: Outfitting Your Scout To go Backpacking

When your Cub Scout is crossing over to Boy Scouts or when you’re Troop / Crew has decided to try backpacking for the first time it can prove to be a daunting and expensive task to outfit your scouts for their first trip. You can spend weeks just reading all the information on the internet about which pack you should carry, the latest and greatest shelter system, tents – vs. – hammocks, which water filter to carry, or if you even need to carry one, should you go light weight, ultra light, or traditional when selecting gear. In the end your left more confused than when you started. So what is a parent or scouter to do? That was the question posed to me a while back from some parents that had boy’s crossing over to a local troop.

What follows is the answer (or lesson) that I gave them. It starts with some general discussion about gear, some suggested brands and outfitters (based on my experiences with them), reasons behind certain gear choices, “do it yourself” gear, and multi use items. I hope it is helpful!

For starters the first thing we need to discuss is how to fit a pack, more than once a kid, or adult leader, has formed a dislike to backpacking because they have worn a full pack that did not fit properly causing their shoulders, back, or hips to hurt excessively before they make it to camp the first night only to feel worse when they get up the next morning. I can not stress enough that you should fit your pack, fill it with the items you are planning to take then spend a couple hours walking around the back yard with it on to see what adjustments need to be made. It is much better to make any adjustments to it now than when you are 5 miles into a 20 mile hike! Don’t laugh, it happens every year to someone; just don’t let it be you. OK, enough preaching (for now) lets see how to fit a pack.

Packs are fit by torso length. You measure from the bump at the base of the neck to the natural waist which is found by placing your hand on your hips and drawing an imaginary line from one thumb to the point on your spine that it meets the other. From there you just have to decide which pack will serve you best.

When choosing a pack you can break it down into 3 categories internal frame, external frame, and capacity each with both good and bad qualities. Internal frame packs which have 2 metal or plastic stays that run vertically down left and right sides of the pack have gained in popularity over the last decade due to how well they fit when hiking, they do not shift around when ducking or bending to cross over a tree that has fallen across the trail or scrambling over rocks and banks when crossing a stream but can have limited space and decrease the air circulation between the your back and the pack plus they can be a bit pricey. External frame packs which have a pack bag attached to a metal frame can weigh less, carry more, provide better air circulation, and can cost half the price of some internal frame packs. The draw backs are the fact that you can carry more, which easily allows you to pack more than you can comfortably carry, and they shift around when you bend. For capacity, a good rule of thumb is to keep scouts pack around the 3600 cu in size for an external and around the 50 to 60 liter range for an internal. Go to a reputable outfitter (Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, REI, North Face, etc) try on both to see which you like the best. I have and use both depending on the trip I am going on, but personally started all 3 of my kids off with external frame packs because of price and size options. You can pick up a good (new), external frame scout pack from a company like Campmor for around $50 - $80 less if you go to Ebay. The advantage to external frame “scout” packs are the range of torso adjustments; they can usually go from 13 inches to 17 inches which allows them to grow with your child. When you purchase a rain cover for your pack make sure it is the right size for the pack you have.

Now that you have something to carry your gear in lets round out the “big 3” by discussing tents and sleeping gear. Unless your have the stamina of an NFL lineman this is where weight has the biggest effect on your gear choices. A lot of tents are classified as backpacking tents but may not be suited to carry into the backcountry. If you are not careful this is also an area that can have a big effect on your wallet, with not only high end but mid ranged tents going for $150 to $500. If your scout does not mind sleeping in a confined space a good cost effective tent would the Eureka Solitaire (1 person) or the Hennessy Scout Hammock system both for under $100 or something like the Eureka Spitfire 2 or Tetragon 5 (both 2 person tents) for under $130 online. What ever tent you choose remember, always carry a ground cloth to protect the tent floor from sharp objects that may be under it. A cost effective option for this is a plastic sheet (4-6 mil) cut to fit the tent.

