Troop and Troop Parents,
Every year or so I put out a Gear Guide for the troop. I spend a lot of time on the road for work, and in between appointments I search for deals on camping and backpacking gear. I love a good bargain. I do not recommend expensive gear until you or your son (or daughter in a Venturer's case) are certain you going to be camping a bunch... or going to Philmont multiple times. SO for now most everyone should buy the least expensive thing that will do the job.
But sometimes there is a fun little item that adds so much to the experience, you just have to have it.
This Gear Guide is focused on Gifts, things siblings can get each other, or great stocking stuffers.
There are some larger items. for that certain someone who is now spending more nights out camping than days cleaning the garage.
From Academy No Limit 32 degree sleeping bag $59
www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_420601_-1?N=662858406
My favorite item is an inexpensive sleeping bag. Your bag is the most important item for a good night's sleep. Many bags are too big, they don't pack down small enough to take backpacking or to conveniently pack into a Contico. This one packs real small, and is warm down to 32 degrees. This is plenty warm for our campouts. You can add a simple fleece bag (Like what you get at
Wal-Mart for $10) to add another 15 degrees warmth. This bag is inexpensive enough to get for first year scouts... and I recommend it if you're going to
Philmont and need a bag that will get small. To beat this value you'd have to spend about $150 bucks. The stuff sack isn't the best... but you can upgrade that to a water proof one and with the price of both still be way ahead (But use the one it comes with until it breaks.)
Academy Sleeping bag Liner $14.99
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_26282_-1?N=662858406
This is a great little find. It will add (maybe) 10 degrees to your bag, but I use it for other reasons. We camp in Warm to Hot weather much of the year. This bag is great as a sheet to sleep in on top of your bag. It wicks away moisture and makes for a more comfortable steamy night. You can also add it to your bag on long treks to keep your bag clean. It also will help stretch your bag's temp rating if you do not want a fluffy fleece liner
Nalgene Water Bottle $6.50
http://www.rei.com/product/402049/nalgene-wide-mouth-loop-top-round-bottle-32-fl-oz
Tried and true, nothing like the original. We see all kinds of logo'ed or trendy bottles with fancy colors and new-fangled openings. This Nalgene just screams "I Am Real... Not Posing." Anyway, they're cheap and come in wide mouthed, narrow mouthed, and in a nifty 1 1/2 liter size.
Nalgene Color Caps
$2.00
http://www.rei.com/product/402146/nalgene-loop-top-cap-32-fluid-ounces
Certainly you can dress up your "I'm not posing" Nalgene with a Fashion Screw Top? They come in all sorts of colors. Two good reasons for this... You'll know which one is yours, and you can identify your smellable bottle so you don't mess that up. If you don't know what a "smellable" is, I am taking $100 deposits for Philmont 2013 in January.
MSR Scraper $3.95
http://www.rei.com/product/750412/gsi-outdoors-compact-scraper
OH MY GOSH, just the coolest thing to own! The boys learn to clean their dishes by licking them clean. With a scraper you can really get that plate clean without dislocating your jaw.
Titanium Spork $8.95
http://www.rei.com/product/660002/snow-peak-titanium-spork
Yes. I own a Titanium Spork. I got it as a gift and it is one of my most prized possessions. If you search this, check for different colors... pretty cool! You can find other utensils for less. I like the Snow Peak Brand in general. This is the least expensive thing of theirs you can buy.
Walmart Starter Dri-T $6.47
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Starter-Men-s-Active-Tee/16416105
I don't know how long they will have these T-shirts, but they are perfect! These are non-compression. Let's face it, know one wants to see me in a compression shirt. The material is not slick, like some dri-fit materials, it feels almost like cotton. Now, for most scouts you're camping in troop shirts. So, a shirt might not be a high priority. But if you're hiking, backpacking, or need a good sleeping shirt, this one is awesome. I have a ton of them and I use them for running, etc. CHEAP!
Academy Timber Creek Head Lamp $4.99
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_27227_-1?N=662858311
I am picky about flashlights and headlamps. I don't want a separate battery pack away from the light. I want it small... really small. I want it bright, and I want it cheap. Some of you may know that I believe we all use our headlamps far too much. Dusk hits, and we pop them on. I think we should do our best to leave them off as much as possible. You'll see better, see more, and not blind your friends.
In the past I have recommended the Petzel
http://www.rei.com/product/786024/petzl-elite-headlamp
It's great... but it is $30.
Small, has its own case, blinks, has a Red setting, and that blinks too! Now they've added a safety whistle, and in case you forgot, or are under 30 years old, it has the Morse Code for S.O.S. on it. Which is actually funny:
" No sign of that lost scout. I mean we heard some whistle blasts, but it was spelling I.M.I... So, since no one knows what THAT means I guess we'll stop looking."
