Equipment Guide
Uniform, handbook, and a headlamp — here's what your Scout actually needs before the first campout.
ℹ️ Cub Scouts (grades K–5) wear a blue uniform through Wolf/Bear and switch to tan for Webelos; Scouts BSA (11+) wear tan — buy the shirt one size up, since patches make it hard to hand down.
Must-have estimate
$143 – $327
7 must-have items · 13 total
Blue for Lion through Bear, tan (khaki) for Webelos and all of Scouts BSA. Buy the official one from the Scout Shop or scoutshop.org — off-brand shirts won't match at uniform inspection and the patch positions won't line up.
Youth shirts are cut slim. Kids who are between sizes should size up — sewn-on patches make resizing a nightmare.
The single most-used item your Scout owns — it holds every requirement plus the pages leaders initial when something is completed. Get the edition that matches their exact rank (Wolf, Bear, Webelos, or the Scouts BSA handbook), not a hand-me-down from five years ago.
Buy a clear plastic cover for it. It will live in a backpack, get rained on, and end up in a tent.
Color-coded by rank for Cub Scouts; Scouts BSA troops pick their own. Usually sold separately from the slide, and some packs hand these out at the first meeting — ask before you buy.
Slides fall off constantly. Buy a spare, or let your Scout carve a homemade one — it counts toward some requirements.
A 24–32 oz bottle with a carabiner loop that clips to a pack. Insulated stainless steel is worth it for summer camp, but a wide-mouth plastic bottle is lighter for a kid to carry on a hike.
Write their name on it in permanent marker. The lost-and-found bin at camp is 80% water bottles.
A 15–25L backpack for meetings, hikes, and day trips — big enough for the handbook, a rain jacket, water, and a snack. Padded shoulder straps and a chest strap matter more than brand.
A regular school backpack works fine for the first year — don't rush to buy hiking-specific until they're doing real trail miles.
Every campout requires one. A headlamp beats a flashlight because it keeps their hands free for tent stakes and s'mores; red-light mode is a bonus for not blinding the whole campsite.
Pack spare batteries in a ziplock. Kids leave headlamps switched on inside their sleeping bags.
A 30–40°F synthetic mummy or semi-rectangular bag covers most of the year. Skip cotton slumber-party bags — they soak up moisture and kids get genuinely cold and miserable at 3 a.m.
Add a cheap closed-cell foam pad — the ground steals more warmth than the air does.
Official olive convertible 'switchback' pants zip off into shorts and are genuinely good hiking pants. Many Cub packs only require the shirt, so check with your den leader before spending here.
Check the Scout Shop's used-uniform closet or your pack's uniform exchange — most units have a bin of outgrown pants for free.
Mid-height boots with ankle support for rocky trails, or trail runners for easier hikes and camp. Break them in on short walks before a long outing — blisters end a campout faster than rain.
Pair them with wool or synthetic socks. Cotton socks plus a wet trail equals blisters every time.
Campouts happen in the rain — that's the point. A packable hooded rain shell that stuffs into the daypack beats a bulky winter coat, and beats a poncho for anything involving hiking.
Bright colors are easier to spot in the woods than camo or navy.
A plate, bowl, cup, and spork in a mesh bag — many troops require Scouts to bring and wash their own. Lightweight plastic or enamel is fine; skip the collapsible nesting kits that leak.
Label everything with a paint pen. Identical mess kits at a campsite dish-washing line are chaos.
Only after your Scout earns their Whittling Chip (Cubs) or Totin' Chip (Scouts BSA). A simple 2–3 inch folding blade with a locking mechanism is all they need — no fixed blades, no assisted-opening, no multi-tool the size of a brick.
Wait until the card is earned. Bringing a knife to camp early is a fast way to have it confiscated.
Cub packs hand out the official pine block kit, but tungsten weights, a graphite lubricant, and extra axles are on you. Get a small scale so you can hit 4.9 ounces on race day instead of drilling holes in the parking lot.
Let your kid do the sanding and painting. Everyone at the race can tell which cars were built by dads.
For the parents on the sideline — because you're out there every weekend too.
A lightweight, portable chair with a carry bag. You will spend hours on sidelines — your back will thank you.
Est. $25 – $80
Keeps coffee hot through a two-hour game in the cold. Keep drinks cold all day in summer. A non-negotiable for any sideline parent.
Est. $20 – $45
Two hours on an open field adds up fast. Water-resistant SPF 50+ in a spray is the fastest to apply for the whole family before game time.
Est. $8 – $18
Fields near tree lines or evening games bring the mosquitoes out. Keep a travel-size can in the same bag as the sunscreen so you never forget it.
Est. $6 – $15
Fits snacks, drinks, and ice packs for the whole team. Collapsible cooler bags are easy to carry and store flat in the car.
Est. $20 – $55
For those early morning or late fall games when it drops 20 degrees by kick-off. Compact, warm, and doubles as a picnic blanket.
Est. $18 – $45
A solid dad hat or wide-brim sun hat for long days in the sun. Look for UPF 50+ if you're at weekend tournaments.
Est. $15 – $40
Fast-drying and compact. Great for wiping down wet gear, drying off kids after a rainy game, or cleaning up spills at the snack table.
Est. $10 – $25
Single-serve packets you can toss in a water bottle. Better than hauling cases of sports drinks — and easier on the sugar.
Est. $15 – $30
Band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and an instant cold pack. Small enough to toss in your bag, essential when someone rolls an ankle in the last five minutes.
Est. $12 – $30
Folds to the size of a baseball. Games don't get cancelled for light rain — you'll be glad it's in your bag the first time it pours in the third quarter.
Est. $8 – $20
Bleachers, dugout benches, folding chairs — they are all hard after an hour. A folding, water-resistant seat cushion with back support makes a full tournament day survivable.
Est. $15 – $35
All-day tournaments mean hours of photos, group texts, and livestreaming to grandparents — with no outlet nearby to charge in between games. A power bank keeps you covered.
Est. $18 – $40
Catch up on a podcast, take a call, or just tune into the game — wireless earbuds keep your hands free while everyone else fumbles with a cord.
Est. $30 – $250
Heavy-duty collapsible wagon with wide wheels for hauling chairs, coolers, and gear bags across thick grass or mud at complex venues.
Est. $80 – $150
Enclosed pop-up tent to stay dry and warm during freezing rain, wind, or extreme cold at early morning or late fall games.
Est. $70 – $180
USB-powered padded seat with back support that hooks onto metal bleachers or lawn chairs to keep parents warm during long tournament days.
Est. $45 – $90
Rechargeable cooling fan with water mist attachment to protect young athletes and parents from overheating during summer tournaments.
Est. $20 – $40
Machine-washable, towel-style seat protector designed to prevent sweat, mud, and turf pellets from ruining car upholstery after games.
Est. $25 – $45
Divided snack organizer ideal for parents assigned to team snack duty or packing fuel for multi-game tournament weekends.
Est. $15 – $30
Compact muscle massager for warming up tight hamstrings and easing post-game quad soreness between tournament bracket rounds.
Est. $35 – $80
Fast-charging battery pack to keep phones, video cameras, scoring apps (like GameChanger), and heating cushions powered all day.
Est. $25 – $60
Loud gyms, packed rinks, echoey arenas — a good pair of over-ear headphones lets you dial down the noise between plays without missing your kid's turn.
Est. $40 – $200
Total Estimated Cost
$143 – $327
Based on must-have items at typical retail prices. Costs vary by brand, retailer, and whether the league supplies certain gear.
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