N ew Scout Buyer's Guide
N ew Scout Buyer's Guide
Lesson Number One: Your boy is going to lose things!
Therefore, it is in your best interest to:
A) Customize all gear with
name tags or specific markings (yellow paint, etc.)
B) Buy bright colored
lower quality substitutes for younger Scouts (ages 10 through 13)
C)Avoid camouflage or other dark gear that blends into the scenery
D) Keep your patience
Lesson Number Two: "Buy to Size." Don't subject your son to a "Bataan Death March;" although you'll be tempted to buy oversized equipment ("He'll grow into it") or surplus military gear ("It was good enough for Desert Storm..."), don't do it! Overweight or oversized gear will run your boy right into the ground - and a few months later, you'll be yard selling everything off at 5 cents on the dollar because: "I really don't like Scouting very much."
What the Troop provides: Basically, all group oriented gear is bought, maintained, and replaced by the Troop. This includes tents and ground cloths, pavilions, cooking gear, wood cutting equipment (axes, saws, etc.), area lighting (Coleman@ lanterns, etc.), rope and a full sized First Aid kit.
What the Scout provides: All personal gear; this includes (at
a minimum), a duffel bag (eventually a backpack), a three season sleeping
bag, a foam pad (full size for the sleeping bag) or air mattress (much
more expensive), a flashlight, proper clothing, proper footwear, rain gear,
standard personal Scout gear :
1) decent knife
2) compass
3) personal first aid
4) items for maintaining personal cleanliness (toothbrush, etc.)
5) Mess Kit (Plate and Fork, Spoon and Knife)
Most of these items are addressed in somewhat more
detail below. Other specific items, e.g., swimming trunks, helmets, etc.,
may be required for particular outings.
Understand immediately that proper outfitting of your son requires time, effort and (of course) money! There are a few short-cuts that are not short-changes, but they are limited! Taking the philosophical view, however, dollars spent now can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment and satisfaction - on a relative basis, camping gear (and Boy Scouting) can be a pretty good bargain.
Obviously, however, on the short time-scale, certain compromises between quality, expense and the simple reality of a rapidly expanding Scout must be made. Unless you have several interested boys in your family, it is difficult to justify purchasing costly equipment that will be outgrown in 18 months or less; on the other hand, you don't want your son to suffer in the great outdoors with defective junk!
Yes, you can do this without bankrupting yourself. My personal recommendation is to purchase the highest quality equipment that you can (whose use is not dependent on the size of the scout). These items include, e.g., a flashlight, knife, compass, foam pad, mini first aid kit and Scouting/outdoor books. I've missed a few items, but you get the idea. Keep Lesson One in mind.
For equipment that will be outgrown - pack, sleeping bag, rain gear, outdoor clothing, etc., you have three choices - bite the bullet and buy high quality, buy cheap (in most cases, a really bad idea) or buy used; I recommend the last option. Look in the "local neighborhood" type papers or while driving around on the weekends for multi-family garage sales - you can get incredible deals from yuppies that bought $1000 worth of gear and went camping twice. Similarly, some parents sell off their gone-to-college childrens' "junk." I've found all sorts of Scout gear, especially gear suitable for small Scouts, at garage sales. Another good place to try are former Scouts - not the ones (like me) who stayed all the way to 18 and are going to keep virtually everything, but rather those who quit after age 12, 13 or 14; most parents are sympathetic to these type requests, and will not gouge you on prices (not a bad place to look for semi-used uniforms, either). Certain beginner gear (e.g., a small pack) may be available from the grown-up senior Scouts still in the Troop - ask! (You too will eventually be looking to sell off or give away your own grown-up Scout's beginning equipment!)
Start out by reviewing the lists in the Boy Scout Handbook. If the Troop is having a "shakedown" (where the older Scouts and Leaders check the younger Scouts' gear several days prior to a trip), it's a good idea to tag along, keeping eyes and ears open. Now let's walk through these deep, dark woods together:
The Backpack: You can generally hold off on this until your son actually wants to participate in backpacking events, although some boys want to jump in immediately. When you do go for it, firmly resist buying oversize! Make sure it has a padded hipbelt, padded shoulder straps and support webbing across the back. the choice of internal vs external is a matter of preference. i would advise you to try on as many packs as you can prior to purchasing one. Also, REI rents equipment, and is an excellent way to give a pack a try prior to buying. If you're buying a used backpack, make sure that there are no cracks in the welds (the one thing that can't be repaired); if the pack-bag itself is really ratty, i.e., all the zippers torn out, etc. (a common reason why people dump the whole pack), you can usually easily mailorder purchase a replacement bag (at 1/3 the price of a new backpack) or have the zippers/rips repaired by a seamstress. The more side compartments on the bag, the better - they help your son keep things separated and organized.
