Recommended Scout Equipment

Rucksacks

We recommend getting a 60-70 Litre Rucksack for nights away activities. Getting the right Rucksack early means that you won’t have to buy again when your child grows. Getting a rucksack with an adjustable back support with lots of padding too. Especially if you plan to go on and do expeditions with the scouts and Your Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Rucksacks we recommend:

• Eurohike Nepal 65
• Eurohike Nepal 85
• Vango Sherpa 70 80 Rucksack

Top Tip! : When Buying your rucksack get a rain cover too. Most Rucksacks aren’t waterproof so a rain cover can help reduce your stuff getting wet. Also use a Bin Bag to line your rucksack.

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags are graded by season. For Scouting adventures, we recommend getting a 3-4 season or a 4-season sleeping bag. 1or 2 season sleeping bags are not warm enough for scouting activities. We recommend having a mummy type sleeping bag. It is often worth investing a little more into a sleeping bag as they last forever. We would recommend a Vango one in the mummy style it helps hold heat next to your body.

Recommend Sleeping Bags:

• Vango Nitestar 375
• Eurohike 300 XL
• Vango Latitude Pro 400

Top Tip! : When Packing your sleeping bag always put it in an extra carrier bag. Last thing you want is a wet sleeping bag.

Roll Matt

Roll Matts provide a thermal barrier between yourself and the ground. There are two types self inflating and Foam. Both are as good as each other. I would recommend getting a foam roll matt. They are cheaper and lighter which is important when carrying equipment.

Recommended Roll matts:

• Multimatt Trekker thermal matt
• Hi Gear military foam sleeping matt.

Outdoors Clothing

When choosing clothes to take camping or on expedition choose clothes that dry quickly. Denim Clothing (jeans) and thick jumpers are heavy when wet and don’t dry quickly. Cotton clothing holds moisture so avoid wearing these when camping.

Wear clothing in lots of layers. Thin jumpers and fleeces are great as you can layer them up and remove them if they get wet.

Walking trousers are ideal for activities. They are thin but warm and dry quickly.

Walking Boots and Footwear

• Looking after your feet on camp and on expedition is very important. Ensuring that the footwear that you have is suitable for your feet and activities is very important.
• Always buy a reasonable set of boots. Whilst you are young your feet are still growing so buying expensive boots is not an option. I would recommend that you bought boots around £25 to £35. Ensure that they are breathable but waterproof.
• From experience Leather boots perform better all round but they require more care than fabric boots.
• Gortex boots are amazing but are at the top end of the price range.
  Boots need proper care, they need cleaning often and re-waterproofing. I recommend Getting Nikwax cleaner and re-proofer and clean after every use.

Top Tops! :

• Buy last seasons boots when shopping in the sales.
• Wear Two Pairs of socks a thin and a thick pair. This helps stop your feet rubbing and forming blisters.
• Always Break new boots in. Before you need them walk round in them for a couple of days. This helps form the boots to your foot shape.
• When you grow out of your boots put them on our Facebook page and see if anyone else wants them.

Waterproof Clothes

• Having a set of waterproof clothing is a must for outdoor activities.
• We recommend getting a waterproof coat bigger than you require this allows you to build clothing layers underneath.
• Waterproof clothing is also windproof so can help keep you warm.
• Buy middle of the range Waterproofs, those looking for expedition waterproofs we recommend buying the Duke of Edinburgh Recommended kit.

Top Tips! :

• Get a set of waterproof trousers and coat.
• Reproof you waterproof around once a year.
• When you stop growing invest into a middle of the range waterproof.
• Get a waterproof with a netting inside and avoid lots of padding this is what your layers underneath are for.
• See if anyone has an old one in the group they are getting rid of.

Water Bottles and Drinks Mugs

• Everyone needs a drink of water. We recommend metal or flexible plastic water bottles for scout activities. Hard plastic cracks when dropped so we would avoid those.
• For Hot drinks we would recommend a hard plastic or metal mug, or an insulated mug. Avoid thermos mugs/ flasks as these contain glass and can shatter if dropped.

General Buying advice

• When shopping for any camping or activity gear check with your section leader. There is no point buying twice.
• Tend to go for quality mid-range items as these will give you the best value for money.
• Take your Scout Necker with you at most outdoors shops you will get an additional 10% off.
• Think long term when buying as it will prevent you from buying twice in the future.
  Buy Equipment over a long period of time as it helps to spread the cost.