Either that or range tea put him off for life, or the coftea which seems to come out of most norgies 😂 I don't really drink hot drinks, the main time I do is when training with the military.
Socks and underwear: the two go hand in hand, and are thoroughly underrated until they're both soaked in sweat for the third day in a row because you're stuck in the middle of nowhere as an LP/OP, fighting position, or long range patrol. Boots: definitely underrated,and something that needs to be reviewed for mission and personal requirements. Make sure they're authorized by your unit. Pens: skip the gel ones and find a good ballpoint that can work in multiple weather conditions. Map pens are also amazingly useful. Pants belt: this seems stupid to mention, but seriously. Find a good belt that meets regs and use it. Something reasonably stiff and secures the extra length past the buckle. Battle Belt: this is mainly for the ground combat guys on foot. You may have one issued to you, and it'll work. Use it until you figure out how to configure it to work in conjunction with your body armor, and then figure out how to upgrade if you can. Compass: this actually is useful, and should be something that you can get from supply. GPS: possibly useful, depending on your role. Ground combat guys will likely find this useful. Mag pouches: Yes, these will actually be useful if you can swap these out. Esstac, G-Code Scorpions, Tyr pouches, and HSGI Tacos are orders of magnitude better than the typical pouch w/ flap. Just make sure they can hold your gear secure when needed and allow for quick gear access. Shit kit: baby wipes, TP in a sealed bag, and hand sanitizer. Comes in really useful, and can double for giving wipe down baths. Hygiene: baby wipes, toothbrush, razor, shaving cream (Cremo or Shave Butter), body powder. Wash yourself, take care of your face, take care of your damn teeth, keep your junk and feet dry. Poncho liner (woobie) and tarp: ALWAYS have these on you in a field exercise. You should be issued them, and don't feel bad about swapping them out for better ones from supply ASAP. You can also buy your own fancier ones, as long as they aren't some garish color. Scarf/shemagh: seems stupid and tacticool, but I actually used my shemagh frequently in the field for a variety of things, especially during cold weather training. Yes, neck gators and beanies exist, but this added additional warmth and protection, and it helped break up my outline and cover my face with surprisingly good effect. Jetboil: worth it, or go halfsies with your battle buddy. Bring extra tea/cocoa/coffee and you'll be everyone's best friend, the CO's included. Ear pro: overlooked and something I wish I had invested in earlier. Ground combat bubbas would do well to invest in some decent ear pro, and I have tinnitus from not doing so. At a minimum, get something like the Surefire flanged style ones that allow some hearing. If you can, get something like Otto Engineering Noizebarriers. Yes, it really is worth it, especially for infantry and artillery guys. Eye pro: The issued glasses are good. WileyX has a better fit for me though. Invest in a good set and you can wear it in and out of the field. Ouch kit: bandaids, a couple compressed gauze packs, tape, moleskin, superglue, NSAID, antacid, antidiuretic. A couple other odds and ends that you personally would use and you're well set. This is underrated, and doc will appreciate it since he won't have to deal with you for every little thing. TQ: carry more than you're issued. CAT or SOFTT-W are the most common, and for a damn good reason. Field knife: something basic for everyday stuff, like an ESEE Izula or similar. Nothing fancy or flamboyant, doesn't need to be a dedicated combat blade or hardcore mountaineering knife that can baton wood. Just something to cut minor things that can be kept handy. Have a small sharpening kit and learn how to use it as well. Regulation/uniform requirements: some of the uniform regulations get thrown out the window when you're actually in the field. Stuff for garrison and within regulation doesn't always translate well for field use. Don't outright ignore the regs, but try to be close if it's not something that's immediately approved. Example: a black field belt as opposed to coyote brown or whatever else. An OD green or coyote brown pair of gloves vs whatever is issued. Or even a thermal fleece base layer that does a better job than the issued ones, as long as it isn't visible under your cammies. Make sure that stuff conforms to flame resistance when required, especially if you're part of a flight or vehicle crew.
i have to agree. The two most underrated pieces of kit. a bad pair of socks can grow fungus between your toes in a few minutes and if your underwear dont fit properly or dont keep the sweat away from your crotch you stink and get jock itch like nobodies business. And dont forget deodorant. Very important when you are in a jungle or foreign environment. You SMELL different and trust me bad people can smell you
A note about gloves: test and practice with them before going into the field with them, especially if your job requires fine dexterity work. The feel can be drastically different and an adjustment period may be necessary.
The essential piece of kit that I wouldn’t leave home without was Silly String. While clearing rooms in a building, a quick blast of Silly String into a room will get hung up on tripwires.
Mr. Meow the American poncho liner was the best investment I made back in my day. Lots of great idea here but depending on your trade, if you got to hump it you are going to have to make some choices...
Phil Ham I got an American jacket liner too. The best. This kit must have been made of some space age NASA stuff because I wore it all year round in the field. Do you remember the CF knockoff version of the poncho liner/blanket? I wish we had better boots. Goretex was just coming in to the system when I got out.
For gloves, look into MSSR. I used them on the diamond drills slinging steel. Super durable and similar to mech gloves. Used them on the rig in -50c and in the summer in +25c
All good stuff. Only thing I'd add to carry in your pack (not pouches) would be some baby wipes or similar for those day(s) you go without a wash so you can do the face, hands, armpits, crutch routine.
As an army medic I witnessed and then treated a guy who grabbed the barrel of the 50 cal he had just fired to brace himself as he climbed down the M-113 it was mounted to. No gloves, 2nd degree burn on his palm. Silversulfadiazine cream and a new bandage 3 times a day for 4 days fixed him right up though.
My son served in Iraq and Afghanistan - USMC. His top two were Ibuprofen- lots and more and socks; again lots and then some more. When operating a FOB he wanted candy for the local kids. My CVS in town helped me ship a “ship” load of hard candies over there for patrols to hand out, for the squad to suck on and as gifts when talking with elders in villages. Chocolate bars were also prized as much now as in 1, 2, Korea or ‘Nam. My grandfather talked about getting chocolate in boot camp in 1 and begging for it for the DP children while fighting in Italy in 2. Uncles/cousins in the other two also said a Hersey bar was an important “hearts and minds” gift.
This year can be basically boiled down to the socks problem I neglected.. will make repetitions...no wait.. reparation.. hmm.. I will fix sock problem! Baaarrhhh.. socks. Socks were to Einstein foot impediments.. Love. I will get more socks tomorrow! Today.. Phase one: Collect socks Phase three: profit.
What ho Matsimus. Ski patrol head lamp hint. Wear it around your neck upside down. It is easily adjustable to shine foreward, and will stay looking where you are going, and not where your head is looking. Also, use antipersperant on your feet, especially in the winter. Try it on one foot first Calibrate, eh! One warm dry foot, one cold damp foot. Wonderful for skiing too.
Watch out (pun intended) for smart watches. The Bluetooth and wifi features can broadcast your position. The Garmin 601 has a stealth mode, and uses AAA batteries. Also, look for Tritium hands, like on the Traser Soldier.
On a related note smart watches are prohibited in Operations Zones, so if your job requires you to be in one you'll want to steer clear of using a smart watch as you'll have to take it off every time you go into the Ops Zone.
I've never heard of these gloves before. I get real issues with the skin on my hands drying out and cracking in cold weather, so far I haven't been able to find any decent gloves which allow me to still operate my rifek effectively. Osprey are the brand favoured by British soldiers, but I find it awkward changing magazines with then due to the fingertips not being form fitting so it's awkward pressing the release catch.
Both my lads are in frontline units. One recce, one armoured. Both swear by the cheap casio sports watches they first got for going to phase one training. The reason this came up is because I offered to buy them “decent” G-Shocks and they both politely declined saying that the cheap casios had never let them down and they were light and small enough not to get caught on stuff.
Indeed. They are just as accurate and durable. They lack some features, but mostly the "cool factor". Unless you are going to be diving in deep water or something like that, they are perfectly fine!
Good on your boys! You must be proud!! 1VP veteran here, deployed overseas with a Seiko Automatic winder, helped me keep the CO and DCO sorted out (Batman Radio operator, here) ...In my old age, a Casio Solar does it for me. Lasts many years for only $100 at Costco. Ha haha ha ha Now that I’m in the “mentoring” stage of my life/retirement, all the kids see my Casio watches front and center!! All the Best!!
Absolutely! Ive gone thru two of them in 7 year period. There is a speciffic model that works the best. Ill try to remember come back here, Its still on my work desk.