The Sleeping Bag: Get a three season bag (rated to about 20 degrees F; weighing less than 4 pounds) and a liner. Get a synthetic (Hollofil II, etc.) bag as opposed to down; they are less expensive, nearly as warm, nearly as light, and - most importantly - are still reasonably insulating when wet (down is useless when wet!). The liner is for very warm nights (use it alone) or very cold nights (inside) and is conveniently removed and washed (which extends the life of the bag). Most bags come with a waterproof nylon stuff bag; if not, purchase one - they're usually inexpensive.
The Foam Pad: Here you can start with the traditional "blue pad". These are light-weight, easily rolled and attached to a backpack and are quite comfortable. There are other options in foam pads, they tend to be a bit more expensive and I would not recommend them for someone just getting started. After the Scout has been on a few campouts, he may want to upgrade. Here to try to test out as many different types as possible prior to buying. Whatever he has make sure that it is marked with his name.
A Pillow: Not really necessary!! Buy the small cloth stuff bag (commercially available, or make your own) for your son to fill with clothing or a jacket. If you insist on an inflatable pillow, still get a small cloth stuff bag that it will fit into; otherwise, it just slides away (plastic on plastic!). Most camping stores now sell a "backpacker's pillow," which you may prefer - again, not cheap. If you have small, lightweight pillows lying around the house, they'll also do (however, note that they'll get dirty.)
Eating gear: A mess kit is needed for all campouts. This can be as simple as a plastic plate with knife spoon and fork. (Do not send your best china as it will get broken.) You can get "real" mess kits from local outdoor stores, these can vary from cheap to very expensive. Avoid the ones that you can flex with your hands.
Water Bottle: Get a translucent plastic 1 quart water bottle (easy to see how full, whether it's got a flavored drink in it, and also whether or not he picked up any interesting items (leaves, etc.) when filling it at the last waterhole!). Avoid metal canteens (too heavy, react with some acidic drink mixes) and opaque plastic models.
Flashlights, etc.: Don't buy the 5 "D" cell police head-buster special - it weighs a ton and the boys don't need them. Get a 2 "C" or 2 "D" cell flashlight in a bright color (yellow is best.) Also avoid the very popular "Mag-Lites@;" they are surprisingly heavy and quite expensive. Another option is to get a headlight. These are becoming very popular, they are light and battery pack that sits on your head. Most of these use leds for a light source. Avoid the ones that have a "standard" bulb. Also avoid any that take non-standard batteries. Look for one that use either AA or AAA.
Clothing: Seemingly trivial but actually the toughest subject to address! Most beginning Scouts carry: A) Far too much, and B) the wrong type of clothing. Briefly, synthetics and wool clothing are much better than 100 % cotton fabrics; hot weather clothing should be light colored to reflect sunlight, cold weather should be dark; avoid pullovers - use button down shirts instead, they can be unbuttoned for cooling; in cooler weather, dressing in layers is far more versatile than using heavy duty one piece clothing (the latter has only two options: Broil or Freeze!). Blue jeans and blue jean jackets (or any other heavy weight cotton clothes) are extremely poorly suited to outdoor use; cotton is actually a negative insulator when wet - meaning you're better off wearing nothing at all rather than wet cotton.
All clothing should be packed into nylon stuff sacks to keep them dry; bring one extra empty stuff sack to separate used from new through the weekend.
Footwear: - Not at all critical until your son begins to attend backpacking events. Once he does, however, this is your highest recurring expense. Your son will grow out of his boots long before he wears them out!; however, you really can't compromise on footwear on the trail. Cheap, shoddy boots cause rapid blister formation and utter hiking misery - a surefire recipe for a horrible backpacking experience! Likewise, you cannot buy used boots unless they were only worn once or twice - footwear that's been broken in on someone else's feet are far worse for you to break in versus a brand new pair of boots.
Look for reasonable quality leather or "High Tech Hiking" (not "Walking") boots that come up to about mid-ankle (for support); the soles should have a fairly aggressive tread design for proper purchase on wet, sloppy trails. The instep should have good arch support - bad boots are usually flat. Buy oversize! - your son will be wearing a thick pair of socks while wearing the boots (bring along a very thick pair of socks when going out to buy your son's boots!) Careful, most boots are standard width, if your son has a wide foot (see below), you may have to special order or look elsewhere.
