NewEnglandScout

Is a Scout required to earn a certain number of Eagle required merit badges during their time as Star rank and Life rank, or can they be earned at any time from joining a Troop as they happen to be offered by the Counselors? In other words, do they need to "save" some Eagle required badges to be earned during their time as Star and Life or is it OK as long as they end up with all the required ones plus enough others to make 21 in total? Thanks very much for clarification.

The Ziplock people say right on their website not to boil the bags (see FAQs). http://www.ziploc.com/ Why take a chance with young, developing bodies?

Here are the links for side by side comparisons of the packs. Sorry they didn't make it into the previous post. Good Luck... http://www.landsend.com/pp/UniformFeatherlightBackpack~185353_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::CHA&CM_MERCH=SRCH_00001&origin=search http://www.llbean.com/cd-1/48826.shtml

I just purchased the LLBean pack referenced above for my new Scout son. So did a friend for their son. I also looked at the LandsEnd version. It was nice too, but doesn't seem to have a waist belt nor a self-packing pocket attached as the LLBean version has.. It was also on backorder till the end of this month. The LLBean version that I ordered seems like it will do the job well and it was significantly less expensive. Ordered on a late Sunday night and it was on my doorstep Wednesday afternoon. Will update you all after the first weekend in June when we put it to the test! Good Luck Shopping!

Thank you for the tip! These seem perfect for what we were looking for. A friend and I just ordered one of these each for our new Boy Scout sons who are in the same Patrol. Thanks for taking the time to post about them. I would never have stumbled across them otherwise!

Thank you for all the advice! I ended up choosing the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0 Bag. I thought if I went to the -15 it might make its usefulness too limited, and the 0 bag might be more versatile with a fleece liner, as suggested. I was also concerned about the extra weight and size on the -15 bag. Since my son is already 5'1'' at ten years old, I went with the long, which in Mountain Hardwear I found was not as long as other brands' long. If the temperature rating on the bag is pretty accurate, I think we should be OK. I realize the only way to know is to actually go camping! So, wish us the best and an unseasonably cold night next month for the sake of testing it out!! I just hope it does work out well since I am now a lot poorer than before we hit the camping store to gear up! Mr. Bush couldn't have sent the check at a better time! I really appreciate all the help and wish you all the best out there! Camp well and thanks again!

Hello Everyone! I'm brand new so I hope I am posting this correctly and in the right place. I would be very grateful for your advice on choosing a sleeping bag for my new Scout. We are up in New England (CT, NY, MA) and he will be backpacking/tent camping year round, except February which will be the only month of cabin camping. Temperatures can go to zero or sometimes a little below, plus the wind. I am wondering how low of a temperature rating I should get on the bag, and what you all think of the Mountain Hardware brand filled with Thermic Micro. Does anyone know if this brand is pretty accurate in their ratings? I realize I will need to eventually get him a warm weather bag as well. We were pretty set on getting the Mountain Hardware Lamina 0 degree bag, but I'm not sure it will be warm enough. Would the Lamina -15 be overkill? We chose this brand because it is the one my son was comfortable in and happy with after trying on many bags. I also purchased the Ridge Rest Deluxe closed cell pad, and the Thermarest Trail Pro air mattress for him. My priority is that he be safe, warm and comfortable, without making him sweat and then end up cold. I also learned a great deal such as changing all clothes and wearing a hat, gloves and socks thanks to this wonderful forum! Thank you so much! By the way, would he put the Trail Pro mattress on the ground with the closed cell pad on top of it then the bag, or does the closed cell pad go on the ground with the Trail Pro on top? Where would an emergency blanket layer go in this "sleep system sandwich"? What do you all think? Thank you in advance!