Choosing gear

A Scout is thrifty: you rarely need the most expensive item, and Scouts outgrow gear quickly. This guide names what matters and what to look for. It does not recommend specific products, which change every year. Staff at a camping store can help you fit boots and packs. See the camping checklist for what to pack.

Sleeping bag

A bag keeps a Scout warm and rested for the next day.

• Temperature rating. The rating is the air temperature at which most people can sleep comfortably in a base layer and hat, on a sleeping pad. Choose a bag rated about 10 degrees colder than the coldest weather you expect. We suggest +15F to +32F. Some people sleep hot and some cold, so no single number fits everyone.
• Insulation. Get a synthetic bag. Synthetic is slightly heavier but stays warm when wet, and young Scouts will get their bags wet (an open tent door, a spilled bottle). Down is lighter and packs smaller but loses its warmth when wet, so it makes sense for older, more responsible Scouts.
• Shape. A mummy bag, with a hood that covers the head. Avoid the roll-up sleepover type: it is far too big and bulky.
• Size for backpacking. If possible, choose a bag that packs into a stuff sack under about 15 liters, so it also works for backpacking.
• Care. Store the bag outside its stuff sack or it will lose its loft, and air it out after every trip. One good bag can last a scouting career.

Sleeping pad

A pad is a must. It keeps the cold ground from drawing away body heat. We recommend a lightweight, closed-cell foam, folding pad: it is durable, easy for Scouts to pack, traps heat, and costs little. More expensive, lighter pads are not worth it unless your Scout will go on long backpacking trips.

Backpack

For car camping a duffle bag works. For longer distances your Scout needs a backpack, ideally before summer camp. It comes down to fit.

• Capacity. A pack of 65 to 75 liters is the usual choice. A 65 liter pack can be too big and heavy (4.5 to 5 pounds empty) for a younger Scout, so you may start with a smaller one and buy another later. For Philmont, 65 liters is the minimum needed for the required gear.
• Fit. Have the store measure your Scout's torso and load the pack to try on. Most of the weight should sit on the hips, and the waist belt should fit on the hips. Shoulder straps should be snug and not lift. Many Scouts have small waists, so consider a youth or women's pack.

Hiking boots

Tennis shoes are fine for meetings. For hikes and campouts, lightweight hiking boots give traction, ankle support and warmth.

• Don't spend a lot: your Scout will outgrow them.
• Look for waterproof, but you don't need Gore-Tex.
• Avoid full leather boots for now. They take too long to break in. A mix of synthetic and leather is comfortable from the start.
• Fit matters: heels should not slip, and toes should have room to wiggle.

Layers

Staying warm is about layering: add a layer when you are cold and remove one when you are warm. Avoid cotton, which dries slowly and keeps moisture against the skin. A fleece jacket and a wool or synthetic hat are the basics. Cotton hoodies are bad, and fleece is good. For cool evenings, mornings and sleeping, wear a hat.

The Ten Essentials

Scouting America calls these the 10 Scout Basic Essentials. Scouts should carry them on every campout or hike, to get through most outdoor emergencies.

1. Pocketknife or multitool. Only after the Scout has earned their Totin' Chip. A Scout can bring one to a first campout, where they work on the Totin' Chip, but may not use it until they have earned the card. Choose a quality knife with a sharp blade, because a dull cheap one is the most dangerous kind. Avoid serrated edges and knives with lots of tools: a Scout needs one blade. Prefer a blade that locks open. Fixed-blade (sheath) knives are not allowed, and Camp Oljato bans any knife with a blade over 2.5 inches, so choose a blade of 2.5 inches or less.
2. First-aid kit. The Troop carries a group kit, so this is a small personal one: adhesive bandages, two sterile gauze pads, a small roll of tape, moleskin for blisters, hand sanitizer or a small bar of soap, and a small tube of antibiotic ointment. A plastic bag is the simplest container. Pre-made kits often include medicine, which we prefer Scouts not carry.
3. Extra clothing. A fleece pullover or jacket, synthetic or wool socks, a stocking cap and warm gloves. Being cold or wet is miserable even in our mild climate, and mornings and evenings get cold.
4. Rain gear. A rain jacket with a hood. No ponchos.
5. Water bottle. Carry at least 1 liter. For spring and summer outings, 2 to 3 liters is better, especially at altitude: at Camp Oljato the motto is "clear and copious". A 1 liter wide-mouth bottle is easy to fill, drink from and clean, but it can get lost when set down. A hydration pack keeps water at hand but can leak and grow mold if not cleaned. Write your name on the lid.
6. Flashlight or headlamp. A simple, sturdy LED headlamp frees both hands. Choose one with a red light mode, and use it around camp so you do not blind other Scouts: white light ruins everyone's night vision. Pack spare batteries.
7. Trail food. The Troop provides meals, but picky eaters sometimes don't eat well away from home. Encourage trail mix, protein bars or nuts. Never store food in packs or tents, because animals will go after it. Use bear boxes or other containers.
8. Matches or fire starter. Strike-anywhere matches in a waterproof bag or container. Matches can only be used after the Scout has earned their Firem'n Chit. They can bring them to their first campout or summer camp, where they work on it, but may not use them until it is earned.
9. Sun protection. Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and lip balm with sunscreen.
10. Map and compass. Scouts learn the compass as part of the trail to First Class. Choose one with a clear baseplate with a straight edge, a dial that turns easily and an adjustment for declination.