NEVER get a watch with a plastic band if you go to the field a lot. The military bug repellant we were issued would dissolve the band and it would fall off in the field.
Back in the eighties we were not allowed to drop bombs with gloves at all. When they came down from Ottawa we were given four different gloves. When the they asked me which gloves worked best for me? I pulled out my NI gloves broke the ice, stuck my gloved hand in the water for 20seconds, picked up a an 81mm bomb & held it by the fuse at arms length for 60sec. In the end we were all issued NI gloves. I also proved you could write while wearing them The biviy bag has & fleece were issued after most of us had already purchased them.
SAX briefs are the best underwear ive ever owned. im not army but when i went to a 48 hour airsoft event one of the things i forgot in my garage was my bag of underclothing changes. had 1 pair of sax for the entire event and i had no croth rot or rashes and it keeps your balls from getting stuck onto your leg with the pouch for you goodies. highly recomend these for anyone who plays sports or anything physical
Those old black insulated issue Canteens, for winter ex. It'd keep tea or coffee hot for a good 6 plus hours. Indestructible and fits the standard pouch.
For me, it was an electrically heated pot. Back in the '90s, I was on an electronic warfare team. Our radio intercept gear was mounted in a commo hut on a truck. Luckily, the gear inside the hut used regular household current (115V AC) and there was a standard outlet on the outside. Perfect place to plug in that hot pot/plate and cook Ramen.
I went on a winter FTX and I absolutely agree with your advice, to get those boot covers (we call them "mukluks"). That, and packing some extra, warm socks is always a good idea.
A Casio Illuminator is the best watch I'd say if you're in the service. It's cheap robust and accurate. You can pick them up for £20 ish and the battery will last at least 10 years. If you want something better you could invest in a the Tough Colar which uses radio band to keep the time 100% accurate all the time and it's solar powered so it shouldn't ever run out of juice. The water resistance is increased as well to 200 meters so it's good for diving. It wouldn't hurt to get a mechanical watch if you are so inclined either, I'd recomend an Orient Ray III, it's reasonably accurate but very tough. Stay away from the all black displays because they aren't as easy to read and people have reported a lot of problems on them. Get the normal displays.
Kuddlesworth NA --i had one of those "smart watches" and the buttons and dials and functions were translated from Chinese and made zero sense. A plain waterproof watch with tritium numbers is best. It glows all the time, not just after sunning itself: LUMINOX.
A good flask that is durable. Bought mine back in 1987, has been all over the world, is covered in several dents, but still keeps my brovel hot for eight hours. A spare CBRNE/NBC haversack to carry the extra ammo, or grenade's, or the kit the Boss gives you at the last moment.
It took about a minute to figure this was Canadian. To me it was the ELCAN Scope (I own one when they were more affordable) that was a give away! The recommendations are realistic and wished I knew about them long ago! Thanks
Hi Mat, good advise you have given, unfortunately most will learn the hard way! The underpants is a good one especially for tropical work where your goolies would go rotten and breed fungus at an alarming rate.
Do not forget sweet granola bars, they give good extra energy when proper cooked food is not available (long marches, guard duty). Also serve as tradable goods.
The most important thing is a easy to clean and indestructable plate to eat. Its called mess kit because everytime u use it it is a mess. Keep that for real situations in all other cases use a good plate. I always had such a flexible dark green one with me.
Another major thing that I think is a lighter. They are useful for a lot of things, including cooking rations (if you use something like a hexi stove that is used in the British army).
A few extra tips. Watches- style and how they display time is personal preference, but three features i will recommend are these. Radioactive illumination like tritium is amazing in my experience. Sapphire glass is expensive but worth it if you can afford that. Avouid steel straps, for weight and heat transfer in colder climates. Silicone is my current strap, its comfortable, easy to clean but it is not as strong as leather/titanium. I often notice how soldiers tend to forget to bring sunscreen, bug repellant, pills for headaches, headlamp as you mentioned in the vid and lastly one thing i have come to appreciate is chapstick/lipbalm. I never use it in my daily life but for some reason my lips are dry and cracked after a few days into an excercise.
Electrical tape is worth its weight in gold (for tying up loose straps and silencing PPE). So is some strapping tape for feet after a long forced march. You'd also want barrier cream for chaffing/moisturizing. I'd also be sure to purchase a high-quality durable multi-tool and flashlight as the NATO issue stuff is pretty underwhelming.
I learned about electrical tape and it’s many uses long after I hung up my uniform and then also retired from teaching high school for 30 years. I attended a year of electrical trade school and worked in construction (as a 58 year old rookie). I was amazed what good electrical tape can be used for: sealing cuts, holding dressings in place, stretching to hold dressings in place, starting the clotting process by taping a wound shut, making cordage to wrap a dressing in place etc, etc, etc. Now in my retirement/mentoring stage, I teach my junior shooters to always have a good brand of electrical tape in their ‘get home’ or ‘bug out’ bags. Peace Be To Journey!
Don’t buy a canister stove, because you have to use specialized fuel units. If you purchase naphtha/white gas stoves you can easily get fuel from the CF, they pay for the fuel and you don’t have to. Buy a personal Silva/Sunto compass, it has a variety of uses.
When I first clicked on the title and it was only music I was worried as a blind person and that it would not be listed by a person and then mats theme came and I just relaxed :-) now I know I am getting a thorough video! No matter what Matt talks about it’s always a joy
You don’t need to spend $200 for a watch. I got the standard G Shock watch at the PX for under $50 and survived all field exercises and a full deployment. Just make sure it has an alarm feature so you can wake the next pvt for radio watch.
Was in the Navy, but two items I always carried on my belt when aboard ship was a MagLite and a Buck knife. Both handy for everyday use and emergencies.
The Navy Boarding Parties that I worked with echoed your sentiments. They taught me that the ship can be a formidable maze in the dark. I made it a point to learn as much as I could from them. I’m former 1VP (active duty Regular) and Reserve Infantry. All the Best!!
I checked my headlamp after listening to what you said. It has a band that goes over the top BUT it can actually be removed. So I wouldn't rule out all headlights, just check first if the top is detachable. Also that's a free strap right there. You also may want to bring a small knife sharpener. Nice to have a sharp edge when you need one.
Good recommendations should discuss must haves as socks, sunscreen, various clothing for cold climates, sanitary wipes , hot packs. Good to remember that a warm solider is a functional soldier.
Not in the British Army, its the most expensive mediocre or crap piece of kit whose company gives the procurement officer the best employment opportunity or share package when he/she leaves the armed forces. They actually removed the majority (possibly all) the officers from the procurement team and replaced them with NCO's to try and prevent this. If they had any sense they would know that the NCO's will just be cheaper to bribe; but your companies never made weapon sights before, a crate of beer? The contracts yours.
For foot care, consider waterproof/breathable socks such as GoreTex or the less expensive SealSkinz. In the much more temperate southern US where I live, they do an awesome job of both repelling water and allowing sweat to escape from my regular socks, AND can be worn inside your normal boots.
I wear a watch with a vibrating alarm when hunting. It’s plastic so it doesn’t retain scent (not an issue when “hunting” people) but being that it vibrates when the alarm goes off makes it nice and quiet.
Ooh! I nodded off whilst you were talking about the camp cooker, but I could still hear the words, I wasn't deeply asleep. And you were saying how a smaller thing is a good idea. But I'd 'dreamed,'/visualised a really small thing, believed it was being shown, a little white thing that looked like a wide spark plug and socket. So I was thinking, "smaller than THAT!? But that's very small already! I was quite puzzled. Then I woke up fully and worked out why I was puzzled, because I wasn't actually seeing the proper thing. So I'm went back twenty seconds, and saw the real stove being discussed, and it made sense! I'm only mentioning this because it was odd, there's no point to anything I'm saying.
For watches I have the casio F-91W. Had it throughout all of basic, which included the muddiest bayonet range i have ever seen. My platoon sergeant in basic training recommended we all get these watches as it does everything you need a watch to do. Plus he uses it and has used it for the last 12 years. A nice, cheap little bit of kit that ain't failed me yet.
A Plano fishing tackle box designed to go in a cargo pocket works nice for stowing USB-A, -B, -C, lightning connectors, plus wall adapters and cigarette lighter adapters. The double sided one has 10 compartments and can be found in a Walmart for like $10
a point for headlamps is for them to have a separate button fo red light, that way you dont have to cover it with your hand to cycle through the white in tactical situations.
