Backpacking Gear and Pack List
BACKPACK GEAR
Each Scout going on a Troop 17 backpacking campout must use this list to pack the required
Mandatory gear, along with optional gear that will fit in under your pack weight limit.
This gear list will help “prepare” you for the start of an enjoyable backpacking trip.
Your pack will be weighed and checked/adjusted for fit before the campout. All Scouts and adults going will only carry their share of load sized up to 25% of their body weight. Scout ages 11 – 13 can carry up to 25% of their body weight in gear up to a maximum of 30 lb. Scouts 14 – adult can carry up to 25% of their body weight in gear up to a maximum of 41 lb. Young Scouts will likely max. out in weight with just their personnel gear. Older Scouts/adults will spread out the rest of the patrol gear.
Mandatory Personal Gear TO CARRY:
You must Have ALL of these!
Note: Mandatory items may fill up weight limit on small Scouts.
- Backpack with hip belt
- Pack cover to hike with OR 2 extra large garbage bags
- Hiking boots with ankle support or well fitting shoes with decent tread
- Rain gear (Poncho or rain coat, preferably with pants)
- Water container(s) to hold 3 quarts.
- Sleeping bag in water proof bag Line your stuff sack with a plastic garbage bag first to waterproof.
- 1 sleeping pad. Thermo-rest style or foam pad
- 1 extra shirt (long or short sleeve) (along with 1 you will be wearing)
- 1 extra pair shorts (along with 1 you will be wearing) *weather dependent
- 1-2 extra pair of underwear (with pair you’re wearing)
- sleep clothes (long underwear or light sweatshirt)
- knit hat for sleeping if your sleep clothes do not have a hood.
- 1-2 extra pair hiking socks (and liners) (with the pair you’re wearing)
- 1 pair long pants (May be wearing or could be leggings for shorts)
- Hat with rim to keep sun off eyes
- warm layer (fleece, polartech, sweatshirt (NOT 100% cotton)
- 5′ x 7′ piece of plastic for inside your tent
- Large garbage bag to cover your pack outside at night. May need 2 to cover entire pack. Pack WILL NOT be put into tent.
- Small bowl (Sturdy plastic is lighter)
- Spoon (Sturdy plastic is lighter)
- Toilet kit to include: Camp suds or unscented biodegradable soap, tooth brush, small tube of tooth paste or chewable tooth paste, toilet paper, trowl
- Small flashlight or headlamp (2 AA batteries)
Optional Personal items:
(If you have room AND are under your weight limit)
- Compass
- A small Personal First Aide kit (to include: Chap stick, Band-Aids, sun screen, bug repellent (no aerosol cans) moleskin for blisters)
- Rope – small diameter like 30′ of 1/8″
- Small pocket knife
- 1 small 8-12 oz. drinking cup/mug
- a small pillow
- 1 pair of hiking shorts
- Hiking stick
- 1 pair gaiters
- Sunglasses
- other…
Patrol Gear:
(This stuff will be spread among whole group.)
- 1 wilderness first aid kit
- 2, compasses with trail map in zip lock bag.
- Backpacking trowel
- toilet paper in zip lock bags
- Collapsible water bags
- Water purification
- 5 Polar Pure bottles
- Crew repair kit
- 5 Bear bags
- 1 dining fly trap with ropes & stakes
- 2 Backpacking cook stoves with fuel
- Backpacking pots depending on menu
- Backpacking cooking utensils – 2 large spoons, spatula pending menu, tongs
- Backpacking dish washing kit
- Backpacking Frisbee sump plus food scraper
- Nylon mesh dish bag
- 1 spice kit
- Measuring cup
- Hot pot tongs
- Matches, fire starter kit
- Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 1 wash basin
Tents:
We will be buddying up on tenting.
Each Scout (pending weight requirements) will carry 1/2 or a 1/3 of a tent.
Notes on packing:
- You must have the mandatory personal gear listed above in your pack!! See Mr. Barca if you need any loaner equipment.
- If you have left over room and are under your pack weight you can add in some of the additional optional items.
- Think small items. Use small sample sizes of tooth paste, camp suds, etc. If we are only backpacking for 1 night.
- Don’t over pack. We still have to get all the Patrol gear into our packs and we all still need be under the weight limits.
- When packing, roll your clothes tightly and put a rubber band around them. It uses less space.
- Try to use clothes made from nylon or polyester. They are lighter in weight and wick away moisture. Next best is a blend of cotton and polyester. Dead last is 100% cotton.
- Think layers. If you have a tee shirt on and it’s starting to get cold you can add your extra sweat shirt. If you are still cold you add on your rain coat which helps stop wind from blowing through.
- Hiking socks are very important. They are the beginning of a comfortable hike. Use a light weight synthetic sock liner with a heavy wool sock or SmartWool or Thorlo hiking sock as top choices. Cotton socks are NOT recommended. They will get wet from sweat, stick to your feet and cause blisters. If all you have are cotton socks use some kind of thin synthetic sock liner over your foot first then the cotton sock over it.
- Hiking boots are your next step in a comfortable hike. All Scouts or adults going must have some form of hiking boot. They don’t have to be expensive ones but must have a traction bottom and cover your ankle for support. The $20.00 pair from K-Mart will work just fine doing this type of hiking. They MUST fit right — not too big or too small and be well broken in. The fastest way to a sprained ankle is hiking in tennis shoes with a flat bottom and no ankle support. Don’t forget, they must have the laces in them so we can lace them up tight!
- Rain gear is a must. During windy conditions you can wear it as a wind breaker and during rain it will keep you dry and help prevent you from getting hypothermic. A lightweight waterproof rain coat or poncho is a key piece of gear in wet backpacking conditions. Do not use a heavy cotton coat as your rain gear. First it’s too heavy to carry and second it gets soaked when wet and no longer keeps you warm.
Download Backpacking List Here
Pipsico Summer Camp Packing List 2024
