Pack 97 Camping Equipment Advice
First: The Boy Scout Motto - Be Prepared.
Second: "Car Camping" Basic Equipment
You may have camped as a Boy Scout ... our camping is an "introduction to camping." It's intended to be age appropriate - which means relatively easy.
Some people refer to it as "car camping" - meaning, you back your car up and unload your trunk. So, when you're thinking of Cub Scout Camping - it's not necessarily based on expensive, light weight, durable equipment. Of course, you can go that way if you plan on being in Scouts for the long haul and want to start building your equipment. But picking less expensive equipment up at Wal-Mart or Target is fine too.
Shelter - Tent
You're probably going to want to invest in a tent. Since you're going to be "trunk camping" with Cub Scouts, you don't really need to worry about weight. So, you can get BIG, "heavy" tents. Cub Scouts is family camping - so consider it's going to be you and your son - maybe your spouse if they can get over no air conditioning/heating, no electricity, etc. - and maybe your other kids. So you're going to want probably a "four man" or larger tent. Consider "four man" means four people sleeping side by side. Most of us try to sleep in comfort - which means having a double or queen size air mattress. So, more space in your Cub Scout tent is usually better - you're going to have bags of clothes, gear, and stuff - smaller tents get crowded quickly. Your bigger tents will have "rooms" - which are good for
separating the kids from you for privacy, or sisters, etc. The rooms are created by removable cloth dividers. Tent poles have evolved since we were kids - most are fiber glass with stretchy
bungee cord in the middle. They fit together end to end and are inserted into sleeves. They bend into curves and form - dome tents. Your tent will have a "rain fly". This is a
separate piece of material which stretches over the entire tent to create a layer of air between it and the tent - if put up correctly, you can pretty much count on staying dry - even in a heavy rain. Another feature to look for is a little awning/porch area the tent can have where it's nice to put a folding chair to sit in to put your shoes on - you might want to take them off before
getting in your tent - it really helps keep out leaves, dirt, creepy crawlies.
Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag is what you'll use to keep you nice and toasty at night when it's cool. Sleeping bags come in a couple different varieties.
- Down filling - light, warm, goose down feathers. This is the most expensive - but a good investment for cold
weather sleeping bags - Polyester filling - a light, warm alternative to goose down - somewhat cheaper.
- Cotton filling - the least expensive, and heaviest filling.
- Square Sleeping Bags
- Mummy bags - a mummy bag is in the shape of a sarcophagus - like a mummy might be in. The bag is fairly tight fitting and is intended to move with you when you roll over or change position, unlike the square sleeping bag - in which you can roll over.
Sleeping bags are rated in temperature - which they're supposed to protect you down to. For instance, a 0 degree rated bag is good down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. However, while it will keep you warm - if you're camping with that bag in the warmer months - it will keep you HOT! You might want to look for a bag that's rated to 40 degrees - or 32 degrees. Then, you might get away with these on warm weather campouts - and on especially cold weather campouts bring some long johns and a couple of blankets.
Air Mattress
There are a couple of different kinds. You can get them from single size to queen size - some fold in half to really lift you off the ground. I've used a couple of Coleman's - but have had a hard time finding one that doesn't leak slowly during the night - with my butt winding up on the ground. I bought one that folds, so when fully inflated, you're about 18" off the ground - it's really nice while sitting in "bed" getting dressed/undressed. Other types are "self inflating" - these are usually for backpacking and you open the valve and supposedly they "self inflate" - good luck with that. Maybe I just haven't spent enough money on them ... Make sure you get a pump if you get a big air mattress - some are battery, some are rechargeable. Make sure you have it charged up if it's rechargeable - you don't want to inflate one of these by blowing it up yourself - trust me.
Pillows
Hey, we're "car camping" - might as well sleep in comfort. If you sleep near me - or other "snorers", you might want to bring a pillow for putting on top of your head!
Boots
Boots are for camping. They protect your feet from rocks & sticks. If they're good boots, they'll keep you feet from getting wet. You can put your feet in the fire to kick a log and your feet won't get burned (note - whether you try this or not is up to you - I'm not advising you to ... just something I saw one time ... yeah, that's the ticket). At least some tennis shoes. You should NOT wear any open toe shoes camping - flip flops, sandals, tevas.
Rain gear
Be prepared - for rain. Ponchos work really well on campouts. If you have a rain suit, you could wear that also. Personally, I bought a surplus army poncho on eBay for $15.00 - it's large, rip stop, grommets, snaps, hood, etc. I can use it for a poncho, a tarp, to cover gear - it's very multipurpose - I recommend them.
Knife
If you're an adult, or a Cub Scout with a "Whittler's Chip", you need a good knife camping. Cub Scouts aren't allowed to have sheath knives - the kind like a "bowie knife" - long and straight that goes in a sheath. They can have folding knives - honestly, this is a good kind to have. You can clip it in your pocket or belt and always have it when you need it. They're a good all around tool to have while camping.
Hatchet/Hammer
Good to have for pounding in tent stakes - and pulling them out. Watch out and don't cut yourself. :)
Insect Repellent
Chose your brand. The more "deet" the less bugs.
Lighter
Just good to have if you need to start a fire. Or you can rub some sticks together.
Fans
If you're like me, you can't sleep if it's too quite, or too hot. One thing that's great is a fan! Coleman makes some that are battery operated (click here) and can hang from a magnetic hanger in the tent, or you can put them in the screen "window" of the tent to draw air through.