HELP! - Air Cadets Kit List for Son's DoE Award

iwannamotorbike

Hi

My 13 year old son is in the air cadets (brilliant) and he's brought home a long kit list to use on his Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Appreciate any advice on what and where to buy (wait for it....)

Large rucksack (55-65 litres)
Stong plastic rucksack liner
Roll mat
Warm coat (fleece)
Thermal t-shirt/vest
Insect repellent
Mess tins
Metal mug
Stove & fuel (gas)
Water purification tablets
Emergency rations (signed & sealed)
First aid kit
Survival bag
Expedition safety card

Doesn't have to be new but like good quality kit. Need to buy PDQ (2 weeks!)

Will give thanks if I can find the button

Any DoE experts out there......

Thanks


Allan

nearlyrich

I don't know if expert is the word but as the mum of 2 cadets, one now too old, but who has the gold award I have plenty of experience of paying for kit.

First of all speak to the stores officer at the squadron because they have a lot of kit in most squadrons which new cadets can borrow, also if the local authority has a D o E department they may have some kit to lend too.

The Squadron leader at our squadron always tells parents not to rush out and spend a fortune on the first expedition.

If you need to buy stuff there are a few places on the internet like these guys who are pretty cheap and deliver quickly, I also know a couple of local camping/ outdoors shops where they sell good quality kit cheaply, sports soccer do jackets for reasonable prices.

I hope your son gets as much out of the cadets as my two have, DD went to Canada on the International Cadet Exchange and DS is a Glider Pilot and has been on lots of exciting weekends away etc.

Helen_from_yorkshire

Do you have an Army surplus store near you .... they will sell almost everything you need.

lee634

I am in the Army and has seen this sort of list a hundred times just a few tips if i may,
Rucksac liner just to keep kit dry as rucksac will not be waterproof a cheap alternative is a heavy duty bin bag,

insect repellant ensure it contains a high % of DEET this is the active ingrediant (dont buy the jungle formular you see in shops this is an insect attractant i know from experiance)

Metal Mug not a good idea a the rim gets hot on the lip ( thermal mugs far better you can pick them up for a couple of pound in most supermarkets)

Gas stove (if you can not get one though the ATC then i would suggest buying a coleman stove the gas cannisters have screw threads easier and safer to store not the blue style camping Gaz stove where the cannister gets a punched hole from the stove)

Emergency rations ( the pasta in in bag type supermarkets, easy to store in rucksac anda couple of bars of chocolate(high energy))

First aid kit (make this up yourself a few plasters and bandages)

Survival bag ( this time of year should be ok but places like millets sell them for a few pound)

Hope this may be of some help, and your son enjoys his exped

Lee

clur84

HI aldi have camping stuff going cheap at the moment like mats and mummy sleeping bags and also a 70litre backpack for £16.99

iwannamotorbike

Hi

Thanks to all the posters - some great advice there which I'll follow up.

Great tips Lee - any more welcome!

No backpacks left in the Chester Aldi (pity)

Have fun


Allan

nearlyrich

Tesco had some camping gear yesterday might be worth a look if you are still after the kit list.