Army Surplus Bushcraft Bargains - US Edition
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- Опубліковано 21 січ 2023
- So this is a response to all of you guys stateside who like an army surplus bushcraft bargain. A selection of my favourite bits of US kit that I use out on my adventures.
Enjoy
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Quick note for the US viewers - when Neil says he had his original gloves “nicked” , he means they were stolen, not cut. The joys of the English language. Stay safe. 😀
Yeah. We non-english-native-speakers enjoy that even more. :D Regards from the Czech Republic! :)
Don't even try to explain fanny pack.
If UA-cam deleted your comment, would you say it got nicked?………😘✌️🇺🇸🇬🇧✌️
Many Americans understand the British lingo... I spent three weeks with the Royal Navy
@@baronedipiemonte3990 yep fully aware they do, no offence was meant in my comment.😊
I hail from the state of Florida, although it never really gets cold here, well, except for as of late, that is all the gear I need. Medium ALICE with frame, that poncho liner with a poncho and my bivvy bag, 2 canteens two canteen cups with little burners and the larger collapsible canteens, but I will be adding a water bladder to my ALICE pack, and just so You know Greencraft, a whole slue of accessory's and pouches were made for the ALICE pack, and even the MOLLE II sustainment pouches can attached to the pack for adding storage space. You cannot go wrong with the ALICE. I used them since the early 1980s when I enlisted into the U.S.M.C and later the U.S. Army. I enjoyed the video.
I’ve had my dads canteen cup from the 50s and it still going strong. It’s been around the world twice. One time with him and one time with me. It really came into use when I was a volunteer with the sadf in the late 80s early 90.
From South Africa Aaaaaa our pride the SADF. did my service 1974, Bagani / Rundu / Oshakatie.... our *fire bucket*
agreed, alice might have a few years on her back and might be a little more rotund than folks like it these days, but she never let me down so far.
i do recommend tactical-tailor straps and belt, though. makes life easier. and a filbe-frame is compatible and weighs nothing.
That is good to know. I was looking at those frames a while back.
@@greencraft4783
Superb mods you've done on the poncho liner ...
I'm doing the same...thanks .
I'm a day hiker and want to thank you for putting me into the Danish Marino wool top. It's outstanding for the price and perfect for this time of year.
Can I ask where you got it from please (UK)
@@martinoutdoors6941
It's a "Dutch Army - Base Layer - Green Merino Wool - Grade 1
£23.00"
From "Forces Uniform and Kit"
UA-cam doesn't like posting links so I will post a link in following post in the hope that it won't be removed.
@@awatt thanks
After using the medium & large Alice packs for a few hundred miles , no complaints . The Bancroft wool watch cap is still awesome to this day. We washed them in cool water and stuffed a towel in them while they dried naturally without heat. It's interesting that American taxpayers paid for the gear, so it could be resold at exorbitant prices. Thanks for your video and thoughts. All the best in all future endeavors. Retired Army Ranger.
It's VERY expensive trying to get some of the more useful British and European gear over here in the States unless one of the larger importers like sportsmans guide manages to snag some of it. The prices are usually not bad, but the shipping cost is insane.
Items that I'm trying to find a decent price on right now are N I patrol ruck and PCS smock. Anything wool also catches my interest.
By the way, long long ago, in my youth, I spent about 3 years in Biggleswade. Bill & Ben, Magic Roundabout, all that.
My medium Alice pack is my go to for anything longer than a day. Thank you for another great video.
If you can't get the long Johns, go to Aldi when they're selling the cotton fleece track suit bottoms, good sleep kit mine were about 8 quid a few years ago.
Use a wool blanket with the poncho liner I love it
love the ALICE pack. Had the smaller version way way back (was used for my "truancy days" from school, packed and stored in the garden shed ready for when I needed a day off school lol. Great video might just invest in another !
Great videos as always. USGI canteen caps and Nalgene canteen caps are interchangeable if needed.
Nice video.
If you read the manual on ALice, the medium could be used with or w/o a frame while the large was meant to be used only with frame. You seem to have worked that out intuitively.
