When planning a Philmont trek, there is plenty of information available, but here are some equipment basics.
So, you're ready for Philmont? Great! Philmont is, in our opinion, the very best that scouting has to offer! There is much involved in getting your crew ready for Philmont. This article focuses on equipment. Training your crew is another topic!
So what do you bring anyway?. There is crew gear, which is shared by the crew - items like the camping stoves, fuel, dining fly, cooking gear and food and there is personal gear. Personal gear are your own items. The following text explains the items and gives examples of each.
Topics: (Click on the topic to advance to the section below.)
| Crew Gear - Items issued by Philmont | Crew Gear - Items each Crew Must Provide for Themselves | Personal Gear - Clothes | Other Personal Gear | Packing | Sleeping | Eating | Personal & Miscellaneous | Optional |
Each crew attending Philmont caries two types of crew gear. The first type is provided by Philmont and the second type is provided by the crew itself. This note it to talk about the gear provided by Philmont. Part 2 will discuss what is provided by the crew. The Philmont guide lists the following items that they provide. I seriously doubt this has changed much.
Now for the comments on each item. I should point out our ranger at Philmont was great about advising on the selection of equipment. Many of the comments below are based on his teaching and experience. Some are my own comments.
1 Nylon dining fly 12x12', about 4 lb - This is real handy in foul weather. It is erected every day as shelter from rain. Well worth the trouble to lug it around.
2 collapsible poles for dining fly, about 1 lb. - A set of trekking poles can easily double as dining fly poles. We recommend that you consider this.
1 BSA Philmont backpacker nylon tent, 5x7' with poles (one for each 2 persons), about 7.25 lb. -
1 trail chief cook kit; 2 types available, 8 qt or 6 qt pot with lid and 4 qt pot with lid and fry pan with handle, about 6 and 4 lb. respectively - this ones that Philmont gives you are heavier than what you might bring along yourself. Our troop has lighter set of cooking pots, which we take along and refuse the Philmont cook pots. Another tip, we milled quart measuring lines into our pots to make it easier when preparing meals.
1 chief cutlery kit, 2 large spoons and 1 large spatula, about 0.5 lb. - Here also, we bring along our own plastic ones, which we bought at a typical dollar store. Also, we bring a ladle in place of the spatula. You'll never fry out on the trail anyway unless you catch a fish at Fish Camp.
2 pair hot pot tongs, about 0.5 lb. - No explanation required.
1 extra 8 qt or 6 qt pot for washing dishes, about 1 lb. - This is one item we did not take. We were taught a another method of cleaning dishes to be discussed later. Not taking an extra pot saves about 1 lb in crew weight.
1 camp shovel (to dig latrine), about 1 lb. - We were issued one of those bright orange Lexan type of shovels. Not as heavy as shown. Rarely, if ever used. Almost every camp has pit toilets.
Plastic Trash Bags - A few are provided at each staffed camp when food is received. Any trash accumulated was dropped of at the same camps.
Dish washing soap - Biodegradable backpacking soap. We seldom used it for dishes. The boys used it for clothes washing.
Scrub pads - Small squares of nylon pads. Very effective but cut almost too small to use easily.
Water Purification Chemical - This is a product called Polar Pure®. It is very well suited to treating water found at Philmont. It is iodine based. We were issued 5 or 6 bottles for the crew.
Rope 1 - 150' length if 1/4" nylon rope (for hanging
food), about 2.5 lb. - All food and any item with food odor was hung from a
bear bag line each
night. Each crew will be trained on the proper method of using this system.
4-6 Bear bags for hanging food (made of woven plastic strands similar to tarp material), about 1 lb. - These need to be examined carefully when picked up at base camp for holes. Another alternative is to purchase large nylon mesh bags as part of crew gear and take them with you. They are lighter and aren't heavy when wet.
Plastic strainer and rubber scraper, about 0.5 lb. - Issued by Philmont. The strainer is actually a Frisbee with holes punched in it. Makes a good toy for crews who still have energy to work off!
Maps - Philmont provides each crew with one large PAPER map of the reservation. However, they sell as an option expanded scale maps of the northern, central or southern sections of the reservation. These are far better for trail navigation and they are plastic coated, so they won't self destruct if the get wet. I'm not sure you need 3 additional maps. Two is probably plenty but some folks might like having an extra copy for their own use. We STRONGLY recommend that you buy these mail order ahead of time!! The shop at Philmont may not always have in stock the ones that you need when you get there.
1 measuring cup - Chances are good someone will have a drinking cup that is graduated for measurements. Our troop has gone the extra step of milling quart measuring lines into our cook pots, which totally eliminate the need for a measuring cup.
