High Adventure Gear

What to Buy
Learning about gear is a never-ending process.  There’s always more to know about selecting and using the gear for your adventure that will make it safer and more enjoyable.  Our best advice is to talk to others, whether it’s experts who have years of experience, or others in your Troop who are also looking to find the best gear at the best prices.  You should always try to talk to someone before making a gear purchase, even for something as simple as socks (the right socks make all the difference!)

Here are a few basic bits of advice on gear:

• Perhaps the most important aspect of gear is clothing. One of the biggest risks in high adventure is hypothermia, which is loss of core body heat.  The right clothing can essentially eliminate that risk.  Dress in layers.  There are 3 main layers:  inner wicking layer (wicks sweat from the skin away from the body), middle insulating layer (traps heat next to the body), and outer wind and rain protection.
• Most clothing for high adventure is made of synthetic materials, NOT cotton. Cotton traps moisture near the body, and doesn’t insulate when wet.
• Try out your gear outside before you go. Test the waterproofness of your tent and rain gear, learn how to use your stove to actually cook a meal, use your pack on a trek.  Always, always break in your boots before your trip.

Where to Buy It
High adventure gear is available from a number of online and local resources.

BSA Scout Shops
The BSA Scout shops have lots of official Scout gear, patches, books, outdoor clothing, and other camping-related gear.

• Online: scoutshop.org
• Greater St. Louis Area Council-branded items at https://gatewaytraders.org/
• St. Louis Scout Shop: 4568 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.  314-454-1652:
• BSA Outfitters Scout Shop: 13347 Manchester Rd., Des Peres, MO 63131, 314-984-0014
• Belleville Meyer Scout Shop: 335 W. Main St., Belleville, IL 62220, 618-222-1574

BSA Base Stores
The stores at each of the BSA high-adventure bases carry a wide selection of outdoor gear, which is largely focused on the type of adventure available at each base.  The gear is offered at reasonable prices.

• Philmont Tooth of Time Traders
• Northern Tier Trading Post
• Florida Sea Base Ship Store

Online Gear Stores
There are quite a few online gear stores.  These are just a few.  Note:  inclusion in this page does not constitute endorsement of the store or services.

• Hiker Direct:  Offers gear at reduced prices to Scouts.  Sign-up with an email address is required.
• Backcountry.com
• Austin Canoe & Kayak
• Sierra Trading Post

Local (St. Louis Area) Outdoor Gear Stores

• REI
• Alpine Shop
• Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s
• Scheel’s, Springfield, IL