Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

D of E tomorrow... best way to pack the rucksack?

102 replies

2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:10

Help!!!!

Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh expedition tomorrow, and we have been given an excessive for 1 night list of what's required.

Is there a strategic way to pack? I'm already flummoxed by 'lining the rucksack with a bin liner' when the ruck sack is lined....

I was thinking, sleeping bag at bottom, clothes on top, then food, waterproofs and lunchbox, with first aid kit in the from pocket (for my son to get to when he hurts himself 5 minutes in)

Any hints/tips/prayers greatly appreciated

OP posts:
Simonjt · 16/07/2023 17:12

Is this bag for you? If not it’s really important that you don’t pack it.

Nothingbuttheglory · 16/07/2023 17:14

Your ds needs to pack it - and check the weight etc - himself. Most organisers run through this with the kids.

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 16/07/2023 17:16

He needs to pack it so he can find stuff.

bin bag is an extra waterproof layer because sometimes waterproof bags can be less than waterproof.

i suggest carrier bags to sort items. One for clothes, one for waterproofs, one for food.

SummerHouse · 16/07/2023 17:16

You need to let him pack it. He is year 9. You can watch and cringe at the lack of strategy. If he packs it, anything not there is on him. If he can't find something, it's on him. If it's not convenient or strategically placed, it's on him. I totally understand the temptation to do it but D of E is all about growing and experiencing. Let him experience the packing.

Slaistery · 16/07/2023 17:16

The rucksack built in lining isn’t sufficient for proper rain - use a black bag or rubble sack or multiple so that different bags can be strategically unpacked without getting everything else wet.

Weight distribution is largely a matter of preference - have a look at YouTube for guidance.

Keep first aid in an outer pocket, also water bottle and first day walking food.

tweener · 16/07/2023 17:16

Not all rucksacks will be lined, hence the bin bags. But as pp said it's so so important that it's packed by the person doing the expedition. I've seen it time and time again them having to unpack an entire bag because "my mum packed it for me so I didn't know where X was."
He/she also needs to make sure it's packed so it sits comfortably and isn't too heavy.

Talipesmum · 16/07/2023 17:20

It’s good to get them to put sets of clothes in separate plastic bags so if he shoves wet socks in there it doesn’t pollute everything else, also to keep changes of clothes dry if it rains (I think this is better than a liner). Day 2 clothes all together with pants and socks. Night clothes all together. Generally heavier at the bottom or nearer your back is good. Does he have any tent or trangia to carry?

Don’t pack a lunchbox - it’ll be too bulky. Doesn’t matter if food is squashed. Waterproofs on top or easy access, same for snacks.

And yes it’s imperative he packs it himself.

Talipesmum · 16/07/2023 17:21

I think the guidance is the bag shouldn’t exceed 1/4 of the child’s weight. Stand him on the scales with and without the bag.

Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:22

I'd love him to pack it himself, but as a standard 14 year old, he's out with his friends.

They have to add stuff tomorrow at school before they leave as well

No lunchbox? Well, that's thrown a spanner in the works.

Also we don't have plastic bags, as we use reusable.

Eesh, I wish they hadn't made this bloody thing mandatory

OP posts:
Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:23

Talipesmum · 16/07/2023 17:21

I think the guidance is the bag shouldn’t exceed 1/4 of the child’s weight. Stand him on the scales with and without the bag.

He's 13 stone and 6ft tall so I think we're good there!

OP posts:
Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:24

Simonjt · 16/07/2023 17:12

Is this bag for you? If not it’s really important that you don’t pack it.

Nope, absolutely not for me...
But he's my youngest so I tend to do stuff for him

OP posts:
Nothingbuttheglory · 16/07/2023 17:26

I'd love him to pack it himself, but as a standard 14 year old, he's out with his friends.

This will be an invaluable learning experience for him. Y9 DofE is not exactly scaling Everest. Let him find out for himself. He'll get much more sense of achievement than if his mum packs it for him like he's off to Beavers.

Simonjt · 16/07/2023 17:27

2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:22

I'd love him to pack it himself, but as a standard 14 year old, he's out with his friends.

They have to add stuff tomorrow at school before they leave as well

No lunchbox? Well, that's thrown a spanner in the works.

Also we don't have plastic bags, as we use reusable.

Eesh, I wish they hadn't made this bloody thing mandatory

So he can pack it when he gets home.

Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:27

Nothingbuttheglory · 16/07/2023 17:26

I'd love him to pack it himself, but as a standard 14 year old, he's out with his friends.

This will be an invaluable learning experience for him. Y9 DofE is not exactly scaling Everest. Let him find out for himself. He'll get much more sense of achievement than if his mum packs it for him like he's off to Beavers.

He doesn't actually want to go, this is the 1st year it's mandatory in his school and they are all doing it

Thanks for the condescending comment though, really helpful

OP posts:
Frith2013 · 16/07/2023 17:29

Let your son do it.

toomuchlaundry · 16/07/2023 17:30

Have they done practice walks? He needs to do it by himself (but you can run through list with him). I assume organisers will possibly check before they are let loose on their walk. Will need to add tents and cooking stuff once at school I assume.
He will need to be able to pack it the next day. What food is he taking?

toomuchlaundry · 16/07/2023 17:31

Has he done all the other sections that are required for DofE eg volunteering?

Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:32

toomuchlaundry · 16/07/2023 17:30

Have they done practice walks? He needs to do it by himself (but you can run through list with him). I assume organisers will possibly check before they are let loose on their walk. Will need to add tents and cooking stuff once at school I assume.
He will need to be able to pack it the next day. What food is he taking?

No they haven't

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 16/07/2023 17:32

My daughter did D of E and this was part of it - they should have been told how to pack and distribute the weight. You can do it together, but don't do it for him!

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 16/07/2023 17:32

Dd went last week and her and my dad (probably my dad) packed her bag.
They lined it with a proper bag liner which was apparently a pain in the arse.
Bottom to top
Air mattress/ blow up pillow
Sleeping bag
Stove
Camping Lamp
food for the evening/next day in sandwich bags
clothes for next day in a plastic bag
At the very top was lunch for day 1 in sandwich bags no lunch boxes they take up too much room.
In the flap at the top was the first aid kit, a spare compass and her phone charger and mascara.
She had a drink in the side pocket
And the tent strapped to to bag.

She got it all back in very well for coming home.

00100001 · 16/07/2023 17:33

Jesus fucking Christ woman. Make him do it, stop pandering to him.

If he packs it wrong or doesn't pack it, then you drop him off anyway. And bell either have a crappy packed bag or have to pack it in the carpark at school.

Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:34

toomuchlaundry · 16/07/2023 17:30

Have they done practice walks? He needs to do it by himself (but you can run through list with him). I assume organisers will possibly check before they are let loose on their walk. Will need to add tents and cooking stuff once at school I assume.
He will need to be able to pack it the next day. What food is he taking?

Sorry food wise... he has a wayfarer meal for dinner, a porridge pot for breakfast, standard packed lunch and fruit, cereal bars, buiscuits, cheese, salami, bread and chocolate for snacks (has a very healthy appetite)

OP posts:
sweepleall · 16/07/2023 17:34

Nothingbuttheglory · 16/07/2023 17:26

I'd love him to pack it himself, but as a standard 14 year old, he's out with his friends.

This will be an invaluable learning experience for him. Y9 DofE is not exactly scaling Everest. Let him find out for himself. He'll get much more sense of achievement than if his mum packs it for him like he's off to Beavers.

That's harsh.

My 6 year old packs his own bag for Beavers

Original poster
2boysandagirltoo · 16/07/2023 17:35

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 16/07/2023 17:32

Dd went last week and her and my dad (probably my dad) packed her bag.
They lined it with a proper bag liner which was apparently a pain in the arse.
Bottom to top
Air mattress/ blow up pillow
Sleeping bag
Stove
Camping Lamp
food for the evening/next day in sandwich bags
clothes for next day in a plastic bag
At the very top was lunch for day 1 in sandwich bags no lunch boxes they take up too much room.
In the flap at the top was the first aid kit, a spare compass and her phone charger and mascara.
She had a drink in the side pocket
And the tent strapped to to bag.

She got it all back in very well for coming home.

Thank you for this

No air beds allowed for this one, and tent and camping stove added at school, shared out in the group.

OP posts:
Hbh17 · 16/07/2023 17:35

If he goes without stuff, or messes it up, that's how he will learn to do it properly. What is the point of the parent helping? It defeats the whole purpose of DofE? FFS, just keep out and leave it to him.