I was in the US Army when we were transitioning from the old WWII style sleeping bags to the modular system. As an infantryman, we rarely took our sleeping bags to the field. And if we did-they stayed behind in the admin area, and, any sleep we got, was usually with nothing, or a poncho and poncho liner. When the new MSS came out, with the goretex shell and the patrol bag-man, life changed. I remember one night, sleeping in the field, it was a freezing rain storm. I crawled into that thing, closed it up-got up the next morning with a coating of ice on the bag. Slept like a baby though! Never bothered me. I now use the MSS bag for motorcycle camping. Easier than a tent!
Yep, the same happened in modern armies the world over , I believe. It certainly was the way things happened in U.K. sleeping bags and bivvies? They were for softy’s. The lack of decent kit, made life quite miserable during ‘exercise season’ in BAOR. (Peace time Germany). I see the kit used now and I’m quite envious. What hasn’t changed in U.K. , is the lack of respect the civilian population has for it’s servicemen. It’s scandalous. They deserve so much more. It’s great to see the US population being respectful of their Armed Forces. Will U.K. ever catch up? I doubt it. Thank you for the vid.
@@jimbojet8728 wow, really? I personally think there needs to be balance. Here in the US, people treat veterans with, what I can best describe as, reverence. Now, I'm not saying there should be some form of respect. But, if you put up a label "veteran", people automatically take you at your word, and will use what you say, or do, as some sort of measuring stick. I don't agree with that. We veterans are simply a cross section of Americans. We're no better, no worse, than anyone else. Have we had some unique experiences? Certainly. But that doesn't necessarily entitle us to some elite, God like status. I know hundreds of us that continue to do good work as a civilian-far more good than they likely did in the military (let's face it-we don't get to do what we want in the military, that's how it works). There's also some that are absolute scum. Just like any other vocation. I think, at least here, many people try to capitalize on their veterans status. I, personally, fine necessarily agree with that. Sadly, our status has become political here too. Many, many times, certain politicians have called us "trained killers", "American Taliban", "domestic terrorists". Sad, but true. They also assume everyone in the military fights in a war. So, everyone is a killer. But even close to true. Anyway, godspeed my friend. I trained with the Brits in the 90s, that was a cool experience :)
@@oldsoldier181 yes I was/am a British Soldier and proud of the fact. I don’t want anything special, other than to be taken care of or perhaps helped is a better term, when my service is no longer needed and I am sick or injured because of my service. Most people in the U.K. simply feel that servicemen volunteered and were well paid. That should be enough. It really is pathetic here, almost the complete opposite of how it is there. Unfortunately the public is now getting what it deserves. Fewer young men and women are joining up, our military numbers are pathetically low. Sometimes I wonder why on Earth the Chinese don’t just walk all over us? We aren’t even part of Europe at the moment? I do understand that would end up a global war, but food for thought hey? Good luck and stay safe my friend.
@@jimbojet8728 One thing we have here is the VA, which is health care after service. Many of us take advantage of it, and its little or no cost to us. If your issues are service connected, it is free (and, the older you get-like me-the more you realize you REALLY abused your body as a young man!). The VA health care service gets a bad rap here-but, honestly, it has helped thousands of us, myself included. I wont necessarily call it a benefit, as its govt run, and certainly has its issues. But, for those in need, its here. And, as I said, I havent had a bad experience yet. Take care my friend. Today, here in the states, we are celebrating veterans day. Unfortunately, I am on a liquid diet until Saturday, as I have to go to the VA for minor surgery. Of course, lol :)
@@oldsoldier181 one thing we have here is free health care for all, always! Everything health related for everyone is free! From birth to death! Glad you’re taken care of that way though.
Sometimes charity shops have a few ex-military bits in. A couple of years ago, I found a long back DPM Bergan in a charity shop, I asked how much and they said £10, as it was taking up space they needed. I paid my £10 and grabbed the Bergan. Got home, and checked it over, to find the additional Yoke and the 2 side rocket pouches on the inside of the Bergan, right at the bottom. Bonus. Best £10 I have ever spent.
My wife used to sell outdoor clothing and was a certified Gore technical consultant (great discounts at the time). One thing I learned from her was that military, workwear and expedition goretex can be far better than the high street civilian goretex. The high Street products are normally two layers (sometimes called class 2) of goretex membrane, the military kit is normally 3 layers (sometimes called class 3). This means the membrane is harder wearing, needs washing less frequently (breathable for longer) and lastly is waterproof for longer. If you have a goretex product and it's not what's called a drop liner ( a loose inner membrane like the craghoppers world first jackets were) if you slash water on it and it doesnt bead to the point you can flick it off, it needs washing and reproofing. Follow the instructions on the reproofer carefully, sometimes they advise to tumble dry to activate the finish. If you find it's not as breathable as expected or when you first bought it, it may just need washing, this can be done with pure soap Crystal's available from the super market. We normally collect to do a 'gore' wash, hats gloves, the lot and use a combined washing and reproofing product.
Not really pointless, it lasts longer due to the middle layer being bonded to the inner and outer membrane so there is no friction. Not really sure how altitude would have an affect.
Oh how I wish that we still had an actual Military Surplus store nearby - we had a great one (for years), now gone and much-missed. There are online options, of course, but there's no substitute (IMO) for eyeballing stuff, hefting it, and trying it on.
