Professional travel equipment

Even if you are a volunteer youth worker, you are a “professional” at camping, sleeping on church floors, playing active games, working on mission sites. Buy professional level equipment and clothes for these situations.

• You don't want to mess with air-mattresses on a trip, and they usually have a hole in them anyway. Get a backpacker's pad.
  
• Good boots, gloves for warmth, gloves for work, non-fog safety goggles.
  
• Get a sleeping bag warm enough for really cold weather. Also get a lightweight sleeve that can add warmth in the sleeping bag, and that can be used as a light covering outside of the bag in warmer weather.
  
• Rather than a full pillow, bring a small pad and use your backpack or dirty clothes bag as the basic pillow.
  
• Carry Lamb's Wool (used by dancers) to pack around “hot spots” on your feet to avoid blisters.
  
• Layer clothes for changing temperatures through the day.
  
• Invest in a good Poncho or other quality rain gear.