Checklist & How to…

Intentionally comprehensive so you don’t forget anything, the REI checklist for day hikers starts with the required Ten Essentials. Adapt those and the remaining items on the list based on weather and the remoteness of destination, as well as the experience and preferences of your group.

THE TEN ESSENTIALS For safety, survival, and basic comfort:

CLOTHING
Avoid cotton and adjust each layer based on the forecast; always prepare, too, for the chance that conditions will turn colder, wetter, and windier.
 Wicking T-shirt or long-sleeve top
 Wicking short or long underwear bottoms
 Socks
 Quick-drying pants or shorts
 UPF-rated shirt
 Sun hat and/or rain hat
 Insulating hat or headband
 Fleece or soft-shell jacket or vest
 Bandana or Buff
 Mosquito net clothing
 Rain Jacket
 Rain Pants
 Fleece Pants

FOOTWEAR
 Hiking boots or shoes
 Watersport sandals
 Gaiters

TOILETRIES
 Toilet paper
 Sanitation trowel
 Waste bags

ELECTRONICS
 Multifunction watch
 Camera and accessories
 Cellphone and waterproof case
 Two-way radios
 GPS
 Satellite messenger

OTHER RECOMMENDED ESSENTIALS
 Daypack
 Whistle
 Energy beverages or drink mixes
 Binoculars
 Lunch utensils
 Trekking poles
 Drinking cup
 Route description or guidebook
 Quick-dry towel
 Interpretive field guide(s)
 Insect repellent
 Outdoor journal
 Rain jacket o Rain pants
 Fleece pants
 Hand sanitizer
 Personal locator beacon
 Bag for collecting trash
 Post-hike snacks, water, towel, clothing
 Itineraries: 1 left with friend; 1 under car seat

Note: This is the REI Winter Camping checklist. It is intentionally extensive; not every person will bring every item on every trip. Use it for packing for all of our campouts but cut back on the cold weather gear for Summer camping.

THE TEN ESSENTIALS For safety, survival, and basic comfort:

Beyond the Ten Essentials
 2 sleeping pads per person (+ optional chair kit)
 4-season tent or tarp or bivy sack
 50′ nylon cord
 Avalanche probe (1 per person)
 Avalanche transceiver (1 per person)
 Backpack
 Backup water treatment (e.g., halogens)
 Cookset with large pot (for melting snow)
 Crampons
 Cups (measuring cups)
 Daypack or summit pack
 Dishes or bowls
 Energy beverages or drink mixes
 Energy food (bars, gels, chews, trail mix)
 Food-storage sacks or canister
 Footprint (if needed for tent)
 Fuel
 Ice axe
 Meals
 Multifunction watch with altimeter
 Packable lantern
 Personal locator beacon (PLB)
 Pillow or stuffable pillowcase
 Pot grabber
 Signaling mirror (often on compass)
 Skis (with skins)
 Sleeping bag (liner optional)
 Slope shovel (1 per person)
 Snow meter
 Snow or tent stakes and guylines
 Snow saw
 Snowshoes
 Stove
 Stuff sack or compression sack
 Tent-pole repair sleeve
 Trekking poles (with snow baskets)
 Utensils
 Whistle

Clothing
 Base layer: wicking underwear
 Insulating hat, cap or headband
 Mid layer: insulating jacket/vest/pants
 Balaclava and/or face mask
 Shell: rain jacket (or soft-shell jacket)
 Goggles
 Rain pants (or soft-shell pants)
 Gloves and/or mittens
 Dry clothing for camp
 Waterproof overmitts

Footwear; Assorted Personal Items
 Bandana or Buff
 Camera Binoculars
 Camp booties
 Cell or satellite phone
 Gaiters
 Guidebook; interpretive field guide(s)
 Hand sanitizer + quick-dry towel
 Insulated Boots
 Main socks, liner socks, spare socks
 Music player with headphones
 Notebook and pen or pencil
 Permits
 Small amount of cash or credit card
 Toilet paper + sanitation trowel
 Toothbrush and/or toiletry kit
 Trip itinerary left with friend + under car seat
 Two-way radios

Intentionally comprehensive so you don’t forget anything, the REI checklist for day hikers starts with the required Ten Essentials. Adapt those and the remaining items on the list based on weather and the remoteness of destination, as well as the experience and preferences of your group.

