So You Want to Go Backpacking Part 1

1
So You Want to Go Backpacking?! Part 1

• Got Your Gear?
• Know What to Buy?
• What Do You Really Need?

2
First, You Need a Backpack

• Internal
• Compression straps

• External
• Tie on extra gear

3
Backpacks 101
4
Backpacks 101

• Get fitted at REI.
• Shop around (Campmor, Academy, Gander Mtn)
• If external frame purchase straps for sleeping
  bag/tent
• Dont use bungies (lost, need strength, only 1
  use)
• Slice/melt and attach to frame to prevent loss.

5
Backpacks 101

• Brands?
• Top rated are
• Gregory
• Kelty
• Dana Designs
• Toughest pack ArcTeryx Bora (Backpacker 2/2005)
• I recommend
• External Kelty Tioga/Super Tioga
• Internal Kelty Coyote/Red Cloud

6
Backpacks 101

• Top rated are
• Gregory (Forrester or Shasta Tough. Top sellers.
  Wt 5 lb 8oz 249.95)
• Kelty (Red cloud/Coyote 4750. Several scouts have
  this. Wt 5 lb 6 oz. 119.99)
• Dana Designs. Contact Bud Kent
• Toughest pack ArcTeryx Bora (Backpacker 2/2005)
• Waterproof zippers. Wt. 6 lb 9oz. Padding,
  adjustments. 375.00
• I recommend
• External Kelty Tioga/Super Tioga
• Internal Kelty Coyote/Red Cloud

7
Backpacks 101

• Adult backpack recommendation
• Kelty Shadow 4750
• Weight 3 pounds 10 oz.
• 2 pounds less than most
• 160 range
• Scouts
• Kelty Coyote
• Weight 5 pounds, 6 ounces
• 119
• 3700 and 4700 cu inches

8
Backpacks 101

• Adult backpack recommendation
• Purchase name brand.
• Kelty sells smaller hip belts
• Get a womens as exchange
• Scouts
• Kelty Coyote
• Weight 5 pounds, 6 ounces
• 119
• 3700 and 4700 cu inches

9
Loading the Pack- Bottom to Top

• Sleeping bags
• Critical element
• Leave summer camp bag at home
• Weight
• Bulk
• Warmth
• A bargain might not be a bargain- do your
  research and get what you need/want the first
  time.

10
What Do You Really Need?

• Rating of 15-20 degrees
• Less than 4 pounds
• Mummy (hood) style
• 2-way zipper
• Full length draft tube (zipper cover)
• Offset quilting (inside/outside)

• Stuffing- go with hollow
• Hollofil II
• Quallofil
• Thermolite
• Polarguard 3D is best
• NOT down
• Cold when wet.
• Expensive
• Cost
• 35-50 for starters

11
What Does It All Look Like?

• Both rated to 20 degrees
• Note offset quilting (although parallel)
• Mummy bag has stuff holder pouch for pillow
  underneath (cool feature in some Sierra Designs)
• Note yellow zipper tube for warmth

12
Recommendations

• Favorite Companies
• The North Face
• Sierra Designs
• Kelty
• Marmot

• 54 prefer down
• 46 prefer synthetics
• Source Backpacker magazine Feb 2005
• Get the ONE you will use forever the first time.

13
How Do You Store It?

• Expanded. Unstuffed.
• Inside backpack.
• Bigger the better

How Do You Carry It?

• Get a compression sack 15-25.00
• Hard for young scouts-have to teach it (crush
  between knees and chest

14
What About a Sleeping Pad?

• Therm-a-rest is best.
• Self inflating
• Light weight
• Save up and get what you really want
• Easy to repair-duct tape
• Gift idea - patch kit 8.00

35.00 and 15 oz
30.00 and 24 oz
15
What About a Sleeping Pad?
Roll cover/Pillow stuff 17 4 oz.

• Full length for Alaska
• ¾ Length good-stuff clothes under feet
• Thinner is lighter ¾
• Some models fold in ½ lengthwise and can be
  rolled to 4x10
• Get the chair!
• Store unrolled/inflated
• Valve open

Avoid mesh (punctures) Fits 20 wide 30.00 10
oz.
16
What About a Sleeping Pad?

• So what do you buy?
• Therm-a-Rest
• ¾ length
• Prolight series (59)
• Rolls 11 x 3.5 11oz
• Stuff sack or pillow/roll cover
• Chair (when older/experienced)
• Get what you want first time

Roll cover/Pillow stuff 17 4 oz.
17
Buy what you want the first time

• 59 too much? Willing to carry something less
  expensive? Tip
• Campmor has seconds. ¾ length pad, 1 about
  25-35
• Web deals only.