I agree... I'm 56 and remember a few in my neck of the woods - that actually sold real SURPLUS. Now it's basically places that just sell cheap copies of items made in China by ________ ... and the price isn't always cheap. The sites I've found online that DO sell the real deal capitalize on that as well. Perhaps in England where this gentleman is surplus is readily available and affordable. Here in the States, it's a status symbol of sorts... and are charged according for it ! Right now I want a genuine, US GI standard alice clips canteen carrier... $20 used. Those British military Crusader Canteens and cups are highly sought here in the States, even as status symbols... Genuine military, not made in China
@@baronedipiemonte3990 I bought a full suit of that weird, grey digital camo that doesn't seem to blend in anywhere at all from Goodwill for the princely sum of eighteen dollars and I live in the UK lol Cost sixty dollars to send it home though, with some other choice keepsakes haha
@@baronedipiemonte3990 I also have a brilliant US army canteen pouch in the same camo from a supplier in Germany. Fifteen bucks and use it all the time.
Yep, used to love wandering round the Army & Navy store, and the Famous Army stores in the town centre of a weekend. As a youth the stuff was fascinating, picked up some great bits for my time in the scouts. All sadly gone now
I bought a artic bag -10 centre zip, £45, heavy and large but I only go local in winter, crusader kit is my favourite, but I ditched the water bottle, also have the plastic mug and base for solid fuel tablets, in cavity where bottle was I put a gas canister and burner and my brew kit, never without hot water. Packs into its own case, can't beat it. Cost about £30.
As a section commander I encouraged my guys to ditch mess tins and go with the crusader mug, I did in the end find a black teflon crusader mug. That surplus store musty smell on items I since found out that some of the kit is sprayed with a fungicide prior to storage. I have my summer sleeping bag in the car still, my only regret when leaving was giving in my bivvi bag. When on mechanised exercise I used to fix my bergan on the outside of vehicles and never had a issue with water getting in or dust . Whilst wild camping now I would put a hi vis marker panel on the bergan, not pretty but it will help others find you if you have issues, or others need of you.Great video Nick, I best stop commenting now, as I know it annoys you.
Brilliant move. I have a five man mess kit for hiking and camping but for lightweight, go cat go. Canteen cups and a canteen cup stove. I have regular LS1 cups and stoves or an LS1 Arctic canteen cup… my wife even likes them when we day hike. She gets weird when I drink the leftover water that Wigglesworth, our wonder corgi, didn’t finish. But she’ll kiss me again, eventually.
Still using my 1992 British Army Arctic sleeping bag, zips are bomb-proof and it's still like new!!! If your sleeping bag comes in a compression sack- only fully compress it when you have to, don't store any bag fully compressed as you'll compress the insulation unnecessarily and shorten the life of your bag.
Zoe Hancock -😎👍, that's the perfect scenario for longevity, hang them from that strap on the end. If you can hang them rather than keeping them in the bag you avoid even moderate compression👏👏👏
I could never have been a soldier. Certainly, I could never have been a Royal Marine. But when it comes to kit and choice, along with the way we might use it, I seem to have a very similar attitude! My truck and garage are full of surplus items, that over the years I have hand picked for their utility, durability and practical appeal. They outshine and will outlast virtually every other piece of 'bespoke' bushcraft kit I have spent money on over the years and as long as you can cope with a dose of 'Olive Drab Disease' ( I have an incurable version of this condition) then they will see you through.....and your grandchildren!
Not for bushcraft, but I absolutely love my ex-RN Gore-tex waterproofs for riding my motorcycle in bad weather. I tried all sorts of jackets before getting this one and it's awesome. Big enough to pull over my regular bike jacket, unrestrtictive and I can stay dry for hours. Turns out those good folk in the RN know how to keep themselves dry! If I was going to start any serious hill walking again, I'd definitely be packing something similar to bring along.
glad I stumbled onto your page. Former USMC Recon (80's vintage). MOST of my bush gear is military surplus. I have been teaching my wife over the last few years and I owned enough gear or was able to scrounge from surplus places to outfit her as well. I don't have a modular sleep system YET, but that is a near-future purchase for the both of us. Currently running the bivy sac with a "Ranger Roll" - poncho (Malaysian in my case) and poncho liner. If needed I have a wool blanket in my ruck for if things get chilly.
You are so right Nick, the availability of a quality kit that has been delivered because of operational needs in the past few years is absolutely astounding. The advancement and availability of equipment that has been developed for remote, hostile terrain at an affordable price has never been on offer before to so many people. If people get away from the big manufacturers (myself included😳) they’d save a fortune! Great channel pal, hope you and the family are well?!🇬🇧👍🏻
I still have my olive green PLCE 90 Bergen (yes I am that old!), while everyone else went 95 DPM, then MTP, and then to those awful Virtus suitcases, I kept my OG Bergen, I could do that, because as an attached arm nobody cared! It certainly stood out in a Bergen cash, easy to spot, even at night! Anyway, it is still going strong after 22 years of use, though it now has various fluid stains and is ingrained with the dust of at least three continents! For some reason they didn't want it back when I left.........
When the British Army changed from the green to DPM Bergens my mate , who was in the surplus trade, tried to source the green ones for sale in his shop. He was told the entire EWS (Emergency War Stock) of 250,000 bergens , a quarter of a million, had "disappeared " and no one in the MOD could find/locate them ! Often wonder where they went !
