Boy Scout Troop 641, Girls Scout Troop 8641 and Venture Crew 641

Camping Gear for New Scouts and Parents

Scouting is nothing without “outing.” Our Troop tries to have at least one outing every month. Our Scouts need to be prepared to perform vigorous outdoor activities (hiking, camping, service projects, and more) in all weather conditions. There is a lot of excellent (and expensive) outdoor gear one can buy, but, like the uniform, it makes sense to start smaller and less expensive. At the beginning, a new Scout isn’t likely to have to carry his/her sleeping bag more than a mile or so. Thus, if the bag weighs 5 pounds (cheaper) instead of 2 pounds (more expensive), a new Scout can manage just fine. There will be time to upgrade camping gear as a Scout grows and decides he/she wants to do more outdoors activities.

Summer camps will often have their own packing list - check with the Leader and Parent Guide for the camp. "High Adventure” (open to older Scouts) will have specific gear requirements and recommendations.

Many items a Scout may use during outings are provided by the Troop, such as tents and cooking gear. Big items a Scout will need: backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, sturdy shoes, and appropriate clothing. More details on these are provided below.

Clothing

A Scout is required to pack and dress according to expected weather/climate during outings (namely, do not wear shorts during winter camp). Think “layers” and NO COTTON. A Scout needs to be able to adjust easily between warmer and cooler temperatures, and wet and dry conditions. Cotton is terrible when wet (and thus dangerous in cold environments): it dries slowly and sucks the heat out of you. Stick with synthetics and wool. One can often use “regular” clothes – little need to purchase special camping clothes, especially when a Scout first joins the Troop. In time, clothing focused on outdoor activities can be acquired. Necessary clothing for outdoor activities:

A tee shirt and long sleeve shirt
Long pants – zip-offs work fine
Wool socks
Warmth layer(s) – thicker in winter, thinner in summer
Sweater or fleece insulating layer
Wind-proof layer
Stocking cap
Gloves
Waterproof layer
Rain jacket (NOT a poncho)
Rain pants (desirable in the Northwest, but not mandatory as a first purchase)
Hat for sun or rain
Bandanna (multiple uses — for example, substitute for a towel)
Swimming suit
Sleeping clothes – pajamas or tee shirt and shorts

Hiking Boots and Shoes

Adults and Scouts who have stopped growing may want to invest in a good pair of sturdy medium to lightweight hiking boots, but younger Scouts can generally get by with less expensive alternatives.

A Scout will want something for mud and snow. Inexpensive, lightweight hiking boots are usually fine. Younger Scouts may want to use inexpensive snow boots in the winter. Sneakers or running shoes are generally NOT a good solution in these conditions.

Inexpensive sneakers are a good choice for a second pair of shoes at summer camp and for light activities in good weather. A Scout may want to wear them (or water shoes) on water outings.

Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag is probably the single most expensive camping item a Scout will need. If a Scout becomes serious about camping, he/she will probably eventually want two: a lighter weight one for backpacking and summer camping and a heavier weight one for snow camping. However, this is a good opportunity to purchase a “good enough” bag initially and plan on replacing it in a few years.

The best compromise is a down bag rated to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be a little too warm in the summer (unzip it) and marginal for winter camping (wear extra clothes and/or add a sleeping bag liner). It will be a little heavy and bulky for backpacking, but it will work for a Scout in almost all conditions for a couple of years. Keep an eye out for sales or hand-me-downs.

Sleeping Pad

A sleeping pad is a necessary part of a Scout’s sleeping system (along with a sleeping bag and sleeping clothes) to prevent heat loss from cold ground.

Most Scouts opt for a self-inflating pad. The Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Sleeping Pad is a solid choice for what it offers, at an affordable price. This is a good medium grade pad that can last an entire scouting career.

Other options include high density foam pads such as the Therm-A-Rest Z lite folding pad that are effective and very reasonably priced.

Two of the major brands are: Therm-a-Rest and Klymit. Klymit does “road shows” at local Costcos where the prices will beat what is on the Klymit website.

Backpack

A Scout just needs a pack big enough (and comfortable enough) to carry all his/her gear for a couple miles up a trail or to a summer camp cabin (less than a mile). If a Scout gets serious about backpacking, this will probably also be a piece of equipment that will eventually get replaced/upgraded.

The best way to start choosing a backpack is for a Scout to make a pile of all the personal gear he/she is going to take: sleeping bag, pad, clothes, etc., and stuff all the gear into a sack to measure its volume. Increase that measurement by 50-100% to account for additional items: food, water, and Troop gear (tent, cooking gear, etc.) that will be distributed among the Scouts participating in the outdoor activity. You’ll probably end up in the 50-60 liter range. Remember a Scout is only going to be carrying this a couple of miles; so, don’t worry about needing to buy a super hefty suspension system or an expedition pack (even though the volume is big). There are a lot of choices in the $100-200 range. Again, keep an eye out for sales.

Note: places like R.E.I. rent out gear, thus allowing a Scout to try something out. R.E.I. often allows the cost of a rental to be applied to a purchase if done at the same time the rental is returned (confirm/check details with R.E.I. first, prior to renting anything).

Other Gear

Daypack – a school backpack is usable, but may be bigger than needed.
Ten Essentials – check the Boy Scout Handbook and this article from Scouting magazine.
Bowl, cup, and spoon are necessary; plate and fork, not so, and a pocket knife (one of the Ten Essentials) can be used as an eating knife if needed.

Wait to Purchase (if at all)

Other equipment a Scout needs for outdoor activities is usually supplied by the Troop. Eventually, if a Scout really enjoys the outdoors, they may want to get their own tent and other "crew gear,” but parents and Scouts should wait until they learn more. Equipment in this category includes:

Tent
Cooking gear (stove, pots, pans, etc.)
Water filter