18
Tents- Weight Against Body

• 2-man
• 2-vestibule
• Skip the footprint (use plastic)
• Stay under 6 lbs
• Aluminum poles
• Get a vented rainfly
• 3 season works well
• 110 on sale- 129 regular
• Kelty Gunnison or
• REI half-dome (outsells all other tents REI sells
  31)

• Carry trash bag for wet tent

19
What Is the Goal of the Big Three?

• Pack, sleeping bag and tent portion
• Target goal
• Less than 10 pounds COMBINED.
• Control what you can when purchasing.
• Not always possible to reach this goal.

20
Clothing Goes in Next

• Pack for the season-but remember the BSA motto
• Be prepared!
• Photo taken in Colorado on June 21 (first day of
  summer) Temp 20. Note bare feet.

21
Clothing Goes in Next-against Back

• Pack for the season-but remember the BSA motto
• Be prepared!
• Photo taken in Colorado on June 21 (first day of
  summer)

22
Clothing From the Feet Up

• Socks
• Liners
• Polypropylene
• Wool
• Avoid Wool blends with cotton
• Smartwool best (particularly Expedition)
• Can be expensive
• How many?
• 3 liners and 2 Wool for a 2 week trip.

23
Underwear

• Yes wear it.
• Boxer type helps reduce chaffing.
• Avoid cotton but pricey.
• 7-50

24
Long Underwear

• Polypropylene pants
• For 20-40 degrees price 10
• Silk
• For 20-30oF -hard to care for- 22
• Expedition weight-usually with a wool inner layer
• (For 0-20 degrees)
• 30 (a great bargain in April)
• I own these, to hot in them.
• Hot chilis (Joe McC. recommends)

25
Pants

• Zip offs great
• Bring two uppers?
• 1 pair of lowers
• Note cargo pockets
• Zip off over boots
• Buy quality soft nylon
• Treat with Scotchguard

26
T-shirt

• Under armor type
• Short sleeve/long sleeve
• Wicking is key
• Bright colors
• RED (hunting season)
• Need 2 for a week long trek and a 3rd just to
  sleep in

27
So You Want to Go Backpacking?! Part 2

• Torso Rain Gear
• More Gear
• Packing Your Pack

28
Torso Layers

• Lightweight polypropylene is perfect for any
  moderate activity in cold weather.
• 100 percent polypropylene with Transpor movement
  technology.
• Flatlock seam construction.
• Avg. Wt. 6 oz.
• Single layer
• 10.00 now (7.00 in spring)

29
Torso Layers 2

• Expedition weight (0-20 degrees) polypropylene is
  best suited for low to moderate aerobic
  activities in very cold weather.
• 100 percent Innova polyolefin.
• Smooth outer surface with fleeced inner.
• Flatlock seam construction for comfort.
• Avg. Wt. 12oz.
• 2 layers.
• 30.00 now (10 in spring)

30
Light Wind Layer

• Nylon LS Shirt (Magellan type)
• Avg. Wt. 9 oz.
• Can be pricey (25-50)
• Beware venting in back (not mosquito proof)
• Good choice, reduces wind, gives sun protection,
  some mosquito resistance

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Warm Outer Layer- Vest

• Polartek 200 (hollow fiber)
• 6 oz.
• Not the 100 count fleece
• Cost 14.99 (sale)
• A sweater is the traditional layer, but heavier
  than vest.
• Most people warm enough with out the vest layer.

32
Outer Layer for Warmth- Fleece

• Get a fleece with pockets.
• Pull over warmer than one with a full zipper
• Polartek 200.
• Wt 12 oz. 21.00
• Dont bring cotton hoddie

33
Windproof Layer

• Suggest a windbreaker/rain jacket to do double
  duty
• Get one big enough for layering
• Can be expensive
• Best Marmot Precip 80

34
Windproof Layer

• Med Red ledge 50
• Breathable fabric
• Arm pit zips
• Pockets inside chest
• Folds into side pocket- very compact
• Get breathable pants

35
Windproof Layer- Buy the Pants Too

• Med Red ledge 50
• Breathable fabric
• Arm pit zips-nice
• Pockets inside chest
• Note Pack cover
• Get one that fits
• Great gift item
• Cheaper-Trash bag works too

Get the pants that zip all the way on/off (avoid
this)
36
Windproof Layer

• Competing brands- Frog skins (note mottled
  coloring)
• Cheaper than others, might not be a durable?

37
Windproof Layer

• Low Vinyl
• Can tear
• Not really durable
• Heavy
• Nonbreathable
• Cost 10
• Get Frog Skins instead of vinyl-or spend a little
  more for Red Ledge.

38
Rainproof Layer

• Low Poncho
• Can tear
• Not really durable
• Heavy
• Nonbreathable
• Not really wind top layer
• Cost 10
• Does it work? Yes, note the length and trash bag
  pack cover.
• Cheapest, but not as many uses personal choice.
• Use it at home first.