The scarf you mention was a piece of tubular knit wool finished on the ends, but not large enough inner diameter to use as a head over. This and your glove liners gone missing were common items at clothing sales on US bases, but equipment changes and what was 3 or 4 dollars now is scarcer and more expensive.
The comment or who wanted a Thinsulate poncho liner may be thinking of the ones made by Brigade QM; in the 80s & 90s any SF gear or great foreign surplus was on sale in their catalog including afore mentioned woobie, bashes in DPM,BCB survival kits, and their business was built on the woolie pulley, your British commando sweater which was rare in the US in the early 80s.
I still have all of my above named items.
If looking for Thinsulate worries try Wiggys in Colorado, USA.
The matchbox you show was a common 2 dollar item at gun shows in US for forever, but are seen less and less, though I'm sure they are still a part of aviation survival kit and I've seen pictures where in a particular command, the survival technician fashioned a strap from the body to the lid held in place by fiberglass reinforced tapi, called strapping tape here in US.
Your polypropylene was probably made here locally in Michigan by Peckham. If they are the heavyweight version a SF soldier suggested if you don't carry a sleeping bag, carry a set of these in a dry bag to sleep in as well as an extra set of dry clothes to change into.
Most of the items you showcased have really jumped up in price lately, but can be scrounge at flea markets, garage sales and gun shows in US.
Cheers and all the best.
Greetings from Ulster, just want to say how much I enjoy and appreciate your video's
Thank you buddy, its very kind of you to say
I'm glad you did this I like your videos but I'm always bummed out that the gear costs as much to ship as buy. I'd like to try some surplus gear from your side of the pond one day. Much of it looks really good
U.S. Department of Defense...
Black Navy Watchman Cap 100%
Wool.....Fantastic piece of kit...A+.
Thanks
These are great packs. I found one on Marketplace for $25.00. Excellent coverage, sir.
Heya, thanks Neil, that was a great overview of some very good kit. Just thought I'd mention the Nalgene Oasis kidney bottle (that fits in the USGI canteen cup) is pretty available in the U.S. on Amazon, and probably other retailers, too. At $14 - $18, it's not stupid cheap, but not terribly expensive, either. I've gotten a lot of use out of mine. I will say I think the crusader cup and NATO osprey bottle are better kit, but it's definitely true that they're not cheap over here once you've paid for shipping and what not.
I love my Woobie. Had to go thru a couple fakes they tried to pass off first at surplus store by the base. For the real deal from McGuire army/ navy surplus.
Always great
Relatively new sub here. Enjoying all of your vids!
Something else that you definitely want to try if you can find one is a jungle sleep shirt. They haven’t issued them for years but they are thin and warm. They are great.
I'll keep my eyes open for one of those.
Another great episode and love how this one focuses in on the US surplus offerings. I bought one of those metal mugs and stand many years ago from Military Mart but it was labelled as a NATO mug (Dutch) - mug is genuine surplus the stand was a new retro. I always wondered if it was the exact same as the US version and if a lid that states it fits a US mug will fit it. I loved the mug but never got on with the stand as at the time i was trying to use in with a trangia burner and the spacing just wasn’t right and I had to mod the stand to add some bars across the top to raise the mug. I see you use one of the “boot polish tin” type burners so as I have a few of these I will now dig out the set from the garage and have a go at using it again.
I was issued my Alice pack and my poncho liner in the U. S. Marines in 1987 and they are still going strong
You know your kit...all have in my pack(medium alice pack) since I was a kid in the Seventies.
I had my Alice Pack from the 80’s, used it as a book bag through college after I got out. Sold it for pennies, the damn things go for a fortune these days. I was a backpacker years before joining the Army and I have to say I’m not especially impressed with Alice. I like the web gear with the butt pack, but the Alice pack never impressed me. I had the medium, I did use it backpacking, let others use it, to me nothing special. I wish I hadn’t sold it but strictly for nostalgia. The stainless canteen cup however is worth its weight in gold! Cooked many a meal of nasty MRE’s in mine. The NBC decon kit box is amazing, we had a 5 day field exercise in a hurricane and the ONLY thing dry was the inside of that box. The poncho liner also not impressed…polyester batting in a lightweight shell, nothing special and also the prices have gone insane. I don’t get it. I’d never heard the term “woobie” until I started watching UA-cam a few years ago. Damn I’m old….😂
Excellent video, I have the majority of the kit shown and can vouch for how good it really is. Medium Alice pack can be used without frame, making it much lighter and they also come with quick release shoulder straps, which do come in useful.
