• Waterproof jackets – absolutely essential throughout Scouts
• Waterproof trousers – essential when taking part in any hike
• Walking boots – absolutely essential throughout Scouts
• Insulating layers – Fleeces – absolutely essential throughout scouts
• Hats and Gloves - essential throughout Scouts
• Gaitors - essential when taking part in any hike
• Rucksacks – Daysacks – essential when taking part in a hike
• Rucksacks – Expedition Size – essential when taking part in an overnight hike (older Scouts)
• Sleeping Bags – absolutely essential when camping with Scouts
• Stockists

---

Waterproof jackets

Overview

A waterproof jacket is probably the most widely used item of clothing in Scouting. Used on hikes, expeditions, day trips, and on camp it is also one of the most important items of clothing. Having a good waterproof jacket will ensure that you are dry at all times. If you wish to take part in any winter weekends then a good waterproof jacket will be needed otherwise you won’t be allowed to go! The principle aim of a waterproof jacket is to keep you dry. To stay warm you should wear an insulating layer (such as a fleece underneath your waterproof jacket.

The ideal waterproof jacket should essentially be:

• Fully waterproof with taped seams (to prevent water leaking inside the jacket),
• Breathable fabric (so that perspiration can escape through the material)
• Wind-Proof (extremely important when a jacket is wet otherwise it will be very cold due to ‘wind-chill’)

Many jackets on the market claim to have these qualities but few actually work. Jackets with any insulation are rarely waterproof and will retain water and become heavy when wet (although waterproof jackets with zip in fleeces are fine).

Materials

Gore-tex is widely recognised as the best materials on the market although there are other similar products which provide similar protection such as Event Fabric, Aqua-foil and Triple-point Ceramic. Unfortunately Gore Tex jackets also tend to very expensive (£120 - £250). This seems like a large amount of money to pay for a ‘coat’ but it represents a good investment in an item, when you consider that it will keep you dry and lasts for up to 10 years. Jackets made of Gore Tex are recommended for older Scouts and Explorere.

Younger Scouts that are small and likely to grow, should consider buying a larger size that they can grow into the jacket. Isotex and Millatex materials are a good option for younger Scouts. Whilst they are slightly less waterproof than Gore-tex they represent good value for money and cost a lot less (£40 - £80)

What to look for

• The jacket should be a ¾ length and come down to the mid thigh area. This will prevent you getting a wet bottom when you are taking a break or having your lunch, and will stop draughts blowing up your back
• Several pockets to put things into – you don’t want to keep stopping to get something you need regularly out of your bag
• A good fitting hood – this should be made from the same fabric as the rest of the coat and fasten around the chin area so it won’t blow down in winds
• Price – a good general rule that can be used when buying waterproof jackets is to spend as much as your budget will allow. Cheaper jackets usually tend to be of inferior quality to higher priced jackets.

Best Avoided

• Most jackets bought from sports shops – these tend to be shower proof only and will provide no real protection when it rains
• Short jackets/jackets without hoods – these are much more likely to leak water and allow draughts to blow up your back.

How Much?
Waterproof jackets are one of the few items of clothing where price is relative to how waterproof it really is. Aim to spend a minimum of £40 at any good walking shop and you should get a coat that lasts for several years. Older Scouts and Explorers may wish to look to buy budget-end Gore-Tex jackets from approximately £100 upwards.

Recommended
Good – Peter Storm Eriskay Jacket - £36.99
Very Good - Berghaus Boys Altitude Jacket - £59.99
Very Good – North Face Bundary Jacket - £89.99

Back to top

---

Waterproof Trousers

Overview

Waterproof trousers are a piece of equipment that is essential for winter walking and important to keep in your rucksack during the summer. As well as providing good protection against rain, cold and wind they can be as important as a good waterproof jacket in the winter.

Waterproof trousers should be:

• Waterproof (obviously)
• Hardwearing
• Well fitting (not too long in the leg as you may trip over)

Materials

As with waterproof jackets there are a wide range of materials available including Aqua-foil, Event Fabric and Gore-Tex that offer breathabilty as well as being waterproof. We would recommend that the most important aspect of waterproof trousers is a just good fit and that they are waterproof.

What to look for

• Waterproof material with taped seams (to prevent leaks)
• A draw string waist to prevent them falling down (braces can be used)
• A good leg fit – trousers that are too long increase the potential of tripping over
• The crotch area should not be too baggy otherwise it will restrict mobility
• Zips down each leg to aid putting them on whilst wearing boots – having to take off your boots on top of a mountain in heavy rain is NOT a nice experience
• Hardwearing material

Best Avoided

• Trousers without zips on the leg
• Trousers that are too big
• Salopettes – a jacket has to be taken off to remove or put on the trousers which means you will get wet in a rainstorm
• Skiing salopettes / trousers – these are only snow and shower proof and will leak. The lining will get wet and damp and very heavy

How Much
Breathability is not really an important factor when wearing waterproof trousers as you will be cold and wet when you wear them, which means the majority of fabrics available are fine. Aim to spend around £20.