1 sewing kit with heavy thread and needle - A small kit like those found in hotel rooms are great. In addition, a sewing awl is a necessity. We once had the strap of one pack break and one belt loop on a camera pouch. The awl did a great job of making a field repair.
8-10 tent pegs per person - I think I have mentioned this item before when talking about tents. You do not want those thin, lightweight type of pegs that come with Eureka tents. The soil at Philmont will help you bend them all in no time. There are heavy aluminum type pegs we used that were far sturdier. They were approximately 3/16" in diameter. They cost about $6 for a set of 8.
Collapsible water containers, 3 qts. per person minimum. - For this item we heartily recommend either the 96oz Nalgene canteen, about $9.99 ea or the 2 liter MSR Dromedary bag, about $18.75 each. For the cost, the MSR bottle is best. Both are light and fold up when not used.
Backpacking stoves including fuel bottles - The MSR Whisperlite stove wins this category hands down in my opinion. They are light and put out lots of heat. Crews should consider taking 3 stoves, each with a 33oz MSR fuel bottle. An extra 10 or 12 oz fuel bottle should go hold reserve fuel. The 33 oz bottle should last about 4 days. Since food pickups are about every 3-4 days, fuel should not be a problem.
While on the subject of stoves, here is some additional information on the
fuel bottles. 1 - All stoves & fuel bottles MUST be shipped out ahead of
time, you cannot carry them - even empty on a plane. Fuel (white gas) can be
purchased at base camp and other staffed camps for a small fee.
1 crew first aid kit - A detailed list of what the kit should
contain will be sent to the crew adult leader.
Spices - Use your imagination here. Salt and pepper are the norm. Tabasco and cinnamon are very popular.
Combination or pad lock for crew locker - Not 100% necessary, the Philmont lockers do have key locks that the Philmont crew keeps back at base camp. Each crew receives one small locker to store personal items not needed while on the trail.
Clothes have come a long way in recent years. Now, it is possible to totally dress yourself without a stitch of cotton, yet, synthetics have become as comfortable as cotton!. Given the knowledge that cotton does not insulate when wet and that wool and synthetics will, there are a whole host of reasons why cotton is bad for the trail. Another consideration is your body type. Do you sweat a lot? If so, you may want clothing with maximum wicking ability. Seriously do consider going all synthetic. It is possible to use shirts that are a 50-50 cotton/poly blend. This is the only cotton that Philmont "allows". Synthetic clothing has the advantage of being able to dry much quicker whether from sweat or from washing. Having tried shirts that are 50-50 blend and ones that are all synthetic, I most definitely believe that synthetic is the way to go.
Next, taking too many clothes is a big mistake - it's extra weight that you just don't need. Plan on wearing the same clothes a couple of days in a row and wash things as needed. Some pieces of clothing can do double duty as well. Here is the list of recommended items from the Philmont guidebook. EVERYTHING should be packed in plastic bags to keep items dry. Place your name on everything.
3 pairs of backpacking weight socks
3 pairs of synthetic (polypro) sock liners
2-3 changes of underwear
2 hiking shorts
1 long sleeve shirt
1 long pants (Note: if you have long pants with zip-off legs, they will double
as the second pair of shorts)
2 short sleeve shirts (synthetic or 50-50 blend)
1 sweater or sweatshirt (wool or fleece)
1 light weight jacket or windbreaker (Note: your rain jacket can double as a
windbreaker)
1 hat or cap - flexible with brim
1 sturdy rain suit
1 stocking cap
Something to sleep in (shorts & t-shirt)
Optional - long underwear
2 bandanna
1 pair Hiking Boots
1 pair light weight sneakers
OK, so that is Philmont's list. So let's take a moment and discuss each one and throw in some of our personal observations.
3 pairs of wool socks (the thick hiking kind) Philmont says that only 2 pair of 100% wool socks is necessary but 3 is by far more practical in our opinion. Keeping your feet healthy and dry is key to enjoying yourself. The hikes can be tough on feet. The socks get sweaty or wet from rain and it is always good to have a dry pair handy for those days. Wigwam and Thorlo are good brands to look for which are synthetic/wool blends that do very nicely. If you by the blended socks, get synthetic/wool blends where wool is 40% or more. DON"T BUY ANYTHING WITH COTTON IN THEM! Some people prefer wool, some prefer the blend, your choice.
