Bronze DofE expedition kit

[Seeline]

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

I did DofE (all the way to gold: I loved it!) and I would really echo what pp have said about having a rucksack that fits. The first expeditions I did I borrowed one from school, but the standard 50l rucksacks are basically designed for fully grown men. When it became clear I wanted to carry on, we bought my own which had two aluminium bars down the back so the straps could be moved (ie the back made shorter). The rest of my trips were so much easier in comparison! Even including the 5 days wild camping in Scotland that I did for gold...

When you're fitting a rucksack, the waist straps need to fit above the hips and be tight enough to take some of the weight of the pack. Also, the arm straps should be tight enough that the load is distributed down the back, not hanging off the shoulders and the upper adjustment on the arm straps should also be as tight as possible to keep the top of the load as close to vertical above your shoulders as possible. The whole idea is to try to keep your centre of gravity as close to your natural one as possible. It's very difficult to do this when the gap between the top of the arm straps and wait strap is too far apart - you feel like you're being dragged down backwards by your rucksack.

Oh and it will feel really heavy to lift, but you'd be surprised how comfortable a load can be positioned properly on your back. After a whole expedition you take the pack off and almost feel like you can fly

Oh and I found the pasta-n-sauce packs are the best combination of being light, small, easy to pack (Don't get crushed), relatively tasty, quick to cook and carby enough that you feel full after a day of walking.

We've just got a thermarest mat on eBay. Just needed an airing but cost a fraction of the price new.

I agree with a good backpack. My only experience is back carrying my toddler and despite him being heavy, once he's on it's easy. You definitely want a backpack that fits like that.

Thank you all for the really helpful advice 🙂

I wild camp/ hike. Essentials are good rucksack thats fitted in the shop (they put weights in it). Mines a womens vango sherpa. Womens rucksacks fit better, feel better. Good footwear for the place she`s going. Try on lots with hiking socks (they normally have them for this purpose in boot places). These socks are thicker so the boot/ shoe fitting needs to fit with those. A 3 season sleeping bag. synthetic will do. IF you have accsess to borrow or are rich, a 700 g fill power/ 3 season hydrophobic down bag ( I have one for winter) as its lighter to carry and squishes smaller!! A mat. Foam with silver backing (£5 in tesco) will do. Ultra posh is thermarest neo air ultra x light/ x therm (I have an x therm). waterproofs top and bottom. Go outdoors is a good place to shop. Look in the sale.

My DD's doing her Gold this year.

I'd agree with PPs that unless your child is a very experienced walker (with a pack) then good boots are important and blister packs are useful. The walk isn't massive, but they are carrying weight (including dividing the tent up between them) and it's often further than some of them will have walked before in a day.

A sleeping bag that's warm and folds up small is good because even on hot days it can get v cold at night. And fleeces are good because they fold small and are light to carry but very warm.

I also sent her with a pillow case and told her to stick anything she wasn't wearing into it to make a pillow.

you mention that our ds does scouting.

scout trousers are perfect to walk in, they are loose, so trap a layer of air for warmth, and dry quickly if wet.

also, what does he wear on his feet for scout hikes? They may be good enough for bronze.

ds has done bronze and silver.

he only took the clothes he was wearing, plus change of socks, plus decent waterproofs

blister packs essential, plus enough dry socks for each day.

ds insisted on taking a rollmat, as he didn;t sleep at all without one.

they were frozen on both bronze practice, bronze trip and silver practice, only decent weather was silker trip. (these were June/sept and oct)
ds was the only one not cold at night becuase he has a 3 season bag, but it isn't very light.

Not sure I agree with some of the advice from FrancesFryer

A roll mat is a nice luxury but is it absolutely essential if you have to carry it for 2 days?

A foam roll mat both costs and weighs sweet fuck all... yes it is an essential piece of kit IMO.

Agree that a thermarest type one weighs more and is more a luxury item.

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

If you can't borrow one, then I would buy a 3 season bag. Much more versatile. Also, it might be summer but it can be cold in the UK at night even in June! I can't say I have really been 'too hot' sleeping in my 3 season bag during UK summer camping trips very often.

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.

Taking a frozen block of pasta sauce is madness! Liquid is very heavy. Quick cook food saves taking lots of cooking fuel. Dehydrated food saves space. And who wants to be bothered washing up?

they were frozen on both bronze practice, bronze trip and silver practice, only decent weather was silker trip. (these were June/sept and oct)

It snowed on my bronze practice... in May. Yes I am that unlucky with the weather.

i don`t think francis fryers EVER hiked or camped lol!!!

dehydrated food. idaho smash, ramen/ supernoodles...... or go posh and get proper hikers deyrated meals "real turmat" brand is one. definatley a mat, 3 season bag. travel sized basic toiletries. on multi day hikes I decant stuff into 30 ml ex hotel toiletry bottles. cut a spongy scourer in half for washing up pots. for a pillow i fold up my down jacket and put in my zipped up fleece top. makes a lush pillow. i like a good book at night, so i have the kindle app on my phone.