Great video as always , always look forward to a new one👍🏼
Thanks Neil, great vid!
Thank you for another great video.
I like the A.L.I.C.E. packs frame because ya can strap a 5 gallon Jerry can of fuel on the puppy...
5 gallon water ect.
Thanks
Deus Vult 😎
Some good kit shown there, Neil. Cheers mate 😉👍🏼
Thanks for another great video.
These are getting harder to find in Europe.. I have a couple one large and one medium.. I've added the plastic buckles too, as far easier than the original metal ones... On the medium, I have a 1606AC plastic frame which is lighter than the metal ones, and Molle straps and hip belt which fit this frame and are far more comfortable.. Final addition was a Molle sleep system carrier on the bottom... It makes a great pack, BUT, the Dutch army Lowe Alpine made pack I picked up, unissued is far superior, better capacity and better carry, despite the Molle...
However the Alice does look cool...and the initial pack I got for free when I bought the frame for about 30 quid. Check out the videos from the US on Hellcat Alice mods..
I have a full Decon kit… somewhere. I wouldn’t trust it to use but it’s a very unique little kit.
Very interesting vid, thank you! :)
🙌 thanks buddy !! One for US followers across the pond !
I used to have the large ALICE pack but gave it to a friend for doing work for me, but I have 3 of the genuine issue medium packs. One on a frame. I prefer to use without a frame like a day kit cause I usually do mostly light weight trips. I have many other packs but I find myself going back to the ALICE. that sturdy light weight weight nylon is ideal for when the weather is wet and it dries fast. I understand why SF prefer it for the jungle. I live in Appalachia and it is perfect for this climate. Been using the GI canteen , I got the nalgene version a few years ago. That canteen goes with me on all trips and stays in my truck. I have several of the wool caps, both od green and black. Really like them.
Really enjoyed the video! Keep it up! Cheers
Another interesting video, thank you.
I have two of the Decon boxes, $1 each. Mine came with the metal clip but I took them off. I have yet to find a use for them. They would be good for a first aid kit in you don't need much beyond small wound gear and some pills. I would not put food in them, but anything you need protected gets protected very well. I picked up white Flash gloves that are fire resistant so I may use them as leather glove liners. One of my fav US/Can items as we both used them, is the two pocket wool shirts. I got a few for $3 each but they have gone up but you shouldn't have to pay more than $20. being wool they are great around a fire, I keep an XL one to wear over any meltable layer. Older ones are 90/10 wool/nylon but newer ones are 80/20. Canada has a ton of Commando/Wooly Pully sweaters in both wool and non-wool versions. Best US Army sweater is the five button ones but can be rare these days.
Have the alice pack although because I always over pack I do find it heavy. Have made my own mods like quick connect buckles and a paracord handle. Love it! Love my canteen cup too. Have a WW2 wool cover for it use it allot especially on bike trips. Great for noodles and coffee
Eh up Neil. I got an Alice- no cage - from a local charity shop for a tenner, it's medium sized. Perfect, and I sprayed it twice for waterproofing. I am going to add straps bottom and side for poles and tarp when wet. I have a few water bottles of plastic British Army styli. I find wool hats okay but I sweat a lot so, I go for thinner hats now. Gloves are on my list too.
Got a load of U. S. Army gear, got it all years ago, still use it. A. L. I. C. E. Packs, belts pouches, mess gear, all the boots 3,types, great gear.
Hey thanks for the videos. I just found your channel. So far all great stuff. I'm new to bushcraft, this is all appreciated. I'm researching getting a bushcraft knife. So many choices. So far looking at full tang 5" -6" knife blade, high carbon steel, as close to 0.25" or 5 - 6 mm thick.
No worries, I'm glad you find the videos useful. I have a video coming up on bushcraft Knives on a budget.
