Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment? Ask the Gear Guy for help.
The Teva Original Universal Sandal was designed 30 years ago but has now been rereleased. We dig them because they are basic, simple and comfortable.
Q. Dear Gear Guy, I recently inherited a Coleman white-gas stove from my father; he has been using it since he was a Cub Scout with my grandfather in the 1960s. I would love to bring this to camp, but I've heard a lot of talk that white gas isn't permitted in Scouts anymore. Is this true?
Q. I have a 20-degree-rated sleeping bag that I use with a fleece liner, but in late fall and early winter, I'm still cold. I've tried everything -- what should I do?
Q. I've been camping for years but am still having trouble getting comfortable when I'm sleeping. I can only sleep on my side with my right arm under my pillow but that can be trouble on cold nights when my mummy bag is cinched up tight. Any help Gear Guy?
The Seeker is one of my favorite new fleece jackets on the market.
Q. I have been reading Boys’ Life longer than most Scouts, but I saw the question about “I have a 20 degree bag…but still cold.” His problem might be that he is going to bed in the clothes that he has been wearing all day. Your body sweats, even in the coldest weather, and that moisture will keep you cold even in the warmest sleeping bag. My advice is to change into fresh dry clothes, at a minimum, change into dry socks and long johns. Try it. Dry means warm.
Q. Hello Gear Guy, My son will be attending a Freeze-O-Ree next month. We need to get some good thermal underwear for 30-40 degree temps. What can you recommend?
Dear Gear Guy, I have a 30-degree rated backpacking sleeping bag but still get cold in above freezing temperatures. Can you recommend a good bag that is light enough to carry and will still keep me warm? Thanks! 
At first glance, Black Diamond's ergoACTIV backpack suspension system seems like a gimmick. But it really works. The hip belt has a unique rotating ball joint that pivots as your body moves. The result is a much more comfortable pack that does a really good job of transferring the pack's weight to your hips.
Last weekend my dad took me to the local outdoors store, but we both couldn't believe how expensive camping stuff is. Please help! Where can I get good outdoor equipment without paying huge prices?
I need a new backpack. What's better: Internal or external frame?
Q. Hey Gear Guy! I need something to keep me off of the ground at campouts, a cot or just a simple ground pad. However I don’t have much money. What’s something cheap that works well?
Q. Dear Gear Guy, I want to train for my backpacking trips with a loaded backpack, but I don’t want to have to pack all my gear every time I want to train. Is there any way to add weight to the backpack in a simple but accurate representation of a full backpack?
Q. Hi Gear Guy! I am a huge fisherman and I want to know about a cost-friendly boat. My budget is $500. Thank you.
Q. Hey Gear Guy, I’m going to the beach this summer, and I was wondering what would be the best things to get for my personal needs, such as my face, skin, etc. I’m going to buy my own personal stuff this year to go, such as my sunscreen lotion, etc. I was just wondering what I need to buy. Any good selections? Thanks.
Finally, an affordable wearable video camera! With this new Action Shot Camera, you don’t have to drop a lot of cash to start filming your adventures.
Q. Gear Guy, We’re going to Philmont Scout Ranch. Need suggestions for hiking pants (convertible to shorts) and hiking shorts for both me and my 15-year-old.
I play soccer and football. I sometimes wear my cleats six days a week. Is there any way to rid my equipment (cleats, shin guards, shoulder pads, etc.) of that everlasting smell of fresh body odor?
When I go camping I often have trouble sleeping. I toss and turn and always end up rolling off my sleeping pad. What can I do to sleep better?
Q. I'm going to the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, and I've been told that there's tons of hiking. That might be a problem because my feet sweat a lot and give me blisters. Any suggestions for preventing and treating this?
Q. Hey Gear Guy, I’m debating on whether to buy a Gerber pocketknife or a Swiss Army knife. My friend says Gerber; but I’ve heard Swiss Army my whole life. Which one should I buy?
Q. My son wants a fire-starter. Which is the best and easiest?
Q. I have a two-person tent that I really like, but when it rains, it leaks badly. I applied seam sealer as you had said in a previous answer, but now it's like the rain is coming through the tent itself, not the seams. I think the rain fly that came with the tent is not big enough. Can I buy another type of rain fly? I was thinking a tarp would not allow air to come through and I will get hot. Do you have any other suggestions?
What’s the best gear for fishing in rivers for catfish?
Q. Last summer at Cub Scout day camp, the temperature hit 106 degrees. I like to wear a wide brim hat on days like that, but sometimes they just get in the way and a ball cap works better, especially when I’m out doing a lot of active stuff like running around or jogging. I find that most ball caps make my head feel hot and just retain more heat. I try soaking them in water and letting evaporation cool my head down, which helps a little, but I was wondering if you’ve come across any good caps that might have some ventilation in them.
Q. Dear Gear Guy, I’m looking to buy a new fishing pole, but don’t know what qualities to look for in a rod. What do you recommend?
Q. Dear Gear Guy, I’m going backpacking and need a first aid kit that’s small and lightweight because I don’t have a lot of room in my pack. What would you recommend?
Q. Hi Gear Guy, I’m into digital photography, but so far I’ve been using my cell phone or borrowing a camera. So, I want to get one of my own. I saw the Pentax Optio WG-1 in the May 2012 issue of Boys’ Life and thought it would be perfect, but the reviews are all over the place. Some people say it’s awesome and some people say it sucks. Is it a good camera or should I look at something else?
Q. I recently bought a backpacking stove. Now I need a pot for boiling water. What is a good lightweight option?
Q. Hey Gear Guy! I am moving to an 85-acre farm soon and I’m looking for a pair of boots for hiking, fishing, hunting and riding my dirt bike across the farm. What would you recommend?
My dad and I go fishing a lot. We used to use PowerBait but we just didn’t catch anything. So we started using mealworms and we caught much more. But the next time we went fishing and the other fishermen were saying the fish were biting the PowerBait! My dad and I love catching trout but we don’t know what bait is best for that?
Q. Where can I get a spare bladder for my hydration pack (straw included)?
Q. That BioLite stove seems like a neat idea. But does it really work?
Q. Hey Gear Guy, I prefer the game of Ultimate Frisbee. But nobody knows anything about ultimate. There is no one to tell you what type of shoes to get or what type of disc to use. Could you please help?
Q. Hey Gear Guy, I love rock climbing a lot! But I don’t have my own gear. I want good quality gear but would like it at the cheapest price. I was wondering what brand I should buy and where I should buy it?
Q. What's better: a hiking shoe or a hiking boot?
If you follow the Gear Guy, then you know I LOVE headlamps. They're definitely one of the handiest things you can carry in your pack. And I've really been digging a new one I've been testing called the LED Lenser H7.
Q. How do I keep my clothes dry whenever I am in the water?
Q. Dear Gear Guy, Whenever I get a new pair of shoes the stuffing in the backside of the ankle goes away. I just got a new pair of boots about a month ago, and it’s already happened. Why is that? I have no idea. Please help?
The Vapur Element has to be the coolest, handiest new water bottle we’ve tested. But, here’s the catch: It’s not actually a bottle.
Q. I like to go small-boat sailing. I think that it is fun and educational. What kind of boat do you recommend for use on a lake?
Q. Hi Gear Guy, I like skateboarding. I think it is fun. Do you have a skateboard? If you do, is it a longboard or a regular board? I live in Indiana; where could I get an inexpensive longboard? Thanks for your time.
Q. I'd like to buy a mountain skateboard. What kind of board would you recommend for me?© 2025, Boy Scouts of America. All rights reserved. | Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: MH Magazine by MH Themes.
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