3 pairs of synthetic (polypro or polyester/nylon) sock liners - This is an important item. The sock liners act as a friction barrier between the outer sock and your feet. They also keep the itch away that wool can cause some people. However, the most important thing is they act as a wick to carry the moisture from your feet into the outer sock. This helps keep your feet dryer. Make sure your foot fits comfortably the hiking socks with the sock liners on. Then everything should be comfortable in your boots. Again, Wigwam and Thorlo are good brands to look for.
2-3 changes of underwear - Synthetic. . Now here is a tip
I cannot recommend for everyone but it works for me. My hiking shorts have
a net mesh lining similar to what you find in a bathing suit. I don't pack
underwear because of the lining. This saves a little weight and bulk. Sweat
and rain also dry faster.
2 pairs hiking shorts - Buy synthetic shorts only. Mine are
nylon. They are light and dry very quickly. Material similar to what is used
in bathing suits works real well. A pair of long pants with zip off legs can
double for a pair of shorts, see next time.
1 pair of long pants - The same thoughts as for shorts. NO BLUE JEANS! They are heavy cotton. Consider getting a pair if the lightweight hiking pants where the legs zip off to be shorts in warm weather and zip back on for cool weather. This way you can cut out one pair of shorts. Some brands are lined with netting so underwear can be eliminated as well.
2 short sleeve shirts - Shirts that are 50/50 cotton and poly blend can be taken. If you're like me and sweat a lot, the new 100% synthetic shirts are a godsend! They dry faster and can be washed more often, or just dipped in water and worn to cool off quickly!
1 long sleeve shirt - Look for something warm for those days were a t-shirt is not enough but a jacket is too much. Synthetic and/or wool blends are best. If your long pants are the zip-off variety, you can eliminate a pair of shorts.
1 sweater or sweatshirt (wool or fleece) - A wool sweater is hard to beat in my opinion. I used a hooded sweatshirt in 94 and it was great also. Another good choice is the fleece style jackets, or possibly a vest. I find these very warm and comfortable but the wool sweater packs much smaller with nearly the same warmth. I might also add that the camp store sells an outstanding 100% wool sweater that is ideal for this trip and makes a useful souvenir when you return home.
1 light weight jacket or windbreaker - Choose nylon or other synthetic material. For those of you choosing a rain suit, consider using the jacket for both warmth and for rain. It will be one less item to pack. Be your own judge on that one.
1 hat or cap - flexible with brim - Baseball style caps are good. Wide brimmed hats will keep the sun and rain off of your face and ears. They keep the sun and rain off your face. Choose one made from nylon or other synthetic. Stay away from cotton.
1 sturdy rain suit - What about a poncho? Here are some pros and cons:
Pros:
Cons:
Rain suits are more expensive than ponchos, a little more trouble to put on make you sweat as much inside and it is wet outside when hiking. Sounds like a poncho should be the right choice? Unlike a summer camp situation where I prefer a poncho, Philmont is different. When it decides to rain in those mountains, in a matter of 20 minutes, the temperature can drop 40 degrees and hypothermia becomes a real concern. In this case, it would be preferable to be in a rain suit that is hot and sweaty than a poncho that is wet and exposed to the cold. The rain suit provides just enough insulation to make life a little less miserable during those temperature drops as well as protection from the wind.
The choice of rain suit or poncho should be a personal one but the folks at Philmont recommend rain suits. From experience, I have to agree with them.
When you look for a rain suit, you quickly find that there are lots of prices and materials. DON'T buy a vinyl rain suit. It will be in shreds the first time it is used. At a minimum, buy a coated nylon suit that packs easily. Don't buy the rubber types either. They weigh a ton and are very bulky. We have found that there are 3 types of waterproof nylon suits:
Consult with a knowledgeable sales person at a good outdoor store for a good choice in your price range.
If you decide to go with a poncho anyway, look for a coated nylon model made for backpackers known as a pack board poncho. It is longer in back than it is in front so it can go up and over your pack to keep it "dry" as well. Consider taking along waterproof gaiters that reach up to your knees also.
1 stocking cap - Can be nice on cold mornings. Also, sleeping in a light stocking cap can help keep you warm at night. Much of your body heat comes from your head so if you can insulate that it will help the rest of you keep warm. Better outdoor stores offer one that is made out of Polypropylene. these work very well. Something you already have will probably do just fine.
Something to sleep in (shorts & t-shirt) - No special rules here but I would still advise to stay away from 100% cotton. A 50-50 blend t-shirt and shorts are fine. While out on the trail, the only time you wear these clothes is to sleep in. I put mine in the bottom of my sleeping bag so they are always in the same place at night. You don't wear trail clothes to bed. They contain food odors (could attract pests) and you will sleep much more comfortable and warm in dry clothes.
