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Clothes to Wear and Take

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Water Purification

Year-round Hiking and Backpacking Essentials

This list is based on the assumption that you will be hiking in remote areas with a group.  You may choose to leave out some of these items, however you should consider the pros and cons of doing so to your detriment if caught in an emergency situation.  Remember these important factors in choosing what to take:
1) lightweight
2) your physical condition (can you take everything you select) - you'll be taking your gear through rugged terrain for up to 4 miles at a time (can you really hike with all that stuff?)
3) time of year
4) what will you do in the event of inclement weather or an emergency

Equipment List, Personal Items:
1. Backpack. Select type based on length of outing.
   [Selecting the best type of backpack][Packing your backpack]
   - daypack
   - external frame
   - internal frame
   
2. Bible and Royal Ranger handbook (also 'Adventures in Camping' if you have it)
3. Bedroll (if overnighter)
4. Knife (only if you have a Cut & Chop card)
5. Eating utensils (bowl, plate, something to cook in, knife, fork, spoon, drinking cup, etc.)
6. Two water bottles (one-liter size recommended for older age groups)
7. Water purification
8. Dish soap and scrubing pad (use biodegradable soap)
9. Washrag, small towel, bar of soap (can use same soap as for cleaning dishes)
10. Extra socks (in case the ones you're wearing get wet)
11. Flashlight and batteries (check out this SUPER-light Photon Micro-Light used by shuttle astronauts from Nielsen Labs)
12. Matches (water-proofed) and dry tinder (ziploc - type bags work well for keeping tinder dry, if you use cotton make sure it's 100% pure without synthetic materials)
13. Candle (can be used to help get a fire going)
14. Sewing kit
15. Food
16. One extra set of clothes
    [Selecting the Best Clothes]
17. Footwear in good condition, not too loose or not too tight (recommend wearing two pairs of socks)
18. Large (30 gallon or more) plastic garbage bags. Can be used as an extra rain covering, to cover backpack, to put dry clothes in to keep them dry, to carry out trash, etc. You decide how many to take, remember, LEAVE NO TRACE - if you pack it in, pack it out!
19. Rain gear (poncho made out of rip-stop nylon is the best)
20. 50 feet of string (or parachute cord). Use to store food up off of the ground, to make a shelter, clothes line, etc.
21. Hat
22. Bug repellant, something with 'deet' (diethyl-meta-toluamide) in it
23. Prescription medications (if you are using any)
24. Sunscreen
25. Toilet paper
26. Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
27. Sunglasses
28. Space Bag (very thin and lightweight silver-looking plastic sheet) as an emergency shelter
29. Personal first aid (bandaids, antibiotic ointment, moleskin, alcohol wipes, etc.)