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Original poster

Bronze DofE expedition kit

47 replies

Seeline · 14/02/2019 09:07

DD is going to be doing her expeditions this spring/so am trying to pull together some of the kit. I'm still trying to get some answers from school as to what equipment we can borrow, but obviously the clothing will be down to us.
I am in shock having just looked at the official kit list!
Does everyone get the officially recommended boots (£60-£70) or will some from Decathlon (or similar) be OK? My DS has always been very happy with these during his Scouting activities, but hasn't done DofE so not sure what is expected.
Also things like fleece tops and walking trousers? The official recommendations are very expensive. I've seen photos of groups setting off and all the girls seem to be in leggings?
I appreciate some better quality stuff might be necessary for 5 days in the Scottish Highlands for the Gold award, but overnight on the South Downs?!
Help and advice please

OP posts:

Vango · 14/02/2019 09:16

My DD did it last year. I went to Decathlon and asked a very helpful member of staff about boots. He asked if I was buying for the DoE then took me round the shop helping me to tick things off my list and basically stopping me from buying the more expensive stuff! The boots we bought were about £26, waterproof leggings £8. The actual expedition took place on one of last Summer's ridiculously hot weekends and most of the rucksack space was taken up with water. All the girls were in leggings and tshirts at the start.

Original poster

Seeline · 14/02/2019 09:19

Thanks Vango that's very helpful to know although with your user name, not the answer I would expect - you seem to be sponsoring most of the list

OP posts:

Vango · 14/02/2019 09:21

I'd definitely get the Vango sleeping bag!

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Families

Sukochicha · 14/02/2019 09:22

Things she NEEDS:

Boots or at least decent hiking shoes.
Decent set of waterproof trousers and jacket.
Hiking socks.

If not provided she also needs a sleeping bag (get a 3 season synthetic) and a roll mat (she’s young, get her a cheapo foam one as these are light and quick to roll/unroll - and later if she decides to continue you can upgrade to a thermarest)

Everything else you can probably cobble together from what you have.

Leggings, T-shirt’s, jumpers.

For sure it is nicer to have a wicking t shirt and a lightweight fleece but it is totally not essential.

MarciaDidia · 14/02/2019 09:23

We did our bronze in trainers.

Sukochicha · 14/02/2019 09:24

Oh, also a rucksack that fits to her is a big bonus for comfort.

Original poster

Seeline · 14/02/2019 09:25

This is all really helpful - thank you!
Happy to spend more on things that matter, but she is still growing so if I don't need to fork out at this stage and can wait until silver/gold it would be great.

OP posts:

Sukochicha · 14/02/2019 09:25

@MarciaDidia depends where you do it - walking on flat graded paths in the new forest - trainers fine.

Climbing up kinder scout in the Peak District then slogging across the peat - trainers not fine.

gigglingHyena · 14/02/2019 09:25

We're in a similar position. For the most part DD will be using the camping kit we already have, although we are considering getting her a more lightweight/compact sleeping bag as hers is rather bulky. That said, the cheaper of the recommended ones isn't that much better size wise. Makes me feel the recomendations are not that great to be honest.

I do think walking leggings are a better option than standard leggings, mine are so much better in wet weather, both more comfortable when wet and much faster drying. She has a pair which with the DofE discount were under £15 from Go Outdoors.

Boots I'm torn, at the moment we still have a few months to go so I;m waiting to see if her feet are still growing. If not we may opt for new decent ones which will last. Till now, it's been sports direct all the way and while comfortable they do start letting water in over time, even with regular re treatments.

Sukochicha · 14/02/2019 09:27

Also OP do try and beg and borrow as much as possible. If you ask around your friends I bet you can get a sleeping bag, mat and rucksack to borrow.

There isn’t any point spending £££ for the first trip.

sashh · 14/02/2019 09:31

Make sure you get decent socks, my mother wouldn't pay for them and the blisters on my heels took weeks to heal.

Frouby · 14/02/2019 09:31

Following this as dd also doing d of e. She came home with a huge kit list last week. But also a form where you can request a loan of the more expensive stuff like rucksacks and tents which is good.

We are going to buy her boots, waterproofs and a new sleeping bag. She has said that proper walking trousers aren't essential and the teacher has said that leggings or jogging bottoms are ok and easier to layer up if it's cold.