OP a good u tuber to watch on stuff to take is homemade wander lust. she covers all a lady hiker needs to know, from clothes and stuff to dealing with your period on the trail!

Just a note on the food - the pp who mentioned the pasta sauce was probably following strict instructions. When I did DofE (admittedly a while ago now!) there were strict rules on food - we had to cook properly and it had to be two courses. So no just reheating or dehydrated foods allowed. We made chicken curry on the first night!

I agree that a roll mat is essential, not only for comfort but insulation - even on a warm night the ground is cold.
ladyspongecake I love watching homemade wanderlust! She's inspired me to do my first long distance walk this summer, an easy one (the dales way) compared to the CDT.

Littlehouseinthebigcity

It has changed.
ds group had a burner and a pan to heat hot water, and they were not allowed to cook IN the pan, only to heat the water for dehyrated meals, or to sit the 'boil in the bag' in the water.

They were also no allowed to use Raman noodles (were told they would fail ) because they have no nutritional content.

ds used the walkers meals available from places like Go Outdoors, they are complete meals in a packet. They then had flapjack etc for dessert.

Also, I did D of E in the 1980s and we were told NOT to carry fresh or tinned food and making chicken curry with chicken carried all day on your backpack is rank - sorry!
We had to use dried food, eg rice/dried pasta, and make the sauce from things like dried soup packets.

Some more great information. I shall definitely have a look at the You Tuber. Thank you all 🙂

I did DoE and am 5ft 2. It was before the era of women's fit rucksacks (narrower straps), and I can testify that walking 50 miles over 4 days with 1/3 of your bodyweight bouncing off your bum with every step is misery! I've done wildcamping in adulthood, and a well fitting bag with straps adjusted to the length of your back makes such a substantial difference

Decathlon and Go Outdoors are great for decent, value kit.(GO had discount for Guiding and Scouting) I have young DCs and get their boots for about £25 at GO as their feet are many sizes away from fully grown! Get what is comfortable. Look for how waterproof (not resistant) they are. Decent lugs for grip. Toungues with a gusset to keep grit and water out.

Decent 3 season sleeping bag and foam mat (I do love self inflating mats though and prices have come down over the years) They will be used over the years anyway.

I tend to wear my running clothes these days. I can wear the "childrens" 32" size at GO. Decathlon is good value again. Leggings are great. Quick-dry sports t-shirt.

Basic waterproofs are cheap.

I got my Gold presented at Buckingham Palace despite the terrible rucksack

Nanny R i did the norfolk coast path in its entirety last year and it was fab! all on my own! (I feel quite proud of that).

I used to be a D of E leader.
Pasta and sauce dried sachets with a chopped up pepperami always went down well. Flapjacks and custard for desert. Oat so simple for breakfast. Choc filled individual pancakes too (already squashed!!), malt loaf, lots of dried fruit and boiled sweets which are really good for morale! Hot chocolate to drink.
I had a silk sleeping bag liner which was cheap online, really warm and packed up very small.
Leggings are ok but if it starts raining get your waterproof trousers on immediately as leggings take ages to dry out. Fleece jumpers rather than sweatshirts.
Bronze was 6 hours of planned activity...walking or investigating etc.

@steppemum ah good to know it’s changed :) It always seemed a bit ridiculous. We had to have a hot pudding or starter too. Though flapjack and custard as someone mentioned above sounds great. The chicken was frozen so not a problem at all - just heavy Our biggest problem was whether it would still be frozen solid by the end of the first day or whether we’d be able to cook with it!!

DS has done bronze and silver and is now doing gold. He did bring changes of clothes on each expedition but he has yet to have come home wearing anything different to what he set out in (too much hassle to unpack/repack). Gaiters have been his best investment after decent boots and socks.

When I did DofE at least one meal a day was a tube of primula cheese spread (waterproof and undamagable) and cream crackers. Another was a beanfeast. Chocolate us v important for morale, energy and to share.
Having been walking with a friend recently, boots with good tread is important. Fabric is easier to break in and seakskinz socks are waterproof so it doesn't matter how wet your boots get. Trainers don't have enough grip for muddy conditions and slipping over with a pack isn't fun.

DD had horrific blisters after her bronze practice. at memory. Who knew the skin on soles of feet was that thick? Most of it was trying to self-remove.

There was a lot of fudging on kit. For instance, DD had rolled up waterproof trousers in her bag but only over her dead body would she have ever put them on. DD's 5'1" mate is brawny & probably carried the heaviest pack in their group.

DS is supposed to be doing bronze this yr but has organised... sweet FA. Shall see what happens!