WELLESLEY
BOY SCOUT TROOP 185
Backpacking
and gear advice for new scouts and parents
First, if you
are not sure what your new scout needs for general camping and
backpacking, please ask one of the troop leaders, including the senior
scouts. The following is a list of typical personal gear needed for a
camping weekend.
Naturally, it
is possible to spend a great deal of money to have the very best gear
choices, but there are many bargains to be had, and plenty of affordable
alternatives for young boys who may outgrow gear and outdoor clothing
quickly. Troop equipment can be borrowed for Troop campouts.
Please see the Troop Quartermaster or an Adult Leader.
Troop Equipment
List
Places
to shop for gear (these stores have knowledgeable on-site staff for
advice) :
REI 375 Cochituate
Rd (Rt30) Framingham - across from CompUSA
EMS 1400 Worcester
Rd (Rt9) Framingham or 1041 Comm. Av, Boston
Bob’s Store
Framingham Mall (for hiking
boots/clothing)
Here are
the essential starters if you need to buy gear :
Backpack
— An
internal frame pack is the most practical. The fit is very important, and
you should take the time to bring your son to the store and try some on
with experienced help. Remember, the most expensive gear is usually NOT
the best suited for a beginner. Your scout will likely outgrow his pack
in a few years as he gets taller and stronger. Consider donating his old
pack to the troop if he has no siblings.
Sleeping
Bag — It is important
to remember that some of our trips will not require carrying gear in the
pack for any distance, but many will. A modern mummy shaped bag with
synthetic fill that is easily compressed into a stuff sack will fill the
bill. The thermal rating should be in the area of +10 to +25 degrees. The
higher cost fills are softer and more compressible (e.g. Polargard 3D).
You want to be sure that the stuffed bag will easily fit INSIDE the
backpack, leaving room for other clothes and gear. Not a bad idea to buy
them together. Your bag should also be fit to your son’s size and
he may outgrow it sooner than you wish — but an oversized bag is
cold and unwieldy. Remember that a +25 bag can be used in colder
conditions with the addition of a fleece blanket or bag liner, or lots of
warm, dry clothes worn inside.
Sleeping
Pad/Mattress — Again, think
about a light & compact roll. A cheap and practical roll for
beginners is a full-length closed-cell foam pad of 3/8 or 1/2 inch
thickness. The new generation of semi-inflatable pads (e.g. Therma-Rest)
are expensive and somewhat heavier — avoid these for now. Also,
don’t buy an air mattress. They make great beach toys, but
don’t use them backpacking. (Try Natick Outdoors)
Hiking
Boots — Go for good fit,
even though he will outgrow them too soon. Spend the least amount to get
a sturdy, ankle-high boot with lug soles. Suede or leather is OK and can
be waterproof treated, but synthetics are more durable, drier and
cheaper. Try them on with two pairs of socks - a thin liner sock,
and a thick hiker sock — both should be synthetic or wool blend (no
cotton if possible). Please wear them at home to break them in BEFORE you
need them on a hike. (Bob’s Store has great choices
& values)
Headlamp
— The
cheaper headlamps available are a better choice than a flashlight because
they leave the hands free to do chores like setting up tents in the dark.
There are many choices, but stay on the cheaper end to start. Pickup a
spare bulb or two. Avoid the exotic ones with high price and expensive
replacement bulbs.
Raingear
— A new
scout will do very well with a standard vinyl or urethane coated nylon
poncho. If he already has a good Goretex or similar rain jacket, that is
OK too, but he likely will get it very dirty. Go for value and remember
he is growing. Also, he would not be the first scout or the last one to
resort to a large garbage bag when all else fails.
Cooking/Eating
— Your
scout needs a canteen — but a plastic one-quart bottle (e.g.
Nalgene) is a good choice. They are cheap & durable —
write his name on it. As he gets older, he will need two of these. For
eating, he needs utensils and bowl/cup — consider unbreakable
plastic for these instead of metal. Again, write his name with a
permanent marking pen. A standard “mess kit” is OK to start,
but these are very limited for cooking especially in a small group
(patrol) format. One medium plastic bowl, a plastic cup or thermal mug,
plastic spoon & fork — these are the essentials. One
medium backpack pot with a lid completes the list. Stainless steel is
more expensive, but more durable and easier to clean. Look for bargains
— they’re out there at places like Natick
Outdoors.
Personal
Items — Get him a
packable toothbrush and small toothpaste. Too many kids either bring
their home brush or get away without one. Small investment with big
return. A Scout is Clean. A small fleece washcloth or pack towel goes a
long way at camp. He should get used to bio-degradable trail soap —
use it for everything.
Clothing
— New
scouts with little or no backwoods experience usually have few choices at
home in outdoor clothing. Again, a growing boy will not get many years of
use, so avoid expensive choices. However, always be aware that synthetic
clothing beats cotton. There are plenty of affordable nylon or polyester
cargo pants and polyester fleece shirts/sweaters. Look for poly or
blended tee shirts or long-sleeve “base-layer” garments.
Cotton absorbs water from rain or sweat and dries very slowly —
making it impractical outdoors except in very hot weather. (Think
Bob’s Store for value)
Tents,
Stoves, etc. — The troop has
plenty of tents and cooking stoves, so there is no need to invest in
these items until your scout has acquired some experience and expresses
some preferences for them.
Knife,
Compass — Scout camps
forbid one-piece knives, so look for a small folding sheath knife,
preferably with a lockback for safety. Smaller is better. A multi-tool
knife is OK (e.g. Swiss Army) but look for a cheap generic one. A compass
is invaluable and inexpensive. Look for one with a lanyard hole or a
carry case. The Scout Shop has good choices, but they are also available
in many outdoor stores.
-Rich Horan
11/04
