Personal Equipment List
Introduction
When and Where to Buy?
The Gear
Mess Kit
Ten Essentials
Optional
Camping, as with any activity, is easier and more enjoyable if you have the right equipment. With Boy Scouts, the trick is to balance equipment cost, features, and size with the size and interests of the Scout. Scouts will outgrow some gear, or their interest in camping may never expand to justify the extra costs of higher end, or "technical" gear.
Some say that in the long run, with camping gear you get what you pay for. While that's often true (as someone who spent a miserable night in a cheap tent will affirm), you can shop smart and improve the quality of your camping life. If you're willing to price compare, accept last year's model, factory seconds, and buy from catalogs, you can accumulate and upgrade your gear and not go broke.
The following is a suggested list of equipment Scouts should acquire if they want to be more comfortable on camp outs and expect to continue in scouting. If they want to expand their horizons into low impact scouting and related high adventure outings, the right equipment is a must, not a luxury.
It's easiest on the budget to accumulate gear over time, as the Scout establishes a commitment to scouting and advancing through ranks. Consider buying equipment for holiday and birthday gifts. Let relatives know of items they could buy for your Scout. For example, give grandparents and aunts and uncles a list of specific items the scout needs. Give them a copy of an equipment catalog (like the Campmor catalog) with suggested items circled (beats getting another package of black socks or handkerchiefs).
If you know what you want, shop for price by catalog or on the Internet. Suggestions: Campmor, REI Outlet, Outdoor Outlet and Sierra Trading Post. See the "Camping Stores" section of our links page to get to these internet sites.
REI Outlet is the Internet-only sales outlet for REI store overstocks, model year closeouts, and seconds or irregulars. If you don't mind having last year's style, or an unpopular color, you can buy very high quality gear at very reduced prices. You won't find these bargains at the local REI store or in the regular catalog.
Outdoor Outlet and Sierra Trading Post are just like REI Outlet; closeouts, overstocks, irregulars. Worth checking every week or so for deals you can't pass up. Outdoor Outlet has some first quality items for sale as well.
If you need help selecting an item, or want to see and feel, try REI, Dick's sporting goods, Academy Sports, Just For Feet, and even the local Walmart.
Walmart is a great place to buy miscellaneous items cheap, like waterproof matches, Mag-Light flashlights, cheap rain ponchos, etc.
SLEEPING BAG - You need a small and lightweight bag that will fit easily into a stuff sack and your backpack or its frame. A 20-degree bag should be adequate to keep you warm. A cheaper synthetic-fill bag is probably better for scouts than a down-filled bag: synthetic is cheaper, and warmer if it gets wet than down. A compression stuff sack is very useful for backpacking. $75 - $150
MATTRESS PAD - A good mattress pad such as a Therm-a-Rest, Z-Rest, or Ridge-Rest, are necessary to insulate your sleeping bag from the ground and soften the rocks you will sleeping on. Hint: try them out in the store or borrow one on a camp out. Therm-a-Rests are more expensive and heavier than the others. If you can feel a difference, paying more may be worth it. If you can't feel much difference, why pay more? $20 - $60
BACKPACK - Internal frame or external frame? Each has its advantages. Smaller sized and adjustable packs are available that won't overwhelm a young scout but not be outgrown too quickly. Here's an item that can often be picked up used from an older scout or neighbor. Brand new modern packs may be lighter, but any pack made within the last 10 years should be fine for beginning scouts, and the money saved can be allocated to better clothing or other gear. $70 - $150 new.
HIKING BOOTS - Younger scouts and older scouts who camp "high impact" can get by with inexpensive light hikers. Buy them on sale and spray ‘em with waterproofing. They will provide more support and water-resistance than tennis shoes. $20 - $50
Scouts who want to participate in high adventure scouting will need a to have a good pair of hiking boots. On multi-day backpacking hikes each crew member will carrying between 40 and 50 pounds of equipment and food on their back. The added weight will put a fair amount of strain on your body; therefore, firm good quality hiking boots with a rigid sole are a must. The trails we will be hiking on are rough and uneven. You can protect yourself from most injuries that may result from a twisted or turned ankle with a good hiking boot. REI has many good hiking boots and you can probably find a pair that will cost you between $80 to $125.
