Why is my basic Scout gear list boring? It’s hard to get too excited by basic, durable, inexpensive gear that isn’t glitzy or laden with gimmickry.
Basic, boring gear works and keeps on working. With a couple of exceptions I have listed things I have owned and used for many years, sometimes for decades. Everything has withstood the test of many days and nights of backpacking, camping, and canoeing.
This is a list of the best options (not always the cheapest) I have found and recommend to Scouts and Scouters.
Campmor and Amazon are my go-to suppliers. If you put together a big group order Campmor offers a 10% discount (see the explanation at the bottom of this post)
| Backpacks | ||
| WHAT’S IMPORTANT – The best pack for anyone is one that fits! Too big or too small and you’ll be uncomfortable. All three packs I have selected are excellent value for money and have a wide range of adjustment. | ||
| Dragonfly External Frame Pack15-22 inch torso and a hip measurement from 25 to 36 inches. | ||
| READ MY REVIEW | ||
| Available at Campmor | $39.99 | |
| Teton Explorer 4000 Internal Frame Pack16 – 23 inch torso (for people up to 6’4″ in height) and 28-70 inch hips. | ||
| See my video review here | ||
| Available at Amazon | $75.99 | |
| Teton Scout 3400 Internal Frame Pack 15 -19.5 inch torsos (for people up to 5’9″ in height) and 26-60 inch hips | ||
| See my video review here | ||
| Available at Amazon | $65.00 | |
| Mountainsmith Day Recycled-Fabric Lumbar Pack | ||
| READ MY REVIEW | ||
| Available at Amazon | $80.00 | |
| Sleeping Bags and Pads | ||
| WHAT’S IMPORTANT – Temperature ratings vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Get a bag rated for the average low night-time temperature in the coldest part of the year where you go camping. If you don’t sleep well camping you won’t enjoy the experience. Laying out a few more dollars for more comfortable gear is worth it. | ||
| Coleman Taos 25 Degree Sleeping BagReasonable cost, size and utility. There’s no ‘perfect’ sleeping bag for every situation, but this one will be fine for 9 out of 10 situations. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $39.99 | |
| (Sleeping bag models come and go, look for a bag with similar specs at this price point if this one isn’t available) | ||
| Big Agnes Fish Hawk 30My personal favorite, integral sleeping pad pocket. Also pretty expensive, if they fit your budget I recommend them highly. Note that you’ll need to purchase the sleeping pad too. | ||
| See my review here(different model, but same specs) | ||
| Available on Amazon | $229.00 | |
| Closed Cell Foam Pad | ||
| The best option for most Scouts. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $10.99 | |
| Available at Campmor | ||
| Self Inflating 72 Inch Sleeping Pad | ||
| Nice upgrade, very comfortable. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $39.99 | |
| Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Rectangular Pad2″ of insulated comfort, light weight, packs very small. A significant upgrade but worth the expense for a good night’s sleep. | ||
| Available from Campmor | $89.99 | |
| Sleeping Bag StrapsI consider these to be a ‘must have’ item if the sleeping bag is carried on a backpack. No bungee cords or bits of string please. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $3.99 | |
| Miscellaneous Gear | ||
| WHAT’S IMPORTANT – Durable, inexpensive and easy to use. Scouts loose things (so do Scouters) you can always upgrade after you’ve had some experience camping, but you may not need or want to. | ||
| Storm Alert WhistleThe loudest (really!) whistle being made. | ||
| See my review here | ||
| Available at Campmor | $5.99 | |
| Silva 1-2-3 CompassCompasses come in many forms; some more useful than others. This is the one you want. | ||
| See my review here | ||
| Available at Campmor | $9.99 | |
| Backpacker’s Trowel | ||
| For making cat holes and sump holes. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $2.99 | |
| Black Diamond Equipment Storm Headlamp | ||
| Pricey but worth it! Bright, can be dimmed, and lightweight. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $40.00 | |
| (Scouts loose things like headlamps all the time, go with something less expensive, nearly any one you find in a discount store is adequate) | ||
| Rayovac Sportsman LED lanternThe ruggedest lantern I have found. | ||
| See my video review here. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $27.00 | |
| Victorinox HikerWhat’s the best Scout pocket knife? I am not sure there’s only one absolute best pocket knife for every Scout in every situation, but this is an excellent choice | ||
| Read my review | ||
| Available at Amazon | $25.00 | |
| Leatherman Wave | ||
| I carry the Wave at work and when I am out in the woods and it has yet to let me down. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $25.00 | |
| Corona 10″ Folding Pruning Saw | ||
| I gave up on bow saws years ago. Folding pruning saws are excellent for cutting firewood. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $19.98 | |
| Lansky Blade MedicGreat tool for keeping knives sharp. | ||
| See my video review here | ||
| Available at Amazon | $10.00 | |
| Marmot Limelight****3 Person TentOur choice for troop tents, a great piece of gear. | ||
| Read my review here | ||
| Available at Campmor | $250.00 | |
| Anti Shock Trekking Poles | ||
| Saves you knees and feet, I never go hiking without them. Spend a few extra dollars, you won’t regret it. | ||
| Available****at Campmor | $60.00 | |
| Barska 10×25 Compact Waterproof Binocular | ||
| Basic, inexpensive but excellent quality. Great for stargazing. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $27.00 | |
| Clothing | ||
| WHAT’S IMPORTANT – I Insist that every Scout has a set of polypropylene long underwear, rain pants and a rain jacket on every camping trip. (No, they don’t always comply – thanks for asking.) If we get caught in the rain, snow or cold and they are wearing the polypropylene and rain gear I can keep them safe from hypothermia. They may not be dry or toasty warm but they will be safe. | ||