THE TEN ESSENTIALS For safety, survival, and basic comfort:

Beyond the ten essentials
Backpack
Backup water treatment
Bear canister (or hang bags for food)
Collapsible sink or container
Cookset (with pot grabber)
Cups (measuring cups)
Daypack or summit pack
Dishes or bowls
Energy beverages or drink mixes
Energy food (bars, gels, chews, trail mix)
Footprint (if desired for tent)
Fuel
Ice axe
Meals
Multifunction watch with altimeter
Nylon cord (50′ for hanging food)
Pack cover
Packable lantern
Pillow or stuffable pillow case
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Stove
Stuff sack or compression sack
Tent, tarp or bivy sack (with stakes,
guylines)
Tent-pole repair sleeve
Trekking poles
Utensils
Whistle (plus signaling mirror)

Clothing: Warm Weather
Bandana or Buff
Long-sleeve shirt (for sun, bugs)
Quick-drying pants or shorts
Sun-shielding hat
Wicking T-shirt (synthetic or wool)
Wicking underwear

Clothing: Cool Weather
Fleece jacket or vest, and pants
Gloves or mittens
Hat, cap, skullcap, balaclava or headband
Rainwear (jacket, pants)
Wicking long underwear (good sleepwear)
Wicking long-sleeve T-shirt

Footwear; Assorted Personal Items
Bear spray
Binoculars
Biodegradable soap (and shower bag)
Camera or helmet cam
Cell phone/satellite communicator/2-way radios
Credit card; small amount of cash
Earplugs and eye shade
Extra memory cards
Field guide(s); star identifier
Gaiters
Hand sanitizer
Hiking Boots or hiking shoes suited to terrain
Insect repellent
Outdoor journal and pen or pencil
Permits
Personal locator beacon
Post-hike snacks, water, towel, clothing change
Quick-dry towel
Route description or guidebook
Sandals (for fording, in camp)
Sanitation trowel
Socks (synthetic or wool) plus spares
Toilet paper
Trip itinerary left with friend and under car seat

A few words about Mess Kits:
Troop 337 will not tell you to buy or endorse a specific type of equipment to meet your needs since everyone has different needs and equipment choice is a matter of personal preference. However, when it comes to mess-kits, we feel that there are certain things that you should consider.

Our experience with young scouts has revealed a couple of things:

1. They don’t like to do dishes
2. They have a tendency to misplace things
3. They have a tendency to burn their meals (on occasion)
4. They don’t like to clean up after themselves
5. They don’t like to do dishes!

For the above reasons, we urge you not to purchase the standard aluminum mess kits that are available at a number of different camping equipment stores. These kits provide you with eating ware that also substitutes as cookware. They bend easily, and if you burn your meal, can be quite difficult to clean. (Scouring pads and kitchen sinks are not always available on campouts!) They conduct heat very well and make eating hot meals a little difficult! (Think burnt hands!) The utensils are only good for one person as it is difficult to prepare food for two using these kits. Instead, campers must “share” the cooking stove, which means that everyone eats at- a different time and not together as a group. Meal times are also extended due to the “sharing” of the stove, unless of course, everyone has their own cook stove and fuel.

Instead, consider the following:

Rarely will you ever cook your own meals with your own utensils. Instead, most campouts will be group cooking on patrol cookware and stoves. Ideally, this should be limited to “one pot meals” that only require you to boil water, add the food, stir, serve and eat. Therefore, having utensils that substitute as cooking utensils is rarely ever needed.

You will be required to cook your meals and you will be required to clean up after yourself.

To eliminate excess equipment taken on campouts, which often gets misplaced, patrols should minimize the amount of equipment taken. All should eat the same meal at the same time.

The ideal mess kit for scouts in a patrol should include the following:

• A ditty sack that has a drawstring, which is to hold all your mess supplies and even some seasonings.
• Lexan or heavy-duty plastic eating utensils. A spoon is all that is really needed. A fork should be considered a luxury item, and a knife is already available with your pocketknife. Eating utensils do not have to be purchased if you are clever enough. Good heavy-duty plastic eating utensils are often provided with ‘take-out’ meals. Just wash them and put them in your mess kit bag.
• Lexan bowl or plate. A bowl is preferable since it can be used for anything. A plate can only be used for solid foods and should be considered a ‘luxury item’. (Ever try eating breakfast cereal on a plate?) Lexan or heavy-duty plastic does not conduct heat very well and as a result, hot foods stay hot longer without burning your hands while you eating them.
• Lexan or heavy-duty plastic cup. This can be used for hot drinks (that stay hot) or cold drinks (that stay cold). It can be used for water, hot chocolate, or soups. It could replace the bowl and plate and should be considered the most important item in your mess kit.

With the above items, all different combinations of meals can be eaten with a minimum of clean up. When you are camping, meals should be simple and nutritious using a minimum amount of cooking and eating supplies. The less you pack in, the less you pack out. The less you dirty up, the less you have to clean up.

