Duke of Ed equipment. Advice please.

[AtYourCervix]

DD has a vast list of stuff she'll need. If she gets everything on the list it will be twice the size she is in size and weight.

So what does she actually need. Any pointers? So far she has an orange bag and a whistle.

i've managed to lose the original list. she's getting a new one today.

She's quite small and skinny and would quite easily fit inside a 75L rucksack.

food.....dont underestimate that!!

dd has done bronze,silver this year,and food was an issue

Gah.. ds1 did this last year!
On his trial run trip we packed everything on the blooming list ( it was going to be checked that they had everything).. It weighed a ton and far more than 1/3 of his body weight.
So for the actual thing we had managed to cut the weight right down.
If you google DofE rucksack weights there somewhere is a list of body to rucksac weights.

Things like dried foods, a spork, one of those walkers towels that is the size of a postage stamp, a billy tin ( for drinking and eating!).. And just take of as much weight and bulk as you can off everything.

He was in a group of four, so they all weight themselves and they then split the weight of shared items ( tent etc) between them according to their weight allowence.

( although ds ended up water carrying for two of the girls).

Water is a big issue.. Try and get hold of a bladder rather than a water bottle.

Ds was fine with a 60L rucksac.... And had a fantastic time.

You'll need easy grab snack food throughout the day ..

There is a kit list on the D of E website www.dofe.org/go/expeditionkit/ It seems quite long but they will be wearing some of the kit and obviously they need less food if its just one night.
As for food from my experience (second DC just finishing Gold) check that the food they take has enough calories. They are expending a great deal of energy just carrying the back packs and pasta with a tomato sauce isn't enough for an evening meal. Breakfast too is often a light meal when they should be taking in lots of calories to set them up for the day. Porridge is a possibility. Camping ready meals are an option but they are more expensive than pasta.
Agree with carrot cake sporks are a good idea. A plastic mug can be used for food and a drink, no need for a bowl, and plate as well. Wash kit can be cut down to just wet wipes + toothbrush ( I appreciate many will say yuck).
Happy Packing!

DD used a plastic bowl for all meals, and a cup with a marker on it for measuring how much water was needed to make her Quaker Oat Breakfast thingies.

She had a very light tiny but warm sleeping bag, and a fab Coleman Epsilon 2 Tent that her friends laughed at (for being so tiny) until they compared its size & weight to theirs. TBH, doing it again we would buy the 3man for 2 to share as the 2 man was REALLY tiny, but incredibly watertight & lightweight. In pairs, one carried the tent, the other the Trangia (supplied by the school)

Get Goretex boots. We couldn't afford Goretex jacket & trousers but we got another very waterproof sort - think it was Berghaus Aquafoil, and it worked. Swindon Outlet Centre was useful - and use your DofE discount cards.

She needed Gaiters for a few trips, and warm hat & gloves.

She wore walking boots all day & had a pair of flipflops for the camp (smallest & lightest). We bought a microfibre towel and cut it into quarters, a quarter was enough for a trip.

Small first aid kit, torch, compass, hat (good for rain or sun).

The girls braided their hair so it didn't need doing whilst away.

Oh, just remembered, she was the only one to ever take any washing up liquid! We had a free sample tiny bottle that we kept refilling. They also need a T Towel & cloth between them. (It will come back looking like they have cleaned the pans directly with the T Towel).

A TINY wooden spoon (from a kids playset) was also popular.

Ds did the baby wipe thing ( not many got used !) just a few put in a ziplock bag for hands feet and pits.

Not really kit as such but a bit of a tip.. A good nights sleep is really needed.. If it's cold out bunging on a dry extra pair of sock and hat (soft fleece jumper.. If really cold or if using a lighter weight sleeping bag).. Will help stay snuggly.
And stuff the stuff sack with coat or clothes for a pillow... Told ds to do this and he was the only one to get a decent nights kip!

Ds says he used his multi tool for loads including putting in tent pegs, used it for opening packets, stirring dinner and as an extra pot grip! Ot was worth it's weight.

And he also says take a small zip lock bag or film canister of talc.. Because your feet will love you for it.

Oh he also says take minimum clothes, lots of light weight layers and don't get undressed unless your wet... You may smell but no-one will care....

And have a great time ..and ask mum to run a hot bath for you when you get back because you will need it :)

( message directly from ds lol)

thanks (particularly carrots DS).

so wipes.
micro towel
multi tool thing
plastic bowl/mug
spork
stuff sack for pillow
boots
gaiters
waterproofs
oat stuff for breakfast
talc.
washing up liquid
check outlet village and also lovelylarge go-outdoors (oh how i love that shop, might just have a small look at the tents while i'm there )

For Gold, they used the Oats so Simple flavoured sachets and made them with water, not milk (which they couldn't carry) and had 2 each. On expedition they thought they were great, at home she can only eat them with milk!

On first night they shared an Asda basic stir fry packet (50p ish) +_a sauce. Those sachets of heat & serve or stir-in pasta sauces were useful (Carbonnara etc).SOme people took Frankfurter sausages. Freezing some things to keep others cool & use on 2nd night was also good. Cereal bars, choc bars, flapjacks etc all good. Cake bar to share got squashed! Hot choc sachets essential.

If poss, get a rucksack with a waterproof cover and pack clothes in bin bags/carrier bags inside (they have walked in torrential rain as well as baking sun).

For Bronze, DD thought she needed clean clothes each day + a change for evenings By Gold she knew better....

(Oh, for Gold which has Wilderness camping, she also got pills from the GP to stop her period as no taps or loos for 3 days.)

Take bin bags & towels when you pick them up.

Remember - You don't need it all for Bronze. We managed with cheap waterproof jacket then as only 2 days and decent weather. Gaiters not needed where they went (but needed on Dartmoor). Hopefully your school/club will have a lot of equipment they can all borrow.

.

Cervix.. Don't buy a stuff sack.. The sleeping bag should come in one :).. Sleeping bag out.. Clothes/coat in :)

just bought a rucksack on ebay for £1.99

off to look for boots.