Here’s an innovative take on patrol kitchen box design; Our troop wanted a patrol cook kit that could be carried by one scout (or two small scouts), and the old traditional patrol box just could not be scaled down to work. So we set out to design a kit on our own. We decided what we […]
Gear
StoveTec Wood Burning Stoves for Camping
Should Scout troops use standard two burner propane stoves for camping? Half of the world’s households and 80 percent of rural households in developing countries cook with solid fuels like wood, coal, crop residues and dung. Many of these households use traditional open fires or simple stoves that release smoke into the dwelling and do not make […]
Trekking Poles Review
My hiking stick evolution goes something like this: – A number of ones found in the wild; some with natural twists, ones I carved, sanded and varnished. – A number of bamboo sticks like my backpacking hero Colin Fletcher. – A few I machined from hardwood (oak, mahogany, etc.) and adorned with various decorations. – […]
Katadyn Base Camp Water Filter Review
When we’re in the back country on backpacking and canoeing trips we have to purify our water. I see providing safe drinking water as a group rather than an individual responsibility. It is also something that needs to be simple, as foolproof as possible and reasonably affordable. I have tried several different filters and chemical […]
Review of Marmot Limelight 3 Tent
UPDATE 11/17 Our Limelights are still going strong after six years of continuous use on Scout camping trips. We’ve had one or two tears, but everything else is holding up admirably. No problems with poles and zippers, waterproofing still strong. The Limelight model was updated since we bought ours, they now have straighter walls and […]
Jason Pettit’s ‘Be Prepared’ Box
Jason Pettis is Scoutmaster of Troop 130 in Golden, Colorado who takes ‘be prepared’ seriously. He wrote in to say: I’ve got a tote I bring with a bunch of extra gear that I loan out to adults (and occasionally scouts) that I call my “Be Prepared” box. It’s come in handy a time or two, […]
My Camping Boxes
[portfolio_slideshow nav=false thumbs=true size=large] Here’s two camping boxes that house some essentials I like to have on hand when we are out with the troop. The smaller is a 8 gallon and the larger a 24 gallon Action Packer by Rubbermaid. The contents of each are laid out and labeled in the first picture above. Around […]
A (Really) Highly Evolved Mess Kit
The standard issue military type clamshell mess kit may have a long tradition in Scouting, but compared to the alternatives it is woefully inadequate. Some folks like gadgety, expensive, modern specialty cooking gear but I’ll be fine with my highly evolved, cheap, light, and completely superior kit assembled from commonly available alternatives. Here’s my (kind of ranting) piece by piece deconstruction […]
Ten Step Camping Gear Buyer’s Guide
I have developed this ten step camping gear buyer’s guide over many years. I hope it will help you and your Scouts select the right gear for your individual use. 1. Buy the best you need Waking up (or worse yet no being able to sleep) chilled to the bone in a cheap sleeping bag […]
Review of Littlbug Senior Wood Stove
Inventor Kent Haring has developed the elegantly efficient Littlbug stove that deserves a second look from campers in general and Scouts in particular. Most of us have come to rely on the convenience of propane stoves and would be hesitant to trade them for wood stoves. I think there are some compelling practical and ethical arguments for […]
A ‘Glowing’ Review of Three New Nalgene Bottles
In forty years of camping I’ve seen the canteen replaced by the plastic water bottles like these Nalgene water bottles. Canteens (remember them?) were opaque, narrow mouthed, heavy and had a metallic taste with overtones of whatever drink mix one last used. Washing them out thoroughly was hit-or miss because you couldn’t see inside. I […]
Canoes, Troop Trailers, & Buses
This question got me thinking about Canoes, Troop Trailers, & Buses. Julus Pahl writes: Clarke I am wondering how to go about getting canoes for a troop? The troop I am working with only camps and the current SM is training me to take over. In the past the boys pretty much only camped and […]
Israeli Emergency Bandage
A fairly recent development in first aid the emergency bandage combines a sterile dressing, elastic wrap, pressure bar and closure that maintains direct pressure on bleeding wounds. Originally developed by the Israelis for military use it comes highly recommended from military medics and civilian paramedics: I was first introduced to the Israeli emergency bandage […]
Camping Hats with Kevin Callan
Kevin Callan tells a great story about a canoe hat: I didn’t give it much thought at first when my paddling buddy began handing over his sleeping pad, rain jacket and canoe pack to his nephew. I just considered it a nice gesture; after all, we had finished our trip – 27 days paddling Quetico […]
Chuck Boxes and Camp Kitchens
Here’s another survey of chuck boxes and camp kitchens. There’s lots of interesting ideas, plans and designs out there! Troop 416’s chuckbox plans available here Image gallery of this chuckbox available here Have you seen out my outdoor gear guide? Trailer mounted chuck box see more images here Camping-Boxes.com offers a number of ready-made chuck […]
Channeling “Whittlin Jim”
Bill Macfarlane is blogging about an unusual quest; Years ago, when I was a Boy Scout, I would wait impatiently for the next issue of Boy’s Life just so I could see the Whittlin’ Jim “Slide of the Month” feature. But try as I might I could never make one of those slides. (I have the scars […]
Review of Speedmid Shelter
Walter Underwood has posted a great review of the Mountain Laurel Design’s two pound Speedmid shelter: It is plenty roomy inside. I’m 6’ 3” and my tent buddy is nearly as tall, and we both had room, with our gear inside. The tent walls do slope at a pretty low angle—the heavy nighttime rain was […]
Patch Display
I came across PatchDisplay.com on Facebook. It is “owned and operated in historic Chester County , Pennsylvania by individuals involved as both parents and leaders with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for over fifteen years.” They construct custom displays (you provide the patches, etc) to commemorate a Scout’s accomplishments. They advertise the display above for […]
Mountainsmith Lumbar Packs
My old Mountainsmith lumbar pack bought used on eBay a few years ago served me very well and it’s time to replace it. I bought a newer, smaller Mountainsmith lumbar pack for my son to use a while back and I like the updated version even more than my older one. A lumbar pack makes […]
Sewing Scout Patches
Sewing Scout patches can be a challenge! … let alone figuring out where they all belong! Here’s some information that should answer your questions about where those patches belong, how to sew or iron them on and some ideas for displaying them. Where to Sew Patches? Merit Badge Sashes How do you iron-on? Hand or Machine […]
Big Agnes Horse Thief Sleeping Bag
This review was first published in 2008. I still carry and highly recommenced my Big Agnes setup! For many years I carried my trusty Gerry goose down sleeping bag on Troop camp outs. My father bought it for me in 1976 prior to an extended trip to Alaska. At the time it was among the best […]
Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat
Picture from George Griffin at BackpackingGearTest.org The Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat is quite a piece of engineering. I have worn one now for a few years and I recommend it highly. My faithful, cheap,(ten bucks at a hardware store) straw hat gave up after three years of canoeing in Canada, summer camp and carpentry. In searching […]
How to Wear the Scout Neckerchief
This is all the official verbiage you will find about how to wear the Scout neckerchief – anything else you have heard is urban legend. From the BSA Insignia Guide : The Neckerchief Boy Scout neckerchiefs are optional. The troop decides by vote, and all members abide by the decision. If the neckerchief is not worn, then the […]
Boy Scout Neckerchiefs
Boy Scout neckerchiefs have been with us since Baden Powell published Scouting for Boys: The Scout Uniform is very like the uniform worn by my men when I commanded the South African Constabulary. They knew what was comfortable, serviceable, and a good protection against the weather. So Scouts have much the same uniform. … … […]