Sleeping bags are a monster of their own! You can get them in just about every temperature range, weight, size, style, and price you can imagine, then you have to decide what you want the bag to be insulated with, should you use down, polyester fill, or one of the new synthetic fibers that offer the warmth of synthetic and the weight of down. For the money I recommend Eureka’s Casper mummy bag. It can be purchased online for under $80, is rated down to 15° F, packs small due to an integrated compression system on the stuff sack, and weighs in at a respectable 3lbs which is a good weight for a synthetic bag. Last in your sleep system is a ground pad. Excluding price you have 2 choices closed cell foam and self inflating. Closed cell foam is by far the cheapest (from $8-$25 depending on brand) and lightest choice, but if you are using an internal frame pack you may have to get creative in how you carry it. The self inflating pads (such as the Thermarest) tend to be a bit heavier, but make up for that in warmth and pack ability. They also are the most expensive going on average form $30 to $150, again depending on brand, size, and thickness.

Alright, lets move on to the rest of the gear you will need. Talk to your Pack or Troop leaders before purchasing a water filter, they may already have a couple that are used for the whole group. If not a good choice is the Katadyn Hiker for around $60 online. It’s good for approx. 200 gal before the filter needs to be changed. Like all your gear the better it is maintained the longer it will last you. As far as cooking goes I would avoid the old “mess kit” set ups, they are not as practical as they once were with all the choices that are out there. With that said again talk to your group to see if they are doing “group” cooking, pairing off to 2-3 scouts, or each responsible for their cookware. If the latter, you need to decide if you are going to go with an integrated cooking system like the Jet Boil stoves, or a standalone stove and cook pot. If going with something like the Jet Boil system (around $100) you will get the stove, a cook pot, an integrated pot cozy and lid which packs neatly away inside the pot when not in use. If you are going with a stand alone stove check with the scout leaders to determine if they are using alcohol stoves or isopro canister stoves (I recommend the Isopro canister stoves). You can purchase a Coleman canister stove at Wal-Mart and on the internet for under $30 and the canisters run about $5 each. To go with the stove I would recommend the GSI Outdoors nFORM Ultalight Soloist cook system (approx. $40 online), it has everything you need to prepare your meal, a pot w/ lid, a bowl, and insulated mug. Throw in a Light My Fire Spork or Guyot Designs Micro Bites set and you are ready to go. For those wanting to lean more to the ultralight side of hiking you can leave the bowl at home and carry a bag cozy to cook and eat from (see the attached videos for more information). Last on the subject of cooking is a way to light your stove. I always recommend carrying several ways to produce fire, but for a scout just starting out I would recommend a basic Ferro rod (also called a fire steel or metal match), with a “bic” lighter and matches in a waterproof match safe as back up.

The last and some may say most, important big gear group would be clothing. Always dress in layers with the base layer made from a poly or poly / cotton blend to wick moister away from the skin followed by an insulating layer such as fleece or wool covered on top by a shell to repel wind and rain. The lower half of your body can be treated the same way but save the insulating layer (fleece or polypropylene) for at night or cold rainy days. Pants should be comfortable (no jeans), breathable, and roomy enough to put a layer under but not too loose. If they are the type that you can zip the legs off to form shorts even better if not, bring a pair to wear when hiking in the hotter parts of the day and include a pair of nylon rain pants to shield from wind or rain and add an additional layer to help insulate when needed. Socks are very important, always have extras…. Always! In my opinion Merino wool is the best in all 4 seasons. The insulating properties of wool when wet are famous, but they also help your feet to stay cooler in the warmer months. You can expect to pay $11-$15 a pair and should have about 3 pair (one is always carried as a spare) add a liner sock to help wick moisture away from the foot and eliminate blistering and you should be good. To top off the feet, you are going to want to get a pair of hiking boots that give good support to the foot and ankles, and are waterproof or can be waterproofed. Don’t forget to break them in really well before the first trip to eliminate one of the biggest causes of blisters to new backpackers. How well is really well? The last pair I purchased I felt were broken in after I had about 25 miles on them. This was from general wear and short day hikes. In camp you should have a light weight shoe or sandal to put on. This allows your feet a rest and a chance for your boots to dry.