Why such a thick steel for your knife? 3mm is plenty for a general purpose bushcraft knife
We can get some British kit over here eg. Crusader Canteen System, BCB stove, Bergens... as for surplus clothing, that depends on the size. I have a 190/120 DPM field shirt & that's the largest I've ever seen available. The British Gas Mask field pack in MTP is very popular here in the states. Many of us have mated that with the ALICE Load Bearing Harness/Belt.
Love your vids
The current us army waffle top is really good too.
Beatifull vídeo
The Army leather gloves with wool liners, yeah mine were nicked too.
That was a few years ago. I will make a new pair or find a decent pair of Army gloves. Making a pair requires travel to the source and is expensive. Here's a secret if you owned a pair late 1970's they could have been made by G. Gordon himself. As Gloves and Parachutes were for a long time(pun intended) by Fed Prisoners and were the best quality!
The ALICE pack is a very good piece of kit, however it is designed to be used with a pack frame. There are more than a few videos on here offering tips and tricks to make it more comfortable to use without one, or to recreate it at home😅
I believe the Nalgene Oasis canteens are no longer being produced. Could be wrong about that. Luckily, you can still easily find one on Amazon or eBay. The black ones with blue caps are a bit more rare, but the blue, green, brown, and red ones are all quite common. In any case, I’ve only just recently gotten my hands on a stainless steel Pathfinder canteen, so I’m not too eager for another new bottle this month.
If you have a long torso, the Alice frame may become a pain in the back. I traded mine in for a Millet pack with an internal frame. Used the Alice a lot, but it killed me on our ruck marches.
Can’t beat the canteen with cup combo. Used it all the time. Works great with an old WWII wing leg hexamine stove that I still have. As for “fanny/butt” packs, they’re very useful. I attached one back to back with a two-quart canteen, using the strap of the canteen cover. It worked great as a mini bug out bag in the Jeep and later hummer. The old web gear makes for great day hike and perhaps overnight kit. I have both my old canvas, as well as the nylon. My son is slowly getting bits and pieces that I have extra. Way back, outfitted my brothers with some of these items. They do last a long, long time. Some I’ve had for over forty years.
Interesting. I just got a Nalgene Oasis and a USGI canteen cup. The 1970s style butterfly handles are far better than the old L-shaped handle from the M1910 canteen cups. Though I will say, the canteen cup appears to have some sort of dull powder on it. Smells like holding a fistful of nickels Warm water did not wash it away. If you’ve any ideas about how to clean it, that’d be mighty appreciated. The actual Oasis canteen itself was already quite nice right out of the package. It says 2022 on the bottom, so I now know I was wrong about these being discontinued. You can still get a Nalgene Oasis, if you fancy having a translucent version of the US Army canteen. Doesn’t even smell of plastic like the army canteens! Never had the army canteen make my water taste of plastic, but it always smelled of it when I opened it and prepared to sip some water from it. This doesn’t happen with the Oasis canteen. The mouth is also a bit wider than that of the USGI canteen, so pouring more water in it is a bit easier. Definitely a worthwhile bit of kit.
I have the old school surplus, green match, poncho liner(woobie) poncho, wool sweater(hard to find now). What size do you wear Neal? It’s all great gear. The ALICE are very widely available, mostly the medium packs, can still get them new. Flea markets always have lots of them for a good price. Great video.
Alan, the mediums used to be quite common over here, but I have not seen one for a while. I'm an average sized brit! 5'9" tall and a 40-42" chest - It being average usually means they have sold everything in my size!!
It's surprisingly that there isn't more talk about the long johns or long underwear. They will keep you very warm indeed. Will fit under a regular pair of jeans. At home I wear 2 pairs on top of each other. One a size bigger than the other. Just for relaxing at the couch. The Dutch army used the very same model in 80 % cotton 20 % polyester and in 50% wool 50% cotton. The last one was in olive green and is called Halfwol (halfwool). The US army used this wool cotton version in white. I believe at the time of WW2 and Korea. What Dutch army sleeping socks do you use? Some sort of tent socks?
The Alice packs are also used without the metal frame it was to be used in winter to keep the pack off your back so you didn’t sweat. The frame had a shelf you could add on it to carry equipment like radios and chemical detectors. Have fun stay safe.
Only the medium alice is meant to be used with or without a frame. The large alice is meant to always be used with the frame.