I was in the 25th ID 3/22 Infantry from 91-95 and we NEVER wore gloves in the field. From heat retention to reduced tactile sensation we found them to be a hinderance. We carried them in our rucks and only used them when putting out concertina wire.
Yes all the items you mentioned are good ideas to get especially the Gerber. Multiple good pairs of gloves. We generally would use the mechanics and different types of military style motorcycle gloves. Throw in some tube Tampons in your med kit. Sounds stupid, but they work great for gun shot wounds and punctures. What about hygiene? Baby wipes definitely made my deployment a little bit easier when there wasn't any showers available (for months). Having extra tooth brushs or some sort of cleaning brush for gear covered in layers of sweat was useful too. Are chin straps would get particularly nasty after a couple months in country.
Never been .mil, but one of the problems I've had with waterproof boots, especially in the rain, was the water just ran down my legs, filled up my boots and had nowhere to go. I've had trench foot 3 times. It ain't a ball.
I find Letherman is quite competitive to Gerber for quality, thoughtful design and durability. They are priced the same, feature for feature as the Gerber. Letherman are American made. I currently own a 15 year old 14 in 1 Letherman Wave and it's saw is really Increadable. The Letherman saws have Ikeda style cutting teeth. They cut smoothly, fast and never binds under severe use. I lost count of the number of green wood branches I have sawn with that Letherman. It's a very solid investment and comes with its own severe duty belt holster.
I VP Veteran here... the Lypsyl Brand we were issued sure was funny. I’m used to carrying a simple Minty Chapstick (my girlfriend from grade 11 taught me that, Thanks Gina), then when I joined the Regular Army, they issued me this brand of “Ski Wax” as we called it. LOL hah ah ah aha. I kept the Lypsyl in my “Bug out” bag and the Mint Chapstick remained with me on deployment! Life is good. All the Best!!
I was an M113 driver in Korea in the mid 90s. These were A2 model relics converted to not exactly A3 models, so heater problems was rampant. So my squad invested in a trusty little Coleman stove and percolator (Styrofoam cups were easy to pinch off the field mess for a stash). During those cold field excersise, having hot coffee for an entire squad on the spot was a morale savior. We were the envy of the entire company.
My add ones are a American poncho liner, wet wipes and a good mattress foam. I would not do a solar battery charger or the stove. Although back in my day lots did bring one so just borrow one. Got to cut the weight somewhere!
Saw an add for gloves allowing you to punch through windshield glass, fight off knife attack etc. Seemed amazing. Especially the level of cut protection.
Great list Matsimus. One item I would add (personal pref) is a small Photon Micro Light. You sort of covered this with your head mounted light I realize, but the Photons can fit on a keychain, in your rifle/weapon's pistol grip, on a lanyard, or a cord around your neck - whatever. They have red bulb models primarily for night use(IR or UV), white light as well, and these things come in so handy, especially during training/range work in low light conditions. Cheap too, most models are about 12 bux. I have one from 2003 that is still going strong. Great little backup light.
I always liked the HS Specialties 'goopy' face paint. I kept mine with a mirror and make up applicators from Shoppers Drug Mart (for better detail than my finger) in a CPGear small notebook cover. It was in my right breast pocket for 11 years.
LOL I had that exact cammo pack with the mirror. I remember once my squad leader told us to cammo up and this was 91-92 when the Ultimate Warrior was HUGE in the WWE. I used the cammo to paint on his face paint. My squad leader laughed his butt off because he loved the Ultimate Warrior too than made me do 20 pushups and wipe it off my face and cammo correctly. Also one tip for the sticks the military gives you carry a small container of baby oil and apply it to your face before using the cammo stick than heat up the stick with a lighter and the cammo goes on really smooth and even.
Medical tape (Or surgery tape) am not sure what it is called, but something akin to that. Tape your feet for long marches. Also remove the tapes afterwards, or it will get infected.
Moleskin? These days I keep a roll of black electrician’s tape in my first aid kit. I learned that in Electrical Trade School and working in Construction... that’s after 15 years in uniform. Cheers!
In all outdoor professions or pursuits, a substantial cotton bandanna, handkerchief, an old bandage, micro towel, whatever but cotton is preferable. Multiuse, wipe the sweat out of your eyes and general quick hygiene tasks. Strain a less than ideal water source of larger particles before further sterilisation, cover unpackaged food, beverages to prevent insects eating/drinking more than you do, to pick up hot canteen cup/mess kit handles (why you need cotton) and the list goes on.
Great suggestions, I'd add a snugpak and stealth suit; for winter and tent routine, a nice pair of tent slippers are awesome (MEC has good ones - don't get the low ones). MIddle of the night stove watch, go outside to refill stove/lantern, or to bathroom...they are awesome. Also in winter on glove, get a thin pair to wear inside the arctic mits, that way when you need to do detail work (ie, stoves) you can take off the mitts/goretex gloves and hand still protected against cold (especially the generators). Again MEC has some good liner gloves.
In a lot of cases (In the US), soldiers won't be permitted to wear (or possibly use) any item that is not issued to them, or specifically declared acceptable in their particular unit, during garrison and local training exercises. This is typically maximum strictness during basic training (boot camp), with some relaxing of the restrictions during the specific job training, and then there are all levels of strictness after that. Infantry are generally the most strict, and then everyone else just does whatever. Once you get to your unit, a lot of questionable items are typically authorized by if you see someone in your direct NCO support channel wearing/using that item. Officers don't count, or everyone would leave field problems for hotel beds and Subway sandwiches, getting LosT, and showing up late the next day on the regular. When you go on a field problem, this is when some items can be brought, but it's best to not flaunt them, and keep your uniformity with the rest of the group. That's the key here. Uniformity. If everyone doesn't have that thing, then one person stands out, and is out of uniform. This is part of the discipline of training as a group. There is some leeway for a couple unobtrusive personal items, however, as when you go on an actual combat deployment, most of the strict uniformity is dropped, and the older, more jaded soldiers aren't looking to fuck you up over some trivial item, so long as you can keep it on the down-low and exercise discretion at the appropriate times. When deployed, that's when everyone's personal quirks come out. Usually it's for the better, because most personality flaws don't hide long enough to get to the combat theater. Probably my "special quirk" was that I brought a compact electronics tech kit that I put together, just in case there was a need/opportunity to McGuyver some shit. Being that I was Infantry, that's a skill that would otherwise not be afforded to us. When it came down to it, I repaired a pair of headphones, rigged an adapter that allowed Muzak to be played over the Bradley's VOX, and re-assembled several USB connectors back onto their thumb drives after various guerilla-handed dorks tried to use civilized technology and rolled a 1. One of my pet peeves though, is people who would use their retina-scorching tactical weapons light for mundane usage, like finding the porta-potty, instead of standing in the shadows a bit to gain night vision, and practicing unaided dark navigation, or actually using their night-vision device, when it was required on their person (uniform requirements due to being shelled often), or using a low-brightness light low to the ground, so as to keep some modicum of light discipline. These same people would often go on a mission and not have a working tac light on their weapons, because they used up the unobtainable bullshit "surefire" battery on mundane tasks, and the supply guy wouldn't exchange them without a note signed by the president. Nowadays, you can get a tiny USB-charged necklace flashlight for all that crap, and simply cover most of it to choke off the light to the minimum amount. Those people who would use their weapon light for reading the instructions on their Cup-O-Noodles in a slightly dim, daylight dayroom (you know that guy) are the same ones that would refuse to prepare by bringing anything but a DVD player (and beg everyone for DVDs and batteries/chargers/earbuds because they broke&lost theirs, etc.)
Foot powder, rain gear, j boots, flashlight, knife pocket knife, bungee and 550 cord, extra canteen, watch, notebook w/pencil, lighter, large ruck when issued med. Lot more but 20 years retired.
Doesn't necessarily mean more expensive stuff is better, can be angel dusting. I always go for the brad names in clothes, that should ensure quality but not always, I spent 3 times more on a pair of running pants without having de facto better performance than a pair 3 times cheaper.
Lol are you saying our military equipment sucks lol no it doesn't it's actually fairly good. We have the most kills on the worst terror group the Taliban
Perhaps it is implied, because all the examples you showed were dial-watches instead of digital display watches, but if not, it might have been good to mention that dial watches have the added advantage that they can be used as a auxiliary compass.
@@TrangleC the digital are used for many uses like world time, stopwatch, etc. More versatile, some gshock has gps, barometer, compass built-in so they can show the reading.
I indeed favor getting half a roll flattening it and putting it in a ziplock to stay dry. Two halves are less bulky than one full roll and it can be used as kindling.
