Recommended Scouting Kit

When joining Scouting, there is a range of outdoors equipment that may be needed for various camps and activities.

Below is a list (organised by section) of some of the common essential items, as well as where you may find it.

General Tips:

• Many outdoor suppliers will give discounts of 10-15% for Scouts if asked. You may want to bring your Scout Necker when shopping in person to prove you are within Scouting.
• Please label all items with your child’s name in a prominent position so they know what belongs to them.
• When purchasing online, check out reviews before you buy to gauge the quality of the items.
• If in doubt, you can always check with the relevant leaders for advice.

Outdoor Equipment Suppliers

There are many places you can purchase equipment from, including:

• Online Scout Shop (shop.scouts.org.uk) – The official Scout Association shop. Particularly pay attention to the items listed as “Recommended for DofE or Scouts”.
• Go Outdoors (gooutdoors.co.uk) – Go Outdoors give discounts to members, and will often price match from elsewhere if shown proof, so can be a useful place to buy equipment from. If shopping in person, there are nearby branches in Wigan and Warrington.

Sections

Item-specific Guidance

Rucksacks

• A 60-70 litre rucksack is recommended for nights away by the time your child is in Scouts.
• If planning to go on expeditions, a rucksack with lots of padding and adjustable back support is preferable.
• If your rucksack isn’t waterproof, a rain cover and/or bin-bag lining inside your bag can help prevent your items from getting wet.

Sleeping Bags

• For Scouting, a 3-4 or 4 season sleeping bag is recommended, as 1 or 2 season sleeping bags will not be warm enough.
• Packing your sleeping bag in an additional carrier bag can help to prevent it from getting wet.

Roll Mat

• These are useful as they provide a thermal barrier between yourself and the ground.
• There are two types:
  • Self-inflating roll mat
  • Foam roll mat (Generally cheaper and lighter to carry)
• Either type is suitable for Scouting activities.

Outdoor Clothing

• Clothes that dry quickly are ideal. Avoid materials like denim that will be heavy when wet and dry slowly.
• Wearing multiple thin layers allows you to layer up and remove them if they get wet.

Waterproof Clothing

• If you get a waterproof coat larger than you require, you can wear multiple layers of clothing underneath. A thin waterproof coat works better for this purpose.

Footwear

• When buying boots it is important that they are breathable but also waterproof.
• Fabric boots are often more immediately comfortable than leather boots and require less care.
• Wear multiple pairs of socks (thick and thin) to help prevent the boots from rubbing against your feet.
• Break new shoes in by wearing them for a couple of days before taking part in activities with them to make them more comfortable.

Water Bottles

• Metal or flexible plastic water bottles are recommended.
• Avoid hard plastic as it may crack when dropped.
• For hot drinks, a hard plastic or insulated mug is recommended.