@@clivedunning4317 Sorry, I can't account for the other 249,999, but I'm still in touch with my old QM from those days, I'll ask him......he does have suspiciously large garage!!!!
Glad I found this channel - very well put together. Just a note on the Crusader Mug type gear - I was issued with a very similar US Army Canteen system back in the late 70’s. Nearly 50 years later, and after an initial 5 years of service with me in the Australian Army Reserve, it is still part of my essential camping system. I’ve made hot tea and coffee in it, drank out of it, cooked and eaten out of it, used it for shaving and it’s even worked as a “bush-shower”. Awesome bit of kit. Cheers from Oz 🇦🇺
Great Video , I love trail snobs, 3,000$ of gear and they still gripe cause it's cold/wet. You see them and everything they have is CLEAN, And they Monkey around with the gear to get it JUST right, I like the down and dirty, fire,eat,sleep and repeat. Great Vid, Yes I too sleep with a bivi in the hammock and tarp for the same reason. Can you do a vid on BUG's control, On the person and around camp some areas are just crappy for bugs and make for a nasty night in the woods.
I bought that sleeping bag for $25 earlier this year and it was probably the best value for money I ever got out of a piece of kit. The bag is light and packs down small with a good compression bag. Yet on a night when the temperature unexpectedly dropped down near freezing, I was warm and cozy. Two great features not mentioned are an integrated mosquito net and the fact that you can zip it all the way open so it lies flat, allowing you to use it like a blanket or comforter.
I’ve still got my U.S. Army MSS sleep system that I was issued. The day I cleared I told her to go ahead and charge me for it and the 100% wool sweater because they would not be getting that back. I use the green patrol bag during the Summer and I use the rest accordingly to how cold it is during the winter. I also use my poncho liner and wool blanket in certain scenarios as well. I feel blessed to still have most of my military gear. I use it all the time.
Mil surp has been my go-to for “bombproof” effective gear for relatively cheap. Not just U.S. gear (im a yank) either. When i retired, i reported having “lost” my rucksack and was happy to pay the cost. And i just ordered the crusader 2 set for my solo trips. Milsurp is so worth it
Last year when Covid struck, my nephew ordered a Polish ex Warsaw Pact NCB full face hood with a water bottle sticking out the side. No kidding, he was going to wear it shopping in the supermarket. No blue face nappy for him.
I always carried two 58 pattern water bottles, even in the Canadian forces. One had the bog standard black 58 plastic mug and the other one had a metal mug of some description over the decades.
I'm a million miles away on the other side of the pond But it's the same here army surplus is the way to go. Thanks for all you do and everything you've done keep the videos coming friend!
Nick, thanks a lot for this video. I'm just getting into this stuff myself and your advice prompted me to go to my local military surplus shop. Just picked up a brand new un-used woodland DPM long back Bergen for just £45. Excellent value, as you say not the lightest piece of kit but I wasn't going to get anything lighter at this price point. Highly recommend anyone else just starting out to check out your local military surplus store.
I remember when the first military gear came out with those plastic buckles, back in the '70s. My first thought was that the gov't was going cheap. It's quite gratifying to see that they really are that durable! One thing new campers need to understand right off is that temperature ratings for sleeping gear is relative (and often optimistic). The military is more concerned with a soldier's effectiveness, not necessarily comfort. ALSO, each individual will perceive 'comfort' literally. Ah, the good old canteen cup! One thing the modern hydration systems cannot replace. 😉 Thanks for a very enjoyable video!
When we transitioned from ‘58 to PLCE we were initially excited because of the material it was made from - i.e. it wasn’t going to shrink as soon as it got wet. Unfortunately the early kit with the bergan and rocket packs wasn’t much use… it didn’t ‘mould’ like the ‘58 kit did and ‘making it fit’ was a real challenge. Having said that the bergan, although a super cheap version of the Berghaus Crusader, was a massive boon over the crap large pack which wasn’t too much larger than a pillowcase!! Years later it seems that the kinks have been ironed out, somewhat. This channel - and Nicks natural delivery will never get old… it’s absolutely riveting viewing. 👍🏻
One of the best sleeping bags i have ever owned was a "green maggot" also known as a 58 Pattern sleeping bag the one with the rubberized bottom and the rain poncho that snapped into it...would love to own one again mine was stolen about 20 years ago...best bit of kit
I have to be honest, I've stopped using most of my military surplus, yomping around Dartmoor (as you'll be well aware) is a ball-ache with wet, heavy gear. That said the 2 items I'd never ditch are the waterproof Bergen liner bag and my 1982 issue bivi bag...that thing is bombproof and at almost 40 years old, never failed me.
I have a crusader and a 58 pattern bottle. However, gone are the days of having your tea in your porridge, bacon, eggs and beans. So now I use an osprey mug, for its intended purpose. Handily, sitting on top of the bottle.
A thing i want to mention. I see a lot of people doing hiking and camping "bushcraftstyle" with a lot of Camo-stuff. Camo backpack, camo trousers, camo hat. If you are hiking I advise you to wear bright and fairly good visible clothings. You are usualy not hiding from other people and if you get lost or fall down somewhere and need help, they can't spot you when you are in full military gear!