THERMAL LAYER - A good pair of wicking long underwear, long sleeve top and bottom, are invaluable to keep the chill off you at night or on cold, windy days. Make sure they are moisture wicking, not cotton. $10 - $30
LONG PANTS - One good pair of hiking pants that let you zip off the leg portion to shorts. Don't bring blue jeans or other cotton blended pants. They do not wick away water very well, so when you get wet in them you stay wet and get cold. This why your clothing should be synthetic materials which dry quickly. $40 - $60
SHORTS - If you bring the hiking pants with legs that zip off into shorts you won't need separate shorts.
LONG SLEEVE SHIRT - You may want one to wear in the morning or evening when it's cooler.
T - SHIRTS - You probably want two. Ideally these should be a synthetic polypro blend so they will wick moisture away from your body. $10 - $20
UNDERWEAR - It bears repeating 100% cotton gets wet and stays wet and cold. A pair of wicking underwear enhances comfort on hot hikes, in the rain or on canoe trips. $10
SOCKS - Get a good outer heavy-duty woolen or hiking sock (Smartwool or Thorolo brands) and wear it over a synthetic polypro wicking sock liner. This will eliminate most problems with blisters. You can alternate with two pairs for hiking and keep the third pair for sleeping or wearing in camp. $12- 16
JACKET - A Polartec type of jacket would be best for cold mornings or evenings. Here's a place you can save money with overstocks, etc. $25 - $60
RAIN JACKET and RAIN PANTS - Get a lightweight hooded waterproof outer jacket that can be thrown on to keep dry in rain. Rain pants are also good, but are not required if you have the synthetic hiking pants that dry quickly. No ponchos please. You need something that you can hike in which will keep you dry all day if it rains. $20 for plastic to $150 for breathable stuff.
HAT - Required! UV rays will fry your skin unless you have a brimmed hat that protects your neck, face and nose.
CAMP SHOES - Lightweight shoes to wear in camp are comfortable, but it's your choice. Old tennis shoes or old topsiders.
STUFF SACK - You need at least one to keep all your "smellables" in to place in the Troop bear bag each evening.
SMALL TOWEL - Use it to wash up with.
HANDKERCHIEF/BANDANNA - Not a required item, but it comes in handy for many things including first aid emergencies.
SOAP - Campsuds, which you can buy at REI or Walmart. Campsuds is a biodegradable soap that can used to wash up anything.
CUP - A cup for drinking. It can be plastic or metal. Cheap plastic thermal coffee cups work great, and are "holdable" when full of hot chocolate.
BOWL - This will be all you will need to eat out of on the trail. It can be plastic or metal.
SPOON - This is the only silverware you will need on the trail.
WATER BOTTLES - You must have water! Hydration packs with on-the-go drinking tubes are becoming popular, but two plastic one quart bottles work fine. Whichever way you go, have capacity to start a hike with 2 quarts of water.
SUNSCREEN - Must have a good sunscreen with high Sun Protection Factor (SPF).
COMPASS - Spend a little more and get a GOOD compass, mounted on a small plastic base for orienteering.
POCKETKNIFE: No sheath knives! Multi-purpose (Swiss Army-type) knives are the most practical.
FIRE STARTER KIT - Used in emergencies only when your life or the life of another depends on it.
MATCHES - To be used with emergency fire starter kit. Water proof them please.
FLASHLIGHT - A small Mag-lite with extra batteries and spare bulb. A headband flashlight holder is handy to have to free your hands at night.
WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS - Unless pumped through a purification filter, Polar Pure or other water tablet is necessary before you drink any water from a stream. It's also good to have the tablets as back up in case the water pump fails.
EXTRA FOOD - Pack extra food which is only to be used in emergencies. Some suggest you take something along you would normally not eat. Don't worry in an emergency if you get hungry enough you will eventually eat it. Power bars, Cliff bars, etc.
SUNGLASSES - The UV rays are extreme, especially when hiking. You will need a good pair of sunglasses.
CHAPSTICK - The best contains sunscreen for maximum protection.
FISHING EQUIPMENT
CAMERA