thanks for all your ideas i bought the eurohilke dart (he hasn't looked at it yet) its very light and im hoping it will serve its purpose, under £30 from millets also managed to get a new trekking bag from ebay for 15 so he's all kitted out for his trek. now all we have to do is hope the weather gods smile on them.
Looks about right Angela. The porch will be useful for putting wet waterproofs and stuff in overnight. Presumably carrying the tent will be split between the group?
Get him to put the tent up a few times in the garden so that he is able to put it up blindfold: literally!
As regards packing the bag, make sure he puts everything other than his waterproofs in plastic bags with the heavy stuff at the top and as close as possible to his body. Also make sure he has the weight on his hips via the waist strap with his shoulders just supporting the load.
Hope he enjoys the expedition and he gets better weather than we had for a bronze expedition last weekend: you should have seen the steam off thirty odd kids drying out round the fire!
Another thing that is worth spending money on is a waterproof cover for his backpack. Water has a great way of getting in everywhere, even if if stuff is wrapped in plastic inside, and there's nothing more soul-destroying than being cold and damp.
Another thing that is worth spending money on is a waterproof cover for his backpack. Water has a great way of getting in everywhere, even if if stuff is wrapped in plastic inside, and there's nothing more soul-destroying than being cold and damp.
A good piece of advice we were given (Our kids do DofE with Rik's group BTW) is to have a waterproof hooded cape, similar to the old-fashioned cycling cape - particularly useful in showery weather when it's not too cold (i.e. the British summer!), because you can slip it off and on without needing to take the backpack off and it covers both you and the backpack, with plenty of ventilation if it is also humid. Not quite so good in windy or cold weather though.
I think we picked up one for our daughter for under a fiver.
I'm looking for a tent to take in the mountains next year to use when training for my Mountain Leader award.
While evaluating suitable tents, I have realised an essential is to have a big enough porch under the flysheet but outside the inner tent in which to crouch to remove those soggy outer clothes so that you don't drip wet all over the inside of the tent. The waterproofs can then get folded outside outwards and put in the porch of the tent to reduce condensation build up inside the tent.
One can then sit with ones bum inside the inner of the tent to remove ones' boots. I s'pose one could leave boots in the porch but for reasons I can't articualte I prefer to take them with me into the inner tent.
Quote: Originally posted by smee05 on 01/9/2008
have a look at the vango beta 350?
3 man with space for belongings etc. 6kg.
Have just come back from back packing around the Isle of Wight with this tent. We split it between 2 of us and it was great with loads of room for all our kit and space to sit inside if the weather was bad.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: DofE