For this gear I decided to spend for robustness, quality and lightweight. I went with the Karrimor SF 45 w/ rocket pouches, a S2S thermo liner (summer bag + winter liner), a -12 UGQ quilt w/ trimmings on a Thermarest Xtherm pad inside the Goretex bivy from the US MSS and the Pathfinder cookset plus.
I just got myself a 'new' windproof smock and pair of trousers this week for under £30, you can't go wrong at that price! My favourite purchase from army surplus is definitely the Arctic sleeping bag - the extra weight is "character-building" but can easily be strapped to a bicycle when you're sick of building your character 😂
Great video, always love seeing military surplus stuff! I've actually been eyeing a US GI modular sleep system on Ebay for a while which should range from 50 to -50 degrees fahrenheit (10 to -45 degrees C). Might pull the trigger after this vid, those Gore-Tex bivy bags seem to be loved by everyone, haha! We get fairly cold winter nights here in the Baltic Ocean but rarely a lot of snow so should work amazingly.
If you don't pull the trigger on ebay then hit me up. I've got a spare that I'd let go. 4 piece set with 9 buckle compression sack and woodland bivy. Tags are still minty. I can't tell that it was ever even slept in. No evidence of any kind of body odor. I'd do $250 + plus shipping through paypal. I've got no problems sending pics or a video either. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the one you get. I'm still waiting for some real cold weather to test out the black bag.
I have told many people over the years if you think British Army surplus gear is too heavy.......................get fitter. I've still got kit from my time in the 80's. Still going strong, although i'll admit not used on a daily basis anymore.
I was fortunate, after 20 years as a Paratrooper and several deployments I had amassed a lot of extra gear. The Army issues you so much prior to deployment they never take back. I have an extra Large Alice Pack, E-tool, mess kit, LCE, body armor, canteens, canteen cups, canteen pouches. It is ridiculous. I rarely need to buy anything for going to the woods. My German wife gets a bit freaked out she says it looks crazy, I have tried to explain this equipment is better than most of the stuff you would pay several hundred dollars for.
You don’t have to go stupid with money even for a civvy sleeping bag. I bought a cheap 4 season bag from go outdoors for around £75 for a trip to Peru. At 5000m I was waking up to take my clothes off as I was so hot, others in the group with crap 2 season bags were having to wear every item of clothing they had with them to try to stay warm.
Another vote for the 58 mug. I've used mine for everything from cooking to digging holes. I have even drunk from it. Surprised you didn't mention taping the rim
I have always been a hard user of army surplus ever since I learned how to use it in the army. My motto is, if it's good enough for the army, it's even better for me. I'm not going to use it half as rough. I've even vot some kit that must be over 20 years old.
Summer bag of a military sleeping bag system was my first real surplus camping gear. Canteens and mesh kits soon followed, and then I needed warmer gear. Size of a surplus version of Carinthia defcon 4 suprised me as my backpack turned to be too small. Dutch Surplus rucksack was my next purchase, and it now carries my cold wearher gear here in Finland
British Military kit doesn't get the love it deserves but it's never let me down, except the crutch seems in lightweights. My old RAF wooley pully still accompanies me on any cold weather adventure i may go on, poor old thing is like me, old and a bit saggy but still up for it.
Lol im not the only one who sees the bivi bag as a vital last line of defence ive also spent weeks in a wet and cold maggot to know how valuable they are mine goes everywhere even in tents. Thank you for the upload i have same kit as you pretty much even now,if it isnt broke dont fix it lol thank you again.
Military surplus stores have been a god send in buying quality kit cheap. I had a shop bought sleeping bag from Millets (IIRC) that wasn't up to scratch in the cold. I found an M90 ECW Dutch Army sleeping bag for £50 that has been my go to for any camping trips I've had since. The only issue with it is that the pooch decided to christen it, so it needs dry cleaning.
As a Former British Infantry Soldier now 57, I always use there surplus gear.However, I have had to ditch the Bergen’s now due to occasional back pain issues (due to all the tabbing with the Army, with heavy loads ,I now have shortened vertebrae’s) So I now have a Osprey AG back pack, that has a AntiGravity backsystem that lifts the rucksack from your back whilst transferring the load through the large muscle groups in the legs, making the load feel lighter.. i kid you not .. I know a few vets who have bad backs due to carrying huge loads in the past,and always recommend this Osprey back pack. They can be expensive, but I have used mine extensively whilst doing long tabs/wild camping without any back issues 🤗.
Finding surplus gear always like finding buried treasures. Good value on tried & true HD gear. Goretex or MVP rain gear, Rucks of various capacities, mess kits, canteens with cup & stove, helmets & shovels, even gas masks. Online stores or street , you can't go wrong vs high end sports/ camping boutiques.
I prefer Milsurp rucksacks over civilian wimp soyboy packs 9 days a week and twice on Mondays. I still haven't abandoned the ALICE pack, however, I have the British PLCE ruck and love that thing. U.S.M.C. Veteran. I live in the U.S.A. I love those Crusader Canteen kits. I have to get one. Ide use it while camping and during hunting season. Thanks the videos are great.
If your sleep system is like the U.S. one it is awesome, slept in the open on top of the hummer during a rain storm at NTC CA. was nice and dry inside, woke to a thin layer of ice on the outside and was plenty warm. did not want to get out though.. true test of discipline.