Now on to all the rest! Some troops carry a group first aid while others prefer to have each scout carry their own. If you are expected to carry your own make sure it is comprehensive, light weight, compact but still has enough room to be added to. The Adventure Medical Kits .5 Ultralight / Water tight Kit ($14 online) is just such a kit. It has enough in it to stand alone but has enough room in the pouch to add a small bottle of sunscreen, any personal medication you might need, an emergency whistle, a small film canister with dry tinder for a fire in an emergency, an eyeglass repair kit, and extra matches in a match safe. It’s always a good idea to carry a basic repair kit. It should have at least enough to fix or maintain your pack and tent if something happens. I take a small nylon stuff sack and carry about 20ft of duct tape, a couple of zip ties, one of each buckle on my pack, a small sewing kit, and any patch kit that came with gear like the self inflating sleep pads, a small pencil, and a couple pieces of paper. Every hiker should carry a decent compass and map of the area you will be in. I like to encourage scouts to take turns leading the group with the map and compass, not only does it hone their navigational skills; it also gives them something to talk about later in camp. Each scout should have a hygiene kit with, at a minimum, a toothbrush, toothpaste (trial size), deodorant (trial size), and some wet wipes to clean up with (the last time I checked there was no shower in the back country…). You can add to that by throwing in a bottle of biodegradable soap (for dishes and person), a small bottle of hand sanitizer to disinfect your hands after going to the latrine, which reminds me, don’t forget the toilet paper! Someone always does and it’s never pretty…hahaha. Depending on how long you will be out take a half to a full roll in a zip lock bag to keep it dry and a backpackers trowel to dig a hole. Look for a light weight, compact pack towel to use, something that is highly absorbent but will still dry quickly in between uses.

You don’t have to carry a heavy or bulky flashlight these days with all of the super bright, long life LED headlamps on the market you don’t even need to pay a lot of money for them. I would recommend the Energizer LED headlamps (around $12-$15) at most department stores and no matter what brand you use always carry an extra set of batteries. If you don’t like the headlamp style of light I would go with the mini-Mag light with the LED bulb or a similar small LED flashlight. The LED lights have extremely long bulb life and produce more than enough light to do what you need to. You are going to need at least 50ft but no more than 100ft of strong small diameter rope like Para cord and a mid sized nylon stuff sack to use as a bear bag. It is always a good idea to hang your food, and any item that has a scent, about 30ft from your tent to keep animals from trying to get into your tent to get it. The cord can also be use to replace broken shoe laces, guy lines, or general repairs in a pinch.

The last of the essential gear that is needed would be a couple of garbage bags, quart size freezer bags, and gallon size freezer bags. The garbage bags can be used as a pack liner if it is raining, a water resistant cover for your sleeping bag if using an external frame pack, a dry place to sit if it has been raining, as well as the obvious use as a garbage bag. The quart and gallon zip lock bags can be used the same way. Anything you don’t want to get wet gets put into a bag, and any trash you have can be put into one of the gallon size bags and put in your bear bag at night. They are also a great way to keep your pack organized.

Last on the list would be tools. A good knife is a life saver! I have carried a Victorinox Swiss Army Recruit knife for years and would not think of heading into the woods without it in my pocket. Swiss Army knives are light weight, easy to sharpen, have several tools on them (depending on the model), and have decades of experience in the wild. I would, and do, add a multi pliers to my pack as well. In addition to the obvious use as a repair or emergency tool you always have a pot grabber if your pot or lids handle gets damaged in some way.

