What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking: Part 2

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These articles were written to follow my “Three Season Hiking Checklist” which as Scoutmaster I would give to the Scouts prior to each outing. The articles discuss each item on the list, in order, and are designed to help those new to backpacking make educated decisions about the gear they carry. Though I mention Scouts often, it is largely because I originally wrote this for them, but the information is valid for others as well!

Part II covers the stuff that seems to take up a lot of room and weight in a backpack, as well as what to wear while hiking.

I was involved in Scouting as a boy. Looking back, my pack was heavier than the ones made today, because the pack frame was made of wood! My tent was a floorless “pup tent” made of heavy canvas. My mother made my sleeping bag out of an old, worn out sleeping bag (batting), oiled duck cloth (outer shell) and new flannel (inner shell). It was was a tough heavy bag, so tough I didn’t even need a ground cloth. With an extra pair of jeans, a collapsible Sterno stove (the thing never worked right), a flashlight that seemed to have a five-minute battery life, and some canned food, I had all ever needed. That was also all I carried. Most of my buddies carried similar stuff.

Boy, how things have changed! The gear options for backpacking today are enough to make your head spin, or at the very least burn a hole in your wallet. Do your homework before shopping to get the most bang for your buck.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

Introduction
Three-Season Hiking Checklist
Clothing
- Base Layer
- Insulating Layer
- Protective Layer
Footwear
Odds and Ends
- Miscellaneous and Optional (Remember to keep the weight down!)
Troop Gear
- Water Filtration/Purification
- Stoves & Fuel
- Tent or Tarp?
- Tarps
- Cookware
Conclusion

# WORDS: 5680
# PHOTOS: 6

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Viewing 18 posts - 1 through 18 (of 18 total)

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Feb 21, 2012 at 3:39 pm #1285998

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking

Feb 21, 2012 at 6:01 pm #1842698

Luke Schmidt
BPL Member

@cameron
Locale: Alaska

Great write up Tad! Thanks for putting it together. I like the idea of having some articles that are more accessible for someone who's not a gear geak.

Feb 22, 2012 at 9:37 am #1842987

Warren
BPL Member

@icensnow
Locale: New England, USA

Thanks for this overview geared (pun intended :-).

I noticed the venting at the peak of the Sierra Designs Origami 3 tarp. Current versions of the tarp don't seem to have this.
http://www.sierradesigns.com/p-294-origami-3-tarp.aspx

Feb 22, 2012 at 11:00 am #1843031

Thomas Glennon
BPL Member

@eagletrek007

Tad,

Thanks for the second installment. Had to laugh at the "bungee belt". Just went through "the wet jeans won't stay up" experience this past wet weekend. Still trying to convince some of my folks that nylon pants are the way to go.

Re: Stoves From my personal experience I've found remote cannister stoves to be a better choice for scouts based on safety (no overheating the cannister), better heat management/fuel management (better fitting wind screen), and stability (less of a chance to spill that boiling water).

Trek On!

Feb 22, 2012 at 11:07 am #1843039

Sean Barnette
Member

@firemedic183
Locale: Mid West

What a fantastic article!! I recently taught the backpacking portion at IOLS, and I largely used your article as a basis for my lesson plan. I do have one question however…I have heard that you are not allowed to bring a tarp to Philmont. You must bring a tent! This seems a bit ludicrous to me, and I am wondering how we might be able to convince Philmont to change that particular policy. Thank you for your service to Boy Scouts, and thank you for a very educational and well written article!

Feb 22, 2012 at 12:37 pm #1843076

John L Collins
BPL Member

@wvcubdad
Locale: Not too far off the Tuscarora Trail

This is great stuff!

We are having a winter campout (okay, more of a rain event in the Eastern Panhandle of WV than snow) this weekend and we did a gear shakedown this past Sunday during our Troop meeting. Lots of cotton clothing, we made suggestions on what to take instead, heavy tents (will have to work/fund raise into lighter ones) and a bunch of heavy metal messkits. As with much of Scouting, it's a process to get the pounds off, although I must say my son's pack was 19.8 pounds with water but no food (since they hadn't finished the menu or shopped yet!) I'm ashamed to say mine was significantly heavier and I've been going through it and slashing left and right. I should be down by his weight in time to head out tomorrow evening.

John

Feb 22, 2012 at 9:08 pm #1843325

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Luke, yes its good to have a primer every once in a while, we all started at different times, glad to see its helpful.

Warren, I think the vent is still there on the SD Origami, it might be hard to tell from there website, but they list a vent in the spec's.

