The DofE expedition kit list, without the sales pitch
Everything you actually carry on a Bronze, Silver or Gold expedition, what we lend you, and the things people buy that they didn't need. Written for the Shropshire Hills and the Brecons, because that's where ours go.
Ask us first. Some of this you won't need to own
Kit is the part of DofE that quietly costs money, and outdoor shops are very good at selling teenagers things they will use once. Nothing on this page needs to be expensive, and a fair bit of it is probably in the house already or borrowable from someone who has finished their award.
Come and ask before a single order goes in. We'll tell you what matters, what doesn't, and what we can sort out between us. We share discount codes for the major outdoor stores, and no young person here has ever missed a trip because of kit.
Ask about kit before you buy- We lend
- Tents
- You bring
- Rucksack, boots, sleeping bag
- Bronze
- 2 days, 1 night
- Silver
- 3 days, 2 nights
- Gold
- 4 days, 3 nights
Borrow before you buy. Ask us, and ask the year above.
What goes in the rucksack
Same list for all three levels. Silver and Gold are longer, so you carry more food and more fuel, not different equipment.
Carrying it
- Rucksack, 35–45 litres for Bronze, 55–65 for Silver and Gold
- A rucksack liner, or two strong bin bags
- Dry bags or freezer bags to group things inside
A rucksack that fits your back matters far more than the brand on it. Get it fitted, loaded, and walked in before the assessment.
On your feet
- Walking boots with ankle support, worn in properly
- Walking socks, one pair per day plus a spare
- Something light for the campsite
- Blister plasters, in your pocket and not the bottom of the bag
Boots out of the box on day one is the single most common way to ruin an expedition. Wear them to school, to the shops, anywhere, for weeks beforehand.
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers, both properly waterproof
- Walking trousers or leggings, never jeans
- Base layers and a fleece or mid layer
- Warm hat and gloves, sun hat and sun cream
- Dry clothes to sleep in, kept in a dry bag and not worn during the day
Layers you can add and remove beat one thick coat. Cotton holds water and stays cold once it's wet, so leave hoodies and jogging bottoms at home.
Sleeping
- Three-season sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Tent, shared between you and lent by us
Shropshire in May can be four degrees overnight. A summer bag isn't enough, and nobody sleeps well cold.
Cooking and water
- Stove, fuel and a pan, shared across the team
- Water bottles or a bladder, two litres of capacity
- Mug, bowl and a spork
- Food for every day, plus snacks and an emergency ration
- Matches or a lighter, in a waterproof bag
Cooking kit is split across the group, so sort out who carries what at training. Tents are the only thing we lend, so tell us early if the team hasn't got a stove between them.
Navigation and safety
- Map and a waterproof map case
- Compass, and the ability to actually use it
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Whistle
- Personal first aid kit
- Any medication, with a spare, and tell the leaders
You'll be taught navigation before you're assessed on it. The expedition is unaccompanied, which is the whole point, so the map and compass are not decoration.
Things people buy and then carry for four days unused
- Brand new boots bought the week before. Worse than old trainers.
- A huge power bank. Phones stay off in the bag for emergencies. One small bank between the group is plenty.
- Tinned food. You are carrying the tin and the water inside it up a hill.
- Twice as much food as you'll eat. Weigh the bag before you decide.
- A 70 litre rucksack for Bronze. A bigger bag only means you fill it.
- Camping chairs, speakers, spare shoes for the evening. Every gram is carried by you.
Pack the bag, put it on, and walk a mile from your house. Whatever you resent carrying, you don't need.
Doing your DofE with us costs £33.50
Most schools charge £150 to £600 for the same award. We're a licensed centre, we run the expeditions ourselves, and you can start from 13½.