If you or your child is off on their first DofE expedition, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start in preparing for all they need. To help you out, we’ve put together this convenient guide, covering everything that you’re expected to bring in our DofE food lists and DofE equipment list.
We’ll also share our top recommendations for food and kit that will be most beneficial to you, with plenty of budget-friendly, convenient options that are perfectly suitable.
Important DofE Equipment Tips
Before getting your DofE food and equipment together, there are some essential things to bear in mind when you’re making your choices. These are:
Calorie Recommendation
A DofE expedition is a big undertaking, and you’ll need to ensure that your body has all of the energy it needs to keep you going throughout. It’s generally recommended that you take between 3,000 and 5,000 calories worth of food each day. While this may seem excessive, taking this amount ensures that you’ll have enough food to keep you fuelled for everything the expedition will bring.
Difference Between Levels
The level of expedition you are doing will affect the equipment you will need and the things you will need to take with you. For example, a bronze DofE expedition will require simple, less expensive equipment for two days. In comparison, a silver or gold DofE expedition is three or four days long, so getting durable, high-quality equipment that you can rely on will mean that you can enjoy the experience more.
Wet Vs Dehydrated/Freeze-Dried Meals
Wet, dehydrated, and freeze-dried meals are all convenient options for DofE expeditions, providing energy and being easy to prepare. However, the type you choose will depend on the weight you’re able to carry for your trip, as wet meals weigh slightly more than dehydrated and freeze-dried meals.
For bronze DofE expeditions, the extra weight will be negligible, and the improved, homely flavours that wet meals offer will be enjoyable. Though for silver or gold expeditions, you may want to opt for dehydrated and freeze-dried meals instead, as conserving as much space in your backpack as possible will become all the more important, and mean that dried meals will be more appropriate.
DofE Food Ideas
Keeping yourself well-nourished with high-energy meals during your expedition is key to ensuring your body has everything it needs to keep going. Below, we’ve put together a DofE food list, containing our best suggestions on what to eat throughout the day with DofE meals that are as high-energy as they are delicious.
Breakfast
It’s important to get the right start to the day with a filling breakfast when on your expedition. Having something warm and quick to prepare means you can eat something both enjoyable and convenient. Porridge is a lightweight yet substantial option that is popular for DofE expeditions. Real Turmat and Summit to Eat offer excellent porridge meals that are easily prepared and come in many different flavours to choose from.
If you’re looking for something even quicker and lighter but still substantial, energy bars can provide a great deal of energy to get your day started. In particular, our Phoenix bars contain over 500 calories, and our Real Meal bars contain over 600 calories, with plenty of carbohydrates and protein to keep you fuelled.
Lunch
Lunch on a DofE expedition is often quick and eaten on the move, so opting for something that doesn’t require preparation is often preferred. This should be a filling option, such as an energy bar, fruit bar, or flapjack, that provides a good amount of energy while sustaining energy levels. Alternatively, you can prepare some sandwiches, wraps, or pizzas ahead of time that you can easily eat on the go.
Dinner
On your expedition, dinner is the most important meal of the day. It’s the prime opportunity to refuel after a long day of hiking, so packing something to eat that’s got plenty of energy and is delicious will make your meal all the more enjoyable and restorative for your body.
Our selection of Wayfayrer meals is the perfect choice for this, with plenty of flavoursome options that you’ll be excited to tuck into. You can choose from chicken tikka and rice, pasta bolognese, chilli con carne, and many more choices that are easily prepared with just a little heat. If needed or preferred, you can also eat these meals cold.
If keeping your overall equipment weight down is important, we recommend choosing Summit to Eat meals, which are lighter and offer many tasty options to choose from. Some of their many choices ideal for a DofE evening meal include chicken fajita with rice, macaroni cheese, and beef and potato stew. To make things really simple for you, you can choose our Summit to Eat 1-Day (Bronze) Ration Pack, Summit to Eat 2-Day (Silver) Ration Pack, or Summit to Eat 3-Day (Gold) Ration Pack, which contains all the meals you need, with the option to select your favourites for each meal of the day.
For a treat to look forward to after a long day of hiking, our camping dessert range contains many great options to tuck into. You could pack something fruitier, like an apple crunch or rice pudding with strawberries from Summit to Eat, or you can indulge in a chocolate pudding from Wayfayrer.