Optional - long underwear - Here is one item I take exception with. This should not be considered an optional item. It should be mandatory! Did you know that under the right conditions, it will snow on the mountains at Philmont in July? Even if you only wear them to bed at night for warmth, you will appreciate having them with you. Check the label before you buy to be sure it does not contain cotton. There are lots of synthetic choices available.
2 bandannas - Don't leave these at home. Bandanna are great when backpacking. I use them for sweat bands, a temporary hat, a towel and lots of other things. These are almost always cotton but since you don't wear these as clothes, don't worry about it.
1 pair Hiking Boots - Duh!
1 pair light weight sneakers - These are recommended to wear around camp when not hiking. Your feet will appreciate it. Philmont doesn't allow open toed sandals like Tevas. A really light weight pair of sneakers is best.
The camp store at Philmont is exceptional. A Scout could almost outfit himself by buying everything at the store. Unfortunately, your size might not be available. Don't do like I did and have to spend money twice because I did not check the material something was made of before I left home. It is inconvenient and expensive.
A ranger will be assigned to each crew for the first few days at Philmont. He/she (yes, there are female rangers), will conduct a complete shakedown of every person's gear to weed out unnecessary items and look for clothes that are not suitable for this type of hiking adventure. If they spot something not safe, you will be asked to go to the store and purchase what ever it is you will need. It is a sure way to spend money on unplanned items rather than the souvenirs you wanted to buy later. Spend your money wisely the first time.
Here is the other personal gear that will be needed or recommended on the trail at Philmont. This list does not include clothing which I've already discussed. Discussions follow
PACKING
Pack with padded hip straps
Pack cover - waterproof nylon or large plastic bags
6-12 plastic bags of assorted sizes
SLEEPING
Sleeping bag in waterproof bag lined with plastic bag
Straps to hold sleeping bag to pack
Waterproof ground cloth, 5'x7', one for 2 persons
Sleeping bag pad
EATING
Deep bowl
Cup, measuring type
Spoon
Water bottles, 2-3 one quart size
PERSONAL & MISCELLANEOUS
Small pocket knife
Matches or lighter
50' of 1/8" nylon cord
Flashlight, small with extra batteries
Compass, liquid filled
Whistle
Money, $10-20 in small bills
Lip Balm
Soap, biodegradable
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Shampoo
Small towel
Moleskin
Band-Aids
1" adhesive tape
Note pad and pen
Sunscreen, 15SPF or higher
Sunglasses
OPTIONAL
Camera & Film
Watch, inexpensive
Fishing equipment/licenses
Postcards, pre-stamped
Rubber bands
Shaving equipment
Foot Powder
Philmont field guide
Inspect repellent
OK, so here we go. Remember, most of this is my opinion base on experience and others may not share my opinion.
Pack with padded hip straps
Pack cover - waterproof nylon or large plastic bags. Several brands of nylon covers are available. They are nice and handy. However, a large plastic bag will keep things just as dry but be sure to take a spare(s). One of our crew even used a waterproof nylon tire cover bought from an auto store.
6-12 plastic bags of assorted sizes -Zip lock bags of different sizes are great. Some 2 gallon size for holding clothes or small garbage plastic bags. Everything in your pack goes in some sort of bag to keep things dry and organized.
Sleeping bag in waterproof bag lined with plastic bag - Buy a good water proof nylon stuff sack slightly larger than what is needed just for your sleeping bag and coat the seams with some type of sealant. Line the nylon bag with a plastic bag. Stuff the sleeping bag in and add your sleeping clothes, long underwear and any other cool weather items you may have. They will stay good and dry this way.
Straps to hold sleeping bag to pack - There are straps and there are straps. In my opinion, the absolute best are called European Arno® Straps. The only place I have seen them is at Campmor. Expect to spend $3 to $4.50 depending on what length you buy. Buy 2 longer than you think you need and cut them back later if you want. Don't expect the all nylon type of cinch to hold up under strain.
Waterproof ground cloth, 5'x7', one for 2 persons - You can spend several dollars on a coated nylon cloth or the most inexpensive type is a sheet of heavy plastic. You can do fine with a plastic tablecloth and throw it away at the end of the trip.
Sleeping bag pad - More information on "Picking the right Sleeping bag & pad"
Deep bowl - Nothing fancy here. Don't bring a metal bowl, bring a plastic type. I've used an old margarine bowl made of heavy plastic. It is perfect and no great loss if damaged or lost. It weighs almost nothing and you can hold hot foods in it without burning your hands. If you want to purchase something, get a Lexan® plastic bowl.