If anyone is south yorkshire are there is a big camping outlet at the parkgate retail park in Rotherham. We will probably get the stuff she needs from there.

Original poster

Seeline · 14/02/2019 09:35

She has done Guiding so has sleeping bags etc although whether they are suitable I haven't a clue. It seems very bulky. She is very petite and about 5'1" so I have no clue how she is going to be able to carry this lot!

OP posts:

Meet0nTheledge · 14/02/2019 09:42

My DS is doing it too, he's going to be taking football shirts as they are perforamce fabric and dry very quickly. Fleece dries a lot faster than sweatshirt/hoody fabric and is lighter. He will take Scout trousers and base layer leggings plus another pair of lightweight joggers (not the hoody type fabric). Several pairs of decent walking socks and Compeed blister patches just in case.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/02/2019 09:49

Don't economise on boots, and do take blister packs and double layer socks. My DD is very prone to blisters and came back with some corkers.

Original poster

Seeline · 14/02/2019 10:11

Don't economise on boots

So you wouldn't recommend some of the more expensive ones rom Decathlon/Sports Direct etc which are still 1/2 - 2/3 the price of the cheaper ones 'recommended' advertised by DofE website?

OP posts:

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/02/2019 10:43

No, sorry, by all means get keenly priced boots, but don't do as I did (twenty years ago, mind!) and send your DD in a pair that looked the part but were bought from Lidl by well meaning grandparents. Her DBs benefitted from their DSis's tough experience!

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/02/2019 10:44

Whichever boots you get, make sure she breaks them in a bit before going.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/02/2019 10:46

I'm not thinking very clearly this morning. What I meant to say is, by all means get cheaper boots than the recommended ones but don't economise too much on this important piece of kit.

Original poster

Seeline · 14/02/2019 11:06

I follow you cat! Yes - that's why I want to try and get some over half term so that she can wear them for short walks now before she sets off on her treks! Am I really bad Mum not even knowing how far they go?

OP posts:

SparklingTwilight · 14/02/2019 11:34

Don't economise on boots

So you wouldn't recommend some of the more expensive ones rom Decathlon/Sports Direct etc which are still 1/2 - 2/3 the price of the cheaper ones 'recommended' advertised by DofE website?

I'm not sure that's what the PP means. The most important thing is that the boots fit her, that the are comfortable to walk in and are not going to fall apart or let water in after half an hour. If that means buying more expensive boots then don't economize. But the best fitting boots might not be the expensive ones.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 14/02/2019 12:49

I'm very grateful that my DM insisted on good quality boots - we tried on many pairs in multiple shops before finding ones that fitted the best. I then wore them in lots at home. I was the only person on DofE who came back without blisters.

Those boots lasted me for years - they finally fell apart 12 years later due to lots of dog walking and I replaced them with the same model.

FrancesFryer · 14/02/2019 13:06

Bronze is one night, so as long as your feet are taken care of and you're dry you can put up with most things.
I have a picture of DD's kit layed out on the floor if you would like me to post it.

It should also be done in the summer so warm sleeping bags are not that essential.

DD took an £11 Tesco tiny sleeping bag and an ikea fleece blanket she could wrap herself before getting in the sleeping bag if she got cold.

Her part of the evening meal was pasta sauce so she took frozen sauce in a tub which also served as a bowl and ice pack while in her bag during the day.

Think about duel purposing as much as you can that she takes.

Original poster

Seeline · 14/02/2019 13:54

Frances a picture would be great. I can't get my head round what she needs. I am someone who likes to cover every eventuality, so am concerned that she won't be able to even lift her rucksack 😁

OP posts:

FrancesFryer · 14/02/2019 14:38

Hers was the lightest bag by about 5kg.
This is before the tent, food and cooking equipment. The tent and cooking equipment were borrowed so added afterwards.
Just think about what she will actually use. A roll mat is a nice luxury but is it absolutely essential if you have to carry it for 2 days? That sort of thing.
She put her clothes in one of those roll up vacuum bags to save space.
She will have a practice hike before the real thing too, so a chance to tweek the kit anyway.
Also look at the weather forecast when she goes, you can then adjust clothing if necessary

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