DofE expedition

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Can someone please give me some tips on what my 13year old should pack for DofE expedition that is coming up soon? I know they provide a list for all the practical things like tent, sleeping bag etc. But I wanted some ideas about food, clothing etc. I tend to overpack but I know my son will have to carry the weight around with him so I want him to only take essentials.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You need to make sure all equipment is as light and small as possible.

My son had climalite tops, walking trousers. Fleece, lightweight waterproofs. So all very light. Also. A pair of flip flops for around camp. So can take walking boots off at the end of the day.

My son took chocolate filled crepes, lots of cereal bars, and dried food you add water too (from go outdoors).

They don't really wash. So don't send loads of washing stuff. They all come back stinking!!

They provide a very comprehensive list. I would make sure clean pair of socks every day (is this just a one night trip?) and be sure he has broken in his walking boots and that they are waterproof. The pack will be very heavy so don't be tempted to add stuff not on the list 'just in case'.
The food they should decide as a team and divvy up who carries what. Pasta and sauce are popular. Definitely give him snacks - my daughter said her dried apricots gave her a burst of energy and got her through the 20km walk the second day!
I'd also recommend a thicker sleeping mat than the usual ones - they don't weigh that much more and make a big difference.

Water proof socks are essential, Sealskins I think .
Shortbread biscuits, pots of instant porridge, chocolate,haribo, granola bars, as well as the army style camping meals from outdoor activity suppliers.
Can’t remember the name, but the thing , self inflating sleeping mats are much more comfy than the usual ones
Layers of thin knits and micro fleeces .
I seen to remember you get a very detailed list.

DD is taking the stuffed pasta from Aldi that doesn’t need to be refrigerated with some sauce in a pouch because she is cooking for her group. Otherwise, cereal bars, haribo and brioche.
Make sure they have packed their kit themselves, otherwise they will struggle to get it all back in the bag.
DD is camping with her Explorers group next weekend too which is a good test of her kit.

DD is on her practice bronze expedition right now! It was incredibly windy and poured with rain last night so don't think she'll have had much sleep.

As others have said they give you a very comprehensive list. DD took a Wayfarers camping meal and pudding for last night. She had an instant porridge pot for this morning and she took a couple of sachets of instant hot chocolate.

I'll come back and update on this thread this evening when she's home as I'm sure they'll be things she'll have wished she had and others she perhaps didn't need.

Thank you to everyone for your replies.
BoudiccaBo - Thank you. That would be great.

Also put compeeds on heels and around big and little toes before they go. Do not wait until they get blisters!!

I wouldn’t rush to buy food yet - it could well be cancelled - our school’s silver practice expeditions were all supposed to take place over the next few weeks and have been cancelled

My son is doing his bronze this year. I had assumed the school would provide equipment. Seems a lot of money to kit them out in things they may never use again or grow out of.

It costs a fortune. Thankfully my son went all the way to gold but it was still £££'s. I would see what you can borrow for bronze. We've left kit to friends children.

*lent

Flapjacks are great to take. We are currently waiting to hear if their practice expedition is still going ahead. We have got some of his clothes from mountain warehouse.

Decathalon is sometimes cheaper

Back in the day when I did it, we were told to pack condoms and tampons. They said condoms to use to carry water if needed and tampons for blisters and nose bleeds

DS already does a lot of bike packing and wild camping. It is not a list for everyone - he knows how little he can get away with while still remaining safe & in good humour. He is comfortable not washing for days on end and going a little hungry until he gets to the next open shop. It will be different for everyone and does not come cheap.

For food - Fire Pot dehydrated meals, M&Ms, haribo, pork pies / sausage rolls, a couple of the hot chocolate sachets & extra sugar, Some cake that can withstand getting squished. He aims to get as many calories in for the least amount of weight and a balance between sweet & savoury. He has tried gels but they don't agree with him. Depending on what he is going he aims for 3,500 - 8,000 cal per day. DofE he is going to go nearer 3,500.

Sleeping - cut down carry mat (long enough to reach between shoulders & hips), Lightweight hydrophobic down sleeping bag, Lightweight single skin 1 person tent. If it was allowed he would just take a bivvy bag.

Clothes - full waterproofs, gillet, pertex fibre fill puffer jacket, hat, buff, gloves, waterproof over mits, sealskin socks, normal socks, walking trousers, T shirt, marino base layers (long sleeve top & tights), fell shoes (mud claws most likely), boxer shorts. He will ware all but the marino base layers during the day. At night he will take off the wet things (ideally the waterproofs) and sleep in as much as he needs to to keep warm(ish) - the hat or buff is essential in this!

Other stuff - lighter, head torch, flint, spork, half a toothbrush, toothpaste, whistle, map, compass, GPS, spare batteries and mobile, small pack of tissues, water bottle and depending where the water purifier. And some money.... for when he gets to the end or if it goes tits up & they end up off the hill in the wrong place.

All in a 35l rucksack or smaller depending on how small he can pack it.

The kit list is up on the DofE website. For DD school provided things like stoves, tents and had some rucksacs, sleeping bags etc for people to borrow if needed.

Ours were told they were not allowed to eat dehydrated foods, they had to have a "proper" cooked meal in the evening which was a pain and added no end of extra weight. What they mostly seemed to eat was wraps with chocolate spread!

Seconding the lots of socks. DD changed hers at lunch time as well, it was quite hot when they did their expedition, and she blisters easily if here feet get too sweaty.