What a great video! This brought back memories of my beginning camping days. Got a lot of kit from the surplus store to get me started. I see from the other comments that many others did as well. These days, now that I am all growed up, I still use surplus military gear: the US sleep system, poncho, canteen & cup, German Victorinox knife, even some older ALICE gear. All this gear is tougher than I am. Thanks for this fun trip down Memory Lane.
I have found over the years that the weight of army surplus gear can be a huge plus, in order to compensate for it I have upped my fitness level to make it easier to carry, and also upped my skill level so I carry less of other things and choose as much kit as possible to be multi functional, most army surplus gear will last you many many years and never let you down
Crusader cups. Easy to make a lid. Look at Tomosho titanium round cup lid to copy for handel. I used a wooden template of cup. Old stailess front from a bbq. Cut 7mm bigger tap edge over template. Rounded blunt chisel. Drill 2mm hole on lid chisel bang. Makes a rounded raise. A bit od Stainless wire bent into triangle as per tomosho cup. Will fit under crusader cup and bottle in pouch or in a canvas nato waterbottle holder. Just wet it jam it in it will stretch
Thanks for sharing your wealth of experience with us. I really like your concise, no nonsense style and the obvious fact you're talking about tried and true techniques and equipment as opposed to some others in the genre who endlessly rehash the same old same old. The information you gave me about the sudden drop from beech trees, for example, could literally save my actual life!
Some great kit and certainly better than the 58 pattern kit I used in the mid 80s to mid 90s. The sleeping bag for definite! Great video and thanks for sharing
And for those who may find the 95 PLCE 120 litre Bergen with pockets too big there's the option of the slightly smaller All Arm's Bergen at about 80-90 litres with pockets, same back system, similar price. I slightly modified my AA Bergen by removing one of the grab handles and removing the velcro shoulder harness cover, using that as a waterproof seat pad. Can't go wrong with the Crusader mug 👍🏻
Cheers Mate. Thank you for your videos. I used Mil. Gear for 22 years (USMC and US Army), and I know its quality stuff. when I started my Civvie Bushcraft life, I went with Military surplus gear until I could afford to replace it with Non-Camouflaged stuff! ;-).
I'ts good to see how your site has grown a community. I have left a comment before being the kettle video . That gives context. You're doing good work and reaching people who wouldnt normally ask anyone for any sort of help. AKA Me. Hope your recovery continues and leads you to a better place. My journey has just begun. I'm not exservices but damned similar in context and outlook. well done.
I find the waistpack riding even with my belly button creates tension I can push against. Kind of like a weight belt when you lift weights. It lets your torso take a lot of the weight of the ruck when moving. Bergens and Alice Packs are the best. The MSS patrol and a gortex bivy are the best. During the summer I run the USMC zippered poncho liner. A good bit of kit for winter besides the second MSS bag is the PCU high loft gen IIi layer 7 coat and pants.
Not as easy to get in the UK, but still a great relatively cheap surplus pack, are the US ALICE packs. I love the removable external frame which you can use to carry other loads on your back like a load of firewood.
They are becoming extremely rare and expensive. I sold mine from the 80's a long time ago. I wish I still had it, more for nostalgia because it's not the most comfortable thing despite the many many owners who will say differently. It is a very robust pack though, like all military gear.
Not sure whether anyone else asked that question but I would greatly appreciate good surplus store suggestions for the UK…ideally to a driving distance from London as a visit is always better compared to just website navigation
I have quite a few pieces of military surplus gear. I have the USGI modular sleep system. It's a great system. The whole system is a bit snug on me, because I am a big guy, but it will keep you warm. I divided up the two bags, because the area I live rarely gets down to the teens, degree wise. I also have a poncho liner, and I am pretty certain that I could use it as a sleeping bag liner, for the summer or even the intermediate bag. I also have various surplus rucksacks, and I'm waiting on a Bergen turtle bag aka the Bergen "other," DPM rucksack. The ultralight is well...light but I am pretty sure those ultralight types are replacing their gear every year. I don't make the type of money to afford that. I want gear that's going to stand the test of time.
As an ex Army Cadet from 13 years old until i was 19 then a year in TA until smashing my knees..i started out camping using army kit and continued to.As you say Nick its cheap its strong and it will last longer than most. I have upgraded my pack to a Karrimor Condor 60-100 KS -100 E SA 1. Thanks to your videos iv just dumped the old mess tins from 1984 (i had them from new) to the Crusader Mk2 stove+cup kit.just waiting for it to arrive :-) Thanks for your videos and time and advice Nick. Cheers ;-)
I was in the US Army when we were transitioning from the old WWII style sleeping bags to the modular system. As an infantryman, we rarely took our sleeping bags to the field. And if we did-they stayed behind in the admin area, and, any sleep we got, was usually with nothing, or a poncho and poncho liner. When the new MSS came out, with the goretex shell and the patrol bag-man, life changed. I remember one night, sleeping in the field, it was a freezing rain storm. I crawled into that thing, closed it up-got up the next morning with a coating of ice on the bag. Slept like a baby though! Never bothered me. I now use the MSS bag for motorcycle camping. Easier than a tent!