The canteen cup should sit on the stand in the opposite direction so the it’s more stable and there is airflow around the bottom of the cup. The kidney shapes should be in the opposite directions
The one thing I've noticed about M.S. gear, is how thin it is, certainly people say they so great..etc, I think modern material like 600D nylon or polyester are better all things being equal as long as the stitching is finished right. But I'm waiting on a package from the UK that has the version of the Highlander Forces 33L Rucksack made of 900D Polyester, very little difference to the 1000D Polyester material imo , but the backing certainly helps the density of the fabric. of the 1000D with the nylon lining, I had some trouble finding a shop that would ship to the USA, so I had to use Military 1ST, they do have the 1000D in other colors but not in O.D. Of course I wanted the 1000D but I'll take the 900D, if the bag holds up for 10yrs of good use, I'd consider that a good run, and definitely worth the $75
Hi Neil, excellent video! I scoured the internet for the decontamination kit box but were did you find yours for around 5£? ATB from Flanders
I had/ used a large ( minus frame ) ALICE pack when we did our jungle training in Belize, and although not 100 % waterproof did seem to dry out quicker then our issued stuff at the time ( early 80s long before PLCE so mainly GS or SAS butyl nylon bergen or private purchased crusader or Roc ) did mod my straps for quick realise buckles as the original design was horrendous. Great bergen but went back to my Roc for 90% of the time.
Did use a mixture of British 44 waterbottle pouches and M56 water bottle pouches as belt kit instead of 58 w/b and kidney pouches. But then being RM we were allowed abit more freedom with kit ( within reason 🙈 )then say our Army cousins, depending on which unit as most had to conform to SOPs at the time. Some guys swapped out their Ammo pouches for ALICE m16 ones especially in jungle when using Armalites but again only because it was better suited kit then 58/ 44 pouches. Still use my old US gi mug from back then though, it's had more bangs in it then a union Street lady of the night 😉 but still going strong, shame the same can't be said for this old bootneck lol.
Great video Neil and i would also definitely recommend US surplus kit for anyone just starting out. Cheap as chips and tough as old boots, only downside now is its not as common as once was. Did hear a story once that governments were now destroying a lot of military surplus then releasing it for sale because of terrorists using it to impersonate service personnel, whever that's true or not I don't know that was 80s/90s but might explain why kit that used to be easy to get anywhere suddenly vanished overnight ?
Anyway ATB Rob
Ah, yes......Union Street. I heard that rumour too, not that long ago, from Mr Endicott
the mug he is talking about is the 85 mug 1st it only melted if you forgot to remove the lid also its only gross if you dont clean it properly
BUT... nowadays British equipment is actually very good and in many cases much better than the US stuff, especially design is something quite decisive... since I got my first SAS combat smock I have never used anything else, except my Chilean navy smock which is exactly like the British... it is so comfortable and has so many pockets!
The Green tick
You load a medium up and at our ages, I dare ya to carry it very far.. it will pack a truck!
I crammed a medium full of 7.62 belts and an old manpac PRC radio, put me near 90lbs.. that frame creaked with every step. They were meant for abuse, not this CHICOM featherwt sht. Ive also used that fram as a step ladder, a short bridge, and as traction under a hummer tire. Try that with the new sht. Ill take that old aluminum (NOT ALUMINIUM) frame anyday. That's called a canteen cup and canteen. Polypro bottoms, the longjohns came before them and they have a waffle pattern, new waffle type issued are called waffle top/bottom, before them was the "ninjasuit or silkies". Poncho liner or "wuhbie", I still sleep with mine in the house, fantastic. The new ones are chinese junk and not the same material from my 90s one. the Nomex are fireretarded so you can use in camp.
From South Africa the mug 🍺 dime a dozen ---- the stand, not so much.... only ever seen 1, back during my national service back in 1974.
From a second mug, I have fabricated one, using my own design around the top, for air vents and it works well.
Within the last couple of days I bought two more mugs on a junk auction, one is brand new.
