One of the most essential items of a Boy Scout’s gear is a compass. Compasses are used to tell the user where they are located in the world and are commonly used by the military forces, explorers, surveyors and Boy Scouts. The compass communicates to the navigator to align them with the magnetic field of the Earth. The compass itself is made of a needle or rod that is magnetized at one end and attracted toward the magnetic field of the Earth. The needle of the compass rests on a layer of low friction liquid and is free to rotate in its capsule which shows the navigator where they are with respect to magnetic North. The needle or arrow always points toward magnetic North so it is easy to choose a direction and follow it using a simple compass.

Compasses can either be read by decoding coordinates and directions visually or digitally. Digital compasses can show the navigator’s true location with latitude and longitude that can translate where the location is on a map. Compasses can fit in a pocket, be held on a keychain or be located in a Boy Scout gear pack or backpack.

Boy Scout gear for scout cooking should be light and simple. Since the troop leader most likely has a stove or Dutch oven to use, all that is required for the individual scout to pack is a lexan spoon, plastic cup and container, and a lightweight pot able to hold one liter. If a knife is needed, the scout should use their pocket knife. Oftentimes, scout cooking necessitates boiling water or grilling. If pots used are hot, the scout needs a potholder; a bandana can serve that purpose. Along with cookware should be hydration packs and purifying tablets for sterilization. All scouts cooking should be done under supervision until the scout has been properly trained.

Boy Scout gear can vary depending on the age of the scout. Newcomers should not use scout gear that is too heavy to carry, but Boy Scouts that are toward the mature and fully developed end of the spectrum may want to use the best of the best Boy Scout gear. The sleeping system of a Boy Scout should not be more than 6 pounds, so a down sleeping bag is the smartest choice as it is light and provides warmth as long as it does not get wet. The size of the sleeping bag matters as well because the scout needs to fit the compressed bag into their backpack with the rest of the scout gear. Sleeping pads are an option to provide more insulation between the sleeping bag and the cold or wet ground. It is not necessary scout gear but offers more comfort. Sleeping bags and backpacks are not only important scout gear, but also necessary camping supplies for anyone who goes into the wilderness.

backpacks

Backpack come in different sizes and shape.  It is important to pick the one that fits you and your situation.;

Scout Tools

For a shelter system, tarps are convenient scout gear because they can be tied to trees and angled to protect the Boy Scout from rain, snow or other inclement weather. They are also lightweight and can be folded to fit in the scout’s backpack. If using a tarp for shelter, stakes and rope are scout tools needed which add weight to the entire system but may be the best solution for Boy Scout gear.

A major scout tool is the compass which is used to navigate in the wilderness. In addition to a compass and a pocket knife, another important piece of Boy Scout gear is an emergency/repair kit. In a snowy situation it is useful to have a shovel. One can find compact shovels in the camping supplies or scout tools section of an outdoors store. Also, if something breaks, duct tape and simple cutting tools are great scout tools to have in the backpack.