Ask any Trailman or other outdoor enthusiast, and he or she will have an opinion on what gear is the best gear and why it shouldn’t be “that” gear. The debate can begin to feel like a religious war.
This post is not going to identify the best gear on the market, and I’m not going to try to identify the best starting gear.
Instead, this post is about offering some suggestions for basic starting gear that won’t break the bank and, hopefully, won’t break your back either.
Boots
Every gear list should start with boots. Sore, wet feet are a misery on a hiking trip. Twisted ankles can ruin the entire trip. With that in mind, every Trailman should have boots that support his ankle and keep his feet dry.
Parents should also be looking for inexpensive boots since our Trailmen are likely to grow out of them in only 2 or 3 months. In the case of my son, I bought him his first pair of boots, he wore them on one trip, and he outgrew them the very next week when his feet grew TWO sizes at once.
We have tried the Hi-Tec brand of boots and found them reasonable boots for the money.
Consider these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UM2B2RG/?coliid=I3Q3GYK8I9SLRV&colid=297HLSBM7EH7K&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it for ~$50.
Socks
If our goal is dry feet without blisters, then wool socks are the way to go, even for the summer.
These socks are the type of thing to pursue:
Water/Hydration System
Hikers drink a lot of water, and there isn’t always a water fountain nearby. Each hiker should be carrying a minimum of 3 liters of water for a typical weekend trip.
The Platypus system is popular:
Backpack
A backpack is essential to carry gear. There are some cheaply made packs for around $50. I would classify this Amazon pack as mid-grade to entry-level. It comes in multiple sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y6LRWZQ/ref=twister_B077P17P2N?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=I3EHH0MDHVXE3R&colid=297HLSBM7EH7K&th=1 for ~$75. If you shop around, you may find a better deal. You probably want a 55 or 65 liter pack minimum for a weekend hike.
Sleeping Bag
The troop has some donated sleeping bags, so you may be able to borrow on of those. If not, consider this as an inexpensive three-season sleeping bag:
Sleeping Pad (optional for your comfort)
Some extra padding is never a bad idea, particularly for the older among us. When I was first starting, I padded under the tent with pinestraw and leaves, but those aren’t always options on our hikes, and they can be a pain to pull together in the rain or in the dark.
If you have any better ideas than these while keeping the list under $200, bring them on! If we share ideas, we can really help each other.