Please remember to put your name and troop number on all items in your mess kit with a permanent marker on the non-eating surfaces. That way, we’ll know to whom it belongs when we find it, and we’ll know who really doesn’t like to do dishes!

While backpacking bags focus on minimizing weight, sleeping bags for car or family camping are all about comfort. What’s the best sleeping bag for you? The online article at https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/sleeping-bag.html discusses what features to look for when shopping for a sleeping bag for car camping. What follows is only a synopsis of that article.

Sleeping Bag Temperature Rating
A sleeping bag’s temperature rating identifies the lowest temperature at which a bag is intended to keep the average sleeper warm. When a bag is described as a “20-degree bag,” it means that most users should remain comfortable if the air temperature drops no lower than 20°F. These ratings assume that the sleeper is wearing a layer of long underwear and using a sleeping pad under the bag.

Metabolism varies from person to person, and sleeping bag temperature ratings vary from one manufacturer to the next. Use these ratings as a guide only—not a guarantee.

Note: Most camping bags feature a temperature rating between +15°F and +50°F.

Select a sleeping bag with a temperature rating a bit lower than the lowest temperature you expect to encounter. If you’re headed for near-freezing temperatures, then choose a 20°F bag instead of a 35°F bag. If temperatures remain higher than expected, you can easily vent the bag to provide more air circulation.

Sleeping Bag Shape
Sleeping bags keep you warm by trapping and holding a layer of “dead” (non-circulating) air next to your body. Your body heat warms this dead air, and the bag forms a barrier between it and the colder ground or outside air. The less air space there is to heat, the faster you warm up and stay warm. Camping bags are roomier than backpacking bags for greater comfort, with the tradeoff being less efficient warming of this dead space.

Rectangular
Most camping bags are designed with a rectangular shape for maximum comfort and roominess. If you choose two bags with compatible zippers, it’s easy to mate them and create a double bed. You can mate bags if one bag has a “right-hand” zipper and the other a “left-hand” zipper. (Note: A right-hand
zip means the bag opens and closes to your right when you are lying in the bag on your back.) The zippers also need to be the same size, style, and roughly the same length. You can lay two bags on a queen-size air mattress for the utmost in outdoor sleeping comfort.

Semi-rectangular (or barrel-shaped)
These can be used for both camping and backpacking. Their tapered design offers greater warmth and efficiency than rectangular bags, but they’re still plenty roomy for a comfortable night’s sleep. They are popular with larger-frame backpackers or restless sleepers who don’t like the tight fit of a mummy bag.

Mummy
If you think you’ll be doing some backpacking as well as car camping, you may want to choose a mummy bag. Mummy-shaped bags have narrow shoulder and hip widths in order to maximize warmth and reduce weight. However, some people have trouble getting comfortable in these more restrictive bags.
For more information about choosing a bag for backpacking, see our Expert Advice Article, Sleeping Bags for Backpacking: How to Choose.

Sleeping Bag Insulation Type

Synthetic Insulation
Most campers choose synthetic insulation (versus down insulation) for its strong overall performance and friendly price tag. Typically made of polyester, a synthetic fill has many advantages: It’s quick-drying and insulates even if it gets wet. It’s less expensive than down-filled bags, it’s durable (stands up to
roughhousing kids and dogs) and it’s non-allergenic. However, synthetic insulation doesn’t pack down as small as down, so it’s less versatile if you plan to use your bag for backpacking also.

Goose-Down Insulation
Offered in some camping bags, it provides a more durable and compressible alternative to synthetic fill but features a slightly higher price tag.

Water-Resistant Down Insulation
The downside of down is that it loses its insulating power when it gets wet. To help alleviate the problem, some sleeping bags feature down that has been treated to protect the feathers from moisture.

Car camping with family or friends is a summer pastime for many of us. Whether the campground itself is the main attraction or it’s simply your base camp for nearby activities, the online article at https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/family-base-camping-tent.html will help you find the right camping tent—your home away from home. Below is a portion of the article.

Important Note: our troop has a handful of tents that are available for our scouts to use. If you want to use one of these prior to buying your own, please make arrangements with the quartermaster.

Tent Sleeping Capacity
When choosing your tent, first choose a model based on your group’s size and whether or not you might need additional space for extra friends, gear, or dogs. When evaluating tent capacity ratings, our general advice is this: Assume a close fit. Keep in mind that no industry standard exists that defines per person tent dimensions.
Tents Seasonality
3-Season Tents
By far the most popular choice of tents, 3-season tents are lightweight shelters designed for the relatively temperate conditions of spring, summer, and fall. They are usually equipped with ample mesh panels to boost airflow. Mesh panels keep out insects (but can still let in powdery blowing sand). Properly pitched with a taut rainfly, 3-season tents can withstand downpours but are not the best choice for sustained exposure to harsh storms, violent winds, or heavy snow.
The primary functions of 3-season tents:

• Keep you dry during rain or light snow.
• Shield you from bugs.
• Provide privacy.

