19 September 2009
Backpack Indexing
Posted by admin under: Equipment .
I’ve been in Scouting for 12 years now. Got involved as an adult. Never went camping on the short 1 year stint I had in Cub Scouts as a kid. So, I feel like I’ve acquired some cool gear: a real backpack instead of my old school day pack, a hand-me-down sleeping bag (that’s a pun; it’s actually made with down), foam mat, and my pride – titanium tent stakes. So, you’ll understand why I have such respect for other campers like Scoutmaster Jerry who knows who manufactured each piece of his gear and has a specific list of everything he takes instead of looking in his closet for what’s clean like I do. That’s why I want to direct you to look at his “what’s in my backpack now” post. It’s a great reference for what you should probably consider acquiring for yourself. He’s always been very responsive and if you ask him what something costs or where he got it, five will get you ten that he’ll give you the answer.
I’ll only excerpt what’s appropriate for the current season, but he’s got a lot more variation based on how the weather turns up.
Most Backpackers are always tweeking their gear, replacing old stuff with new, looking for lighter, tougher, more useful (multi use) and of course just plain cool gear.
Recently I upgraded some gear, namely my backpack.
After years of carrying my Kelty External Frame Tioga 5500 I have switched to an internal frame pack. Now, before anyone says I jumped ship on my philosophy of External frame packs being better for younger bodies or beginning Backpackers.. Stop. I still believe that. External frame packs offer a much easier platform for the beginner and the young Scout to load and carry.
…
Pack: Mountain Hard wear Koa 55
Camptrials pack cover
Tent: MSR Hubba
Sleeping Bag: Marmot Sawtooth 15 degree
Bag liner (10 Extra degrees)
Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Z lite
Water pump: MSR Sweetwater
Cook gear:
Stove: Snow Peak Giga Power
GSI Soloist cook system
Guyot Designs -The Utensils (Spork and Spatula)
Platypus Water Bladders (2 Liters X 2)
Fuel canister
Little Stuff:
Compass- Silva
Light My Fire Fire steel Scout
REI Storm Proof matches
First Aid kit (personalized)
What about clothing? Click over to see what goes on him. I like that he has at least three ways to start a fire (he later references carrying a bic lighter in addition to the sparker and matches). Jerry’s not going to get caught without a way to stay warm and cook, nuh-uh. My kind of guy.
- Don’t Waste Fuel
- 10% Off Cool Stuff Courtesy of Gear Talk
- Boys’ Life Backpack Video
- Hooked on Kid Camping
- Gear Junkie’s Top Ten of the Year