@@TheSquidPro i recommend getting something called Shit kit, its bag with toilet paper, some kind of water to wash your hand, plastic bag, and gloves I think, look for it on amazon
Merino wool is vitally important to me for doing grunt things in the Canadian cold. Socks, long John’s, long sleeve shirt, merino buff, merino touque, Nalgene’s and a gsi Nalgene cup, titanium long handle spoon, jet boil/msr. I use msr whisperlite for the wintertime. Having properly fitted kit and maintenance is most vital though.
Matt, now that you are a Bombardier you know you now have to do the G6 Rhino. Jeez the thing could shoot 67km. Please my friend. I know the SANDF and Denel do not have many videos out but hey I think you have enough. Happy new year my friend.
the advice you give on gloves is great for those of us in manual wheelchairs, or working with some minor nerve damage. my dad has some nerve damage in his right hand. he wears gloves for the protection in case he has to grab something. typically in those moments, the best the brain does is react. the mind needs to think ahead for the protection. moisture wicking socks and underwear are great! but some places dont let people use any underclothes that can melt on low temp sparks. the danger is mostly that they dont want a fire that is going to cause more damage because the materials melt to the skin. not the type of thing you want, especially with those nether regions. i go through some mechanix gloves, or the type with reinforced knuckles. make sure the gloves arent restrictive and take energy to grab, hold, or pull a trigger. i have a solid leatherman just for use on AR type rifles. top shelf multi tools and a good knife that lets you do light work and i found that an issued blade isnt as good for small jobs.
also plastic zip lock baggies and a couple trashbags... ziplocs keep essentials dry... socks dip, smokes etc, trashbags if u gotta hump your poop out and youd be surprized when u have too. and a bic lighter.
Hi Matt, Next time, I would just make a definitive list of what a Western Soldier should just buy, like recommending Under Armor Underwear and Mechanix Gloves, etc. The watch, I'm just going to say, Casio G-Shock with an appropriate band. The First Aid Kit, I'm going to take you to task on that one; You need 2, one needs to be a "Blow-Out" Kit for plugged holes in yourself or your buddy; 2 Chest Seals (non-vented), two CATS Tourniquets, an Israeli Bandage, Large Nitrile Gloves and Quick Clot, Trauma Shears, as these will keep you alive and avoid the 3 minutes it take to bleed to death, with a rip away tethered pouch, carried on your belt or armor plate - Best $100 of life insurance you will ever buy. The other kit needs to be a "Boo-Boo" kit for lesser things and need to have Ibuprofen, Imodium, safety pins, band aides, tape, Neosporin, etc. and should be small enough to fit into a cargo pocket, stored in a heavy ziplock bag.etc. The Jet Boil Stove is Good, however take a look at the MSR Wind Burner Personal Stove or Duo stove, which is far superior when trying to cook or heat water in the snow or at attitude and for humans (not you) they also have a coffee press as well. Finally, if you "have to" get a military tattoo get a 2"x3" one that has your Blood Type, Like "AB-" on your upper left chest area or maybe over your heart, as if they shoot you there, it doesn't matter, as medical treatment will not be needed. Kids are "Supermen" and old Soldiers are "Realists".
Best shooting gloves ever; PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Alpha Gloves. Best operator athlete underwear; Bjorn Borg Polyamide Boxer Brief - they have the worlds only contour cut crotch cradle in front of them.
The question is are they just good for shooting, or for everything else a soldier needs to do too? It isn't a video about what to bring to a day at the gun range, after all.
@@TrangleC They're definitely not rice paper but they've got their place on the field. I talked to enough guys in the military that has used them and love them. I have a couple pairs myself. You have good feeling with them and they protect the hands good through sustained rifle fire. If you're a tanker or a machine gunner use some different gloves. I can definitely feel waaay better with the pigs than I can when compared with my mechanix.
A bivi bag you can carry in your belt order........an extra warm jacket which crushes down......a second pair of gloves.....good socks you only need one pair just crush the water out as you give your feet some daily five minute fresh air (dry socks are wet socks in bad weather conditions) If you always have a crush jacket and a bivi bag you are safe.
Yup definitely your own hearing protection as the often the issue stuff is pure crap. Interestingly enough, the good ol' cheap foam ear-plugs still do the job nicely. You can't hear anything, but they work. A hearing protection container was part of our uniform in the U.S. Army (Corp of Engineers) back in the 90's. Not sure about now. Obviously high-end active hearing protection is nice, but it has to work with your issued helmet system and it needs to have audio inputs that work with your comms equipment if you're issued any.
@@Heresy-Enabler "Always remember to put wet-weather gear on your little soldier before going out into the bush." That's what my drill sergeant used to say in AIT during our safety briefings before we got our off-post passes.
Wet wipes/baby wipes as nobody likes having peanut butter butt down range.
scipher99 also works wonders cleaning weapons
We call it swamp ass
@ Yeah sorry 89D it would have been nice to have had 3 hots and a cot.
@ OMG LOL the fingers comment has absolutely made my day, Thank you for that.
Never understood wet wipes. Just learn to wipe you are correctly.
15:40 all this time you've said you moved to Canada. This proves that you were exiled for not drinking tea.
Must have been Coffee.. 🍺
Traitor, matsimus this is war crime against the British people
Either that or range tea put him off for life, or the coftea which seems to come out of most norgies 😂 I don't really drink hot drinks, the main time I do is when training with the military.
My summer kit was .
- hammock
- ranger blanket
- ground sheet
- cooler with snacks and drinks
Joy's of being the only bus driver available
Socks and underwear: the two go hand in hand, and are thoroughly underrated until they're both soaked in sweat for the third day in a row because you're stuck in the middle of nowhere as an LP/OP, fighting position, or long range patrol.
Boots: definitely underrated,and something that needs to be reviewed for mission and personal requirements. Make sure they're authorized by your unit.
Pens: skip the gel ones and find a good ballpoint that can work in multiple weather conditions. Map pens are also amazingly useful.
Pants belt: this seems stupid to mention, but seriously. Find a good belt that meets regs and use it. Something reasonably stiff and secures the extra length past the buckle.
Battle Belt: this is mainly for the ground combat guys on foot. You may have one issued to you, and it'll work. Use it until you figure out how to configure it to work in conjunction with your body armor, and then figure out how to upgrade if you can.
Compass: this actually is useful, and should be something that you can get from supply.
GPS: possibly useful, depending on your role. Ground combat guys will likely find this useful.
Mag pouches: Yes, these will actually be useful if you can swap these out. Esstac, G-Code Scorpions, Tyr pouches, and HSGI Tacos are orders of magnitude better than the typical pouch w/ flap. Just make sure they can hold your gear secure when needed and allow for quick gear access.
Shit kit: baby wipes, TP in a sealed bag, and hand sanitizer. Comes in really useful, and can double for giving wipe down baths.
Hygiene: baby wipes, toothbrush, razor, shaving cream (Cremo or Shave Butter), body powder. Wash yourself, take care of your face, take care of your damn teeth, keep your junk and feet dry.
Poncho liner (woobie) and tarp: ALWAYS have these on you in a field exercise. You should be issued them, and don't feel bad about swapping them out for better ones from supply ASAP. You can also buy your own fancier ones, as long as they aren't some garish color.
Scarf/shemagh: seems stupid and tacticool, but I actually used my shemagh frequently in the field for a variety of things, especially during cold weather training. Yes, neck gators and beanies exist, but this added additional warmth and protection, and it helped break up my outline and cover my face with surprisingly good effect.
Jetboil: worth it, or go halfsies with your battle buddy. Bring extra tea/cocoa/coffee and you'll be everyone's best friend, the CO's included.
Ear pro: overlooked and something I wish I had invested in earlier. Ground combat bubbas would do well to invest in some decent ear pro, and I have tinnitus from not doing so. At a minimum, get something like the Surefire flanged style ones that allow some hearing. If you can, get something like Otto Engineering Noizebarriers. Yes, it really is worth it, especially for infantry and artillery guys.
Eye pro: The issued glasses are good. WileyX has a better fit for me though. Invest in a good set and you can wear it in and out of the field.
Ouch kit: bandaids, a couple compressed gauze packs, tape, moleskin, superglue, NSAID, antacid, antidiuretic. A couple other odds and ends that you personally would use and you're well set. This is underrated, and doc will appreciate it since he won't have to deal with you for every little thing.
TQ: carry more than you're issued. CAT or SOFTT-W are the most common, and for a damn good reason.
