Troop 40 cold weather backpacking gear list

Personal gear

· Backpack

· Tent or tarp and ground cloth (to be shared)

· Sleeping pad (thermarest or similar)

· Sleeping bag of appropriate rating

· Small flashlight or headlamp

· Personal mess kit (Tupperware bowl and fork and spoon is often adequate and light weight)

· Pocket knife

· Nalgene bottle

· Personal hygene stuff (toothbrush, toothpaste, small towel, partial roll of T.P)

Patrol gear

· Backpacking stove

· One or two pots depending upon what you are cooking

· Water filter

· Soap for cleanup (campsuds)

Clothing

· Socks – 3 extra pair, preferably wool but definitely NOT cotton

· Spare underwear

· Thermal underwear, NOT cotton. Should be polypropylene or similar synthetic.

· Spare pants – Nylon preferred, NOT cotton.

· Shirts, long sleeve and short sleeve for layering

· Appropriate coat or jacket (not down) Fleece is good,

· Rain jacket (possibly rain pants too) Can be worn as a shell over other items, layers well

· Stocking cap

· Gloves

Other nice items to consider include fleece pants and a wool sweater. Thermal pants, fleece pants over those and nylon pants or rain pants give you lots of warmth for your lower body. Thermal shirt, tee shirt over that, sweater or fleece jacket and finally rain jacket do the same for upper body. You can add or delete layers to suit conditions.

Things to remember include:

· No cotton!! If it gets wet it stays wet and has no thermal value. Stick with nylon, other synthetics and wool.

· Dress in layers. You can overheat when walking with a pack even in pretty cold temperatures but you also have to be prepared for colder temps when you are at rest.

· Bring plenty of wool socks. Dry feet are happy feet but at least with wool if you get wet, you will still stay warm. Wool is great stuff.