I'm going to try and fabricate a more authentic looking stand, from the used one.
i was in Bruni 80s the allice pack go to Bergan luv the channel
It's always blown my mind growing up that our governments kinda make us feel like brothers and sisters. United and best of friends. But like you said if we send each other or buy of each other we get screwed
The Military tupperware is for tactical cookies
Can't find them, or too expensive. They are usually around 35 40 dollars. The frame is generally around 60 or so, and the straps are usually around 30 to 60 dollars. 130 ish is too much for used military gear, or at least for me.
About ten years ago, I went all over the state of Wisconsin, where I live, i could not find any thing not at yard sales or good wills, st Vincent Paul's or surplus stores. Any where and one place that had them expensive couldn't see paying that much for a used pack. I ended up buying a 511 tactical rush 75 pack for around 130 brand new. Best dam pack still. I've had for about 10years now.
Years ago I picked up a US poncho liner with 3M Thinsulate lining. Unbelievably warm for such a lightweight item. I have search far and wide for another one, but I cannot seem to find any. If anybody be knows where to get one I would love to know.
The frame can be made lighter. There are some parts that can be removed
That canteen cup is made by Rothco it's the only one that will take a lid like that Official US army cups won't take a lid. (I make my own) Also, I've been trying to get my hands of a British army mess tin, the aluminium one as well as the current issue canteen and cup but nobody over here carries them. Too much money to order them from Britain or elsewhere on the continent.
I had to use a metal file on the cup to get the lid to fit!
@@greencraft4783 Interesting, I've got one of those Rothco cups and lids. The lidfits fine but it won't stay on.
How long does it take to boil the water with the alcohol heater ?
The DLA is 90 = 1990 . Manufacture Date. TAKE CARE..
This might be an odd question, but why did you flip the video? I wouldn't have noticed but it looked like you unscrewed and screwed the lid on the match safe backwards.
Good question Randy. I had no idea I had!
Hiya Neil, I have a question. That pot stand that you use with your crusader mug, did you make it, or is it part of the bcb set? I have tried to find it, but no luck
That isn't a crusader mug, it's the USGI one with the mug stand
@@greencraft4783 ah! that's why 😆 Thanks Neil!
Where did you find the top to the canteen? Looks like it fits well
It was a Heavy Cover version - the Pathfinder one is just as good and easier to get hold of,
@@greencraft4783 thank you for responding, Neil. I was too hasty to ask where you got it, because you mentioned later in you video, lol. I just got one from Pathfinder, but it really doesn’t fit at all, despite what the comments say on Dave’s site. I rechecked to make sure I had a genuine issue US canteen cup….I do. Oh well, I’ll keep keeping my ear out. Thank you☺️
@@hikingdawn8640 I had to use a metal file on the cup to get it to fit exactly.
@@greencraft4783 ok, cool, I’ll do that, thank you, from across the pond-Dawn
Americans, Pro tip
If you are struggling to order US surplus in America, there is a shedload for sale in Afghanistan
Swapped my cheap bergan with a american soldier for an Alice back in 84 on ex crusader I think it was called, gave it away in 2017 when I finished in the military.
Did you ever get a 5 button wool sweater?
Nope....but I'm on the lookout for one
I hate to hear about the negative feedback from my fellow American "experts". I've not seen a bad video nor bad subject matter on this channel
What’s a good US military surplus website?
Coleman’s surplus
What size do you wear in the sweater?
A large (42-44)
@@greencraft4783 got a postal addy?
UK keep warm kit, long johns and a pair of the mrs wool tights. No ones going to see you - for over macho boys. Better not to freeze.
lol , so the Americans perfected the brew-kit mug before the UK ?? poor show guys
Too be fair we always had mess tins to brew up with before the invention of the crusader mug cook set, and prior to the 70s most squaddies were issued an enamel mug which was replaced by the good old osprey 58 bottle and plastic mug. Usually had a catering sized tea bag in our 24 rat packs during the 80s which we'd usually brew up and share with our oppo. Credit where credits due to you Americans with creating a great mug, And if we could beg steal or borrow a U.S m56 stainless mug we'd be all over em like a rash. Saved lugging both mess tins about and also fit your us canteens which was another item we liked to acquire.
We just improved the concept of a stainless mug by making it bigger to hold more Tea 😋☕️cheers
Army surplus doesn't exist in my country so...
The Large ALICE pack is 62 liters. I lived out of one in the Army. And still using one today.