Recommended
Good – Regatta Packaway - £10.00
Excellent – Sprayway Junior Rainpant - £18.00

Back to top

---

Walking Boots

Overview

Walking boots are another staple item of any Scouts equipment. Walking boots are worn in a wide variety of activities including Hiking, Climbing, Camping and Day Trips. Without suitable walking boots you will not be allowed to go on any hike.

A good pair of walking boots should be:

• Supportive around the ankle (particularly important when walking),
• Hard wearing
• Warm
• Waterproof

Materials

There are several different types of walking boot that are available to buy.

Approach shoes resemble trainers in that they offer no ankle support, but are very rugged. They tend not to be waterproof and are only really suitable for flat even ground around camp and not hiking.

Fabric boots tend to be suited to summer walking and are generally not fully waterproof, although there are some boots available in Gore-Tex (but are very expensive). Ideally suited to walking in summer conditions provided there is good ankle support.

Leather walking boots offer a great combination of waterproofing, durability and comfort. They can be worn comfortably in summer and winter conditions and can take Crampons in snowy conditions. We recommend leather walking boots to all scouts regardless of age.

Winter/plastic boots are semi rigid boots suitable for use with Crampons and really should only be considered by adults who are very interested in mountaineering above the snow line in the UK and the Alps.

What to Look For

• Leather boots are the best type of boots for Scouts as they suit virtually all conditions.
• When trying on boots take your proper walking socks to try on with the boots to ensure a good fit.
• The top of the boot should rise above the ankle to offer the maximum support when walking over rough terrain.
• The boots should feel rigid and strong.
• Try not to get boots that are too snug a fit as they are likely to be quickly out-grown. Buying a boot an extra size up can mean they will last longer, and extra socks can be worn in the meantime. Be wary not to buy boots too big as they will not fit properly and could lead to painful blisters!

Best Avoided

• Suede and Nubuck uppers have a tendency to discolour, let in water and are easily scratched / damaged (although they are ok on the collar or tongue of the boot)
• ANY boot that doesn’t cover the ankle – it will not provide the necessary support.
• Boots bought from standard shoe shops are not suited to proper hiking conditions

How Much?
Boots are an item of clothing that can be quickly outgrown so caution should be taken. Try not to spend too much until your foot has stopped growing. A boot costing at least £40-50 from a good walking shop will usually be of good quality, and should last as long as it fits.

Recommended
Very Good – Peter Storm Chiltern - £34.99
Very Good – Hi Tec Eurotrek - £44.99
Excellent – Scarpa Ranger £100.00

Back to top

---

Insulating Layer – Fleece

Overview

Worn underneath a waterproof jacket, an insulating layer is an essential piece of kit when walking, as it provide the wearer with the most warmth. There are numerous types of insulating layers available and a fleece is by the far the best suited for any Scouting activity when you get cold.

An insulating layer should be:

• Warm
• Lightweight
• Quick drying (if it gets wet)
• Durable and hard wearing

Materials
Insulating layers are usually inexpensive and made of synthetic fabrics. Whilst wool is an ideal insulator it can be expensive, have complicated cleaning instructions, and be very itchy to wear. Synthetic fabrics offer the same warmth even when wet and usually dry a lot quicker than either wool or cotton. Cotton is an extremely poor insulator as it retains water when wet (through perspiration or rain) and is often colder than if it wasn’t worn at all!

What to look for

• Synthetic materials are the best value for money
• Nice thick pile on the inside of the fleece to keep warm air close to the body
• A full length zip down the front to ease temperature regulation. Half zips are difficult to regulate your body temperature
• A tall collar to cover the neck and ear area
• Pockets to keep your hands warm

Best Avoided

• Any jumper made of cotton – it is heavy and cold when wet and takes longer to dry than synthetic materials
• Sleeveless fleeces – your arms are likely to get cold and it is easier to roll your sleeves up if you’re warm
• Hoodies – these don’t sit under a waterproof very well, and the hood can get damp. It is much easier to wear a hat!

How Much?
Fleeces vary in price but all perform the same type of task. Aim to spend £10-20 on a thick fleece to get the best value.