Yep, the same happened in modern armies the world over , I believe. It certainly was the way things happened in U.K. sleeping bags and bivvies? They were for softy’s. The lack of decent kit, made life quite miserable during ‘exercise season’ in BAOR. (Peace time Germany). I see the kit used now and I’m quite envious. What hasn’t changed in U.K. , is the lack of respect the civilian population has for it’s servicemen. It’s scandalous. They deserve so much more. It’s great to see the US population being respectful of their Armed Forces. Will U.K. ever catch up? I doubt it. Thank you for the vid.
@@jimbojet8728 wow, really? I personally think there needs to be balance. Here in the US, people treat veterans with, what I can best describe as, reverence. Now, I'm not saying there should be some form of respect. But, if you put up a label "veteran", people automatically take you at your word, and will use what you say, or do, as some sort of measuring stick. I don't agree with that. We veterans are simply a cross section of Americans. We're no better, no worse, than anyone else. Have we had some unique experiences? Certainly. But that doesn't necessarily entitle us to some elite, God like status. I know hundreds of us that continue to do good work as a civilian-far more good than they likely did in the military (let's face it-we don't get to do what we want in the military, that's how it works). There's also some that are absolute scum. Just like any other vocation. I think, at least here, many people try to capitalize on their veterans status. I, personally, fine necessarily agree with that. Sadly, our status has become political here too. Many, many times, certain politicians have called us "trained killers", "American Taliban", "domestic terrorists". Sad, but true. They also assume everyone in the military fights in a war. So, everyone is a killer. But even close to true. Anyway, godspeed my friend. I trained with the Brits in the 90s, that was a cool experience :)
@@oldsoldier181 yes I was/am a British Soldier and proud of the fact. I don’t want anything special, other than to be taken care of or perhaps helped is a better term, when my service is no longer needed and I am sick or injured because of my service. Most people in the U.K. simply feel that servicemen volunteered and were well paid. That should be enough. It really is pathetic here, almost the complete opposite of how it is there. Unfortunately the public is now getting what it deserves. Fewer young men and women are joining up, our military numbers are pathetically low. Sometimes I wonder why on Earth the Chinese don’t just walk all over us? We aren’t even part of Europe at the moment? I do understand that would end up a global war, but food for thought hey?
Good luck and stay safe my friend.
@@jimbojet8728 One thing we have here is the VA, which is health care after service. Many of us take advantage of it, and its little or no cost to us. If your issues are service connected, it is free (and, the older you get-like me-the more you realize you REALLY abused your body as a young man!). The VA health care service gets a bad rap here-but, honestly, it has helped thousands of us, myself included. I wont necessarily call it a benefit, as its govt run, and certainly has its issues. But, for those in need, its here. And, as I said, I havent had a bad experience yet. Take care my friend. Today, here in the states, we are celebrating veterans day. Unfortunately, I am on a liquid diet until Saturday, as I have to go to the VA for minor surgery. Of course, lol :)
@@oldsoldier181 one thing we have here is free health care for all, always! Everything health related for everyone is free! From birth to death! Glad you’re taken care of that way though.
Sometimes charity shops have a few ex-military bits in. A couple of years ago, I found a long back DPM Bergan in a charity shop, I asked how much and they said £10, as it was taking up space they needed. I paid my £10 and grabbed the Bergan. Got home, and checked it over, to find the additional Yoke and the 2 side rocket pouches on the inside of the Bergan, right at the bottom. Bonus. Best £10 I have ever spent.
My wife used to sell outdoor clothing and was a certified Gore technical consultant (great discounts at the time). One thing I learned from her was that military, workwear and expedition goretex can be far better than the high street civilian goretex. The high Street products are normally two layers (sometimes called class 2) of goretex membrane, the military kit is normally 3 layers (sometimes called class 3). This means the membrane is harder wearing, needs washing less frequently (breathable for longer) and lastly is waterproof for longer.
If you have a goretex product and it's not what's called a drop liner ( a loose inner membrane like the craghoppers world first jackets were) if you slash water on it and it doesnt bead to the point you can flick it off, it needs washing and reproofing. Follow the instructions on the reproofer carefully, sometimes they advise to tumble dry to activate the finish.
If you find it's not as breathable as expected or when you first bought it, it may just need washing, this can be done with pure soap Crystal's available from the super market.
We normally collect to do a 'gore' wash, hats gloves, the lot and use a combined washing and reproofing product.
@Dan Didnot Lol, if your under that much water it's not going to be waterproof, although it may be flat.... grins
Not really pointless, it lasts longer due to the middle layer being bonded to the inner and outer membrane so there is no friction. Not really sure how altitude would have an affect.
Thanks for the info 👍
Yep I do the same thing.
@Dan Didnot not when your riding your Harley across Dartmoor in sideways November rain its not.
Are you English?
I love it when metal looks scorched and dented 🥰
I kind of have that look too lol after 20 years in.
