As leaders we can try and encourage/require your scout to wear their rain gear, boots,layers etc... but if it is not in the pack to begin with, there is nothing we can do! We needyou to do your part to help!

 EVERY scout needs to have and carry with them rain gear at all times! It is one of the‘10 essentials’ (see Scout Handbook) and those go with them every where out doors.Your job is to work with them to buy rain gear that is 100% water proof (not justresistant) and your job is to get them to put it into their pack. It is our job to take it fromthere.

 These kids grow. They outgrow their gear and you have to buy it again from time to time.So buy it larger than they are now, and you delay that repurchase.What should you buy? Boots and Rain Gear. But what? No simple answer here. Itdepends on your scout and you. Let’s start with Rain Gear. It must be something waterproof and something they will carry and wear. Ahhhh, that is the challenging part. 

Thereare many options out there.

Your Scout needs good fitting, comfortable boots! NOT tennis shoes! These boots neednot be expensive (remember they grow) but they do need to fit. Your Scout needs to lovethem so they will wear them. If not then all is lost. You need to take the socks your scoutwill wear with them to the store and try them on with those socks. If your Scout wearsarch supports or anything then they need to try on the boots with those too. If not youhave wasted time and $. Please bear in mind when shopping for them what we do inthem, for we have a tendency to get into mud and water.

Why boots? They support the child’s ankle better than shoes, they have better soles thatare thicker to cushion and protect the foot, with better grips on the bottoms than ANYathletic shoe.

Once you buy these wonderful boots, you will need to all but ruin them getting themwaterproofed! Warn your scout ahead of time so they know this. There are differentmethods depending upon the material the boots are made from. All leather boots can besprayed or coated with a bunch of things. Suede boots have to be smeared with SnowSeal and this will forever change the color and texture of the boot . . . but it WILL bewater proof. We need water proof, or water proofable boots. We walk in rain, stream-lets,snow and rain and puddles (remember these are boys) in our boots.

 Does your Scouts boots stay tied? Boots tend to come with nice fat, round laces that untiethemselves as fast as they can be tied. You might need to replace them with falter laces orlaces made of less slippery stuff. Leather laces are hard to stay tied in the beginning aswell. The new round ones get dirty and used and eventually do tie, but there is a lot ofuntied Boots before then just so you know and Scouts will tie them once maybe twice andthat is it.

Lovely Layers

 We need your scouts in layers! 3 layers should always be in their packs. The innermostone should be a poly undergarment layer for comfort and wicking away of moisture. Themiddle an insulating layer and the top the wind and water proof one. Remember thismantra, parents, “cotton kills” and you will be fine. Really, no cotton. So that means nocotton tee-shirts, no cotton sweat shirts. Those are fine for summer, but not for winter.Heck even the scout shirts and pants are not cotton for a reason. They dry fast and theydon’t stain are 2 added benefits.

Here is some general advice from the REI’s web site (T-103 is not telling you to gobuy your gear at REI but we appreciate their information!):

1. Your choice of rainwear depends on expected weather and climate, your plannedactivities and your budget. 

2. The main fabric choices for rainwear are waterproof/breathable, water resistant/breathable,and waterproof/non-breathable. 

3. Waterproof/breathable fabrics, available in different weights, are the mostversatile fabrics.

 4. Features such as vents, zippers and linings can add to your comfort. 

5. Other considerations include a garment's style and cut, plus how well it packs. 

How to Choose Rainwear

Your outer shell does more than keep off rain. Rainwear also protects you from wind,snow and cold. Different garment styles, fabrics and construction are available to suit awide variety of needs

1. Your choice of rainwear depends on expected weather and climate, your plannedactivities and your budget.

 2. The main fabric choices for rainwear are waterproof/breathable, water resistant/breathable,and waterproof/non-breathable.

 3. Waterproof/breathable fabrics, available in different weights, are the mostversatile fabrics.

 4. Features such as vents, zippers and linings can add to your comfort.

 5. Other considerations include a garment's style and cut, plus how well it packs.

Choose rainwear appropriate for your outdoor plans. How and where will you be usingit? Anticipate the most extreme conditions you might encounter and plan accordingly.Will you be in a canoe, waiting for the fish to bite? Hiking or running a trail? Visiting arainforest? Skiing or climbing in a snowstorm? Walking around town?

 Begin your search for the right rainwear by considering all of the following:

Fabric affects the performance and comfort of your outer layer. Rainwear fabric falls intothree basic categories

Choosing the right footwear may be the most important decision you make as a beginningbackpacker. The shoes or boots you choose must be comfortable, durable and protective,mile after mile.

 Step #1: Consider the Kinds of Trips You Have Planned

Outdoor footwear can be divided into 3 basic categories. Begin your search for the rightboots or shoes by focusing on the category that best matches your backpacking plans.

Lightweight hiking - These boots (and trail shoes) are designed for day hikingand very short overnight trips only. They stress comfort, cushioning andbreathability. As a result, they are less supportive and durable than the optionsbelow

Mid weight hiking/backpacking - These boots are designed for on- and off-trailhiking with light to moderate backpacking loads. They are more durable andsupportive than lightweight hiking boots, but they are still intended primarily forshort to moderate trips over easy to moderate terrain. 

Extended backpacking/mountaineering - These boots are designed for on- andoff-trail hiking with moderate to heavy backpacking loads. They are designedwith multi-day trips in mind. Durable and supportive, they provide a high degreeof ankle and foot protection. Some of these models are designed specifically forrough terrain with heavy backpacking loads. They offer the very best indurability, support and protection. Some are stiff enough to accept crampons forsnow/ice travel.

