For a weekend backpacking trip, these are the the items that you will want to take. Remember, you will want to pack only what you need, and as lightly as possible.
Obviously, you will want your pack, and all gear should fit in your pack. Your pack should be adjusted, and packed so that the majority of the weight should be resting on your hips and sacrum – not on your shoulders. The shoulder straps are there, mostly, to keep your pack up-right on your back.
You will want a wide-brimmed hat that covers your ears and neck;
Sleeping bag (the lighter, smaller, the better – as long as it is appropriate for the weather);
Sleeping pad (if you want);
Sunscreen;
Bug spray;
Corn Starch or Gold Bond powder (to be applied to heat rashes);
Hand sanitizer;
Toothbrush/paste;
Two changes of clothes;
Extra underwear (the more often you change them, the less likely you will be chafed;
Hiking socks, if possible – these socks are designed to wick moisture away from the foot. Cotton socks should be used only as a last resort;
Extra socks (2 pair per day is good);
Whistle;
First Aid kit;
Camera and memory cards/film and batteries;
Bungee Cords to attach your sleeping bag, roll, and tent to your pack (bungee cords are better than twine or cord, because they maintain tension on the attached items. Cord and twine tend to loosen over time, and with each step – and bungee cords are easy to attach and detach);
Zip lock bags;
Each Scout should bring a roll of toilet paper;
Five Walmart-style bags (remember – what you pack in, you must pack out);
Rain gear;
Trash bags (2) , one to protect your sleeping bag, the other to cover your pack, should it rain;
Field books are nice, but confer with others in your group so you don’t have multiple copies of the same book;
Garden Trowel, or Entrenching Tool (to dig cathole for scat);
Plate/Bowl for meals (the underside of a frisbee makes for a great, deep dish plate. Don’t forget bring utensils (place them in zip lock baggies);
Good, comfortable hiking boots, broken in;
Any medication taken, normally.
Emergency inhaler;
Flashlight
This list assumes that the troop is providing tentage, cooking gear, and water. Otherwise, plan to pack these things, as well. If bottled water is not being packed, you will need chemical water treatment tablets or a filtration system.
