wildmanh
Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2000
- Messages
- 7,764
When I go out hiking off a paved trail, I always have certain items with me. The recent threads talking about the price of gear and what to bring got me thinking about my basic kit and why I carry it. Reading my old 10th edition scout hand book reminded me why:
In the 10th edition Scout handbook There are sections talking about what gear to bring on various types of trips. The first list is Scout Outdoor Essentials. For some of us, this list seems second nature. For others not so much so I've copied it below. IMO This is a great list and the one I've been using for years even though I forgot where I got it:
Scout Outdoor Essentials:
Pocket Knife - (This is Bladeforums so already covered)
First Aid Kit - (Some bandaids, gause, sterile pads, neo-sporin, tape)
Extra Clothing - (knit cap, wind breaker/jacket, mittens)
Rain Gear - (Poncho, Tarp, Trash bag or rain slicker)
Canteen or water bottle - (If no canteen A Gater-Aid or soda bottle works great)
Flashlights and batteries - (who likes stumbling around in the dark?)
Trail food - (Trail mix, gorp, jerky, fruit)
Matches and fire starter (Misc or Ferro rod w/striker)
Sun Protection - (Hat, long sleeves/pants or sun screen)
Map and compass - (Local area or the map does you no good)
This list might not include everything you or I would consider essential for a trip but for this discution I'll stick with it for now. If you look close, it won't cost you much to build this list. Matter of fact, you probably have at least 50% of the items already. The Rest can be had at your local super market, Wal-mart/K-mart or Military Suplus shop.
Now that we have seen the Essentials list, let us build opon it. Again I refer to my BSA 10th edition scout hand book. This is their Personal Overnight Camping gear list:
Personal Overnight Camping Gear:
Scout Outdoor Essentials
Clothing for the season
Pack
Sleeping bag or 2 to 3 blankets
Foam pad or Air matteress
Ground cloth
Eating kit - (Spoon, fork, plate, bowl, cup)
Cleaning Kit - (Soap, toothbrush, toothpaist, dental floss, comb, washcloth, towel)
Personal Extras you may way to have - (Watch, camera and film, notebook and pencil/pen, insect repellent, Sun Glasses, magnifying glass, binoculars, bird and plant id books, small musical instrument, swimming suit, prayer book/scriptures)
Here again you probably have at least 50% of this stuff around your house and the rest can be had relatively inexpencively if you want. Mind you this list is a Personal Gear list. It assumes that the kitchen and tent stuff are with the group, or in the Equipment list.
After looking at the list three items jump out at me as possibly being expencive. I'll pull each one out and talk about it in turn.
Sleeping bag or 3 to 4 blankets. Well if you have a bed, you probably have blankets so this shouldn't be to hard. If you don't have a bed and blankets you have other problems more pressing then going camping. Sleeping bag, Surplus shops are good, sales at outdoor shops or even the supper market from time to time. If you are camping in the summer it's not going to be to cold in your tent so that $300+ Negitive 20 bag is no good! Start simple. Borrowing or renting a bag is another good option.
Foam pad or Air mattress. This is worth spending some money on, but you don't have to spend much. A open cell foam pad for a bed works. Or a nice Thermarest or other closed cell pad is nice too. For years I'd use the blue backpacking pads that cost $10 to $20 or a foam pad off my bed. Now I have two Thermarest pads but still use the old egg crate from time to time.
Pack. A duffle bag/gym bag works well, doesn't cost much and you probably already have it. Or there is the Surplus/yard sale route. If you want to carry the stuff on your back an Alice pack isn't much and works for day trips, over nighters and short backpacking trips. There are descent backpacks for $80 if you look around. But for car camping, why bother with the expence, get better food or a better pad. If you are backpacking, then the $80+ Is worth it. But if $80 is to much, rent a pack, there are plenty of places and lots of colleges have shops too.
What are your thoughts on these lists and pricing for them? Lets talk about it.
In the 10th edition Scout handbook There are sections talking about what gear to bring on various types of trips. The first list is Scout Outdoor Essentials. For some of us, this list seems second nature. For others not so much so I've copied it below. IMO This is a great list and the one I've been using for years even though I forgot where I got it:
Scout Outdoor Essentials:
Pocket Knife - (This is Bladeforums so already covered)
First Aid Kit - (Some bandaids, gause, sterile pads, neo-sporin, tape)
Extra Clothing - (knit cap, wind breaker/jacket, mittens)
Rain Gear - (Poncho, Tarp, Trash bag or rain slicker)
Canteen or water bottle - (If no canteen A Gater-Aid or soda bottle works great)
Flashlights and batteries - (who likes stumbling around in the dark?)
Trail food - (Trail mix, gorp, jerky, fruit)
Matches and fire starter (Misc or Ferro rod w/striker)
Sun Protection - (Hat, long sleeves/pants or sun screen)
Map and compass - (Local area or the map does you no good)
This list might not include everything you or I would consider essential for a trip but for this discution I'll stick with it for now. If you look close, it won't cost you much to build this list. Matter of fact, you probably have at least 50% of the items already. The Rest can be had at your local super market, Wal-mart/K-mart or Military Suplus shop.
Now that we have seen the Essentials list, let us build opon it. Again I refer to my BSA 10th edition scout hand book. This is their Personal Overnight Camping gear list:
Personal Overnight Camping Gear:
Scout Outdoor Essentials
Clothing for the season
Pack
Sleeping bag or 2 to 3 blankets
Foam pad or Air matteress
Ground cloth
Eating kit - (Spoon, fork, plate, bowl, cup)
Cleaning Kit - (Soap, toothbrush, toothpaist, dental floss, comb, washcloth, towel)
Personal Extras you may way to have - (Watch, camera and film, notebook and pencil/pen, insect repellent, Sun Glasses, magnifying glass, binoculars, bird and plant id books, small musical instrument, swimming suit, prayer book/scriptures)
Here again you probably have at least 50% of this stuff around your house and the rest can be had relatively inexpencively if you want. Mind you this list is a Personal Gear list. It assumes that the kitchen and tent stuff are with the group, or in the Equipment list.
After looking at the list three items jump out at me as possibly being expencive. I'll pull each one out and talk about it in turn.
Sleeping bag or 3 to 4 blankets. Well if you have a bed, you probably have blankets so this shouldn't be to hard. If you don't have a bed and blankets you have other problems more pressing then going camping. Sleeping bag, Surplus shops are good, sales at outdoor shops or even the supper market from time to time. If you are camping in the summer it's not going to be to cold in your tent so that $300+ Negitive 20 bag is no good! Start simple. Borrowing or renting a bag is another good option.
Foam pad or Air mattress. This is worth spending some money on, but you don't have to spend much. A open cell foam pad for a bed works. Or a nice Thermarest or other closed cell pad is nice too. For years I'd use the blue backpacking pads that cost $10 to $20 or a foam pad off my bed. Now I have two Thermarest pads but still use the old egg crate from time to time.
Pack. A duffle bag/gym bag works well, doesn't cost much and you probably already have it. Or there is the Surplus/yard sale route. If you want to carry the stuff on your back an Alice pack isn't much and works for day trips, over nighters and short backpacking trips. There are descent backpacks for $80 if you look around. But for car camping, why bother with the expence, get better food or a better pad. If you are backpacking, then the $80+ Is worth it. But if $80 is to much, rent a pack, there are plenty of places and lots of colleges have shops too.
What are your thoughts on these lists and pricing for them? Lets talk about it.