Field knife: something basic for everyday stuff, like an ESEE Izula or similar. Nothing fancy or flamboyant, doesn't need to be a dedicated combat blade or hardcore mountaineering knife that can baton wood. Just something to cut minor things that can be kept handy. Have a small sharpening kit and learn how to use it as well.
Regulation/uniform requirements: some of the uniform regulations get thrown out the window when you're actually in the field. Stuff for garrison and within regulation doesn't always translate well for field use. Don't outright ignore the regs, but try to be close if it's not something that's immediately approved. Example: a black field belt as opposed to coyote brown or whatever else. An OD green or coyote brown pair of gloves vs whatever is issued. Or even a thermal fleece base layer that does a better job than the issued ones, as long as it isn't visible under your cammies. Make sure that stuff conforms to flame resistance when required, especially if you're part of a flight or vehicle crew.
We trying to make them fast and effective slapping all that on won't fully benifit them
@@a1marine105 I have no idea what you're trying to say.
i have to agree. The two most underrated pieces of kit. a bad pair of socks can grow fungus between your toes in a few minutes and if your underwear dont fit properly or dont keep the sweat away from your crotch you stink and get jock itch like nobodies business.
And dont forget deodorant. Very important when you are in a jungle or foreign environment. You SMELL different and trust me bad people can smell you
May i steal this?
@@ridgerunnersurvival Late reply, but yes, steal away.
matsimus: get a stove.
marines: why would i need a stove to cook crayons?
Melt them into a sandwich spread
@@dannythompson5514 where do i get bread?
You're thinking of the Army. Marines are fine with rocks, and, gravel.
All the good food goes to the Chair Force
@Adam Beeson apparently the same as what you get at home
1. gloves
2. gaiters
3. boxer briefs
4. watch
5. multitool
6. notebook holder
7. camping stove
8. face camoflage
9. headlamp
10. first aid kit(personal)
11. charger
Amen
12. Tobasco
@@Darth.Fluffy or franks
@Darth.Fluffy you spelt tobacco wrong
@@TawnyRain2332I think he's talking about Tabasco hot sauce
A note about gloves: test and practice with them before going into the field with them, especially if your job requires fine dexterity work. The feel can be drastically different and an adjustment period may be necessary.
commented for documentation.
@Yar Nunya so that i can see it in my history and act accordingly in the future.
Remember if the army wanted you to have a wife they would of issued you one
... My God; if I had only listened. I'd be a richer man 😉 ...
The Army did issue a kit called “House-wife”, it contained everything you needed to mend your clothing! Ah, the good old days of Robin the Hood!!
@@pierevojzola9737 with us they expect us to buy them ourselves...
Hahaha, nice jarhead quote
Dimitri Sredojevic jarheads are Marines, it’s a Golden Era Drill sgt quote
Matt: says to "not go over the top"
WW1 canadian officer: slowly turns his head
U.S. infantryman here. Canada explain
The essential piece of kit that I wouldn’t leave home without was Silly String. While clearing rooms in a building, a quick blast of Silly String into a room will get hung up on tripwires.
That seems like such an odd thing to carry but at the same time a really neat idea!
Man I wish I had these options in the 80’s. The best piece of kit you could get hold of was American rain gear and a poncho liner.
Mr. Meow the American poncho liner was the best investment I made back in my day. Lots of great idea here but depending on your trade, if you got to hump it you are going to have to make some choices...
Phil Ham I got an American jacket liner too. The best. This kit must have been made of some space age NASA stuff because I wore it all year round in the field. Do you remember the CF knockoff version of the poncho liner/blanket? I wish we had better boots. Goretex was just coming in to the system when I got out.
The brown wool sweaters that were authorized wear under the BDU blouse were awesome, too.
For gloves, look into MSSR. I used them on the diamond drills slinging steel. Super durable and similar to mech gloves. Used them on the rig in -50c and in the summer in +25c
All good stuff. Only thing I'd add to carry in your pack (not pouches) would be some baby wipes or similar for those day(s) you go without a wash so you can do the face, hands, armpits, crutch routine.
Good for bum rash!
As an army medic I witnessed and then treated a guy who grabbed the barrel of the 50 cal he had just fired to brace himself as he climbed down the M-113 it was mounted to. No gloves, 2nd degree burn on his palm. Silversulfadiazine cream and a new bandage 3 times a day for 4 days fixed him right up though.
My son served in Iraq and Afghanistan - USMC. His top two were Ibuprofen- lots and more and socks; again lots and then some more.
When operating a FOB he wanted candy for the local kids. My CVS in town helped me ship a “ship” load of hard candies over there for patrols to hand out, for the squad to suck on and as gifts when talking with elders in villages. Chocolate bars were also prized as much now as in 1, 2, Korea or ‘Nam. My grandfather talked about getting chocolate in boot camp in 1 and begging for it for the DP children while fighting in Italy in 2. Uncles/cousins in the other two also said a Hersey bar was an important “hearts and minds” gift.
... Don't forget 'coffin nails', can trade for anything (cigarettes) ...
Funny I posted lots of painkillers and socks as well
This year can be basically boiled down to the socks problem I neglected.. will make repetitions...no wait.. reparation.. hmm.. I will fix sock problem! Baaarrhhh.. socks. Socks were to Einstein foot impediments.. Love. I will get more socks tomorrow! Today..
Phase one: Collect socks
Phase three: profit.
@@gumunduringigumundsson9344 .... I love my sock puppet 😉 ... (It soothes me when I've forgotten to take my meds😀) ...
What ho Matsimus. Ski patrol head lamp hint. Wear it around your neck upside down. It is easily adjustable to shine foreward, and will stay looking where you are going, and not where your head is looking. Also, use antipersperant on your feet, especially in the winter. Try it on one foot first Calibrate, eh! One warm dry foot, one cold damp foot. Wonderful for skiing too.
Watch out (pun intended) for smart watches. The Bluetooth and wifi features can broadcast your position. The Garmin 601 has a stealth mode, and uses AAA batteries. Also, look for Tritium hands, like on the Traser Soldier.
On a related note smart watches are prohibited in Operations Zones, so if your job requires you to be in one you'll want to steer clear of using a smart watch as you'll have to take it off every time you go into the Ops Zone.
I am pretty sure more soldiers use Mechanix gloves, than mechanics.
Synystr7 mechanic here, only using uvex gloves 😂
anyone know the model he was showing at 5:43?
@@alfalegionnaire3451 mechanix M-Pact gloves Tan
@@Spartaner043 yeah same
I've never heard of these gloves before. I get real issues with the skin on my hands drying out and cracking in cold weather, so far I haven't been able to find any decent gloves which allow me to still operate my rifek effectively. Osprey are the brand favoured by British soldiers, but I find it awkward changing magazines with then due to the fingertips not being form fitting so it's awkward pressing the release catch.
Both my lads are in frontline units. One recce, one armoured. Both swear by the cheap casio sports watches they first got for going to phase one training. The reason this came up is because I offered to buy them “decent” G-Shocks and they both politely declined saying that the cheap casios had never let them down and they were light and small enough not to get caught on stuff.
Indeed. They are just as accurate and durable. They lack some features, but mostly the "cool factor". Unless you are going to be diving in deep water or something like that, they are perfectly fine!
Good on your boys! You must be proud!! 1VP veteran here, deployed overseas with a Seiko Automatic winder, helped me keep the CO and DCO sorted out (Batman Radio operator, here) ...In my old age, a Casio Solar does it for me. Lasts many years for only $100 at Costco. Ha haha ha ha Now that I’m in the “mentoring” stage of my life/retirement, all the kids see my Casio watches front and center!! All the Best!!
I had a cheap $15 casio all through basic and ait and it was still ticking by the end. Only died when it got shot out playing airsoft
Absolutely! Ive gone thru two of them in 7 year period. There is a speciffic model that works the best. Ill try to remember come back here, Its still on my work desk.
CASIO w-96h IS THE ONE
NEVER get a watch with a plastic band if you go to the field a lot. The military bug repellant we were issued would dissolve the band and it would fall off in the field.
Back in the eighties we were not allowed to drop bombs with gloves at all. When they came down from Ottawa we were given four different gloves. When the they asked me which gloves worked best for me? I pulled out my NI gloves broke the ice, stuck my gloved hand in the water for 20seconds, picked up a an 81mm bomb & held it by the fuse at arms length for 60sec. In the end we were all issued NI gloves. I also proved you could write while wearing them
The biviy bag has & fleece were issued after most of us had already purchased them.