Drinking Cup - Don't bring a special measuring cup because
most drinking cups have measuring lines on them, so do some Nalgene®
brand water bottles. Our troop actually milled quart lines into our cooking
pots, which we bring in place of the Philmont issued ones. Most of the time,
all you ever need to measure is water for the meals anyway.
Spoon - Buy yourself a Lexan spoon. These are better than
metal. You will understand why when I show you how we manage cleanup when
eating. Second best is some form of metal spoon. Again, nothing fancy. See if
Mom has something in the kitchen you can take but won't be missed if lost.
Water bottles, 2 one quart size - It is hard to beat the standard plastic Nalgene wide mouth 1 quart bottle. They are light, strong and easy to fill. Other than that, if you have something else you like to use, go for it. Nalgene makes all sorts of colors and lots of different shapes of bottles in Lexan plastic as well.
Small pocketknife - About the only thing you will ever need to cut is to open food bags and maybe a bit of nylon cord. Leave the big pocket knife or Leatherman at home. Get a real small pen knife to take. I use a small Swiss Army knife with one blade and scissors.
Matches or lighter -Leave the matches at home. The cheapest pocket lighter you can buy is the best. They light when wet and can be used many times unlike matches.
50' of 1/8" nylon cord - This can be used for everything from clothes lines to emergency boot laces.
Flashlight, small with extra batteries - Don't take anything bigger than a Mini-Mag AA battery light. You just won't need anything bigger. For adventurous types cutting weight, consider the Mini-Mag single AAA batter flashlight. Much smaller and lighter. Don't forget extra batteries and bulb.
Compass, liquid filled - Any inexpensive Boy Scout type will do that has the clear plastic base for serious map and compass type of work. Only 2-3 of these are needed for the crew.
Whistle - Not a big item in my book but the crew should have one or two in the group.
Money, $10-20 in small bills - There are not many places to spend your money or things to spend it on while on the trail. When you do spend, have small bills and some change handy. A cold root beer after 6 days on the trail is mighty good!
Lip Balm - Pick one with sun screen in it.
Soap, biodegradable - Several good brands are available. We use this for everything. Laundry, showers, dishes and leave the shampoo at home. Use your soap.
Toothbrush/toothpaste - Choose a small brush with a cover and a travel size toothpaste to take on the trail.
Shampoo - See my comment about soap above. Leave this at home. Most aren't biodegradable anyway.
Small towel - Take a small hand towel. Leave the big bath towels at home. Outdoor stores have special quick-drying ones that you can get that are made out of micro fiber that work great.
Moleskin - Valuable stuff for your feet. Take a couple of packages with you. Use care when buying Molefoam. It offers more padding but I've found it to be less sticky than moleskin. In recent trips, we've found that you can do the same with Duct tape or cloth band-aids. I personally sweat a lot and have never been able to get moleskin to stick to me!
Band-Aids - Unless you're like me and use them in place of Moleskin, only a couple for personal use is fine. The crew will have a First Aid kit for general use.
A few feet of Duct Tape - Great for all sorts of repairs in the field! You can wrap it around the bars of your pack or around the fuel bottle.
Note pad and pen - Please take the time to write a short diary of your trip. You will never regret it later in life.
Sunscreen, 15 SPF or higher - Take something small.
Sun glasses - Take something inexpensive that if lost or damaged is no big deal.
Camera & Film - Don't forget these. If you don't have a camera, take some of the disposable ones. They are light and do a good job. Any other small camera will be fine. If you want to get creative, you can take pre-stamped mailers and mail used cameras off for development at staffed camps!
Watch, inexpensive - No explanation needed.
Fishing equipment/licenses - Consider this only if fishing is part of the hike. Licenses can be purchased at fishing areas (not cheap). Remember, you'll have to carry the pole yourself!
Postcards, pre-stamped - I suggest you send any postcards from base camp before we go on the trail. You don't want to carry these all over the place. Some staffed camps can take mail.
Rubber bands - Handy for everything. I take several.
Shaving equipment - A light weight plastic disposable type razor is best if you decide to take if you take one at all!
Foot Powder - A smellable yes, but oh so nice on the feet during your rest stops! Drug stores usually have small trial sizes of different brands.
Philmont field guide - Leave this in camp. Read it before leaving home on the trip to Philmont.
Inspect repellent - Take a small container. Leave the aerosols at home. Buy the liquid type in small plastic bottles.
A small bottle of Tabasco® Sauce - A few drops does wonders for making the Philmont dinners taste better! Just coordinate with your crew mates to make sure everyone doesn't bring one!
Beano® Tablets - Available in most drug stores. The Philmont food gives most people gas. Some have said that this helps.