Food requirements will be discussed by your group when the trip is planned, but I would like to chime in on a couple of points for the newbie’s out there. First, don’t underestimate your body’s ability to get dehydrated and fatigued even on cooler days. You should carry enough water to make it to the next source of water; I always suggest two 32oz water containers or a hydration bladder (if your pack is compatible) and a spare 32oz bottle for use when cooking on the trail. If you drink about a quart / liter of water just before starting out each day, plan to drink about a quart / liter every 2 hours, take frequent rest stops, refill your supply before it runs out, and eat a handful of trail mix from time to time between meals you shouldn’t have any problems. Always try the food and snacks you plan to take with you before you go. Many times people fail to do this, then get on the trail and realize they do not like the food they brought, or can not stand the food they brought. One can be a minor inconvenience; the other could ruin the trip for you to the point that you do not have an interest in hiking again. Try several freeze dried meals before picking the ones to bring, make sure the single serving meals will be enough to satisfy you (there is nothing worse than going to bed hungry after a long day of hiking). If a single serving does not seem like enough try adding one of the freeze dried deserts. Don’t feel like you have to stick with the prepackaged freeze dried meals (true they are good for beginners, but don’t limit yourself). Most supermarkets carry a wide range of freeze dried and dehydrated foods that are great for backpacking. You can take Ramen style noodles, beef jerky, dry cereal and powdered milk, instant potato’s, the vacuum pouches of tuna and chicken, and the thin sliced bagels teamed with peanut butter and jelly packets are perfect for sandwiches at lunch. Even instant puddings are a nice treat to add to a meal at the end of a day on the trail. Instant rice and cous cous make some pretty substantial meals when hiking as well.

In closing I will leave you with one more thing to think about. Gear, even when you are watching prices, can set you back several hundred dollars. Don’t try to buy it all at once, buy a little here and there when you see good deals, start frequenting your local sporting goods stores to look for deals, do online searches for the best price, you will be surprised how much you can save. The last pack I bought I paid $56.00 for online. The same pack in my local sporting goods store was $189.00, it pays to shop around. If your scout has never backpacked before, purchase as much as you can from places like ebay or try to borrow as much gear as possible. They may not like it, why not make sure before you start buying all the expensive stuff. Use this, the attached list, and video as a guide, and have fun!

I hope to see you on the trail some day!

Beginning Backpackers Gear List:

Shelter / Sleeping:

Tent w/ ground cloth
Sleeping bag – rated from 15° to 20°
Sleeping pad – closed cell or self inflating
Sit pad (optional)

Packing:

Backpack – internal or external frame pack (around 3600 cu in or 50L – 60L)
Pack rain cover
Garbage bags
Zip lock bags – Qt and Gallon size

Cooking:

Cook pot – soloist style
Utensils – Spork, scrub pad / sponge, bandana (pot holder)
Stove & fuel – isopro canister or alcohol (discuss with leader)
Matches / lighter – bic lighters are recommended or matches in a match safe
Water filter – discuss with leader before buying
Insulated cup
Pot / bag cozy – a “make it yourself” item
Water bottles – two 32oz bottles are recommended
Bear bag – mid sized stuff sack to hang food from tree

Essentials:

Compass
Map of planned trip
First Aid kit – personal size with prescription medicines
Headlamp w/ extra batteries – sm LED flashlight would work as a substitute
Fire starter – Ferro rod or extra matches in a match safe, dry tinder for emergency
Whistle – stadium whistle is recommended
Knife / Multi-tool – Swiss Army knife is recommended along with a multi-tool
Repair kit – duct tape, zip ties, sewing kit, replacement buckles (1 per size)
Pack towel
Hygiene kit – tooth brush & paste, deodorant, biodegradable soap, wet wipes
Toilet paper
Rope – 50’ to 100’ of small diameter cordage or Para cord is recommended

Clothing:

Watch – essential to follow cooking times and for emergencies
Wide brimmed hat or baseball cap
Knit hat – for cool nights and/or sleeping
Light gloves – for cool nights
Rain gear – nylon rain suit or poncho (made to over a backpack) & rain pants
Heavy fleece shirt / jacket – 200 to 300 weight fleece or 2 100 weight fleece
Long sleeve shirt – poly or poly/cotton blend
2 short sleeve shirts – poly or blend, 1 to use as a spare
2 Pants – poly or blend is best, convertible to shorts is also helpful, 1 is a spare
Polypro or fleece pants – a thermal layer for your legs
3 pr wool hiking socks – merino wool is recommended or wool / poly blend
Liner socks – 1 or 2 pair to prevent blisters
Camp shoes – light weight sandal or something like “crocs” shoe
Boots – waterproof lining is recommended or waterproof yourself