3- 4-Season Tents
Extended-season (3+ season) tents are engineered for prolonged 3-season usage, suitable for summer use but also trips in early spring and late fall when moderate snow may be encountered. Their goal: offer a balance of ventilation, strength, and warmth-retention. Typically, they include one or two more poles and fewer mesh panels than pure 3-season models. This makes them sturdier and warmer than their 3-season cousins. Extended-season tents are a good choice
for those who make frequent trips to exposed, high-elevation destinations. While very sturdy, they are not as fully fortified for harsh winter weather as 4-season tents.
4-Season Tents
Engineered to withstand fierce winds and substantial snow loads, mountaineering tents can be used in any season. Their chief function, though, is to stand firm in the face of seriously inhospitable weather, principally in winter or above treeline. They use more poles and heavier fabrics than 3-season tents. Their rounded dome designs eliminate flat roof spaces where snow can collect. They offer few mesh panels and a rainfly that extends close to the ground. This hinders ventilation and can make them feel warm and stuffy in mild weather. But, when foul winds begin to howl, a 4-season tent provides a reassuring place of refuge.

The ability to navigate with map and compass is a crucial skill, one that can literally save your life. Your compass and map can also do other helpful tasks like telling you where you are, what’s around you, and the best way to get where you want to go.

In the Ten Essentials, the compass and map are both mandatory gear, while a GPS receiver is optional. The quick explanation for this is the adage “never trust your life to a battery.” Dedicated GPS receivers and cellphone apps are amazing tools, but should never be solely relied upon to find your way out of the
wilderness.

The source for this short guide is https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/compass.html. Check out the full article for an in-depth look at choosing a compass.
There are four main features to look at when choosing a compass:

• Declination adjustment: A capable compass for hikers and other trail users should have this.
• Sighting mirror: Move up to a model with both declination adjustment and this feature if you plan to
  travel off trail or want more precise navigation
• Clinometer: For mountaineering and backcountry skiing, a compass with a clinometer can help you
  assess avalanche hazards. Field scientists and search-and-rescue professionals also like to have a
  clinometer.
• Global needle: If you’re a world traveler or simply going on a trip that takes you south of the Equator, get a model with a global needle.

While all compasses point in their designated direction, they can also have a wide array of additional features. Generally, a more feature-rich compass costs more, though the build quality (precision and durability) also factors into the price you pay.

Source: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/firstaid-kits.html

A first-aid kit, as well as the training to use it, is one of the Ten Essentials that’s universally known yet rarely thought about. When you need to reach for yours, though, you’ll be grateful for the time you spent to ensure yours is up to the task.

Even if you pack only a small first-aid kit, you’ll have a great resource for treating minor issues and for preventing them from becoming major ones. Managing aches and pains also makes any trip more enjoyable.

You can buy a premade kit or make your own. This article offers tips on both approaches to getting a first-aid kit for the outdoors.

Remember: Assess kit contents before every season. Regardless of the size of your kit, its medications have expiration dates and its bandages and ointments will get used up.

Premade First-Aid Kits
Most people get premade first-aid kits to save time and money compared to buying individual supplies and assembling a kit. Another reason to choose a premade kit is to ensure you don’t overlook any important supplies or tools.

Which kit should you get? Consider the following:

• Group size: Kit-makers usually estimate the number of people a kit will serve. Your results, of course, may vary. Kits for bigger groups simply include more of supplies you use up, like bandages and pain meds. Medical tools like thermometers, tweezers, or splints remain fairly constant from kit to kit.
• Trip length/distance: Same thing; you’ll usually find an estimated number of days in a kit’s product description.
• Trip activity: Kit-makers might include, for example, a fully waterproof pouch that makes a kit suited to paddling. Smaller, lighter kits are appropriate when you’re planning light-and-fast pursuits like trail running. Bigger, more comprehensive kits make sense for activities like car camping.
• Comprehensive kits: Even if you don’t know how to use everything, it can be valuable to get a kit with advanced tools and supplies because others in your group or area might have greater medical knowledge. You can also grow into your kit by getting medical training.

Next, consider the following additions, regardless of the kit you choose:

• Trip risks: Example: If you’re headed where poison ivy and ticks are concerns, consider adding a poison ivy treatment and tick-specific tool to your kit.
• Special needs: Example: If you require prescription meds or an EpiPen in town, you should add them to your outdoor first-aid kit. On group trips, survey members so that everyone is aware of special supplies in each person’s kit.