Even cheap G-Shock watches are amazingly durable. I have my dad’s old watch from his 24 year in the military( Don’t know exactly how long he had it)
what about chinese G-Shock?
SAX briefs are the best underwear ive ever owned. im not army but when i went to a 48 hour airsoft event one of the things i forgot in my garage was my bag of underclothing changes. had 1 pair of sax for the entire event and i had no croth rot or rashes and it keeps your balls from getting stuck onto your leg with the pouch for you goodies. highly recomend these for anyone who plays sports or anything physical
Those old black insulated issue Canteens, for winter ex. It'd keep tea or coffee hot for a good 6 plus hours. Indestructible and fits the standard pouch.
For me, it was an electrically heated pot. Back in the '90s, I was on an electronic warfare team. Our radio intercept gear was mounted in a commo hut on a truck. Luckily, the gear inside the hut used regular household current (115V AC) and there was a standard outlet on the outside. Perfect place to plug in that hot pot/plate and cook Ramen.
I went on a winter FTX and I absolutely agree with your advice, to get those boot covers (we call them "mukluks"). That, and packing some extra, warm socks is always a good idea.
A Casio Illuminator is the best watch I'd say if you're in the service. It's cheap robust and accurate. You can pick them up for £20 ish and the battery will last at least 10 years. If you want something better you could invest in a the Tough Colar which uses radio band to keep the time 100% accurate all the time and it's solar powered so it shouldn't ever run out of juice. The water resistance is increased as well to 200 meters so it's good for diving. It wouldn't hurt to get a mechanical watch if you are so inclined either, I'd recomend an Orient Ray III, it's reasonably accurate but very tough.
Stay away from the all black displays because they aren't as easy to read and people have reported a lot of problems on them. Get the normal displays.
Kuddlesworth NA --i had one of those "smart watches" and the buttons and dials and functions were translated from Chinese and made zero sense. A plain waterproof watch with tritium numbers is best. It glows all the time, not just after sunning itself: LUMINOX.
A good flask that is durable.
Bought mine back in 1987, has been all over the world, is covered in several dents, but still keeps my brovel hot for eight hours.
A spare CBRNE/NBC haversack to carry the extra ammo, or grenade's, or the kit the Boss gives you at the last moment.
yea for example, as an army finance admin, i choose to carry a pen and maybe just maybe sometimes a calculator. vital tools lol
No abacus?
It took about a minute to figure this was Canadian. To me it was the ELCAN Scope (I own one when they were more affordable) that was a give away! The recommendations are realistic and wished I knew about them long ago! Thanks
I knew right away. Cam pattern, beret, the Colt Canada rifles.
1# has got to be a woobie, I love that thing more than life itself.
I have one and i dont get the hype
Woobies are the best things ever invented
I've used one as my blanket for 25 years. Cool in warm wx and warm in cool wx. Have one in my backpacking rig too, lightweight FTW.
AP --without that you woobie cold :)
Black Hockey Tape, stays tacky in hot and cold conditions, very strong and when twisted can be used as cordage.
Hi Mat, good advise you have given, unfortunately most will learn the hard way! The underpants is a good one especially for tropical work where your goolies would go rotten and breed fungus at an alarming rate.
Do not forget sweet granola bars, they give good extra energy when proper cooked food is not available (long marches, guard duty). Also serve as tradable goods.
The most important thing is a easy to clean and indestructable plate to eat. Its called mess kit because everytime u use it it is a mess. Keep that for real situations in all other cases use a good plate. I always had such a flexible dark green one with me.
Another major thing that I think is a lighter. They are useful for a lot of things, including cooking rations (if you use something like a hexi stove that is used in the British army).
A few extra tips.
Watches- style and how they display time is personal preference, but three features i will recommend are these.
Radioactive illumination like tritium is amazing in my experience. Sapphire glass is expensive but worth it if you can afford that. Avouid steel straps, for weight and heat transfer in colder climates. Silicone is my current strap, its comfortable, easy to clean but it is not as strong as leather/titanium.
I often notice how soldiers tend to forget to bring sunscreen, bug repellant, pills for headaches, headlamp as you mentioned in the vid and lastly one thing i have come to appreciate is chapstick/lipbalm. I never use it in my daily life but for some reason my lips are dry and cracked after a few days into an excercise.
Electrical tape is worth its weight in gold (for tying up loose straps and silencing PPE). So is some strapping tape for feet after a long forced march. You'd also want barrier cream for chaffing/moisturizing. I'd also be sure to purchase a high-quality durable multi-tool and flashlight as the NATO issue stuff is pretty underwhelming.
I learned about electrical tape and it’s many uses long after I hung up my uniform and then also retired from teaching high school for 30 years. I attended a year of electrical trade school and worked in construction (as a 58 year old rookie). I was amazed what good electrical tape can be used for: sealing cuts, holding dressings in place, stretching to hold dressings in place, starting the clotting process by taping a wound shut, making cordage to wrap a dressing in place etc, etc, etc. Now in my retirement/mentoring stage, I teach my junior shooters to always have a good brand of electrical tape in their ‘get home’ or ‘bug out’ bags. Peace Be To Journey!
Don’t buy a canister stove, because you have to use specialized fuel units. If you purchase naphtha/white gas stoves you can easily get fuel from the CF, they pay for the fuel and you don’t have to.
Buy a personal Silva/Sunto compass, it has a variety of uses.
When I first clicked on the title and it was only music I was worried as a blind person and that it would not be listed by a person and then mats theme came and I just relaxed :-) now I know I am getting a thorough video! No matter what Matt talks about it’s always a joy
Also Id suggest a leatherman wave with a bit kit.
You don’t need to spend $200 for a watch. I got the standard G Shock watch at the PX for under $50 and survived all field exercises and a full deployment. Just make sure it has an alarm feature so you can wake the next pvt for radio watch.
Was in the Navy, but two items I always carried on my belt when aboard ship was a MagLite and a Buck knife. Both handy for everyday use and emergencies.
The Navy Boarding Parties that I worked with echoed your sentiments. They taught me that the ship can be a formidable maze in the dark. I made it a point to learn as much as I could from them. I’m former 1VP (active duty Regular) and Reserve Infantry. All the Best!!
My son picked up a Leatherman for $20 at a yard sale. Unbelievable deal!
I checked my headlamp after listening to what you said. It has a band that goes over the top BUT it can actually be removed. So I wouldn't rule out all headlights, just check first if the top is detachable. Also that's a free strap right there. You also may want to bring a small knife sharpener. Nice to have a sharp edge when you need one.
Good recommendations should discuss must haves as socks, sunscreen, various clothing for cold climates, sanitary wipes , hot packs. Good to remember that a warm solider is a functional soldier.
After basic training, I’m gonna consider getting some of the things you’ve recommended.
remember, the military is using the "best" they can get by the LOWEST bidder.
Yep, when you see "military grade" in marketing for something being sold in a store that's a red flag.
Not in the British Army, its the most expensive mediocre or crap piece of kit whose company gives the procurement officer the best employment opportunity or share package when he/she leaves the armed forces. They actually removed the majority (possibly all) the officers from the procurement team and replaced them with NCO's to try and prevent this. If they had any sense they would know that the NCO's will just be cheaper to bribe; but your companies never made weapon sights before, a crate of beer? The contracts yours.
For foot care, consider waterproof/breathable socks such as GoreTex or the less expensive SealSkinz. In the much more temperate southern US where I live, they do an awesome job of both repelling water and allowing sweat to escape from my regular socks, AND can be worn inside your normal boots.
I wear a watch with a vibrating alarm when hunting. It’s plastic so it doesn’t retain scent (not an issue when “hunting” people) but being that it vibrates when the alarm goes off makes it nice and quiet.
Ooh! I nodded off whilst you were talking about the camp cooker, but I could still hear the words, I wasn't deeply asleep. And you were saying how a smaller thing is a good idea. But I'd 'dreamed,'/visualised a really small thing, believed it was being shown, a little white thing that looked like a wide spark plug and socket. So I was thinking, "smaller than THAT!? But that's very small already! I was quite puzzled. Then I woke up fully and worked out why I was puzzled, because I wasn't actually seeing the proper thing. So I'm went back twenty seconds, and saw the real stove being discussed, and it made sense!
I'm only mentioning this because it was odd, there's no point to anything I'm saying.
For watches I have the casio F-91W. Had it throughout all of basic, which included the muddiest bayonet range i have ever seen. My platoon sergeant in basic training recommended we all get these watches as it does everything you need a watch to do. Plus he uses it and has used it for the last 12 years. A nice, cheap little bit of kit that ain't failed me yet.
