WHAT GEAR TO BUY
We’ve put together a little guide to help our new Scouts and parents decide what kind of camping gear to buy. The first thing to keep in mind about buying camping gear is you do not need to buy it all at once. The troop has a lot of gear, and your son only needs a few things to get started. Below is a list of the minimum gear Scouts will need and some suggestions on what to get that will serve your Scout now and in the future for both regular camping and backpacking trips.
At a minimum, each Scout will need the following gear:
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
- Mess Kit
- Flashlight
- Rain Gear
- First Aid Kit
- Water Storage
- Proper Clothing
- Scout Handbook
Sleeping Bag – Most of us are now using the newer mummy type sleeping bags. The two main things to consider in a bag are temperature and material. Bags are rated by the temperature in which they can be used. A 20 degree bag is good choice for the camping we do. Sleeping bag material is a matter of personal preference. Many experienced campers prefer the down filling over the synthetic; however the synthetic fillings have improved over the years. Synthetic fillings dry much quicker than down, and having things that dry quickly are usually the best bet for Scouts.
For cold weather camping, it may be a good idea to have a bag liner. There are several types of bag liners. The fleece liners are a little bulkier, but work very well. Silk liners also work well, are very compact, but more expensive.
IMPORTANT: Sleeping bags should not be stored in a stuff sack at home! Be sure to remove your bag from the stuff sack and hang it over a hanger or keep in a larger loose storage sack. This will keep the filling loose, and provide maximum insulation value for years to come.
Sleeping Pad – Sleeping pads provide comfort, but more importantly provide insulation from the ground. There are two types of sleeping pads. First is the inflatable type. The advantage of the inflatable pads is they are usually very compact. The disadvantage is they can be punctured and leak if not properly cared for. The second type is a foam pad. Foam pads come in a roll or a folding accordion type. Either is fine. Again, for younger Scouts the foam pads are more durable. Label the sleeping pad with your Scout’s name.
Mess Kit – A mess kit can be as simple as a plastic bowl, a spoon and a cup. In fact, that’s all we really take for backpacking. However, the small mess kits that include a pan, bowl and cup are real nice. We suggest a steel mess kit instead of aluminum for durability. Any utensils will do, but a real nice utensil is a titanium backpacking “spork.” It’s a lightweight combination fork and spoon. That in conjunction with a pocket knife or Leatherman tool will be all the utensils needed. Label each item in the kit with your Scout’s name. An engraving tool works well for this.
Flashlight – No need for some giant light with 5 D cells. The smaller and lighter the flashlight, the better it will be. Suggest finding a flashlight that uses LEDs instead of an incandescent bulb. The LEDs consume less power and the batteries last longer. Some of the boys really like the lamps that have a head strap, so you can use it hands free. Useful when trying to set up camp in the dark! Be sure to put your Scout’s name on the flashlight.
Rain Gear – A simple poncho works fine. Suggest one that has a cloth substrate and not just thin plastic. The plastic ponchos will last for about two minutes with a bunch of boys roughhousing together. Two piece rain suits are also very nice, but usually more expensive than a poncho.
First Aid Kit – A small simple first aid kit is all that’s needed. You can make your own. Band-aids, mole skin, sting ointment, antiseptic wipes is all that’s required in a personal first aid kit.
Water Storage – The old style canteens aren’t really used anymore. The best thing these days is a 1quart Nalgene bottle. It is a good idea to have two or three for hiking. They are virtually indestructible and won’t break, leaking water all over your gear. They available at any camping store. A Nalgene and a day pack are the best combinations for camping and hiking. Be sure to label the Nalgenes with your Scout’s name.
Clothing – For cold weather, layering is the best approach. Synthetic material for everything is best since it dries quickly. Jeans and cotton clothes are the worst thing for camping. The zip-off nylons pants are the best thing we’ve ever seen for camping. They are versatile, light weight and dry quickly. Wear boots for camping instead of sneakers. It’s ok to bring sneakers for backup. Waterproof boots are a requirement for winter camping – no sneaks will be allowed. A dry Scout is a warm Scout! Summertime we can be much more flexible.
Tent – A tent is not required, but if you have one, Scouts are encouraged to bring them. The troop does have tents, and Scouts are always welcome to use them. If you are going to buy a tent, we’d suggest a three season, two-man free standing tent. Free standing tents are easy to set up and do not require stakes to hold them up. If your scout is interesting in backpacking, there are a lot of great lightweight tents out there, but be prepared to spend some money. You may want to wait until your Scout is a little older to buy a high-end backpacking tent. Single person tents are not a good idea. Scouts usually like to buddy up while camping, and there are good safety reasons to avoid the one man tents. The Rangers at Philmont Scout Reservation call the one man tents “Bear Tacos.” Are any of you Moms scared yet?? :-)
Gear Storage – Suggest a duffle bag or backpack. The idea would be to get all their gear into one thing. It’s easier for the Scouts to keep track of their things that way, and less “extra gear” gets left behind in the drivers’ cars.
Where to buy
The troop has no affiliations with any supplier. Sporting goods stores like Dick’s and Sports Authority have some of the basic things. A great selection of gear is available at some of the outdoors outfitters. You can sometimes get some real good deals by checking for specials on the web pages of the suppliers:
EMS – store at Market Fair in Princeton – www.ems.com
REI – store in Conshohocken – www.rei.com
Campmor – has a great catalog, good prices – www.campmor.com
Be sure to shop around!!
VERY IMPORTANT – BE SURE TO PUT YOUR SCOUT’S NAME ON ALL GEAR.