What to bring into the nether

• Sword
• Bow + Arrows, optional (shoot Ghasts)
• Cheap Pickaxes; optinally enchanted, a few (build tunnels). Alternative: bring building materials (wood/stone/iron).
• Shovel, at least one (collect soulsand)
• Cobble, several stacks (reach high places, shield against Ghasts, encase spawners)
• Gravel, at least one stack (reach lower places). Alternative: Sand.
• Dirt, 1-4 stacks, optional (build shelters and pathways). Not as sturdy as Cobble, but easier on the tools.
• Obsidian, 10x number of portals; plus 2 (error margin).
• Flint and Steel
• Wood (prefer logs over planks), ~ one stack (build stuff)
• Fire Resistance Potion, at least one (survive lava contact).
• Enderpearl, at least one (avoid enemy contact)
• Bucket, optional (carry lava, fight other players)
• Food, one stack or more depending on type
• Torches, one stack, optional (mark waypoints). Alternative: wodden signs.
• Golden Apple, one, optional (survive strong enemies)
• Splash Potions of Health, a few
• Ladders, 16-64, optional (make permanent vertical pathways)
• Chest(s), 1-2, optional (store stuff). Alternative: craft when needed
• Bowl, highly optional (make mushroom soup as fallback)
• Milk, 1-3, optional (cure effects from Wither Skeleton)