Gear

Every scout needs good gear.  Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get good gear.  Here are some of my favorites, and most are priced under $20.  If you’re looking for a great gift for a scout, or if you’re looking for some tried-and-tested recommendations, look here! Please understand that BSA does not endorse any non-BSA brand!

Here’s a keychain-sized LED flashlight that packs a punch!
This little LED flashlight can clip onto your keychain, and offers three different levels of brightness ranging from low-power perfect for use inside your tent to find things at night, to a blinding spotlight when you need it.  The pocket clip allows it to clip to the visor of a scout cap for hands-free use:
A3 EOS keychain flashlight
It runs off a single AAA alkaline battery, but it really comes to life when you combine it with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a charger:
10440 AAA-size Lithium Ion batteries
Lithium Ion battery Charger

Every scout needs a reliable pocket knife!
This folding pocket knife is the right size, has a reliable locking blade, and is made from 8Cr13MoV steel that takes and retains a razor-sharp edge:
8Cr13MoV Pocket Knife

Get yourself a water bottle!
No scout should come to camp without a water bottle. They’re inexpensive and come in all different colors, sizes, and styles. Get one and put your name on it with a sharpie! Here are some recommendations:
Nalgene water bottles
Camelbak water bottles

I give a high recommendation to the Camelbak Chute bottles.  These work better with their simple screw-top cap than the Eddy models with the flip-valve and internal straw, which add complication and extra parts that can fail.  The 0.75 liter Camelbak Chute with the BSA logo is a bargain at the scout store and scoutstuff.org.  If you have a Camelbak Eddy, you can buy replace the lid and the straw with a Chute lid, which are sold separately on Amazon.

Get yourself a daypack!
No scout should come to camp without a daypack. Your daypack can carry your scout handbook, first aid kit, water bottle, and your first class uniform and jacket after morning flags.  They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and are perfect for a day-hike.  The scout store carries several models that are perfect for a day-hike:
Scout Store Daypacks
Amazon Basics Lightweight foldable travel daypack
This one is a little more robust and costs a little more, but I’m really liking mine:
Kelty 15 liter Summit daypack

Get yourself a watch!
Every scout needs a rugged watch. This Timex Expedition has an impact-resistant plastic bezel and is lightweight. It has Indiglo back lighting, so you can read it at night inside a dark tent. It has a velcro strap that can be adjusted as needed during your scouting activities:
Timex Expedition Indiglo watch
This Timex Expedition Camper is another great choice with the same Indiglo back lighting and velcro strap:
Timex Expedition Camper Indiglo watch

A lightweight nylon tarp can be used as a groundcloth or a shelter.
A lightweight waterproof nylon tarp can be used beneath a tent to protect it from abrasion, or can be used to make a shelter or for shade.  These come in three sizes: roughly 5’x8′, 7’x10′, and 10’x10′.  They come with a handy nylon and mesh pouch to pack it in, and cost half of what similar tarps cost at REI:
Lightweight nylon tarp & carrying pouch

Get yourself some rain gear.
Frogg Toggs are rain-gear that are durable but inexpensive. They fold up into a lightweight pouch to toss into a daypack so you’re ready for scouting in inclement weather. These are available at the Scout Store for around $20, or on Amazon for around $18. There is a size chart on Amazon to help your find the right size for your scout, and they come in several colors:
Frogg Toggs 2-piece rain suit

Get yourself a sleeping pad.
The Therm-a-Rest Ridgerest sleeping pad is very popular, with a reflective side that reflects radiant heat back to your body. They’re a little expensive at around $40, but many of us say they’re worth it.  The Z-Lite model packs up even more compact:
Therm-a-Rest Ridgerest sleeping pad
Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite sleeping pad
For a less expensive recommendation, check out the Alps Mountaineering sleeping pad:
Alps Mountaineering sleeping pad

Get yourself a proper backpack.
Once your scout becomes a Boy Scout, it’s time to get him a proper sized hiking backpack. These larger packs are known collectively as “frame packs” and have either an external or internal frame. Either will do, but most of the products on the market today are internal frame backpacks. The major features you’re looking for are a larger pack than a school backpack so your scout can carry more gear, and a generously padded waist belt to get the weight onto the hips and off the shoulders. About the minimum size you should consider is a 40 Liter pack, which is a good size for new scouts just out of Cub Scouts. Older or larger scouts might consider a larger pack that would be too heavy when filled for the typical new Boy Scout bridged from Cub Scouts. Packs can be expensive and come with lots of extra features, but for the most part you just need a basic pack with a number of compartments to stow your gear. There *are* affordable frame packs out there, and here’s a few to check out:
Mountaintop 40L internal frame pack
For a larger pack, check out the AmazonBasics internal frame pack in 55L, 65L and 75L sizes:
AmazonBasics internal frame pack
I personally have these REI Co-op packs for my boys. They’re more expensive, but very high quality for a 40L pack:
REI Co-op Trail 40 pack
Update: As my kids have grown, they’ve upgraded to 65L packs.  A larger pack is necessary as your scout grows and carries more gear for longer outings.