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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

D of E clothes question

33 replies

BerriesandLeaves · 16/04/2018 12:17

Dd is going on a 3 night D of E expedition in a couple of weeks and I'm sorting out clothes for her. On the website they recommend a short sleeved t shirt in a wicking fabric with a fleece and waterproof on top as layers. Would it be better for warmth at night and sunburn avoidance to get long sleeved? On the other hand short sleeved would be cooler while walking as it's set to get warm where we are down south

OP posts:
steppemum · 16/04/2018 22:51

ds did his bronze last year and is off on his silver in a couple of weeks.

After the practice, he refused to take any extras on his actual hike.
so, he had one outfit, long sleeved (but it was colder than now) fleece on top, waterproof.

He took no changes of clothes or night clothes. We had a long debate about it, I insisted he take one change of clothes and he said no!

He slept and walked in his clothes!

The only spares he would take were socks, so that he always had dry feet.

I think the recomendation is to take one change, so one spare T and one spare trousers, in case you get soaked. I did drum into ds that if he wasn't taking spares he MUST put on his waterproof trousers if it is wet. He has a pair that unzip so you don't have to take your boots off to put them on, worth getting if the forecast is for rain.

foundoutyet · 16/04/2018 22:43

(ds going on this week and hasn't sorted out his clothes, or anything else....)

MeanTangerine · 16/04/2018 18:14

D of E helper here.

Every now and then we get a kid who didn't bring something crucial, like a water bottle or a sleeping bag. 99% of the time, the error is that they brought way too much stuff. Every item they take is an item they have to carry, and they will be exhausted even with a light bag.

She should really be sorting her own bag though.

JessyJames · 16/04/2018 18:09

He took one thin wicking fleece that he didn't wear.
I think they're only needed in really cold conditions. He mainly wore a t shirt and a hoodie. He had waterproofs for the rain.
I think he slept in the thick fleece.
The wipes were for washing and to use as loo roll (it rained a lot, think loo roll would've been mush!)

Original poster
BerriesandLeaves · 16/04/2018 17:36

Thanks Jessy and Baking. I suppose if they take both they can be worn together at night for an extra layer.
Jessy, if your ds was doing the practise one again would he still take 2 x long and 2 x short sleeved "wicking" tops but take only 1 or 2 fleeces?
Are the wipes for washing with?
Baking. Dd has got some non cotton thickish running leggings which are quick dry so i thought those.

OP posts:
JessyJames · 16/04/2018 16:22

Clothes not colander!
Baby wipes, anti bacterial gel and bin liners for wet/dirty clothes were useful.

bakingdemon · 16/04/2018 12:39

Agree with poster above who said take both. Don't let her take jeans. If it rains they get really wet and take a long time to dry. They're also not flexible enough for scrambling over fences and up hills.

JessyJames · 16/04/2018 12:28

My DS has just returned from 3 days of D of E.
He took a couple of long sleeved tops, a couple of short sleeved tops a hoodie and 2 fleeces.
He said there were too many clothes.
It was a practice hike. For the real one in June he'll take fewer colander more food!