Maurice, leave the cast iron skillet home if you are hiking. Trust me.
For backpacking, I take one pot, a cup and a spoon. I would also recommend a good portable water purifer.
You definitely want a sleeping bag. And a ground cloth to sleep on. A small portable stove with fuel also is nice and obligatory in some public lands. Something I consider very important is rain gear. Good raingear is worth its weight in gold. I prefer pants and parka separate, or pants and poncho. There are lots of different ways you can go with raingear but just remember, cold and wet is the path to hypothermia and possibly buying the farm.
I like two tarps. One small one I set up to cook under during rain.
For car camping, I get a lot more extravagant. I use a roomy tent and I take a coleman two burner stove if I'm camping with others. A washbasin is handy for doing dishes. A portable chair is comfy to have. And here I use a castiron skillet for pancakes frying fish and a big pot for all kinds of things, like chili and stew. I also take an italian espresso maker to make that morning latte when I know I'm going to need that extra energy out on the fishing boat hauling in those lunkers.
A cooler for milk, hamburger, hotdogs, lunchmeat,OJ, etc. Lightweight hiking boots for the trail and sandals for lounging around the camp.
Beer. Dark. Very dark.
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Hoodoo
I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
