West Texas Backpacking Gear Guide
This list is designed to enable scouts to thrive at the annual Troop High Adventure to West Texas (Buffalo Trails Scout Ranch, Big Bend National Park, in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park). This list is specifically designed to allows for participation of smaller scouts and accommodates large water carrying requirements of the high desert.
Target Pack Weight: Your target pack weight without food, water, or crew gear should be less than 15 pounds. An easy way to do this is to buy the lightest possible items on the gear list and bring only that gear. Once we add food,water, and crew gear, the actual pack you will carry will be closer to 35 pounds. Participants should not bring extra items not on this list unless they have a very high level of fitness and are supremely confident that they can handle the extra weight.
Water: Hikers need about 4 liters of water per day. Each liter weighs 2.2 lbs.
BTSR: Water in sediment-laden stock ponds is available in the high country and in clear springs in the valleys. The troop MSR water filters can provide water, but scouts will need to be skilled in backflushing and maintaining the filter.
Big Bend: Backcountry springs are unreliable and slow. Caching water may be possible for some itineraries, but generally scouts will need to carry all/most of their water. Except for routes that plan to use springs or on the river, water filters should not be carried.
Guadalupe Mountains: There are no water sources in the backcountry (it is illegal to take water from the spring-fed McKittrick Creek). Scouts will need to carry 100% of their water. Water filters are useless.
DETAILED INDIVIDUAL GEAR LIST
This list described in detail each item and its purpose. Please ask Troop leadership if you have any questions. There are options from very expensive to bargains that meet the criteria. In general, buy the lightest option you can afford.
Clothing Worn
Long synthetic sleeve trekking shirt (max 6 oz): Material should be very light and breathable, made from woven nylon or polyester (resistant to insect bites, too). The material must dry quickly and wick moisture off the skin. The shirt should have long sleeves with high UPF (sun) protection to protect against sunburn. Button-up style and sleeves offer ventilation options. A collar offers extra sun protection at high altitude. Some prefer an ultra-light sun hoodie. Option to bring one extra shirt. Do not bring more than two shirts.
Trekking pants (max 10 oz): Material should be very light and breathable woven nylon or polyester, and be resistant to insect bites. The material must dry quickly and wick moisture off the skin. Convertible pants are an option as long as they don’t add significant weight. Do not bring more than one pair of pants.
Underwear (max 3 oz): Tight-fitting athletic underwear such as spandex shorts minimize chafing. Synthetic underwear will dry quickly and wick moisture away from the skin. Built-in underwear is preferred for simplicity. 2x underwear.
Mid-weight, full cushion, Merino wool trekking socks (max 2.5 oz): Thick socks provide good blister preventionand can be much warmer during cool nights or chilly mornings especially when wet shoes must be worn. onsider using thinner wool socks if it is more appropriate with your footwear.
Trail running shoes with an aggressive lug sole (not waterproof) (max 32 oz/pair): The lighter the better. They will dry faster, you will spend fewer calories walking, and your feet will hurt less. If you keep your pack weight within the constraints provided you won’t need the extra stability provided by a hiking boot. Avoid GORE-TEX or other waterproofing; this material makes your shoe function like a bathtub rather than letting your feet breathe.
Cotton Bandana or Buff (max 1 oz): Great for offering additional sun protection for the neck and face. Has multiple uses such as a hand towel, washrag, etc.
Baseball Cap (max 3 oz): Sun protection
Warm Clothing
Synthetic/wool long underwear top (max 5 oz): Needed as a base layer. Great to wear to bed or have to put on during chilly mornings.
Synthetic/wool long underwear bottoms (max 5 oz): Great base layer or sleeping item. May substitute with light-weight fleece sweatpants or pajama bottoms.
Mid-layer jacket (200 weight fleece or high loft synthetic or down) (max 10 oz): A warm camp jacket is key.
2nd mid layer (max 12 oz) (optional): If the forecast is for temperatures below freezing, bring a second mid-layer that will fit over the first. If temps will be above freezing, unnecessary.
2nd (spare) pair of mid-weight, full cushion, merino wool trekking socks (max 2.5 oz): Same benefits as above but these are your extra ones. They will be used for sleeping or hiking, depending on the situation.
Warm hat or balaclava & warm gloves (100-200 weight) (max 4.5 oz): Great to wear to bed or on chilly mornings.
