Troop Campout Gear Lists: Personal Kit, Patrol Kit, and Why Cotton Stays Home
The clearest campout lists separate what each Scout packs from what the patrol carries — and say out loud that a cotton hoodie is the wrong layer. Here's how to build one families can shop from.
A troop campout list works best in two parts: the personal kit each Scout packs in their own bag, and the patrol kit the troop supplies — tents, stoves, cookware, water containers. Families only need to shop from the first part, and saying so prevents a parent buying a four-person tent for one weekend.
New Scout families arrive from Cub Scouts expecting a similar experience and find something different. Scouts BSA campouts are Scout-led and patrol-based, the gear is more technical, and the weather matters more because the troop is often out in it for two nights rather than one afternoon.
Personal kit
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Carry | Backpack or duffel sized to the trip |
| Sleep | Sleeping bag rated for the expected low, sleeping pad, small pillow |
| Clothing | Layers, change of socks per day, sleep clothes, rain jacket |
| Footwear | Broken-in boots or trail shoes, camp shoes |
| Eat | Mess kit, cup, utensils |
| Light | Headlamp with fresh batteries |
| Hygiene | Toothbrush, soap, towel, personal medication |
| Scout | Handbook, uniform for travel and ceremonies, pocketknife if certified |
Patrol kit — list it, don't buy it
Tents, stoves, fuel, cookware, water jugs, lanterns, first aid, and tools almost always belong to the troop. List them anyway, marked as troop-provided. The list is doing two jobs: telling families what to buy, and telling them what not to.
Two things that cause real problems
Sleeping bag temperature ratings. A bag's rating is a survival rating, not a comfort rating — a "30 degree" bag is uncomfortable at 30 degrees. The usual guidance is to choose a bag rated at least 10–15 degrees below the expected overnight low, and to add a sleeping pad, which matters more than most families expect because the ground draws heat away faster than the air does.
Cotton. The phrase Scouts learn is "cotton kills," and it's on every list for a reason: cotton holds water, stops insulating when wet, and dries slowly. A cotton hoodie and jeans — the default thing a twelve-year-old packs — is the wrong layer for a cold, wet weekend. Wool or synthetic for base and mid layers.
Neither of these is obvious to a family new to camping, and neither is well served by a line item reading "sleeping bag." Add a note.
Scaling the list to the trip
A summer car-camping weekend and a winter campout are different lists. Rather than one master list with conditional notes, build a base personal list and copy it for each trip, adjusting the sleep system and layers. Families get a link that matches the actual weekend rather than a generic document they have to interpret.
ClassGear makes this quick — paste product links from any retailer, and families open one page and shop from it. Free, no app, and viewing requires no account. Updates appear immediately on the link families already have, which matters when a forecast changes in the week before a trip.
Building one
1. Create a list at classgear.co named for the trip and dates. 2. Add personal gear with links, especially the sleeping bag, where linking a specific temperature rating is far clearer than describing one. 3. Add troop gear with a note saying the troop provides it. 4. Share the link with the trip announcement.
Many troops also keep a quartermaster's stock of loaner gear. If yours does, say so on the list — a family deciding whether their Scout can afford to attend should know before they shop.
Frequently asked questions
Is ClassGear free for Scout troops?
Yes. Creating and sharing gear lists is free, and families don't need an account to open one.
What temperature sleeping bag should a Scout bring?
Choose a bag rated at least 10 to 15 degrees below the expected overnight low, since ratings are survival ratings rather than comfort ratings. Pair it with a sleeping pad, which does more for warmth than most families expect.
Why do Scout lists say to avoid cotton?
Cotton absorbs water, stops insulating once wet, and dries slowly, which makes it genuinely dangerous in cold or wet conditions. Wool and synthetic layers stay warm when damp.
How do I show which gear the troop supplies?
List troop gear with a note saying so. Tents, stoves, and cookware are nearly always troop-owned, and new families routinely buy them without asking.
Can I make a different list for each campout?
Yes. Copying a base list and adjusting it per trip is usually faster than maintaining one list with seasonal caveats, and each trip gets its own link.
Can we note that loaner gear is available?
Yes. Adding a note that the quartermaster has loaner bags and packs makes a real difference to families weighing the cost of a first campout.
Do parents need an account to see the list?
No. It opens as a normal web page. Only the leader building it signs in.
Start your troop's gear list
Build the personal kit list once, then copy it per trip.