39
How Cold Is This System Good To?

• About 20 degrees
• Additional items- all would make good gifts
• Gloves
• Fleece or Poly. work- light weight but hard to
  find
• Consider a fishing glove
• Hat
• Knit/ Wool/ Poly
• Baklava (face/ neck/ hair cover)
• Sun/ Rain Hat
• Beyond the ball cap, should protect ears
• Vented
• Not cotton

40
How Cold Is This System Good To?

• Gloves
• Fleece or Poly. work-
• light weight but hard to find
• Get ones with a waterproof cover.
• For some treks, cotton work gloves (spray
  treated)
• Simpler solution (wear socks on hands)

41
How Cold Is This System Good To?

• Warm Hat
• Knit/ Wool/ Poly
• Baklava (face/ neck/ hair cover)
• Open face more comfortable than just eye slit

42
How Cold Is This System Good To?

• Can do some double duty (little warm, sun and
  rain protection
• Sun/ Rain Hat
• Beyond the ball cap, should protect ears
• Vented
• Not cotton

43
What Goes on Top of Pack?

• Food
• Pots
• Stove
• Fuel (wrap in plastic if liquid)
• Troop gear (rain tarp, rope)

44
What About Water?

• Nalgene bottles-
• Dont wrap with duct tape (Philmont x)
• Get 2- use 1 for powdered drinks
• Platypus- tough, but small mouth
• Camelback- nice, but not a must have
• Use a bottled water bottle-lighter and free (mark
  it for cups)

Carry against body
45
Water Recommendations
Carry against body

• 49 use bottles
• 51 use bladders

46
You Need Light

• Buy what you really want the first time
• Consider micro lights for weight/backup
• 20 (2 AAA)
• 10 (2 AA)
• 5
• 8 (1 AAA)
• 3 (watch)

47
What I Dont Carry- What I Do Carry

• Great gift idea
• A micro leatherman
• Leatherman tool (already put in crew first aid
  kit)

48
What I Dont Carry- What I Do Carry

• Great gift idea
• A micro leatherman
• Leatherman tool (already put in crew first aid
  kit)

49
More Needed Items

• Pump mosquito spray Personal first aid kit

50
More Needed Items

• Bowl/Cup/Spoon Waterproof matches

• No plate
• No fork
• No knife

51
More Needed Items

• 50-100 of Parachute cord (woven better than
  poly- can unravel it and use for thread)

52
Nice Gift Items

• Backpacking towel (nice to have) Thermometer

A Bandana works too
53
Other Items/gift ideas?

• Disposable camera
• Handkerchief
• TP with Trowel
• Biodegradable soap
• Chap stick
• Lotrimine
• Second skin

• Hand cream?
• Sun screen
• Bullfrog spray
• Contact lens fluid
• Compass w/ Mirror
• Carry items with multiple uses
• Use mirror with contacts

54
Any Other Ideas?

• Still need a gift idea?
• Backpacker Magazine
• Book A Walk in the Woods
• Book Into Thin Air
• Book The Complete Walker
• DVD Into the Void

• Water Treatment tablets
• Yes- Filters work but weigh 1 lb.
• Campmor catalog (read and use as a fire starter)

55
Where Can You Get All This?

• www.campmor.com 1-800-226-7667
• (hiking camping equip.)
• www.rei.com New store- near Willowbrook Mall
• 17717 Tomball Parkway (290) (just S of 1960)
• (hiking camping equip.)
• Gander Mountain (I-45 and 2920)
• Offer a Scout discount (10, bring your
  card/uniform shirt)

56
Now That You Have It How Do You Pack It?

• Heavy items against back
• Pay special attention to where you are carrying
  water.
• Tricks for a pack that does not fit (yet)
• Duct tape a towel around the hip belt
• Contact company, trade for Womens hip belt
• The most important item Boots
• Scout Coleman seem to be boot of choice, around
  40-Academy
• Adult Spend the money, go to REI and get fitted.
• Vasque Sundowner-1 piece leather upper top seller
  since 1984

57
What Else Do We Need?

• There are many good lists available. Check your
  Scout Handbook for good ideas

How Much Is Too Much?

• 25 of your weight. For a 100 pound Scout, the
  Most he can comfortably carry is 25 pounds
• 1/3 is the Maximum he should have at anytime

58
What About Troop Backpacking Gear?

• Stove
• Liquid fuel
• MSR Whisperlite
• Canister
• MSR Pocket Rocket
• Only fits MSR tanks
• Superfly (fits all canisters)
• Both are top sellers

59
What About Trekking Poles?

• Nice on mountains, otherwise save the 100
• More of an Adult item

Most Important- Have fun the first time so you
will do it again!
60
Remember the key is fun We want you to go more
than once

• Dont buy everything at once
• Borrow items first
• Make do a few times

You can't bring it all but plan to bring
enough Be prepared.