Snacks
It’s very common on DofE expeditions to get peckish in between meals. So, it’s handy to pack some snacks with you to keep your energy up and to stay full as you go. Some of our most useful options are our energy bars, energy sweets, and energy gels, which are all designed to provide plenty of energy while remaining lightweight. These are available in many different flavours, meaning that you can choose options that are both beneficial for your body and enjoyable to eat too.
DofE Personal Equipment List and Our Recommendations
There are many items that you will need to take with you when on your DofE expedition to ensure you’re prepared to complete it. Some items that are shared between groups are typically provided by schools, youth groups, or outdoor centres, and you generally won’t need to take most or all of these. However, you will be expected to bring personal items.
Below, we’ve put together the complete DofE kit list and our best recommendations for budget-friendly equipment that you can depend on. Many of our recommendations are also recommended by DofE themselves for their value for money and suitability for their expeditions:
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Rucksack – One of the most important things that you’ll need to take with you is a good rucksack. We recommend our Vargo camping rucksacks, which offer plenty of room to carry all your belongings and an ergonomic fit for comfort.
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Rucksack liner – During your expedition, waterproof rucksack liners help protect your equipment from moisture. Our Sea to Summit dry bags for camping are ideal for this, as they are highly water-resistant and available in multiple sizes to help you find the most suitable option.
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Sleeping bag – You’ll need a sleeping bag to stay warm and comfortable while you’re sleeping. Our Vargo sleeping bags retain heat efficiently and are ergonomically designed for maximum cosiness.
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Sleeping mat – A sleeping mat provides a comfortable base and insulates you from the ground. We recommend our Vargo sleeping mats, which are lightweight, provide ample warmth, and are contoured to the shape of the ground and your body for a comfortable feel.
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Whistle – In case you get lost throughout your expedition, it’s important to pack a whistle with you so that you can easily be found again by your group. In particular, we recommend our Survive Outdoors Longer whistles, with their 8-in-1 survival tool containing a whistle, compass, fire starter, and many other useful tools for emergencies.
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Torch – When it gets dark later in the evening, you’ll need a torch to properly illuminate your path. In our collection, we offer many headtorches that are ideal, featuring headbands to easily light up the way ahead while keeping your hands free.
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Water bottle: Staying hydrated throughout your expedition is essential. Our Nalgene outdoor water bottles make for the perfect choice, being highly durable, leakproof, and lightweight.
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First aid kit – A first aid kit is an essential emergency item to prepare for minor injuries. Our medical kits for camping from TrailMed are ideal, containing all the essential items you need, including bandages, scissors, and antiseptic wipes.
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Cutlery – When eating your meals, you’ll need cutlery to do so on your expedition. In our range of cooking utensils for camping, you can find our Sea to Summit and MRS cutlery kits. These are convenient choices, as they fold to conserve space in your rucksack.
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Towel – To dry off easily, you’ll need to take a towel with you on your DofE expedition. We recommend our Sea to Summit pocket towel for your trip, which absorbs three times its weight in water and dries quickly.
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Plates, bowls, and mugs - To eat and drink while outdoors, you’ll need some plates, bowls, and mugs included in your equipment. In our camping cookware, you'll find everything you need, including compact, durable options. Some of these are also collapsible, conserving even more space in your rucksack.
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Wash kit - Carrying a multi-purpose wash kit is a good way to ensure that both you and your clothing stay clean while on your expedition. Our Sea to Summit wilderness wash is a good option that you can use for personal use, pots, pans, clothes, or any outdoor gear to remain hygienic.
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Additional items – Items that you’ll need to also take with you as part of your complete kit include suncream, a notebook and pen/pencil, a watch, and a box of matches to ensure that you’re prepared for all eventualities.
High-Quality DofE Food and Equipment at Base Camp Food
Our DofE food list and DofE kit list above contain all of our best recommendations for the meals and personal equipment you need to take with you on your expedition. For all additional items, you can find the most recent list of the needed DofE expedition equipment on their site.
In our full range of camping food and equipment at Base Camp Food, you can find everything you need for your DofE expedition. With delicious, filling camping meals and lightweight equipment, you can tick off many of the items you need, all in one place.
To make things even simpler, we offer DofE equipment packs in basic, premium, and ultra tiers according to different budget ranges. You can also find meals in convenient bundles on our DofE meals page, based on whether you’re completing a bronze, silver, or gold expedition.
If you need any further advice on what meals or equipment from our range are most suitable for you, get in touch with us today. We have extensive experience providing essential DofE equipment and can help you find the exact products you need.
For schools, colleges, scouts, and guides, email laura@basecampfood.com to find out more about our partnership bulk DofE food pack discounts.