A Plano fishing tackle box designed to go in a cargo pocket works nice for stowing USB-A, -B, -C, lightning connectors, plus wall adapters and cigarette lighter adapters. The double sided one has 10 compartments and can be found in a Walmart for like $10
A stealth gortex rain jacket a must have, saved me many times
a point for headlamps is for them to have a separate button fo red light, that way you dont have to cover it with your hand to cycle through the white in tactical situations.
As a aircraft engineer one of my most used tools is my Leatherman.
John O I’m an IT guy now (and ex-infantry) and don’t go anywhere without my leather man.
I was in the 25th ID 3/22 Infantry from 91-95 and we NEVER wore gloves in the field. From heat retention to reduced tactile sensation we found them to be a hinderance. We carried them in our rucks and only used them when putting out concertina wire.
Yes all the items you mentioned are good ideas to get especially the Gerber.
Multiple good pairs of gloves. We generally would use the mechanics and different types of military style motorcycle gloves.
Throw in some tube Tampons in your med kit. Sounds stupid, but they work great for gun shot wounds and punctures.
What about hygiene? Baby wipes definitely made my deployment a little bit easier when there wasn't any showers available (for months). Having extra tooth brushs or some sort of cleaning brush for gear covered in layers of sweat was useful too. Are chin straps would get particularly nasty after a couple months in country.
Had the same experience with the changing the c9 barrell except I was wearing the goretex issued gloves which melted into my palms lol :/
Matt, you forgot Tabasco sauce and/or HP sauce.
Timo Salesto Tabasco sauce is G.I. In every 🇺🇸 MRE
Franks red hot in Canadian IMP’S
I’d prefer franks, crystal or Texas pete
Jared Peabody I PUT THAT SHIT ON EVERYTHING!! 🤣😂
Sriracha comes in plastic bottles and is very shelf stable.
Never been .mil, but one of the problems I've had with waterproof boots, especially in the rain, was the water just ran down my legs, filled up my boots and had nowhere to go.
I've had trench foot 3 times. It ain't a ball.
I find Letherman is quite competitive to Gerber for quality, thoughtful design and durability. They are priced the same, feature for feature as the Gerber. Letherman are American made. I currently own a 15 year old 14 in 1 Letherman Wave and it's saw is really Increadable. The Letherman saws have Ikeda style cutting teeth. They cut smoothly, fast and never binds under severe use. I lost count of the number of green wood branches I have sawn with that Letherman. It's a very solid investment and comes with its own severe duty belt holster.
Small roll of duck tape and a foot blister kit added to your first aid kit .
Is chapstick/lip balm provided?
I reckon that stuff may be good for cold and/or dry areas
I VP Veteran here... the Lypsyl Brand we were issued sure was funny. I’m used to carrying a simple Minty Chapstick (my girlfriend from grade 11 taught me that, Thanks Gina), then when I joined the Regular Army, they issued me this brand of “Ski Wax” as we called it. LOL hah ah ah aha. I kept the Lypsyl in my “Bug out” bag and the Mint Chapstick remained with me on deployment! Life is good. All the Best!!
I was an M113 driver in Korea in the mid 90s. These were A2 model relics converted to not exactly A3 models, so heater problems was rampant. So my squad invested in a trusty little Coleman stove and percolator (Styrofoam cups were easy to pinch off the field mess for a stash). During those cold field excersise, having hot coffee for an entire squad on the spot was a morale savior. We were the envy of the entire company.
Meligoth
It seems like all the Gear that was in Korea in the 90’s was ancient. My dad was part of a Cobra Battalion in Korea then.
@@TheCarDemotic when the Sergeant Major tells the battalion "I went to Vietnam with these vehicles.", I'm like o.0! This was in Ft. Carson, CO.
My add ones are a American poncho liner, wet wipes and a good mattress foam. I would not do a solar battery charger or the stove. Although back in my day lots did bring one so just borrow one. Got to cut the weight somewhere!
Saw an add for gloves allowing you to punch through windshield glass, fight off knife attack etc. Seemed amazing. Especially the level of cut protection.
matsimus, whats your favorite cheese
I MUST know now.
I don't need sleep i need answers
Compo, surely!
Great list Matsimus. One item I would add (personal pref) is a small Photon Micro Light. You sort of covered this with your head mounted light I realize, but the Photons can fit on a keychain, in your rifle/weapon's pistol grip, on a lanyard, or a cord around your neck - whatever. They have red bulb models primarily for night use(IR or UV), white light as well, and these things come in so handy, especially during training/range work in low light conditions. Cheap too, most models are about 12 bux. I have one from 2003 that is still going strong. Great little backup light.
In German we have a saying:„Wer billig kauft kauft zweimal.”
Meaning: If you buy cheap you’ll buy twice.
That was really helpful. Thumbs up and respect to Canada from USA. Thanks for always being there!
I always liked the HS Specialties 'goopy' face paint. I kept mine with a mirror and make up applicators from Shoppers Drug Mart (for better detail than my finger) in a CPGear small notebook cover. It was in my right breast pocket for 11 years.
love this Matt! i have used all of these in Gagetown this fall. They sure come in useful
Lights are like Tracer & LASER pointers. they work both ways.
It makes it easier for the enemy to see you too.
I saw a guy grab a hot 240 barrel once. Drill sergeant said “Congratulations warrior, you just became a burn victim.”
Imagine suffering from burn during deployment day after the day.
LOL I had that exact cammo pack with the mirror. I remember once my squad leader told us to cammo up and this was 91-92 when the Ultimate Warrior was HUGE in the WWE. I used the cammo to paint on his face paint. My squad leader laughed his butt off because he loved the Ultimate Warrior too than made me do 20 pushups and wipe it off my face and cammo correctly. Also one tip for the sticks the military gives you carry a small container of baby oil and apply it to your face before using the cammo stick than heat up the stick with a lighter and the cammo goes on really smooth and even.
I know that gerbers tend to fit pretty well in 9mm magazine pouches
Medical tape (Or surgery tape) am not sure what it is called, but something akin to that. Tape your feet for long marches.
Also remove the tapes afterwards, or it will get infected.
Kinesio tape ?
@@Kevin-fj5oe Looks like it could work. Taping toes as well.
Moleskin? These days I keep a roll of black electrician’s tape in my first aid kit. I learned that in Electrical Trade School and working in Construction... that’s after 15 years in uniform. Cheers!
Very good advice. If I may add a few things: folding pocket knife for everyday carry and a handheld light (pen-style maybe).
In all outdoor professions or pursuits, a substantial cotton bandanna, handkerchief, an old bandage, micro towel, whatever but cotton is preferable. Multiuse, wipe the sweat out of your eyes and general quick hygiene tasks. Strain a less than ideal water source of larger particles before further sterilisation, cover unpackaged food, beverages to prevent insects eating/drinking more than you do, to pick up hot canteen cup/mess kit handles (why you need cotton) and the list goes on.
Great suggestions, I'd add a snugpak and stealth suit; for winter and tent routine, a nice pair of tent slippers are awesome (MEC has good ones - don't get the low ones). MIddle of the night stove watch, go outside to refill stove/lantern, or to bathroom...they are awesome. Also in winter on glove, get a thin pair to wear inside the arctic mits, that way when you need to do detail work (ie, stoves) you can take off the mitts/goretex gloves and hand still protected against cold (especially the generators). Again MEC has some good liner gloves.
Might I make a suggestion , yes get a good watch and possibly a second one as a backup.
In a lot of cases (In the US), soldiers won't be permitted to wear (or possibly use) any item that is not issued to them, or specifically declared acceptable in their particular unit, during garrison and local training exercises. This is typically maximum strictness during basic training (boot camp), with some relaxing of the restrictions during the specific job training, and then there are all levels of strictness after that. Infantry are generally the most strict, and then everyone else just does whatever.
Once you get to your unit, a lot of questionable items are typically authorized by if you see someone in your direct NCO support channel wearing/using that item. Officers don't count, or everyone would leave field problems for hotel beds and Subway sandwiches, getting LosT, and showing up late the next day on the regular. When you go on a field problem, this is when some items can be brought, but it's best to not flaunt them, and keep your uniformity with the rest of the group. That's the key here. Uniformity. If everyone doesn't have that thing, then one person stands out, and is out of uniform. This is part of the discipline of training as a group. There is some leeway for a couple unobtrusive personal items, however, as when you go on an actual combat deployment, most of the strict uniformity is dropped, and the older, more jaded soldiers aren't looking to fuck you up over some trivial item, so long as you can keep it on the down-low and exercise discretion at the appropriate times.