How many kits should you get? Consider the following:

• Always pack an individual kit: Even if someone else has a big kit for your group, you still need to be able to treat personal nicks and scratches. Moreover, the person carrying the group kit might not always be nearby.
• Consider multiple kits: You don’t use the same pack for day hiking, backpacking, and cycling. The same strategy makes sense for first-aid kits.

Build Your Own First-Aid Kit
You’ll need a water-resistant bag or pouch to hold everything. You might also need an assortment of zip-lock plastic bags, plastic pill bottles and a waterproof marker and tape to label things. After that, it’s a matter of buying or gathering the supplies to fill your kit.

We highlight some basic essentials below. For a more comprehensive supply list, see the REI first-aid checklist online.

First-Aid Kit Basics

Bandages

• Assorted adhesive bandages
• Gauze
• Athletic tape
• Blister treatments (such as moleskin)

Medication and ointments/lotions

• Ibuprofen
• Antibiotic ointments
• Antacid tablets
• Antidiarrheal pills
• Rehydration Salts
• Prescription medicines

Basic tools

• Tweezers
• Small mirror
• Blunt tip scissors
• Razor blade or knife

Miscellaneous items

• Bee-sting kit
• Tick Remover
• Antiseptic towelettes
• Burn dressing
• Splints and elastic wraps

First-Aid Kit Instructions
Always include a quick-reference guide or more comprehensive booklet that explains how to administer first aid. Kit-makers pay close attention to the quality of their guides, so you should do the same.

Trip-Specific First-Aid Supplies
Just as you would with a premade kit, you should supplement your home-assembled kit with extra supplies for a longer trip or special supplies for your destination, activity, and group members.

Additional Outdoor Safety Essentials
Some essentials are closely related to first aid: A heat-reflecting blanket (to stave off hypothermia or help treat shock), sunscreen, bug repellent, and hand sanitizer might all be carried in or near your kit.

If you ever experience a truly life-threatening medical emergency in the backcountry, a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger can be a lifesaver. Signal strengths and operational details differ, but each can convey your need for rescue and your location to emergency responders.

First-Aid Training
Even though quality kits come with reference materials, getting first-aid training before your trip is a wise move.

A first-aid guide does not convey the true nature of a medical trauma. Training will help you overcome the initial fear and shock of responding to an emergency. Being fully prepared to deal with a serious incident beforehand can make all the difference.

You can also supplement your training by reading wilderness first-aid books.

A backpack is a great piece of gear, but it is more of a specialty item when it comes to camping with our troop. This guide is included as a reference; your backpack purchase will come sometime down the road. A better investment for this point in your scouting career is in a good daypack! The full online
article can be found at https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpack.html. Below are some highlights from that article.

There are three main areas where you’ll need to make choices:

• Backpack capacity: The size pack you’ll need is tied to the length of your trip and how much weight and bulk you want to carry.
• Backpack features: These refinements affect how the pack works for you.
• Backpack fit: Torso length, not your height, matters most.

Types of Backpacks
Weekend (1-3 nights; 30-50 liters)
Efficient packers using newer, less-bulky gear can really keep things light on 1- to 3-night trips by using a pack in this range. Be aware that packing light requires self-discipline and careful planning. If you can pull it off, though, the light-on-your-feet rewards are fantastic.
Multiday (3-5 nights; 50-80 liters)
These are the most popular backpacking packs sold at REI and they’re an excellent choice for warm-weather trips lasting three or more days. 50-80 liter packs are also used for backcountry skiing, for day trips, overnighters and sometimes 2-night trips.
Extended-trip (5+ nights; 70 liters or larger)
Extended trips of 5 days or more usually call for packs of 70 liters or larger. These are also usually the preferred choice for winter treks lasting more than 1 night and adults taking young children backpacking.

Backpack Frame Type
Internal-frame backpacks: The majority of packs sold today are body-hugging internal frame packs that are designed to keep a hiker stable on uneven, off-trail terrain. They may incorporate a variety of load-support technologies that all function to transfer the load to the hips.
External-frame backpacks: An external-frame pack may be an appropriate choice if you’re carrying a heavy, irregular load, like toting an inflatable kayak to the lake
Frameless backpacks: Ultralight devotees who like to hike fast and light might choose a frameless pack or a climbing pack where the frame is removable for weight savings.

Backpack Fit
The right fit is one that offers a size appropriate for your torso length (not your overall height) and a comfortably snug grip on your hips.