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For a quick checklist of personal camping equipment, look here. You can find a printable copy of this webpage here. REI maintains and "Expert Advice" section on their website that addresses outdoor equipment selection. Here is a link to the learning section of the REI website where you can find a link to the expert advice section. You can find good product information sheets in REI stores that cover a range of topics from sleeping pads to climbing harnesses. These information sheets compare key attributes of products from capacity to price.
Troop 467 camps out monthly from September through May. In the summer, the troop attends summer camp and goes on at least one high adventure trip. During a car campout, the troop stays close to civilization and camps either near the vehicles used for transportation or a very short walk from them. For car camping (sometimes called “trunk camping”), the weight and bulk of camping equipment is not important since nothing has to be carried very far. Backpacking trips involve excursions to remote areas. Since a Scout has to carry everything in a backpack to a backcountry campsite, weight and size of equipment are very important. Backpacking trips call for equipment that is selected for weight, need and size. KEEP YOUR BACKPACK LIGHT! Your backpack should weigh no more than 20% to 25% of your body weight. The Boy Scout Handbook contains a lot of useful information about hiking, camping and cooking. See the chapters in the section entitled “Scouting’s Skills – Ready for the Great Outdoors” for this information. There is a lot of personal preference that goes into selecting camping gear. Over time, a Scout will arrive at a set of gear that is just right for him. If you are a new Scout, or your Scout is not at that point, Jerry Goldwasser, an assistant Scoutmaster with the troop, will consult with you about camping gear and can put you on the right track. Some local places for camping gear are:
Some online places to shop for camping gear are: The following discussion assumes cold weather camping in the Georgia climate. Adjustments should be made for camping in other seasons although nights in the mountains of Georgia in the spring and fall can be cold. The “Outdoor Essentials” should be taken on all campouts. These tools may help get you out of a difficult situation. The Outdoor Essentials 
Clothing When dressing for a camping trip, dress in layers. This is especially important in cold weather. The layer closest to your skin should wick moisture away from your skin. The next layer should provide warmth in cold weather. The outer layer will be exposed directly to the elements, so this final layer should be able to repel water. Because temperature and weather can vary throughout the day, and levels of exertion can also vary greatly, the layered approach to clothing allows the hiker to adjust his clothing to a comfortable and safe level by either adding or stripping off layers of clothing as needed. PROTECT YOUR FEET! Wool socks or an equivalent are very important. Dress socks and cotton socks simply will not provide adequate warmth in cold weather. Bring along several spares. Other than a broken-in, good pair of hiking boots, liner socks worn inside your hiking socks are the best protection against blisters on the trail. Waterproof or water-resistant boots are another must. Wet shoes are a prescription for problems. Tennis shoes are only good for wearing around the campsite in winter and will provide little protection against cold temperatures. Insulated underwear or "long johns" are another cold weather necessity. Long johns should be made of Therm-A-Guard, polypropylene, or other synthetic material--avoid cotton. An insulated, water resistant or waterproof coat is another must. Avoid athletic gear such as Starter, Umbro, etc. as these items are not designed for camping. All clothing used in camping will get dirty and will smell like smoke, so do not wear clothing used for school or athletic events. Hunting coats are great for camping. WEAR A HAT. Most of our body
heat is lost through the head. Mesh caps are worthless in cold weather.
Toboggan caps are great because they provide protection for your ears.
AVOID COTTON. Wear synthetic materials or wool. Choose clothing for the season. Pack everything in Ziploc bags to keep it dry on backpacking trips. Wool is a good fiber for winter camping. Woolen flannel shirts are recommended. As much as we like to wear our Scout uniforms, they should only be worn for ceremonial purposes on a cold weather campout. A sweatshirt can be worn over the flannel shirt. Sweaters are also acceptable as long as the sweater is designed for camping. Bedding Down A mummy-style sleeping bag is a must. Mummy-style bags have less wasted space around the legs and feet. Less space = less air that must be heated to maintain warmth. Rectangular bags lose significant amounts of heat. It is important that your sleeping bag can be stuffed into a small package and that it be lightweight. A sleeping bag rated at 20° is generally adequate for our part of the country. Finally, consider a synthetic fill vs. down. Although down filled bags offer the most warmth for the weight, they are more expensive and lose their insulation if they get wet. Also, please note that manufacturer’s ratings are just guidelines. For example, if you tend to sleep cold then you might want a lower temp rating. You can also effectively lower the temperature rating by 10 degrees of a sleeping bag by adding a sleeping bag liner. Have more underneath than above. Most of us use a pad of some type. An extra blanket, an old sleeping bag, ground pad etc. underneath will provide a layer between you and the ground. This will provide insulation from the cold, which will seep through otherwise. If the ground is wet or damp, a plastic ground cloth or poncho can prevent your sleeping gear from getting wet. Dampness and moisture must be avoided as much as possible. A sweatshirt with a hood and sweat pants make a great sleeping outfit. The hood (or a wool toboggan cap) will prevent the loss of body heat through your head. Wear a fresh pair of wool socks (or equivalent). If it's really cold, say below 20 degrees, insulated underwear should be worn underneath the sweat pants and sweatshirt. Change into dry underwear, top and bottom, before getting into your bag. Your body cannot maintain enough body heat if you have sweaty clothes on. You will wake up around 3am shivering. Fluff your sleeping bag before you get in. Remember, it's the air inside the bag that will keep you warm - not the stuffing. Checklists Clothing
Personal Gear (Some items here may duplicate those listed under “The Outdoor Essentials”)
Personal Care Items
Optional Gear
Crew Gear (load is shared by members of the crew)
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