Thomas, about jeans- show them the picture of the bungee and maybe they will get the hint.
I like the upright canisters because they are a little more "fool" proof- less things for the "adults" to figure out, kids have now problem. We do use the Coleman Xtreme and Xpert stoves for winter camping; much safer than a white gas stove.

Sean,I would review the Philmont Threads to get a read on the tarp/tent Philmont thing. I've heard they are making some changes but I don't know what the "rule" is.

John, hope you enjoy the February rain. Keep working on getting your own weight down. I've seen parents try and lighten their child's weigh by increasing their own. Don't redistribute, work on lightening everyone's load.

Feb 23, 2012 at 6:55 am #1843437

Sandra Powell
BPL Member

@trailrunner87511

Can you describe a freezer bag cozie and how to make one? I assume it is to keep food warm longer? Thanks!

Feb 23, 2012 at 8:28 am #1843469

Thomas Glennon
BPL Member

@eagletrek007

Cozie pouches can be made from various items such as closed cell foam, craft foam or reflective bubble wrap by Reflectix. They can be sewn, taped, or glued together depending on the material you use. Reflectix bubble wrap is sold in various size rolls at your "big box" stores. A quick trip to Youtube will provide videos on how to make them. I made some as give-aways for my Wood Badge patrol.

Zombie Bobwhites Forever!!!!

Feb 23, 2012 at 3:20 pm #1843717

JASON CUZZETTO
BPL Member

@cuzzettj
Locale: NorCal - South Bay

Just an additional suggestion that I have been using for a while to get away from the bulky fleece. Buy wool garments on Ebay! I usually pay between $8 and $20 for merino wool sweaters. Yes, some are V-necks or have that awesome argile pattern on them. However it has been a great way to set the kids up with good/light sweaters that work in the layering system. Just be careful of the 50% wool/50% polyesteer ones. They tend to be lighter but are 3 season at best.

Jason

Feb 23, 2012 at 3:47 pm #1843730

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Sandra, thank you for asking the question, that's how we all learned this stuff- either by asking or reading the answers to the questions others asked.

Here are some threads on Cozies

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/9195/index.html?skip_to_post=65983#65983

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/54625/index.html?skip_to_post=460607#460607

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=48417

Aug 6, 2012 at 5:46 pm #1900708

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

I am teaching a course on this next month and thought it might be good to bring it back up here.

Sep 13, 2012 at 3:48 pm #1912061

Eric Blumensaadt
BPL Member

@danepacker
Locale: Mojave Desert

Did I miss your mention of packs in a senior moment or will you address this in a later article?

Sep 14, 2012 at 1:13 pm #1912255

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Eric, it is discussed in Part 1 of this article (this was Part 2):
What a Beginner Needs for Backpacking Part 1

Thanks for reading
Tad

Nov 6, 2013 at 9:17 am #2041789

George Ramsdell
BPL Member

@ghramsdell
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Very informative article, I am Scoutmaster south of you in Snohomish WA!

Nov 7, 2013 at 2:11 pm #2042294

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

Thanks George. Feel free to share the link to this and the first article (referenced above) with the parents in your troop or whomever.

Jul 14, 2014 at 3:43 pm #2119692

Bill Giles
BPL Member

@wgiles51
Locale: Central Illinois

My everyday sock choice is Acrylic. Acrylic socks have most of the benefits of wool, and are more common and less expensive. Since this article often refers to twelve year old boys, I think that Acrylic socks would be a good choice. For many years, I wore steel toe boots at work five or more days a week. I had wool socks, but they were usually hot and scratchy (before Merino wool). I long ago came to the conclusion that cotton socks were worthless and also blister factories. I finally started wearing Acrylic socks and found that my feet stayed warm, the socks dried out fairly quickly and they were comfortable. I haven't had a blister on my feet in years and suspect that these socks might have something to do with that. The fabric in the heels gets thin after a few months and I retire them. When I buy socks (or most clothing, for that matter), I always look at the label to see what materials are in them. Most of the socks that I see are cotton or cotton synthetic blends. I can usually find Acrylic steel toe boot socks in the big discount stores. A bit of foot powder might also be in order.

Jul 15, 2014 at 3:12 pm #2119997

Tad Englund
BPL Member

@bestbuilder
Locale: Pacific Northwest

William, thanks for reading the articles.

Good suggestion on the inexpensive socks for younger set. They might be more apt to wear them also (wool doesn't look as cool).

For me, I prefer wool. I have been wearing wool socks for so long (everyday, year round)I don't feel hot wearing them anytime of year. But then again, everyone tells me I'm a little different not just with my socks.
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