REI Sea to Summit Compression Sacks
http://www.rei.com/product/730882/sea-to-summit-event-compression-dry-sack
Honestly, I love stuff sacks. I have a large tote stuffed with stuff sacks. And as such I have an opinion on these things. There are only two sizes of the Sea to Summit sacks (of this model) that you will need, x-small and small. The medium is actually huge. The No-Limit sleeping bag I recommend stuffs nicely into the small compression sack. And once you get it strapped down it will be small as a large
cantaloupe. An important detail of this compression sack is that it is also water proof... really nice.
REI Flash 18 $29.50
http://www.rei.com/product/778466/rei-flash-18-pack
This is one of the most popular gift items we've seen in the troop over the last few years. Everybody has one of these! I simple back pack good for carrying everything you need around camp. Water, Raingear, your "10 Essentials," everything you need for a hike, or going to different Merit Badge classes, or heading to the water for some time on "The Blob." And what makes this even more cool? It comes in
different colors!
Campmoor Jansen Big Bear Backpack $89.98
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___60984?cm_vc=PDPZ1
I get asked all the time for a "starter" back pack. And what that really means is "Inexpensive enough so that if my son doesn't like backpacking I am not going to kill him" Think of this backpack as a good duffle bag. Send your Scout camping loaded up with this instead of a Contico for a weekend. It makes it easier for him to carry, and he will learn how to handle his gear. If he does go to Philmont, this one will work fine. Even if you're going to buy him a really nice one for Philmont he can take this on the some of the practice treks.
If you find a good value on a pack make sure the size is right. It should be between 4000
Cu.In. and 5500 cu. in. The Kelty Coyote (a very popular series) is 4500 cu. in. and is a perfect size. If you can find a Coyote on sale for under $125, that's a good price.
I see a wide range of backpack quality. There are some good ones for under $100.
If you want one checked out by me, just ask. I can go to the store in my free time and check it out. Feel free to ask any ASM.
Stay away from plastic external frame packs. Good external frame packs have very sturdy metal (aluminum usually) frames.
Packs are a great thing to buy used. How many packs are bought for Philmont, go once, and then sit there never to be used again?
Tents
The average tent sold at Walmart is used 2 times. I heard that from someone. Sounded true at the time.
If you think of tent quality, there is a lot to consider. Here are some things to look for:
1. Bigger is not better. A two man tent is plenty big...
2. Look for a "Two Walled" tent. A single wall tent is prone to condensation, especially if there is more than one scout in there. They also don't perform as well in the rain. In the rain if anything touches the wall of the tent water will wick through, suddenly they're waking up in a puddle.
3. The larger the rain fly, the better it will perform in the rain. The rain fly sheds the rain, and the interior wall (usually mesh) keeps everything from touching and wicking through the fly.
4. A large vestibule is nice. You can store boots and wet shoes in the vestibule keeping everything tidy inside (right.)
Always buy the footprint that is made for your tent. A tarp under your tent is not a good idea, at least for water proofing.
Cabela's Treker $79.99
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Tents/Dome-Backpacking-Tents%7C/pc/104795280/c/104779080/sc/104303880/Trekker8482-Backpacking-Dome-Tent/746453.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fcamping-tents-dome-backpacking-tents%2F_%2FN-1100670%2FNs-MIN_SALE_PRICE%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104779080%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104779080%3Bcat104303880
Looks like a great value. I have not seen one out in the woods, but it has all of the things I look for in a tent.
REI Camp Dome 2 $99.50
http://www.rei.com/product/731378/rei-camp-dome-2-tent
Great starter tent. Light enough to go to Philmont.
REI Half Dome 2 $179
http://www.rei.com/product/794294/rei-half-dome-2-tent
The standard barer. By far the most popular tent series in our troop. Several times a year this goes on sale. When it does... you might want to snatch one up. This tent is revised every couple of years, and each time they make it roomier, somehow lighter, and at the some price point. (Don't forget the footprint.)
There is a Quarter Dome version of this tent. Lighter, and maybe less hearty. But if you're counting ounces it might be worth a look.
REI Passage 2 $149
http://www.rei.com/product/810115/rei-passage-2-tent
Years ago REI had their Half Dome 2... and it was good. Then they started screwing with it every couple of years! Hubbed poles, crazy configurations, hubbed poles... it is maddening! So, REI being the brilliant company they are, brought back the original Half Dome. It is the Passage. And it doesn't have hubbed poles.
So, there are some things to chew on.
As always, if you are thinking of buying any gear for yourself, or your scout, ask an Assistant Scout Master. We spend 20-50 nights per year out camping in all kinds of weather. We are all Gear Wonks and would love to help.
Any Scout or Scouter getting Gear for Christmas is a lucky individual and is surely loved.
Scouting for Adventure,
Mr. Merry