Sleeping Bags, Pads, Headlamps, Knives, Backpacks, and Tents

Scoutmaster Introduction

I suggest all Scouts read the camping section in their Scout Handbook (Chapter 9). Most of the information below draws from that and my personal experience camping in New England.

For all gear options, I suggest starting with basic, reliable gear. These options are suitable for most of our camp trips—not the cheapest, but not super costly either. Camping gear increases in price quickly as it becomes lighter (better for backpacking/technical trips) or more durable.

Pro Tip: If you want gear to last 10+ years, it is worth the investment. But, since most scouts are learning, I recommend sticking to the basics. Let Scouts learn to use and care for their gear first. Upgrade to technical gear once they demonstrate they can maintain it and are ready for more advanced adventures.

Most recommendations here are suitable for "shoulder" season camping in the Northeast (April–June and Sept–October). We do attend summer camp, but traditional wall tents are typically provided by the camp.

Where to Shop:

• Big Box: Amazon, Walmart, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods

• Discount/Deals: Backcountry.com, Sierra.com, HikerDirect.com and Decathalon.com (these sites often have excellent deals) .

• Premium: LL Bean, REI, Public Lands

Tents

Our troop does not maintain a fleet of troop tents. Not every Scout needs their own tent, as many will share. Tents come on sale a lot, wait for sales if you can.

Sizes

• 4-Person (Shared): Ideal for Scout tenting. Where possible, Scouts share 4-person tents (using them for only 2–3 Scouts to allow room for gear). Note: Scouts sharing a tent must be the same gender and within two years of age.

• 2-Person (Solo/Leader): If a Scout cannot share due to age/gender restrictions, prefer solo camping or for adult leaders, I suggest a 2-person tent over a 1-person model. This provides necessary space for personal gear inside the tent.

Styles & Brands

• Simplicity is Key: I recommend against "pop-up" or complex looking tents. Scouts should learn to pitch a basic dome tent (two or three poles max).

• Rain Protection: Look for a tent with either a full fly (a separate waterproof cover that reaches the ground) or a "half fly." Half flys are good starter tents, full flies will have better rain protection, and often also have a vestibule—an extra covered area outside the door to keep wet boots or gear out of the rain.

• Recommended Starter Tents: The Coleman Sundome 2 or 4 is a classic starter (half fly tent). For tents with full flies and some with vestibules, look at Alps Mountaineering (the Merrimac or Taurus models are often used for Jamborees), Kelty, Marmot, or Mountainsmith. REI and LLBean also have great tents, but they tend to be more technical, so do your research.

• Footprints: We highly recommend using a "footprint" (a ground cloth) to protect the tent floor from rocks, roots, and moisture. You can buy brand-specific ones or use a small tarp/sheet of Tyvek. There are some inexpensive options on Amazon, such as Redcamp and Frelaxy which come in many sizes. The footprint should be slightly smaller than the tent floor so it doesn't collect pooling water. For example, for a tent with a 84x96" floor (7'x9'), you would want something about 78x90", but any size close will be fine, you can fold over the edge if it's too long.

Sleeping Bags

The more expensive a bag is, the lighter and warmer it will be relative to its size.

• Rating: I generally recommend a 20°F rating for our region.

• Weight: Avoid heavy, bulky "rectangular" bags; anything over 4 or 5 lbs is difficult to pack.

• Brands: Kelty, Teton, REI, and LL Bean are great. A solid basic choice is the Teton TrailHead Ultralight. The 20F regular is <3 pounds, it may not last a decade, but it fits in a backpack and gets a Scout through their first several years.

Sleeping Pads

Air mattresses are fine for summer, but for early or late season camping, your Scout will get cold. You need a pad with an R-rating (insulation value).

• Foam Rolls: Simple, reliable, good for summer. Usually have an R-value of 0.5–1

• Simple Folding Pad - R2 - very popular, good for most (Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite or Nemo Switchback are the best, but Amazon has many similar options).

• Inflatable Pads: More comfortable and offer higher R-values (R3 to R6+), but they can puncture if not cared for. Recommended for adults or seasoned Scouts.

• Brands: Therm-a-Rest, Sea to Summit, Big Agnes, Nemo, and REI/LL Bean.

Headlamps

I highly recommend a headlamp over a handheld flashlight.

• Power: Models taking 2 or 3 AAA batteries are compact and reliable.

• Note on Rechargeables: While convenient, you can’t swap in fresh batteries if you forget to charge it or leave it on by accident.  Always recommend packing extra batteries

• Brands: Black Diamond, Petzl, and Nitecore are very reliable.

Knives

• Requirement: To carry or use a knife in Scouts, you must first earn your Totin' Chip certification.

• Style: Troop 99 recommends a good folding knife with a locking main blade. This can be a single blade or a multi-tool/Swiss Army style.

• Size: The blade length should be about "palm-sized"—2.5 to 3.5 inches is the ideal range.

Backpacks

Fit is the most important factor here, so hard to recommend brands here. I recommend visiting REI or LL Bean to at least try on packs with weight in them to get a feel for sizing before buying.

• Capacity (rough guide, some men/women will be comfortable with bigger or smaller backpacks)

  • Smaller Scouts: 40–45 Liters

  • Medium/Average Scouts: 45–50 Liters

  • Older Scouts/Adult Women: 55–60 Liters

  • Older Scouts/Adult Men: 65-70+ Liters (they go really high in size if you want, are used to the weight, and plan to do longer trips as well), I'm a big guy and currently use a 65L which is comfortable for me for most trips.

• Features: Look for an internal frame with a padded waist belt to distribute weight to the hips. Ensure it has loops or straps on the bottom/outside to lash on a sleeping pad or tent. Some backpacks come with small, medium and large frame sizes.

• Waterproofing: Not strictly necessary, some waterproof packs are available, but most Scouts use a stretchy rain cover or a heavy-duty garbage bag as a liner to keep gear dry.

Last edited April 2026