Sunglasses (max 1 oz) (optional): Polarized cut down on glare.
Watch (mandatory for crew leaders, optional for rest of crew)
Trail Gear and Clothing (keep this gear accessible in outside pockets or near the top of your pack)
Waterproof-breathable rain jacket and pants (max 16 oz): Winter precipitation (rain, sleet, snow) is possible. Jackets and pants should be breathable (ventilation) to accommodate hiking. Rain gear doubles as a shell layer to trap heat lost from the base layers and mid-layer jacket. These layers also serve as windbreakers. You will wear your rain jacket and rain pants in the evenings or mornings if it is cold.
Two 1 liter water bottles to drink while hiking. Smart Water are significantly lighter than Nalgene.
Personal First Aid Kit (max 2 oz): This kit should focus on foot care and minor cuts/scrapes: about a dozen assorted band-aids and other minor wound care supplies, blister tape (leukotape) and some moleskin, acetaminophen 500mg (x10) or ibuprofen 200mg (x10), Benadryl (x6, for allergies), epi-pen if you have allergies that can lead to anaphylactic shock, a small bottle of medical-grade superglue for wound closures (optional), and a tincture of benzoin ampules for increasing the adhesiveness of tape (optional).
Camp Gear (packed in your pack)
Backpack (40-80 liter size) (max 40 oz): Expect to carry an additional 20lbs of group gear and water. An internal frame is best. Backpacks with a simple design are best.
Durable Pack liner: Waterproof and sized to fit the whole pack. Used to keep the sleeping bag and insulating clothingdry. Recommend a 3mm contractor trash bag (ultra-light, ultra-cheap). Pack liners are perfect waterproofing systems if you do not plan on purchasing individual dry bags for your sleeping bag and warm clothing. Alternatively, pack your gear in dry bags.
Sleeping bag (30F rating, down or synthetic) (max 32 oz): Your sleeping bag is your last line of defense against the cold. Get a good one, take care of it, and make sure it stays dry. If you are not using a pack liner, please have a separate dry bag for the sleeping bag and warm clothing (compressible dry bags work well).
Sleeping pad (max 14 oz): Serves as a means of comfort and insulation against the cold. Can be inflatable (as long as it’s durable) or foam. Half-length foam pads are the cheapest and lightest option. Full-length inflatable pads are the most expensive, but more comfortable.
Shelter: Winter weather in West Texas varies from pleasant mild days to extreme winds and snow. Depending on the forecast, scouts may be able to Cowboy camp (no shelter), however this decision will be made by adult leaders within a few days of the event. All participants should prepare to have a shelter system that is light, wind resistant, and that they know how to set up. Backpacking tents provide the most protection but are the heaviest option. Tarps are lighter but require skill to properly pitch. Participants should consider sharing shelters and dividing the weight. Aim for 32 oz. (2 lbs) per person or less shared weight.
Water storage: Participants will generally need 4 liters per day, with large adults requiring more and small scouts requiring slightly less. This amount includes water needed for cooking. Each liter weighs 2.2 lbs, so four 1 liter bottles weight almost 9 lbs. Water for 2 days will weigh around 20 lbs. The lightest storage options are flexible bladders (platypus) and Smart Water bottles. These should generally be stored inside your pack (but outside the pack liner) close against the back. In the past we have had scouts run out of water because they underestimated consumption.
Toiletries (max 4 oz): toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, chapstick, sunscreen, personal meds.
LED headlamp (max 2 oz): if nature calls during the night.
Lightweight bowl (max 1.5 oz): We will be cooking patrol style and doling out food into your bowls.
Drinking Mug (max 4 oz) (optional): Only if you want hot drinks.
Spoon or spork (max 0.5 oz).
Lightweight/Lightest possible camp shoes (optional): A cheap pair of flip-flops or Crocs.
Ultralight pillow (max 3 oz) (optional): not necessary and can be substituted by dry bag with clothes.
Lightweight trekking poles (optional)
Camera (optional):
Wag Bag (Guadalupe Mountains only): GMNP requires toilet paper and feces to be carried out of the backcountry. Each participant should carry one WAG bag per day. These bags include a gelling agent that traps, deodorizes, and breaks down waste and comes complete with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Bring a separate gallon ziplock to store WAG bags.
