Some parents have approached me regarding gear to purchase for their sons or themselves.
Camping/Backpacking
Backpackers refer to the “Big 3” and it probably should be the “Big 4”: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and boots.
Backpack
To my mind a backpack always refers to a device with a frame, this may be an external frame or an internal frame (yes, as with every rule there are exceptions, but, those exceptions in equipment are counterbalanced by high levels of knowledge and skill). For my money the Kelty Trekker 3950 at $120 is a near perfect benchmark for Boy Scouts. It has 3,950 cubic inches of room for personal and group gear. The frame adjusts to fit the young man from Middle school through Grad School. Recently, I found the Kelty Coyote, 4750 for the same price so if your preference is an internal frame pack you might consider this as a bench mark for that format.
Another very workable solution if you have an old aluminum frame around is to buy a new bag, and new straps, probably for about half the price of a new pack. If the pack has an adequate bag then consider updating the straps. Most old backpacks have terrible strapping but an update can turn them into a workable solution. Cabelas offers nice replacement bags, and REI is a good place to start shopping for straps — as always look for deals once you’ve got product and brand names Google is a great tool for pinching pennies.
Don’t send your son on a camping trip with a just a day pack or a book bag — they are not backpacks.
Tent/Tarp
The troop has tents. They are more than adequate and so it is not necessary for you to purchase one. Yet, many of you have tents also; again, the ones I’ve seen so far are more than adequate. For backpacking a tent is probably overkill a lighter weight solution is a bivy sac and or a tarp.
A bivy sac is an outer bag for the sleeping bag. Usually with a bug screen, the top is breathable water resistant fabric the bottom water proof fabric. These add about 10 degrees to the sleeping arrangements. REI has a good entry level bivy called “the Minimalist” I caught it on sale for $70. If you purchase a Bivy sac prices range from $100 to $250 dollars, but, if you, a friend, or family member is handy with a sewing machine, the materials can be had for 1/5th of that. Quest Outfitters offers plans, and complete kits for tarps and Bivy Sac. A Bivy sac adds about 10 degrees to the sleeping system.
Either a square or a rectangle tarp can be made into a variety of shelters, what really matters is the size and weight of the fabric. I’d recommend synthetic fabric over canvas. It is possible to spend $70 or $80 dollars for and ultra-light tarp, or less than $10 for a slightly heavier poly tarp, you choose. In either case tarps are substantially cheaper and lighter than tents.
Sleeping Bags
In Maine it is wise to plan on 2 very different sleeping bags. For the 3 seasons a light weight 40 degree mummy bag is what we are looking for:
- Mountain Hardwear Lamina 45 Degree Sleeping Bag, $95, 1lb, 12oz
- Kelty Cosmic 35 degree bag, $70, 2lbs, 10oz
- Marmot Pounder, 40 degree bag, $110-$150, 1lb 80z
- Cocoon MummyLiner CoolMax adds 8.5 degrees and weighs 9ozs, $40
add a liner,
Just, Google these and shop for the best prices. With sleeping clothes and a tent this combination can easily handle 3 seasons in Maine and stretch into the fourth. A winter bag is a whole other beast and hence the subject of another post.
Along with the sleeping bag you need 2 more items: ground cloth and sleeping pad. Always use a sleeping pad! Sleeping bag insulation compresses under body weight and becomes inefficient. A sleeping pad insulates one from the ground as well as pads them from the ground. Closed cell foam pads can be purchased at large retail stores for as little as $10. Depending on your needs you can spend more than $150 dollars for sleeping pads. Ground clothes should be 6ftx8ft and every person needs one. Sometimes I carry a poncho and let it do double duty as rain gear and ground cloth mine is military surplus. Ultra-light backpackers like Tyvek. If you know a contractor get a piece that way. Or, Google Tyvek ground clothes and pay the price. Heavy mil Vis-queen plastic works well enough too.
Boots
Buying boots for growing young men is a pain in the neck. On trips they need 2 pairs of footwear. I went on a 50 mile 6 day backpack trip, as a scout, 2 days out my boots ripped apart. My second pair of shoes was an old pair of running shoes; I finished the trip in them. This second pair of shoes is for forging streams and for wearing around camp – letting your boots dry. Because of my experience I prefer real shoes, water sandals, or Crocs would have either failed or given me blisters and barefoot is not an option.
For my money in, April, and October irrigation boots are a reasonable solution. I’ve walked a lot of dry miles this way. At Gulf Hagus last fall folks looked at me like I had 3 heads but by the end of the day I looked less a freak. Be careful and try on several different types of boots, generally you will want to go half to a whole size larger in order to fit socks comfortably.
Hiking boots, I like them above the ankle and I prefer leather your mileage may vary. Some Appalachian Trail through hikers have given up on boots altogether and prefer running shoes or cross trainers. But more important than the boots is how you buy them and what you buy with them. Take your time in the store, take your liner and boot socks and wear the boots around the store with the socks on. Wear them for an annoyingly long time and walk most of that time; climb stairs if the store has them. Try the boots in a wider size, and half a size too long, again, walk in them. Always buy a pair of extra boot laces and always stop at the hardware store on the way home and buy a can of Silicon spray. Wear the boots around inside the house, for a while longer before you spray them, because once you spray them they are yours. 2 or 3 coats of Silicone spray on the uppers and let them dry in between (spray your 2nd pair of shoes too). Do not spray the soles or you will fall on your butt, silicon spray is a lubricant, hence, why it is such a good water repellent.