Oh how I wish that we still had an actual Military Surplus store nearby - we had a great one (for years), now gone and much-missed. There are online options, of course, but there's no substitute (IMO) for eyeballing stuff, hefting it, and trying it on.
sounds like a business opportunity for you
I agree... I'm 56 and remember a few in my neck of the woods - that actually sold real SURPLUS. Now it's basically places that just sell cheap copies of items made in China by ________ ... and the price isn't always cheap. The sites I've found online that DO sell the real deal capitalize on that as well. Perhaps in England where this gentleman is surplus is readily available and affordable. Here in the States, it's a status symbol of sorts... and are charged according for it ! Right now I want a genuine, US GI standard alice clips canteen carrier... $20 used. Those British military Crusader Canteens and cups are highly sought here in the States, even as status symbols... Genuine military, not made in China
@@baronedipiemonte3990 I bought a full suit of that weird, grey digital camo that doesn't seem to blend in anywhere at all from Goodwill for the princely sum of eighteen dollars and I live in the UK lol
Cost sixty dollars to send it home though, with some other choice keepsakes haha
@@baronedipiemonte3990 I also have a brilliant US army canteen pouch in the same camo from a supplier in Germany. Fifteen bucks and use it all the time.
Yep, used to love wandering round the Army & Navy store, and the Famous Army stores in the town centre of a weekend. As a youth the stuff was fascinating, picked up some great bits for my time in the scouts. All sadly gone now
Throw that bag! Show why military gear has a purpose. Love it!!
I bought a Berghaus Cyclops Roc to go on exercise in Denmark back in the 80s. Still using it.
I bought a artic bag -10 centre zip, £45, heavy and large but I only go local in winter, crusader kit is my favourite, but I ditched the water bottle, also have the plastic mug and base for solid fuel tablets, in cavity where bottle was I put a gas canister and burner and my brew kit, never without hot water. Packs into its own case, can't beat it. Cost about £30.
As a section commander I encouraged my guys to ditch mess tins and go with the crusader mug, I did in the end find a black teflon crusader mug. That surplus store musty smell on items I since found out that some of the kit is sprayed with a fungicide prior to storage. I have my summer sleeping bag in the car still, my only regret when leaving was giving in my bivvi bag. When on mechanised exercise I used to fix my bergan on the outside of vehicles and never had a issue with water getting in or dust . Whilst wild camping now I would put a hi vis marker panel on the bergan, not pretty but it will help others find you if you have issues, or others need of you.Great video Nick, I best stop commenting now, as I know it annoys you.
Brilliant move.
I have a five man mess kit for hiking and camping but for lightweight, go cat go. Canteen cups and a canteen cup stove.
I have regular LS1 cups and stoves or an LS1 Arctic canteen cup… my wife even likes them when we day hike. She gets weird when I drink the leftover water that Wigglesworth, our wonder corgi, didn’t finish. But she’ll kiss me again, eventually.
Do the RAF still give their lads Wicker picnic Baskets with porcelain teas sets for venturing outside the Wire.
Still using my 1992 British Army Arctic sleeping bag, zips are bomb-proof and it's still like new!!! If your sleeping bag comes in a compression sack- only fully compress it when you have to, don't store any bag fully compressed as you'll compress the insulation unnecessarily and shorten the life of your bag.
Ours hang in the wardrobe when not in use, with the compression bags attached.
Zoe Hancock -😎👍, that's the perfect scenario for longevity, hang them from that strap on the end. If you can hang them rather than keeping them in the bag you avoid even moderate compression👏👏👏
‘Long Hag!’ A phrase I still use after hearing it first nearly 33 years ago! 👍🏻🤣👍🏻
lol I'm striped serched for my credit card by my husband before im even 5miles near an army surplus store-love em😂
Your my sort of women.
I could never have been a soldier. Certainly, I could never have been a Royal Marine. But when it comes to kit and choice, along with the way we might use it, I seem to have a very similar attitude! My truck and garage are full of surplus items, that over the years I have hand picked for their utility, durability and practical appeal. They outshine and will outlast virtually every other piece of 'bespoke' bushcraft kit I have spent money on over the years and as long as you can cope with a dose of 'Olive Drab Disease' ( I have an incurable version of this condition) then they will see you through.....and your grandchildren!
Hello, took your advice and bought myself a army surplus sleeping bag. I love it! Great buy. 55 pound! Thanks for the advice. Take care James
Not for bushcraft, but I absolutely love my ex-RN Gore-tex waterproofs for riding my motorcycle in bad weather. I tried all sorts of jackets before getting this one and it's awesome. Big enough to pull over my regular bike jacket, unrestrtictive and I can stay dry for hours. Turns out those good folk in the RN know how to keep themselves dry! If I was going to start any serious hill walking again, I'd definitely be packing something similar to bring along.
Miss your videos!! Going back watching one’s I missed! Thank you for your service! Come back soon!
glad I stumbled onto your page. Former USMC Recon (80's vintage). MOST of my bush gear is military surplus. I have been teaching my wife over the last few years and I owned enough gear or was able to scrounge from surplus places to outfit her as well. I don't have a modular sleep system YET, but that is a near-future purchase for the both of us. Currently running the bivy sac with a "Ranger Roll" - poncho (Malaysian in my case) and poncho liner. If needed I have a wool blanket in my ruck for if things get chilly.
You are so right Nick, the availability of a quality kit that has been delivered because of operational needs in the past few years is absolutely astounding. The advancement and availability of equipment that has been developed for remote, hostile terrain at an affordable price has never been on offer before to so many people. If people get away from the big manufacturers (myself included😳) they’d save a fortune!