Step #2: Consider the Materials

The materials used in a given boot or trail shoe will affect its weight, breathability,durability and water-resistance. Since boots made of different fabrics can be very similarin performance, however, personal preference is often the key when choosing betweenthem.

 Nylon mesh and split grain leather - Nylon and split-grain leather boots arelightweight and breathable, which makes them perfect for warm- to moderateweatheruse and short to moderate backpacking trips. They tend to be softer onyour feet, they take less time to break in, and they are almost always lighter thanfull-grain leather boots. They also cost less. Unfortunately, nylon/split grain bootstend to be less water-resistant than full-grain leather boots (although styles thatfeature waterproof liners can be just as water-tight, if not more so).

Full-grain leather - Full-grain leather is extremely water-resistant, durable andsupportive (more so than split-grain leather or nylon). It's used primarily inbackpacking boots designed for extended trips, heavy loads and hard terrain. Notas lightweight or breathable as nylon/split grain combinations, but it typicallylasts far longer. Full-grain leather usually requires a break-in period..· Waterproof barriers - Lightweight, 

waterproof barriers (like Gore-Tex¨) arebuilt into many hiking boots to enhance their water resistance. These barriers areavailable in a variety of boot styles, from lightweight hikers to extendedhiking/backpacking models. Waterproof performance depends upon the type ofbarrier used, the materials protecting it and how well the boots/shoes are takencare of. If cared for correctly, these waterproof barriers often last longer than theboots themselves

Waterproof leather -- This is leather that's been treated to be waterproof. It'sgreat stuff to have, but remember -- leaks may still occur (depending on how wellthe boot pieces are put together).· Waterproof (or water-tight) construction -- This refers to constructiontechniques designed to keep leaks out (like seam-sealing, special stitches andprecise designs).

  Water-tight construction is typically combined withwaterproofed materials. 

· Waterproof liners -- These are the special waterproof barriers described abovethat are built right into the boot to protect you from whatever leaks make itthrough the boot materials. These liners typically do a great job of keeping youdry. But remember, Gore-Tex (and the others) doesn’t last forever.

TIP: The waterproofness (or water-resistance) of your hiking boots depends significantlyon how well you treat them. Be sure to follow all care instructions that come with yourboots so that they can perform well and last a long time.

 The more seams a boot or shoe has, the higher the risk for leaks and/or blow-outs.Leaking occurs when water seeps through the needle-holes or spaces between the bootpanels. Blow-outs occur when general wear, repeated flexing or a snag causes a stitch tobreak and 2 panels to separate. In general, the fewer seams an upper has, the more waterresistantand more durable it will be. 

The connection between the upper and the soleHiking boot soles are either stitched or cemented to the rest of the boot.

Stitching - Durable, reliable, can be undone to replace the sole once it has worndown. Different techniques (Littleway, Norwegian) result in different strengthsand stiffness.· 

Cementing - Faster and less expensive than stitching, resulting in lower bootprices. It hasn't always been reliable, but most modern methods produce durable,lost-lasting bonds (depending upon the process and specific glue used). Mostcemented boots can now be resoled just like traditional stitch-down models

 

Once you've narrowed down your options to a handful of boots or shoes, the best way todecide between them is to try them on. Don't rely solely on your "regular" shoe size whensearching for the best fitting boots or shoes. One manufacturer's "9" may vary widelyfrom another's (see below).

Begin with a foot measurement - Have an experienced salesperson measure bothof your feet using a Brannock device. Use these measurements as your startingpoint for trying on boots. If one foot is larger than the other (which is quitecommon), fit your larger foot first. You may need to use extra socks or an insertto take up extra space in the other boot. 

Pick the right socks - Wear the type of socks and sock liners that you'll be usingout on the trail whenever you try on boots. 

Check the initial fit - Lace up the boots and stand up. They should feel snugaround the ball and instep of your foot, but loose enough that flexing your footforward is not uncomfortable. Your heel should be held firmly in place. If yourfoot feels like it's "floating" inside the boot, try a half size down. If your foot feelscramped or your toes make contact with the front or sides of the toe box, try thenext bigger size. 

Take a walk - Take a walk and see how comfortable the boots/shoes are. Checkfor any looseness, foot movement and/or heel lift. Good-fitting boots will holdyour feet firmly in place without binding or pinching them. New boots may feel alittle stiff at first, but they should still be comfortable.

 After a quick walk across a flat surface, step onto an incline facing downhill (ifone is available) to check for foot slippage. Your feet should not slide forwardeasily, nor should you be able to move your heel from side to side. If either ofthese is possible, try a smaller (or lower volume) boot. If your toes make contactwith the front of the boot without much forward movement, try a larger size or adifferent boot.

 · Investigate your options - Try on a number of boot models before you decide ona single pair, even if the first pair feels good. Every boot model is built around adifferent "last" (standard foot shape), so each one will grab you a little differently

BasicsKeep your boots and trail shoes clean between uses by brushing off dirt and mud (bothcan ruin leather over time). Most fabric boots/shoes can be washed on the outside withmild soap and water (not detergent).

If your boots get drenched, stuff them loosely with newspaper and dry them in a warmplace. Never rush the drying process by placing them near a fire, heater or other heatsource. Boots, especially leather ones, should be conditioned from time to time tomaintain your investment. This is true whether you hike in dry, hot conditions or wet,temperate ones.