Camping Tips

1)      Cotton clothing holds moisture and is cold, Polypropylene, wool or fleece is best for long johns and other warm clothing.  Find old stuff at thrift stores

2)      Cotton socks cause blisters, if you wear cotton socks wear a polypro liner sock under it. Wool, silk or polyester blends are best.

3)      Flashlights Big is cool, but heavy, awkward and hard to carry. A flashlight that uses 2 AA or AAA batteries will be more useful and can be carried on your belt, in a pocket or around your neck. Handy for use at any time. Remember extra batteries.

4)      Pack your poncho, cup, and flashlight on the outside of your pack or near the top for easy access

5)      Your head needs warmth, a hat will make you feel 10 degrees warmer, sleep with a loose hat to stop heat loss.

6)      A self inflating matt or egg crate matt will keep you warm in winter insulating your body from the cold ground,  air mattress are cold and should not be used in cold weather. Egg crate sleeping pad Wal Mart $10, self inflating $30 and up

7)      All scout sleeping bags should be rated at 20 degrees or lower mummy is warmest and nylon makes it light. Look at weight, warmth, and price  Dicks on sale for under $50 Probably your most important equipment   get one with a stuff sack to make packing and carrying easier.

8)      The bag newspapers come in, or bread bags make great emergency shoes. Put on dry socks and then the bag and you can wear a wet shoe or boot in a pinch. Pack a few pairs the are light and useful for other things.

9)      After each trip make a list of stuff you forgot or needed, and a list of stuff you didn’t need to refine your pack and be a pro packer.

10)  Always bring your cook kit and a cup, pack a small scouring and soap in your cook kit for cleanup.

11)  Change your underwear and socks each night, you will sleep warmer, that stuff is wet with sweat, and water takes away heat 5 times faster than air.

12)  Never wear brand new boots, we walk too far, break them in slow a couple weeks early. And remember those cotton socks are fine in town but we walk a long way on campouts and they cause blisters.

13)  Raingear  a emergency poncho $1 at auto parts store or outdoor store is a life saver.  But you also need real gear.  Remember water resistant is fine for a rain at home, but to be out in rain a whole weekend you need waterproof.  Gortex or other waterproof/breathable fabric is king but expensive. A nylon/rubber raincoat from big lots for $5 is great.

Gear recomendations

Backpack    -    SIZE  3000-4500cubic inch with several external pockets use like a

                         dresser to organize stuff.

                    -    FRAMES (External frame provides extra ventilation, Internal better

                         balance)   Make sure it is adjustable to grow with, external is usually

                         more adjustable

                    -    Best deals probably mail order $40-$80

Sleep Bag    -    TYPE stay away from the large rectangular cotton ones TOO HEAVY

                          Nylon Mummy that goes in a stuff sack is best

-    WEIGHT should not be over 5 pounds

-     RATED to 20 degrees or lower

-     Best deal local advertisement about $50 remember to check rating

-     No pillow needed put some clothes in your stuff sack

Cook kit      -   Combined small skillet, plate, pot and cup

-     Best deal Walmart, Kmart ect about $5-$10

-     The nice Teflon ones are junk, remember we cook on a fire and Teflon burns if you get it to hot

-     Also buy a knife, fork and spoon set or use moms old stuff

Canteen       -   The ones that hang around your neck bounce a lot, usually a belt one or

                        a bottle of water in a butt pack is better, A 1 liter plastic soda bottle is

                        cheap and works great

Boots           -   Kids feet grow so quick we cannot afford a pair for each season, so a  

                        sturdy  boot with ankle support that has room for extra socks is best

-     ALWAYS BRiNG EXTRA SHOES and socks also a couple bread bags

     will keep your feet dry even in wet boots.

Rain Gear    -    A poncho works best to cover you and your pack if needed

-     It can be used for several things unlike a rain coat

-     The plastic ones last for a couple campouts, its best to buy a nylon coated

one with snaps and grommets if possible $10 at any sporting goods store

-     Waterproof Breathable is king (Gortex and the like)  but expensive

                          especially when it gets outgrown in a season.

Knife           -   Must be folding NO SHEATH KNIFES

-     a lock blade is good and safe