Personal Gear

The world of camping and outdoor gear is a big one. And options have never been easier to find or more overwhelming. Below are some of the key things we've found to be helpful out in the world of camping.

We’ve tried to cover some of the big ticket items and regular questions we get from our Scouts. We’ve included links to gear items in some cases, but we are not trying to push you toward any one vendor or store. You'll see lots of links to REI because we think they provide excellent specification information on their website, but you may be able to find items for less elsewhere.

You'll hear us refer to the “big three” of personal items: Backpack, Sleep System (sleeping bag and pad), and Shelter. These are crucial and often expensive items. As Scouts are Thrifty, in purchasing these items, consider purchasing with the greatest flexibility in mind.

Backpack

Making the move from a duffel bag to a proper camping and hiking backpack is one of the first "gear up" moves a Scout will make -- you can read much more in the "Backpack" section of our Backpacking Gear page -- as Scouts are Thrifty, make your purchase with flexibility in mind, and whether (or when) your Scout may outgrow their backpack.

The best fit is a very personal and important matter, given different torso heights and shoulder widths and sizes of our Scouts, we always recommend Scouts go to a store to try options on. Scouts should get a backpack sized between 50 liters (L) and 70L. Don't go smaller than a 50L pack, as a Scout/er will often need to pack a share of crew/patrol/troop gear, some of which can be bulky. Be sure to check the empty weight of the pack -- you may be surprised how much it varies.

Sleep System - Sleeping Bag

Moving from a "sleepover" sleeping bag to a camping hiking sleeping bag is the next "gear up" move our Scouts make -- you can read much more in the "Sleep System" section of our Backpacking Gear page -- or an all-purpose sleepgin bag for Scouting camping trips, aim for a 20°F rated "mummy" bag weighing less than 4 pounds (and preferably less than 3). The more expensive bags use lighter weight materials that compress much more for packing, but do need to be well-cared for. You can spend several hundred dollars for an ultralight bag, but that’s not really necessary for a strong-backed Scout. On the other hand, a good bag will last for many years, so in our opinion this is a place to stretch your budget if you can.

Random Gear

There's so much other stuff out there, but Scouts don't need all of it. Here's some gear we've found to be useful.

Inspect Repellent for Clothing and Gear

Keeping yourself free of ticks, mosquitoes, and more is key and the Sawyer Products SP649 Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent is effective for up to 6 months or six washes!

Inspect Repellent for People

Keeping yourself free of ticks, mosquitoes, and more is a great thing in the woods and the Sawyer Products SP544 Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin, Pump Spray is one of our favorites.