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Hiking/Camp Pack ideas (Gear Talk)

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1:48 pm
March 15, 2010

bryanspellman

Fishers, IN

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posts 97

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Hey all,

trying to get the Troop to go light…even though we are a car camping Troop (for now) I am trying to get the guys to think smaller and lighter. I have one Scout who brings a footlocker for a weekend trip. We've gone to small 2 man tents with little room for gear.

Now I back all my gear (with tent, bag, pad and chair) into one backpack. Now I am trying to show the guys how to have a small camp pack or hike pack. Pretty much the essentials (poncho, water, food, 1st aid kit, food,etc) to carry on our hikes or to have ready to "go" outside of the quick pack of change of clothes, sleeping bag etc you need. Any ideas on the type of bag to get?

We are also going to Gettysburg in October so I am trying to train these guys to have a small bag all day while on the trail….dont want TOO big of a Day Pack, which is why I am trying to call it a Camp Pack or Hiking Bag (no overnights with it)…

thanks in advance gear junkies :)

YIS

Bryan

Father of an Eagle Scout : Scoutmaster, Troop 199 Fishers, IN : Eagle Scout Class of '88 : Co-Host of Scout Nation : Twitter @bryanspellman : http://www.troop199.org

4:47 pm
March 15, 2010

Scouter_Garry

SATX

PTC Boy Scout

posts 106

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I've been thinking about how to slim down my troop as well. I hate to think I really need a Kelty Super Tioga for a weekend trip.

So first I am working on slimming down my own gear.
Second, I am working on finding a 2000 to 3000 cu in Duffle bag for Pgear – sleeping bag.
Third Make said duffle available to the troop at a low cost with logo and personalized.

I am hoping that when we can get them out to the troop they become the weekend bag.

If you can get the feature package you want in a day pack try a bulk order with a few extra for the troop stores. That way the boys get the size you want at a discount.

11:53 am
May 11, 2010

SM Shawn

Green Bay, WI

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posts 483

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In reply to Bryan's post, check into ALPS Mountaineering. I have tents and sleeping bags from them, and I am very pleased with the quality of the items, and the prices can't be beat.

I say that, as they offer scouts a generous discount. All you have to do is belong to a scouting unit, and be trustworthy. What I mean by trustworthy, is, don't order a bunch of gear for your buddies so that your annual hunting party is a success because of how much money you saved on gear. And don't go into a retail store to ask about the scout discount, because they only offer the scout discount directly through ALPS.

You have to do it through this LINK. This will get you on their email list, to receive the product information. And the email information isn't sold…it's used to contact you, and that's it.

They are an old-fashioned company, where you call in your orders…no fancy website ordering.

They offer a wide range of packs, internal and external, with varying sizes, depending on your hiking needs. You can see all of their products HERE.

Host of the True North Podcast
Co-Host of Scout Nation
Scoutmaster
Dad and Husband…

12:02 am
May 12, 2010

MISS Liberty

California

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posts 231

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I know this question comes up a lot but – where's a good place to purchase a backpack? I need one. Is purchasing a backpack online viable, or is it a peice of gear that really needs to be "tried on for size"?

What's a reasonable price range for a decent backpack? I really want to participate in more backpack trips with my boys, so I think I should probably work on getting the gear.

For now, they're only doing short beginner trips – 3 miles in, 3 miles out type things, so I don't need anything amazing, just some good starter equipment. Suggestions? Shawn. Dude. Help me out. Make me a shopping list! :)

"[S]He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which." ~ Douglas Adams

9:53 am
May 12, 2010

Scouter_Garry

SATX

PTC Boy Scout

posts 106

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I recently purchased an Osprey Atmos 50. It will be great for the small weekend hikes once I get some other gear slimmed down. I went to a local store and had them size me first so I knew what size of pack I needed. I am very happy that I did.

So here are the things I learned… Unfortunately, I am most decidely a XL. So very few smaller packs fit well. The Osprey Atmos and several other brands / lines change volume with frame size. The Atmos 50 with 3 sizes ranges from 2800 to 3200cu.inches or 47 to 53 liters. Even loaded with gear the Large Atmos 50 fit reasonablly ok. I tried on 15 packs in the 50 liter range to find this out. Was the store upset at all the time I took? No, the guy helping me didn't work on commission. Also, in the time I was looking around I also spent $180 on other stuff they offered.

While at a store you will pay the same price for any color of the pack, On the internet different colors can come with different prices. The retail price was $199.99, but on the internet the gold pack was $139.99.The other colors were sold out and / or $199.99.

So my advice in the end is to get fitted try to make a decision on the pack locally and verify your getting a deal on the internet.

12:25 pm
May 12, 2010

SM Shawn

Green Bay, WI

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posts 483

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You probably be doing more trail hiking, than mountain climbing. If that's the case, then look at the Kelty Yukon 2900 or the Kelty Trekker 3900. I have the 3900, and it's just a shade too big for my 11 year old [he's about 4' 8"]. It's an external frame pack, and that is what I recommend for new scouts/scouters…it will balance better on your back, and you have the ability to lash things to it, if needed.

Unless you are doing a lot of rock/mountain climbing, a beginner would be more apt to go external…SM Jerry will recommend that too…he only went internal as he is a more experienced backpacker, and fell in love with the internal frame pack that he has. He had been in a Kelty Tioga 5500 that served him well for many years.

Here is a gear list that I send out for my scouts. Let me know if you can't open/download the file. Otherwise, just go to our troop page, and look under "Documents" and there is an updated one with today's [5.12.2010] date.

The total comes out to $374 to outfit a person. Based on that document, you can go cheaper by…

*not getting a water filtering system – $63

*getting the GSI Soloist – $20

*getting a Lynx 2 AL tent – $10

*getting a higher degree-rated bag – $??? [depends on the bag that you get]

Off the top, you can save about $100…the saving grace to that cost was the new pack from ALPS, $72 can't be beat.

A couple of other necessary items

*water bottle

*rain gear

*stuff sacks

*sleeping pad

*first aid kit [include moleskin]

*firestarter kit [waterproof matches and baggie full of dryer lint]

*flashlight [candle lanterns are nice, but not in the tent Wink ]

If you want to see a comprehensive list on what is recommended, go over to http://www.scoutlists.com, and that will help you build your backpack.

Is that a good hookup, Libs? I can do more…

As for what Garry said, if you have a chance to get one of these packs fitted, do it…no need to buy, but getting fitted is good…then shop online, if needed…otherwise, like I stated earlier in this thread, I like ALPS…and they do have internal framed packs, if that is what you really want. I thought that I did, realized that I love my external frame better…plus the cocky, smug salesman made me mad when he said that Kelty was doing away with external frame packs. [He was wrong, Kelty verified this for me on the phone]

Host of the True North Podcast
Co-Host of Scout Nation
Scoutmaster
Dad and Husband…

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