairly new to shooting birds, it's only since I got a 400L f5/6 lens that I've even tried and I've only had much success in the past month. These days I usually cart around my 400 in a Lowepro backpack along with macro and wide angle lenses and tripod. Quite often I'm shooting a flower or a waterfall and an interesting bird lands nearby. If I'm lucky I can swap over lenses before it flies away. I could get a second body but it's more weight to carry.

Eventually I'd like to get a 500L IS lens. As they're larger and heavier, I wonder if I'll carry around the same amount of gear, probably not. The weight will be too great especially during the summer. It'll end up either birds/wildlife or macro/landscape. I could never leave my 400 (and definitely not a 500) in the car while I'm shooting in the field as it's asking to be stolen. This could be somewhat of a dilemma. I'm interested if those with 500 or 600 lenses bring with them any other lenses to the field? I suspect you would not do much hiking even with just a 500.

I like my 300 f4 IS,with a TC for birds,because it gives me both a long lens and due to it's MFD
a great lens for flowers and such.I usually just take the 300,TC and Extension Tube.

I always take my 100-400 IS. I used to take a 18-55 mm until I broke it. It is plastic and doesn't weigh anything much.

I take a 100-400 plus one, for whatever else might strike my fancy that day. But, with a bad back I'm not going to be trekking the vast wastelands anyway. Sometimes I miss some opportunities, but I always come home with something decent... even if it's just a duck.

I carry my tripod with scope attached on my back using a Mulepack. This also has pockets in which I carry my field guide, water bottle and, if I think there's a chance of good insect shots, my 100mm macro. Around my neck are my binoculars and over my right shoulder is my 7D with 300 f2.8. I wear a vest, fleece or coat (depending on weather) with all the bits I need (phone, spare batteries, 1.4 and 2x TCs - although one of them is normally attached to the camera) in the pockets. Both the scope and the 300mm have Arca-Swiss plates so I can use either of them with the same tripod/head.

It's better to have something and not need it, than not have it to find that you wished you'd brought it.

My standard kit is...

1D MkII
40D with grip.
400d
70-200/2.8L (non IS)
300/2.8L (non IS)
100-400L
20-35mm
10-22mm
10mm Sigma Fisheye
1.4x & 2x Extender
540 EZ flash
Manfrotto Monopod
spare 1D battery
4 spare BP-511's
4 spare rechargeable AA's for flash
6 extra CF Cards
tube sunscreen
600ml sports drink
rocket blower, lens cloths plus a few other bits and pieces that I may need.

And it looks a bit like this when lugged around

Since I use a Bigma, I take that, some extra CF and SDHC cards and one extra battery and the tripod. I'm not into hiking, so never get far from the car where the tripod is. If I go in the boat, I take the camera and Bigma, with memory cards and battery in a pocket.

I use the 1D MKIV and the 500 F4. I use it on a tripod w/a sidekick mounted to the RRS ballhead. I carry a fanny pack with the 1.4x and 2x, cable release....

Shorts & T-shirt under a Ghillie suit, knee high boots, very thin mossy oak breakup gloves, 400/5.6 OR 100-400 (never both), 1DIV, Mono-pod, 5 pounds of DEET. Packing that amount of DEET can be a challenge! Occasionally, I bring my 580EX2 with Better Beamer.

When I started building my kit I decided I wanted to be able to carry everything with me in on back pack. I carry my 50D, 17-40, 70-200-2.8, 400-5.6, and 60mm-ef-s macro, a super-light and affordable Slik tripod as well as a speedlite and a bunch of accessories in a Tamrac Expedition 5X. My whole kit ways almost exactly 25lbs. Hiking is as important as photography to me and I can still do about 15 miles in a day trip with all of my gear. Depending on your physical condition, this may not be the way to go for everybody, but it works for me. I am prepared for almost every situation I could be interested in.

One more benefit... Since my pack is stuffed, I can't buy anything new unless I part with something else. This helps me resist stupid temptations. Anyway, I don't foresee buying anything new as I think my kit meets my needs almost perfectly.

Neither is this pot-bellied old man and I got a quiet, electric powered ATV to tote my stuff around. Works great!