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List of gear recommended by Philmont HERE or THIS GOOGLE DOC version
HOW TO PACK for your Philmont Expedition
Gear Guy page (gear sales and Scoutmaster's store) ==> HERE
The most important item of personal gear you need for Philmont is a really good pair of hiking boots. These will cost anywhere from $100 to $250.
What features your boots should have and how to select them:
Above ankle support
Leather or synthetic; waterproof is highly recommended
Buy boots that will fit while you're backpacking; try them on with socks likely to be worn on trail
Buy from an outdoor outfitter (like REI or EMS); these stores have experts in finding you the right boot
Fit them late in day when feet are slightly swollen
You can add a premium insole later if needed (like Superfeet)
Break in your boots (and your feet) NOW by wearing them and hiking
CLICK HERE for a really informative page with video from REI on selecting the right hiking boot.
...and appropriate socks. The kind of socks you wear with your boots is also very important. We will discuss this at our prep meetings but you can also see it HERE.
Your backpack is your next most important
Your pack will carry everything that you'll need for 12 days on the trail: personal gear, crew gear, food, water. Depending on our itinerary, especially how many days between food pickups and whether we'll have any dry camps (no water), you could carry anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds (the goal is to never exceed 25% of your body weight, at least not for long periods). A good pack will cost between $150 and $250 (although there are very often closeouts from prior year models; check reioutlet.com). You can also rent a pack at Philmont.
==> HOW TO FIT YOUR BACKPACK (video) <==
There are two primary styles of backpack:
Internal frame (this is what you'll mostly find)
External frame (these still exist, but are considered a little "old school", although some people swear by them because they tend to keep your back better ventilated)
Packs come in lots of different sizes and with many different features. We recommend:
At least 65 liter capacity, with the ability to tie things onto the outside (if you're small-framed/small-sized, a 55 liter pack might work; please discuss with your Philmont leaders)
A very well padded hip belt and shoulder straps
An integral rain cover, or buy one separately
As with your hiking boots, go to one or more high-end outdoor outfitters, consult their staff and try on lots of different models
Your crew advisors and some crew members have considerable experience in selecting packs and other outdoor gear. You can get their advice when we discuss gear at our prep meetings.
At the end of every day crews must gather all their "smellables" into bear bags and hang them high above the ground.
Other gear you will need (and which we will discuss later):
Sleeping:
lightweight sleeping bag (20 degree F rating; less than 3.5 lbs)
waterproof stuff sack for your sleeping bag
a sleeping pad (foam or inflatable)
Here is a good review on lightweight foam padsseparate sleeping clothes (these are kept separate for protection from bears; we'll explain how this works at our prep meetings)
Trail clothes:
3 or 4 synthetic/wicking T-shirts and underwear (like DuoFold, Coolmax, Under Armour or other performance brands)
1 or 2 synthetic trail shorts (pockets are very good to have) and one pair of zip-offs
exterior hiking socks (wool or synthetic)
interior hiking sock liners (synthetic)
a warm fleece
a mid-weight jacket/rain jacket combo (or a separate poncho) with a hood (or a separate rain hat)
a safari hat, ball cap or other hat that offers sun protection
Other personal gear:
4 liters water carrying capacity (widemouth Nalgene's are best; you should have at least two of these, even if you're using a hydration reservoir)
eating gear (lightweight bowl and "spork")
a lightweight headlamp with fresh batteries (AAA best)
personal first aid kit
personal toiletries
Lots more tips on gear selection at REI.com (for example, this article about selecting your base layers).
Or THIS ARTICLE about rain jackets.
Crew gear
Crew gear includes anything that more than one person will use, such as:
tents
cooking stoves & fuel
cooking pots and utensils
water purification equipment (filters and/or chemicals)
bear bags and rope
food
Most of this will be supplied by our Troop but if you already have a lightweight, good-quality backpacking tent we'd like to know.
Good sources for Backpacking Gear:
(stores in Conshohocken and King of Prussia)
(store in Warrington)
Reliable brands:
Boots:
Vasque
Merrell
Lowa
Timberland
Keen
Hi-Tec
Solomon
New Balance
Backpacks:
REI
EMS
Kelty
Jansport
Osprey
Gregory
Sleeping Bags:
REI
EMS
Marmot
Kelty
North Face
Hydration Bags (bladders)
Troop 98 Backpacking Food Buyer for Philmont Prep Trips
Your goal is to purchase and assemble a certain number of "Trail Meals" which each feed two people. So make a plan for one meal then multiply by half the people going (so, for, 12 people ==> 6 meal packs for each meal).
HERE is what Philmont puts in their meal packs (scroll down to the blue meal links). HERE is a Google search for images for "Philmont meal pack"; take a look at the ones that show individual items laid out.
Breakfast and lunch will be easy: granola bars, fruit-by-the-foot, nuts, individually wrapped cracker packages (make sure a box of crackers has four or six or eight individual sleeves inside, as opposed to, say, a bag of Cheez-its).
Given you can't find dehydrated meals at the typical grocery store, for the dinner entrée simply substitute a fast-prep rice or pasta package and add in some protein (like packaged chicken, ham or tuna, although lots of Scouts don't like tuna). Look HERE for some suggestions (search at giantfood.com for “packaged meals and sides”). Check serving sizes carefully. Typically, a packet or box of pasta that says it serves four really only serves two hungry backpackers. :-) Also, check for cooking time. Try to pick things that will cook in 5 or 10 minutes instead of 15.
Examples of food bought in April 2021 (by Josh Y):
These are the meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, do you think these meal sizes will be sufficient for 2 people. I can add or remove items if needed.
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