When deployed, that's when everyone's personal quirks come out. Usually it's for the better, because most personality flaws don't hide long enough to get to the combat theater. Probably my "special quirk" was that I brought a compact electronics tech kit that I put together, just in case there was a need/opportunity to McGuyver some shit. Being that I was Infantry, that's a skill that would otherwise not be afforded to us. When it came down to it, I repaired a pair of headphones, rigged an adapter that allowed Muzak to be played over the Bradley's VOX, and re-assembled several USB connectors back onto their thumb drives after various guerilla-handed dorks tried to use civilized technology and rolled a 1.
One of my pet peeves though, is people who would use their retina-scorching tactical weapons light for mundane usage, like finding the porta-potty, instead of standing in the shadows a bit to gain night vision, and practicing unaided dark navigation, or actually using their night-vision device, when it was required on their person (uniform requirements due to being shelled often), or using a low-brightness light low to the ground, so as to keep some modicum of light discipline. These same people would often go on a mission and not have a working tac light on their weapons, because they used up the unobtainable bullshit "surefire" battery on mundane tasks, and the supply guy wouldn't exchange them without a note signed by the president. Nowadays, you can get a tiny USB-charged necklace flashlight for all that crap, and simply cover most of it to choke off the light to the minimum amount. Those people who would use their weapon light for reading the instructions on their Cup-O-Noodles in a slightly dim, daylight dayroom (you know that guy) are the same ones that would refuse to prepare by bringing anything but a DVD player (and beg everyone for DVDs and batteries/chargers/earbuds because they broke&lost theirs, etc.)
Foot powder, rain gear, j boots, flashlight, knife pocket knife, bungee and 550 cord, extra canteen, watch, notebook w/pencil, lighter, large ruck when issued med. Lot more but 20 years retired.
Remember your equipment was made by the lowest bidder.
Doesn't necessarily mean more expensive stuff is better, can be angel dusting. I always go for the brad names in clothes, that should ensure quality but not always, I spent 3 times more on a pair of running pants without having de facto better performance than a pair 3 times cheaper.
@@user_____M did I say that?
@@johndane9754 its implied that lowest bidder means its gonna be shit
except for our rifles, the most important part of our equipment.
Lol are you saying our military equipment sucks lol no it doesn't it's actually fairly good. We have the most kills on the worst terror group the Taliban
Perhaps it is implied, because all the examples you showed were dial-watches instead of digital display watches, but if not, it might have been good to mention that dial watches have the added advantage that they can be used as a auxiliary compass.
Why not both, g-shock digital analog watches are safe bet
@@Kevin-fj5oe But why would you need your watch to tell you the time in two different ways?
@@TrangleC the digital are used for many uses like world time, stopwatch, etc. More versatile, some gshock has gps, barometer, compass built-in so they can show the reading.
Shit kit/toilet paper-sometimes its gonna save your ass. Maybe top 10 tricks for gear management-pouches, cargo bags etc.
I indeed favor getting half a roll flattening it and putting it in a ziplock to stay dry. Two halves are less bulky than one full roll and it can be used as kindling.
@@TheSquidPro i recommend getting something called Shit kit, its bag with toilet paper, some kind of water to wash your hand, plastic bag, and gloves I think, look for it on amazon
A strong and ready mind is number 1 on my list.
Merino wool is vitally important to me for doing grunt things in the Canadian cold. Socks, long John’s, long sleeve shirt, merino buff, merino touque, Nalgene’s and a gsi Nalgene cup, titanium long handle spoon, jet boil/msr. I use msr whisperlite for the wintertime. Having properly fitted kit and maintenance is most vital though.
Matt, now that you are a Bombardier you know you now have to do the G6 Rhino. Jeez the thing could shoot 67km. Please my friend. I know the SANDF and Denel do not have many videos out but hey I think you have enough. Happy new year my friend.
the advice you give on gloves is great for those of us in manual wheelchairs, or working with some minor nerve damage. my dad has some nerve damage in his right hand. he wears gloves for the protection in case he has to grab something. typically in those moments, the best the brain does is react. the mind needs to think ahead for the protection. moisture wicking socks and underwear are great! but some places dont let people use any underclothes that can melt on low temp sparks. the danger is mostly that they dont want a fire that is going to cause more damage because the materials melt to the skin. not the type of thing you want, especially with those nether regions. i go through some mechanix gloves, or the type with reinforced knuckles. make sure the gloves arent restrictive and take energy to grab, hold, or pull a trigger. i have a solid leatherman just for use on AR type rifles. top shelf multi tools and a good knife that lets you do light work and i found that an issued blade isnt as good for small jobs.
Gallages are good too for keeping your feet dry.
Nitrile gloves, RCR mask also slide rule in a good cipher to write a lot of encrypted notes. Information is the most important thing.
also plastic zip lock baggies and a couple trashbags... ziplocs keep essentials dry... socks dip, smokes etc, trashbags if u gotta hump your poop out and youd be surprized when u have too. and a bic lighter.
Casio digital is still my favourite option 🙌🏽
Hi Matt, Next time, I would just make a definitive list of what a Western Soldier should just buy, like recommending Under Armor Underwear and Mechanix Gloves, etc. The watch, I'm just going to say, Casio G-Shock with an appropriate band. The First Aid Kit, I'm going to take you to task on that one; You need 2, one needs to be a "Blow-Out" Kit for plugged holes in yourself or your buddy; 2 Chest Seals (non-vented), two CATS Tourniquets, an Israeli Bandage, Large Nitrile Gloves and Quick Clot, Trauma Shears, as these will keep you alive and avoid the 3 minutes it take to bleed to death, with a rip away tethered pouch, carried on your belt or armor plate - Best $100 of life insurance you will ever buy. The other kit needs to be a "Boo-Boo" kit for lesser things and need to have Ibuprofen, Imodium, safety pins, band aides, tape, Neosporin, etc. and should be small enough to fit into a cargo pocket, stored in a heavy ziplock bag.etc. The Jet Boil Stove is Good, however take a look at the MSR Wind Burner Personal Stove or Duo stove, which is far superior when trying to cook or heat water in the snow or at attitude and for humans (not you) they also have a coffee press as well. Finally, if you "have to" get a military tattoo get a 2"x3" one that has your Blood Type, Like "AB-" on your upper left chest area or maybe over your heart, as if they shoot you there, it doesn't matter, as medical treatment will not be needed. Kids are "Supermen" and old Soldiers are "Realists".
Best shooting gloves ever; PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Alpha Gloves.
Best operator athlete underwear; Bjorn Borg Polyamide Boxer Brief - they have the worlds only contour cut crotch cradle in front of them.
I was just about to suggest these. They may not be as durable but to me I can feel so much better than any other glove I've used.
The question is are they just good for shooting, or for everything else a soldier needs to do too? It isn't a video about what to bring to a day at the gun range, after all.
@@TrangleC They're definitely not rice paper but they've got their place on the field. I talked to enough guys in the military that has used them and love them. I have a couple pairs myself. You have good feeling with them and they protect the hands good through sustained rifle fire. If you're a tanker or a machine gunner use some different gloves. I can definitely feel waaay better with the pigs than I can when compared with my mechanix.
A bivi bag you can carry in your belt order........an extra warm jacket which crushes down......a second pair of gloves.....good socks you only need one pair just crush the water out as you give your feet some daily five minute fresh air (dry socks are wet socks in bad weather conditions) If you always have a crush jacket and a bivi bag you are safe.
Sun lounge chair and pina colada with plenty of sun screen
I would recommend a good set of eye and ear protection
Yup definitely your own hearing protection as the often the issue stuff is pure crap. Interestingly enough, the good ol' cheap foam ear-plugs still do the job nicely. You can't hear anything, but they work. A hearing protection container was part of our uniform in the U.S. Army (Corp of Engineers) back in the 90's. Not sure about now. Obviously high-end active hearing protection is nice, but it has to work with your issued helmet system and it needs to have audio inputs that work with your comms equipment if you're issued any.
@@Heresy-Enabler "Always remember to put wet-weather gear on your little soldier before going out into the bush." That's what my drill sergeant used to say in AIT during our safety briefings before we got our off-post passes.
@@Heresy-Enabler Did you hear that sound Alex? That was the sound of my quote flying right over your head. Drop and give me 50.
(sigh)... I take it you weren't in the military. Please say you weren't.