Gallon Zip-loc: For trash.
25 Liter dry bag: for storing food. The dry bag keeps food dry and prevents odors from spreading. These will be placed in the Crew bear bags each night.
DETAILED CREW GEAR
Crew Stove: Troop Kovea Spider cannister stove + lighter. Larger crews (more than 8 people) should bring a second stove.
8 oz Isobutane Cannister. Large crews bring 2.
Serving Spoon: May be unnecessary if only heating water to be poured into individual bowls.
Large Pot: Troop 6L. Depending on the meal, the pot can be used to heat water, which can then rehydrate food in individual bowls, or can cook in the pot. All uneaten food must be packed out.
Coffee Stove (for Adults): JetBoil and Small cannister stove + small pot.
Instant Coffee: Starbucks 40 cup tin of instant is the best we have found.
8 oz Isobutane Canister for Coffee Stove
Pocket knife/multi tool (2-4 per crew)
Compass (2 per crew)
Map of Park
Water filter (BTSR, maybe Big Bend): Troop MSR water filters
Trowel and Toilet Paper (BTSR and Big Bend): As described, GMNP requires personal WAG bags. Cat holes are acceptable at BTSR and Big Bend.
Bear Bag and 100 feet paracord (BTSR and GMNP only): Troop has dry bags, which will be hung in trees each night.Please know that all “smellables” (items that smell), must be put into this dry bag to be strung up at night. This bag iscritical to safe and LNT camping in bear country. This bag should have enough extra space to store group food. If crew is large, take a couple.
Crew Dining Fly (optional): If the forecast is for precipitation, it is nice to have a dry area to eat. The troop has 12x12 tarps which can be set up with trekking poles or trees.
Crew first aid kit
Walkie talkies/radios (useful but optional)
INDIVIDUAL GEAR CHECKLIST – West Texas Backpacking
NO COTTON CLOTHING (except bandana & baseball cap)
Trail Clothing
synthetic long-sleeve hiking shirt (worn)
woven nylon trekking pants or shorts (worn)
synthetic underwear / spandex shorts (worn)
mid-weight, full cushion, merino wool trekking socks (worn)
trail running shoes with an aggressive sole (not waterproof) (worn)
cotton bandana / Buff (worn)
baseball cap (worn)
Warm Clothing (to be kept dry in a separate dry bag or pack liner)
synthetic long underwear top
synthetic long underwear bottoms
warm mid-layer jacket (200 weight fleece, high loft synthetic fill or down fill)
2nd mid layer jacket (if forecast below freezing)
2nd pair of mid-weight, full cushion, merino wool trekking socks
warm hat or balaclava (100-200 weight)
warm gloves (100-200 weight)
sunglasses (optional)
watch (mandatory for crew leader, optional for others)
Trail-Gear (keep this gear accessible in outside pockets or near the top of your pack)
waterproof-breathable rain jacket and pants
two 1L Smart Water or Nalgene
personal first aid kit
Camp Gear
backpack (40-80 liter size)
durable pack liners such as a large dry bag or contractor trash bag
sleeping bag (30*F rating, down or synthetic, needs an individual dry bag if not using a pack liner)
sleeping pad (½, ⅔ or full-length pad)
shelter less than 2 lbs shared weight
water storage (collapsible or Smart Water), volume depends on itinerary.
toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, personal meds
Headlamp
lightweight bowl
lightweight spoon or spork
camp shoes (optional)
ultralight pillow (optional)
trekking poles (optional)
camera (optional)
WAG bags (GMNP only)
25-35 liter dry bag to store food, with a gallon ziplock for trash
CREW GEAR CHECKLIST – West Texas Backpacking
Crew Stove (1 or 2 depending on crew size)
8 oz Isobutane Cannister for crew stove.
Serving Spoon (only if cooking in pot) only heating water to be poured into individual bowls.
Large Pot
Coffee Stove
Instant Coffee
8 oz Isobutane Canister for Coffee Stove
Pocket knife/multi tool (2-4 per crew)
Compass (2 per crew)
Map of Park
Water filter (BTSR, maybe Big Bend)
Trowel and Toilet Paper (BTSR and Big Bend)
Bear Bag and 100 feet paracord (BTSR and GMNP only):
Crew Dining Fly (optional)
Crew first aid kit
Radios (optional)