Finally, don't pitch those old worn out sneakers (unless he's outgrown them)! This is what the guys wear around the campsite itself. Keep a pair in the pack in a plastic bag (otherwise, he'll be using his brand new Air-Jordans' in 6 inches of mud!).
Rain Gear: Although everybody hates them, the standard issue poncho is still about as reasonable as you can get. Full rain suits are a no-no; any activity and your boy is just as wet - from condensation and sweat - because they do not breathe. Some of the newest technology raingear (e.g., Gore-Tex) is breathable, but costs an unbelievable fortune.
For backpacking, most backpacks are moderately rain resistant; rainproof pack covers are available or can be fashioned at need from heavy duty garbage bags. A good combination includes a windproof, water resistant jacket, a pack cover, a lightweight poncho, and a waterproof hat with a brim - this is versatile enough to handle up to very heavy driving rains (which we probably wouldn't hike in anyway). Some guys also take along lightweight nylon "wind" trousers for additional protection of legs in heavy rain.
A Knife: For young Scouts, buy a reasonable quality folding lock-blade knife with about a three inch blade. The lock-blade prevents closing on fingers - probably the most common cause of cuts on new Scouts. Avoid the myriad "el-cheapo" Boy Scout and Swiss Army imitations - which don't hold an edge, break with serious use and rust at the first hint of rain. If your son's first knife survives his Scout career, apply to the Poep for miracle certification; i.e., don't go overboard - it's quite probably not going to make it past the first summer. As mentioned above, bright colors and marking the name/Troop number on the body will greatly assist knife longevity.
Personally, I recommend a real knife for older Scouts, e.g., a folding Buck or its equivalent. A good knife can have the owner's name put on the handle by a engraver - this is a nice way to customize. This is an item that can last a lifetime (I've still got mine from age 15). Don't buy one for your younger boy, who hasn't yet gotten over the thrill of throwing knives at trees or into the ground; call a mature 15 a good cutoff. Definitely avoid fixed blade sheath knives (illegal at official B.S.A. functions) and all the various military blades (especially the double edged "commando" varieties). In addition, note that all boys go through at least one love affair with a humongous Bowie Knife or its equivalent; don't bother buying any of these - they're totally useless. The knife should have a blade length of no more than 4 inches max. Finally, avoid buying your son his own personal hatchet, axe or saw - these are provided by the Troop (and aren't used all that often anyway).
A Compass: A standard compass is all that's necessary - no need for the gold plated model with 200 functions. A green or black colored military compass won't last even one campout. Definitely mark it with your son's name - most compasses look mighty similar! (Use a magic marker on the case, then cover it with a piece of Scotch tape.)
Personal Cleanliness: This includes a small roll of toilet paper in a plastic bag (wet toilet paper isn't very useful!), washcloth, small towel, soap (in a small plastic container; some guys bring a squeeze tube of liquid soap - much more convenient!), and toothbrush. It's much more sensible to purchase separate items and keep them in the pack; if the Scout uses his everyday home materials, he'll forget them in the pre-campout rush. Note: Realistically, all he'll use on a weekend campout is the toothbrush.
Other optional or "seasonal" personal stuff no one ever remembers: Insect repellent, suntan lotion, sunglasses, small sewing kit (with extra buttons), shoelaces and Scout book (for new Scouts working on advancement).
Things not to pack: Radios, Walkmans, electronic games, extra food (especially drinks or fresh fruits - they weigh a ton!), anything in glass, any aerosol type sprays (deodorants, insect repellent, etc.), excessive money or very valuable watches, jewelry, or `heirloom' knives.
Things not to wear: Any military garb, any clothing with imprinted socially unacceptable logos or messages.
Upon his return home, have him unpack immediately; don't let those wet sneakers, candy bar wrappers and funky clothes ferment for a week or two! Empty and wash the canteen; rewash all cookwear and utensils. After everything's been accounted for and cleaned, put it all in one spot (the same spot every time) for the next campout. [Don't, however, pack it all up in a "ready-to-go" mode - let things air out and stay fresh and dry.]
If something's missing, don't panic - ask around the Troop (especially his last tentmates) for a recall. Usually, someone's recovered it and is looking for the rightful owner.
- Mr Karasek ASM
