Item

The way to SAVE money

The way to SPEND money,  as you advance in your Scouting adventures. Trips like Philmont may require more durability this column may offer

Back Pack

Duffle bags work as well. We don’t do a lot of carrying of our gear. Lyle may be the only situation where we camp much more than 100 feet from a vehicle.  If you want a back pack, you can purchase them for around $30 at places like SAMS Club, Kmart or Wal-Mart.

Packs made by quality outfitters work good, but many run over $100 or more. This may be over kill for the weekend warrior. If you are planning on doing more adventurous camping where you will be back packing you need to examine how DURABLE they are, the last thing you want to do is have a back pack failure on 10 day backpacking trip..

Sleeping Bag

You can purchase (sleep over) slumber type bags for Lyle. The temps ranges from 50-90 degrees at night. Some have used inexpensive bags and added a blanket or two. Some have gone with blankets alone. I would be VERY careful with that choice, it all depends on how the weather will be.

Synthetic fill bags fit into many price ranges. Some will go to temps as low as 0 degrees which is great, but most of our temps on campouts do not dip below 35 – 30 degrees. Be careful if you are spending money on sleeping bag, a bag that is too warm can be as bad as a bag that is not warm enough

Sleeping Pad

You want to create a little insulation between the ground (or the cot ). Foam type pads work fine and take a lot of abuse. You want to be sure they are closed cell foam so it does not soak up water, even body moisture.

The self inflating type as well as the inflatable type work as well. The disadvantage to this type is they are rather expensive and useless when they don’t hold air. If you are going to take care of the mattress, then I think this is a great thing to upgrade later.

Ground cloths

The goal of this item is to keep a separation layer between you and the damp ground. So lets see, what can do that? Well just about ANY thing plastic. You can even bring a bunch of plastic trash bags or painters plastic drop cloths. The typical plastic tarps work well and do not cost a whole lot. Don’t bring one that is to big… Generally a 5’x7’ if fine. In some cases, if you talk to your tent mate, you only need one between the two of you.

Well, hard to spend a lot of money in this area. They make some really nice nylon type, but don’t even bother. I have never seen a real value in them.

Mess Kit

Well, the goal is to eat out of something. Well, you can purchase those expensive type that the Boy Scouts of America offers OR really just bring something to eat off. With the plastic wear and storage containers available, I would suggest that type of container. Old Cool Wipe type containers work well too. As far as eating utensils. You can buy a cheap set of silverware or ask mom or dad for a set that doesn’t match your home silverware. You don’t need much more than something to eat off.

Well, got money to burn, go out and buy one of those metal cook kits with the BSA Logo on it. Then purchase some of those locking silver ware sets that look cool and pack away nicely, but at what cost to you???

Pocket Knife

Don’t buy the cheapest on the shelf, but also don’t buy one that has a bunch of stuff you will never use. Most just need a knife or two and a can opener.

Buy one of those zillion dollar knives with the spoon, fork and about 25 other things on the knife or the expensive leather man. Most people don’t use most of the stuff on there but they think they are cool. The other thing to remember is that there is a good chance that you will loose your knife in the first year of Scouting, so think about that before you spend a lot of money on one.

Canteen/Water Bottle

Something easy and simple. It needs to hold water. The simple water bottles that water is sold in work but do not last long. I suggest that you get some type of bottle that is a little more durable. Bike bottles, water containers in the houseware dept of the store work well. Nalgene (a brand name) type bottles may be the best for their money. They last forever.

You can get back pack style water bladder and spend some big money on these type of water systems. They are nice, but you don’t need to have one right off the bat

Mosquito Net

They are nice if the bugs are bad, you can get it them at most sporting good stores, but they tend to rip by the end of the week, regardless if they are $10 or if they are $50. I would not say they are required but more of a luxury item

Well nets are nets, so to spend a lot of money on them is just not a good idea.

Poncho/Raincoat

WOW, can you spend some BIG Money on rain coats. Some can exceed the $200 if they are high tech gear. Those types are NOT needed, you can do a plastic poncho style rain coat. Some have even taken a nylon type jacket and sprayed it with water proofing. I would try that idea out, some times it works, sometimes it doesn’t. After all, can’t make a cotton sweatshirt water proof, you can make it more water resistant, but water PROOF is hard to do. Want to do the cheapest route, I have seen people who just use garbage bags with holes cut out for arms, hey it works, but remember, your arms are not covered

Want to spend the BIG BUCKS. Look for Gortex and some of the high tech fabrics that allow your body sweat moisture OUT but does not let the rain in. Nice, well VERY nice, but if you are going to grow out of it soon, you have to think long and hard before you purchase something that expensive

Foot wear

You can purchase some type of water proof boots for less than $25. They work fine for the growing foot. It is important that feet stay dry with the damp morning grass as much as the rain. There is nothing more comfortable than DRY feet

Same as the rain coat, you can spend some real money on boots. Gortex and other high tech water proofing methods that cost money are real nice, but do you HAVE to have it, not!!!! . I have a pair of both types, can’t say one is substantially better than the next. The difference is that the cheap ones were not as durable.  On a long trek that is important. For weekends or even a Lyle trip, it is not as big of a deal.