| Wigwam Dry Foot Polypropylene Liner Socks | ||
| Important to keep feet dry and prevent blisters. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $4.99 | |
| – | ||
| Polypropylene crew neck shirt | ||
| My review of polypro can be found here. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $11.99 | |
| Polypropylene Lightweight Pants | ||
| Available at Campmor | $11.99 | |
| Wool Gripper Finger Free Gloves | ||
| You can cook and do most camp related tasks easier with these than with regular gloves. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $8.99 | |
| Wool Balaclava | ||
| Great for sleeping wicks away moisture while hiking. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $21.99 | |
| Campmor Cascade II Rain Parka | ||
| A durable rain suit is a must. Ponchos and inexpensive rain gear do not work. See my Tips for Camping in the Rain | ||
| Available at Campmor | $24.99 | |
| Campmor Cascade II Rain Pants | ||
| Available at Campmor | $17.99 | |
| Tilley Airflo Hat | ||
| Constructed of Nylantium, weighs in a a svelte 4 ounces, appears to be indestructible and sits lightly on my big (size 8) bald head. A generous brim offers ample shade for neck, ears and face and a stout cord keeps it on my head in the wind. Expensive? Yes, but worth every penny. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $75.00 | |
| Cookwear | ||
| See my Highly Evolved Mess Kit infographic. Most of the things I recommend are batting around in your kitchen cabinet, here’s some specific things I use. | ||
| Aladdin 12 oz. Insulated Mug | ||
| An insulated mug does double duty as a bowl and will keep food warm unlike the flimsy plastic cup in most mess kits | ||
| Available at Campmor | $3.99 | |
| Nalgene Wide Mouth 32 oz. Bottle | ||
| Basic, foolproof, I’ve never worn one out! | ||
| Available at Campmor | $4.99 | |
| Lexan Cutlery Set | ||
| Light, serviceable and cheap. | ||
| Available at Campmor | $2.95 | |
| GSI Infinity Mug | ||
| Insulated, light, and simple but expensive | ||
| Available at Amazon | $9.99 | |
| GSI Java Press | ||
| Not a necessity, but it makes great coffee! No more metallic tang from the old aluminum percolator. Sturdily constructed and has a neoprene insulating sleeve that keeps coffee warm. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $19.99 | |
| S****olo Stove | ||
| Extraordinarily well-made, weighs less and has minimal impact on those wild places we treasure. Read my review here | ||
| Available at Amazon | $69.99 | |
| Dutch Oven Cooking | ||
| Not essential, but what fun and good eating! A good dutch oven kit makes things easier. | ||
| Lodge 8 quart pre-seasoned dutch oven | ||
| Lodge dutch ovens are the industry standard. Some are cheaper but I think it’s hard to beat Lodge for fit and finish (and they are made in the USA). You do need a dutch oven with feet and a lid that is rimmed to hold coals; there are dutch ovens with domed lids for the kitchen but they don’t work well on a campfire. Standard retail for these beauties is around a hundred bucks (!) | ||
| Available a Amazon | $60.00 | |
| Lodge Camp Dutch Oven Lid Lifter | ||
| Do you absolutely need a fancy lid lifter? I use one and would not be without it; it makes things a lot easier. You’ll find yourself lifting the lid to check the progress of your cooking fairly regularly and while pliers or improvised hooks will do the job a lid lifter is much more secure and pleasant to use. | ||
| Lid lifter at Amazon | $8.99 | |
| Lodge Fire Gloves | ||
| Plain kitchen oven mitts and the like tend to burn when I have used them around campfires. Leather work gloves are too thin. What you want are insulated leather gloves designed to take the heat. I have used welding gloves successfully and these are basically the same thing. These cover your forearms and make handling hot pots and other stuff around the fire much easier. Don’t try to save a few bucks by buying cheaply made gloves – they are thinner and won’t last. A couple of extra dollars for purpose built gloves is worth it. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $15.00 | |
| Dutch Oven Lid Stand | ||
| It’s certainly handy to have a parking spot for a dutch oven lid while you are stirring or adding ingredients. You can park your lid on another pot or a couple of empty cans but having stand assures you wont soil the inside of the lid or loose the coals on the top. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $10.00 | |
| Lodge Dutch Oven Table | ||
| You don’t need a dutch oven table but it will make life easier if you really get into dutch oven cooking. Lodge makes the Cadillac of dutch oven tables (and it costs a mint of money). A generous wind screen and sturdy legs raise the oven off the ground. This is on my wish list. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $162.00 | |
| Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter | ||
| I do most of my dutch oven cooking over a wood campfire. If I can’t build a fire I’ll use charcoal and a chimney-type starter is important. A couple of crumpled sheets of newspaper on the bottom, charcoal on top, light the paper through the draft holes and you’ll have hot charcoal in a few minutes. The Weber 7416 has a cult following because it’s the best; it has a bail handle to make emptying the charcoal a lot easier. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $14.99 | |
| Poor Man’s Dutch Oven Table | ||
| A galvanized steel bushel basket or washtub is one way to contain the coals and holds the oven while cooking. It also carries all you gear and charcoal. We have one that was in the troop gear room when I showed up a couple of decades ago. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $20.00 | |
| Lodge Pan Scrapers | ||
| Two polycarbonate Pan Scrapers for cleaning the stuck on food from dutch ovens without scratching. Each corner of the scraper is a different shape to easily clean every crevice or corner. | ||
| Available at Amazon | $6.00 | |