Recommended
Best – Quechua Forclaz 200Jr - £8.95
Good – Peter Storm Liquorice Fleece - £16.99
Excellent – Berghaus Scramble - £19.99 - £29.99

Back to top

---

Gaitors

Overview

Gaitors are a type of protective clothing worn over walking boots covering the ankle of the boot up to just below the knee. They are important items of clothing to wear in wet and muddy conditions, as they prevent water entering the top of the boot. They also prevent irritation from heather and thorny undergrowth.

A good pair of gaitors should be:

• Hard wearing
• Waterproof
• Long enough to cover the boot from the bottom of the laces to just under the knee

Materials

Gaitors can be made of a range of materials including Cordura, Nylon or even Gore Tex (though these can be expensive). Provided they fit correctly and are hard wearing then most of the gaitors on the market are suitable for Scout use.

What to Look For

• Tough hard wearing material
• Front zips to make them easier to put on
• A Velcro flap covering the zip to prevent water and snow leaking inside
• A hard wearing rubber stirrup going under the sole
• Good tight fit over the boot
• Ample room for you calves to fit inside the gaitor

Best Avoided

• Ankle gaitors as they only rise to the mid calf area and offer less protection than a full gaitor.
• Thin materials that are likely to snag on thorns or rip

How Much

Gaitors are relatively cheap and are a cost effective addition to walking equipment when it is wet underfoot but not wet enough for waterproof trousers. Aim to spend around £10-15.

Recommended
Excellent – Karrimor Gaitor - £17.99
Excellent – Mountainlife Nevis Gaitor - £14.00

Back to top

---

Hats and Gloves

 

Overview

Hats and gloves are important in really cold conditions. The body loses as much as 40% of its total body heat through the head so a good warm hat is very important. Cold wet hands make opening rucksacks and water bottles very difficult so warm and waterproof gloves will prevent numb fingers.

Materials

As with insulating layers, the best materials are usually wool or synthetic materials. Hats do not have to be waterproof as you can put the hood from your waterproof jacket over it. Gloves on the other hand are usually exposed to the elements and may come into contact with cold and wet rock, so they need to have some water repellancy. Look for a warm fleecy inner or a Thinsulate label. There are some materials on the market which are not completely waterproof but extremely warm when wet and are a good alternative.

What to look for

• Hats – warm material which fits adequately over the head covering the ears. If it is too large it may blow off in windy conditions
• Gloves – waterproof material with a thick warm lining. Should be hard wearing. Ski gloves are acceptable.

Best Avoided

• Cotton hats are cold and heavy when wet. Stick to synthetic fibres.
• Large ‘comedy ski hats’ are good fun, but in wet conditions they won’t fit under a hood. Best to keep it simple.
• Cheap cotton gloves are relatively warm in dry conditions but are useless in the wet.

How Much

Relatively cheap although some gloves can be as much as £30. Aim to spend about £10-15.

Recommended

Good Hat – Trekmate Classic Fleece Hat - £10
Good Gloves – Trekmate Dry Grippi Gloves - £14.99

Back to top

---

Rucksack

A rucksack is a piece of equipment any scout should not be without as they can be used for any scouting activity. Throughout scouting you will need a small size Daysack for hiking, day trips and carrying your packed lunch. As you progress through Scouting you will also need a larger Rucksack capable of carrying everything you need for an overnights stay (ie food, tent, stove and clothing). These large Rucksacks are also good to use on summer camp for putting all of your clothes in, and even for when you go on holiday. The two types of sacks you will need are described below.

Daysacks

Overview

The ideal size of a Daysack is a 25-30 litre model. This will be adequate for containing everything you need over a full day. It should have two shoulder straps so it can be comfortably carried over long distance, and some even have waist straps, but for a rucksack of this size of it is not essential. There should also be a few pockets to put drinks, snacks, medication and any other small items so that you don’t have to dig around in the main compartment looking for things. Some rucksacks also have straps on the side to allow equipment to be strapped onto your sack, although this is not essential.

Materials

Rucksacks all tend to be made of similar materials – cordura, canvas or heavy duty cotton. The inside of this fabric is usually coated in plastic to maintain water repellancy (although it is NOT fully waterproof – a plastic bin liner/rucksack liner should always be used to line the inside of your bag). The back area that lies against your back should be padded, as should the shoulder straps. Trying on the rucksack will ensure that it fits well against the back, and that the shoulder straps can be properly tightened. A rucksack with zips into the main compartment usually leak so a drawstring top covered by a large buckle down lid are preferable in most cases although bags with zips that are covered by a flap are ok.

What to look for

• 25-30 litre capacity – if the rucksack volume isn’t stated on the label then it is not a hiking rucksack.
• Padded back and shoulder pads
• Pockets to keep small items separate and to allow easy access
• A draw string top with a large buckle down lid

Best Avoided

• High street sports bags with zips that aren’t covered by a flap – not waterproof and not suitable when packed for a day hike
• Any bag that doesn’t have padded shoulder straps, back, or a proper waterproof lid
• Bags that are smaller than 25 litres – it is better to have a bag that is too large than to have a small bag that is stuffed so full you can’t close it properly!

