D of E and the extensive kit list - where to source?

[Stumpedasatree]

DD doing her first D of E (bronze) with school and school offered a kit pack which cost in the £100s which I didn't purchase. Where can I find all the bits and bobs she needs at a decent price?

Go Outdoors (you'll be able to get a discount with her DofE card) or Decathlon.

She needs a rucksack, walking boots, a waterproof coat, a sleeping bag, a sleeping mat (just a basic foam one), and decent walking socks (either lined socks, or single-layer socks with a lining sock - 2 layers to prevent blisters). Most other stuff she/you probably already have.

Find out first if the school has any kit to loan apart from selling packs. DDs supplied mats, sleeping bags, dry bags as well as the tents and stoves. (Also mesh hoodies for when they did gold in midgy Scotland!)

Her other kit was from a variety of outdoors shops including Cotswold (they do DofE discounts too) - they're particularly good for boot fitting IME.

Walking trousers/leggings and fleeces may be cheaper from the likes of mountain warehouse or trespass, if she doesn't already have anything suitable. (Not jeans).

How much you're willing to spend depends on whether you do any walking as a family and if they're likely to do more DofE levels and also if they're pretty much full grown or not. A big rucksack that fits properly may have a lot of use if they travel in future (and just train trips etc).

This is super helpful, thank you both. I'll get on to this. We do dog walk but nothing major. Not sure yet if she will do the other levels!

I would also add waterproof trousers to the essentials list.

Mountain Warehouse near us did a discount afternoon specifically aimed at new D of E students. Then there was the ongoing discount as mentioned by PP.
Some kit has proved useful in other contexts; the waterproofs and sleeping bag in particular. We sold on some other kit.

Buy the boots first hand, and probably the sleeping bag (I wouldn’t sleep in a secondhand one), but check market place and Vinted for the rest. There’ll be loads of stuff from people who just did bronze.

Ask the parents of previous year's d of e participants. Bet they have rucksacks, tents, mats, waterproofs to sell or lend.
If buying new yes don't forget the d of e discount at some stores.

See if anyone is selling bits second hand. Lots of ppl do d of e and might have stuff to sell. Iylt might not have been used much

Check out Alpkit too, for reasonably priced kit, and there an FB group - Outdoor Gear Exchange for buying and selling outdoor gear.

If you live near Derby Rab/lLowe Alpine have a factory shop, Mountain Outfitters at Alfreton Outfitters

There's also Magic Mountain in Nottingham, they also do mail order.

Does the school provide the tents, stoves, pots and pans etc?
Ours were all provided as they need to be lightweight.

Mountain warehouse and Decathlon are good for reasonable price and quality

Put time, effort and money into boots, and good socks.

You definitely don't need everything on the list. Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, something non breakable to eat off & with and a rucksack to keep it in is fine. Are school providing the stove for them? Clothing wise boots & waterproofs and the only extras I bought. Totally agree with PP about sourcing 2nd hand stuff where possible. 🙂

I borrowed my from my local Scouts group, but that was a good few years back. I borrowed a decent hiking lightweight tent, trangier/pans, and backpack. I wasn't a Scout by any stretch of the imagination!

Mountain warehouse will have everything you need, just make sure you choose a jacket with a high hydrostatic rating, 5000 is good otherwise they leak in heavy rain! Sports direct is ok for hiking socks, but them before the boots to ensure you buy the right size. My second boots are mountain warehouse brand and very comfortable

Most kit has been covered by above.

Don't forget food @Stumpedasatree.

Especially high nutritious snacks and those single sachets of hot chocolate.

Try freecycle? You can ask to borrow things now too.

Vinted!

Yes, the school provides tents, stoves, pots and pans. Shall have a look at freecycle and vinted!

I think secondhand boots are great! Loads of hardly worn very good quality leather walking boots out there. With the benefit of already being broken in.

Agree with others, mountain warehouse is very reasonable.

Buy the best waterproof coat you can afford. It doesn’t need to be thick, add layers below for warmth but so many people had coats on d of e that couldn’t cope with it raining all day.

My dd is doing ten toors (jubilee thingy) and I have been hit with the list of what she needs. As a single parent it was a bit of a shock 😬, luckily I hike a lot so I will be lending dd some of the kit but I still need to find a sleeping bag, because she’s going in April it might still be quite chilly so she needs a warmer more expensive one 😬, I need to find a backpack and a few other bits too but I am hoping she can use my base layers and waterproofs. Vinted is great for outdoor wear so I will be getting a few bits from there.

Think of some of the kit as a long term investment! I have just replaced DD2’s walking boots for Xmas that we bought for D of E 10 years ago. We bought leather ones and they have had a lot of wear - same with her waterproof coat. Her rucksack has also been used by my other DD for all 3 D of E levels and been to various festivals over the years.

eBay for the massive rucksack
DoE discount card for sleeping bag/walking boots
Amazon /Facebook market place for clothes / kit.
Definitely check what centre will provide as we bought a trangia cookset but could have leny from school. Same with tent.

You'll probably have to buy socks and boots, but for other things ask around - do you have a street WhatsApp group for example? Lots of people have this type of kit in their home but rarely use it. Also worth asking at school - one of the teachers who supported with D of E lent me a rucksack when I did my bronze. I did it 20 years ago, the equipment thing was definitely a barrier for lower income families then, sounds like things haven't changed much sadly!

It might be worth asking the school if they can put out a plea to parents of older students who may have done the lower level award for which they bought all the kit which is now sitting in a wardrobe. Maybe they would be happy to loan it?

DD did Bronze last year and won't be going on to do silver and gold so I gave all of the kit she won't use back to the school, in case anyone can make use of it. whistle, blanket, unworn waterproof trousers, some cookery bits and bobs etc. It's worth asking your school.