How much

These bags are relatively cheap and easy to purchase in any good walking shop. Anything around £15-20 should do the job.

Recommended

Good – Mountainlife Warp 25 - £12.99
Excellent – Mountainlife High 30 - £24.99

Expedition Size

Overview

Expedition sacks are much larger than Daysacks because they will need to hold a lot more items, and are usually used when going on an overnight hike. The ideal size for an expedition sack is approximately 65 litres, and it should have a large main compartment with several small pockets. The shoulder straps and back area should be well padded and comfortable, and the rucksack should fit comfortably on the back without interfering with the way you walk.

Materials

As with Daysacks the material should be thick and hard wearing with waterproof coating inside.

What to look for

• Size of approximately 65 litres
• Good padding on the shoulders and back
• Padded waist strap – these disperse some of the rucksack weight onto your hips and make carrying a full pack easier.
• Nice comfortable fit
• Loops to fit straps on for carrying gear outside of the rucksack such as a karrimat or walking poles

Best avoided

Much smaller/larger capacity rucksacks – the bigger the rucksack the more you will fill it!

How much?

These rucksacks are a little more expensive than smaller Daysacks but can double up as bags to take your gear into camp, or even when you go on holiday. Aim to spend around £40.

Recommended

Good – Eurohike Pathfinder 65 - £29.99
Excellent – Vango Contour 65 - £42.99

Back to top

---

Sleeping Bags

Overview

Any Scout that goes on camp will need a sleeping bag to keep them warm at night. There are generally two different types of sleeping bag – rectangular shaped sleeping bags that are generally thin and only intended for caravan/warm camping use and ‘mummy shaped’ sleeping bags that are thick and warm, and intended for actual camping use. The mummy shaped bags are the best choice for camping as they are close fitting and warm.

Materials

Sleeping bags are usually made of a nylon outer shell and a cotton/nylon innershell. The filling is usually made of a synthetic material although some sleeping bags have a ‘down’ filling made of goose feathers and down and are usually warmer. Synthetic bags are also easier to look after as they can usually be machine washed, whereas down sleeping bags may have to be dry cleaned. On all suitable sleeping bags there should be a ‘season’ rating (on a scale of 1 – 4 with 1 being suitable for summer only and 4 being suitable for cold winters) or a temperature rating (eg –10 degrees centigrade to 5 degrees centigrade). A good rule to work to is to try and buy a bag that is at least 3 season or has a comfort rating below zero degrees centigrade. This way it is suitable for very cold nights but can be opened on hot summer nights. It is much better to be a roast chicken than a frozen turkey!

What to look for

• Mummy shaped sleeping bag
• At least three seasons or a temperature rating of below zero degreees centigrade.
• A ‘hood’ with a drawstring to keep your head warm
• A ‘compression sack’ sack to keep the sleeping bag in. This compression sack should have buckles that you can use to tighten up the stored sleeping bag and reduce its size (especially useful when going on an overnight hike).

Best Avoided

• Rectangular shaped sleeping bags – they are usually very large and lose heat quickly.
• One or two season bags are not suitable in all but the nicest conditions (a wet night on Summer Camp can be very cold!)
• Sleeping bags without hoods – your head will get cold!
• Sleeping bags without stuff sacks – if your sleeping bag does have a safe and secure bag it might get muddy when being transported to and from camp.

How Much

Sleeping bags can vary in price depending on whether they have a synthetic or down filling. For scouts it is best to buy an adult sized sleeping bag that they can grow into. Aim to spend any where up to £40.

Recommended

Good – Mountainlife Summit 300 - £25.99
Excellent – Blue Mountain Sky 350 - £40.00

Back to top

---

Stockists

It is always important that you try on any specialist outdoor equipment BEFORE you buy it, to ensure a good fit and to check the quality of the product. However there are some great deals to be found on the internet. A good tip is to have a look at the items you like in the shops and find the right size. Then make a note of the manufacturer, model, size and colour from the label and search for a good deal on the internet. Below is a list of recommended suppliers:

• Decathlon –Low priced, great value basics
• Millets – Mid priced, good quality products
• Blacks – Mid priced, good quality products
• Mountain Warehouse – Mid priced, good quality products
• Cotswolds – Outdoor specialists, excellent quality products
• Field and Trek – Outdoor specialists, excellent quality products
• George Fischer – Outdoor specialists, excellent quality products
• Any other good general walking shops that have a wide range of camping gear

Back to top