Great channel pal, hope you and the family are well?!🇬🇧👍🏻
I still have my olive green PLCE 90 Bergen (yes I am that old!), while everyone else went 95 DPM, then MTP, and then to those awful Virtus suitcases, I kept my OG Bergen, I could do that, because as an attached arm nobody cared! It certainly stood out in a Bergen cash, easy to spot, even at night! Anyway, it is still going strong after 22 years of use, though it now has various fluid stains and is ingrained with the dust of at least three continents! For some reason they didn't want it back when I left.........
I still have and use the Crusader/Vulcan that I bought in '87. Heavy even when empty but bombproof.
Easier to find on the carousel at Brize also 😉
When the British Army changed from the green to DPM Bergens my mate , who was in the surplus trade, tried to source the green ones for sale in his shop. He was told the entire EWS (Emergency War Stock) of 250,000 bergens , a quarter of a million, had "disappeared " and no one in the MOD could find/locate them ! Often wonder where they went !
@@clivedunning4317 Sorry, I can't account for the other 249,999, but I'm still in touch with my old QM from those days, I'll ask him......he does have suspiciously large garage!!!!
@@Revup1 Great reply , laughed my socks off !
Glad I found this channel - very well put together. Just a note on the Crusader Mug type gear - I was issued with a very similar US Army Canteen system back in the late 70’s. Nearly 50 years later, and after an initial 5 years of service with me in the Australian Army Reserve, it is still part of my essential camping system. I’ve made hot tea and coffee in it, drank out of it, cooked and eaten out of it, used it for shaving and it’s even worked as a “bush-shower”. Awesome bit of kit. Cheers from Oz 🇦🇺
Great Video , I love trail snobs, 3,000$ of gear and they still gripe cause it's cold/wet. You see them and everything they have is CLEAN, And they Monkey around with the gear to get it JUST right, I like the down and dirty, fire,eat,sleep and repeat. Great Vid, Yes I too sleep with a bivi in the hammock and tarp for the same reason. Can you do a vid on BUG's control, On the person and around camp some areas are just crappy for bugs and make for a nasty night in the woods.
Absolutely love my modular sleeping bag. Lived in it last winter 😂
Oh yeah I Love army surplus stuff! Sleeping bags, packs, mugs and canteens. Can be a bit bulky but great quality overall.
Very big fan of the Military Surplus kit.
I bought that sleeping bag for $25 earlier this year and it was probably the best value for money I ever got out of a piece of kit. The bag is light and packs down small with a good compression bag. Yet on a night when the temperature unexpectedly dropped down near freezing, I was warm and cozy. Two great features not mentioned are an integrated mosquito net and the fact that you can zip it all the way open so it lies flat, allowing you to use it like a blanket or comforter.
I’ve still got my U.S. Army MSS sleep system that I was issued. The day I cleared I told her to go ahead and charge me for it and the 100% wool sweater because they would not be getting that back. I use the green patrol bag during the Summer and I use the rest accordingly to how cold it is during the winter. I also use my poncho liner and wool blanket in certain scenarios as well. I feel blessed to still have most of my military gear. I use it all the time.
Been using Military gear for fifty years now...tough as old boots...that Bergen says it all!...cheers from Montana!...woods
Mil surp has been my go-to for “bombproof” effective gear for relatively cheap. Not just U.S. gear (im a yank) either. When i retired, i reported having “lost” my rucksack and was happy to pay the cost. And i just ordered the crusader 2 set for my solo trips. Milsurp is so worth it
Last year when Covid struck, my nephew ordered a Polish ex Warsaw Pact NCB full face hood with a water bottle sticking out the side. No kidding, he was going to wear it shopping in the supermarket. No blue face nappy for him.
I always carried two 58 pattern water bottles, even in the Canadian forces. One had the bog standard black 58 plastic mug and the other one had a metal mug of some description over the decades.
I'm a million miles away on the other side of the pond But it's the same here army surplus is the way to go. Thanks for all you do and everything you've done keep the videos coming friend!
The smell of WW2! That sounds like a rare find that I would enjoy.
Agree - surplus gear is excellent for primitive camping, unless going for very lightweight mountaineering or long range hiking stuff.
Can't beat military grade gear. 👍👍👍👍👍
Only just found your channel and am I glad I did. Can’t stop watching.
Great video. Some of my personal favourite bits of kit. Regards JB.
Nick, thanks a lot for this video. I'm just getting into this stuff myself and your advice prompted me to go to my local military surplus shop. Just picked up a brand new un-used woodland DPM long back Bergen for just £45. Excellent value, as you say not the lightest piece of kit but I wasn't going to get anything lighter at this price point. Highly recommend anyone else just starting out to check out your local military surplus store.
Loads on marketplace, too! 😉
Seeing you throw the bag around so casually got a giggle out of me
Cannot beat ex army equipment when on a budget good value. Nice one.
I remember when the first military gear came out with those plastic buckles, back in the '70s. My first thought was that the gov't was going cheap. It's quite gratifying to see that they really are that durable!
One thing new campers need to understand right off is that temperature ratings for sleeping gear is relative (and often optimistic). The military is more concerned with a soldier's effectiveness, not necessarily comfort. ALSO, each individual will perceive 'comfort' literally.
Ah, the good old canteen cup! One thing the modern hydration systems cannot replace. 😉
Thanks for a very enjoyable video!
When we transitioned from ‘58 to PLCE we were initially excited because of the material it was made from - i.e. it wasn’t going to shrink as soon as it got wet.
Unfortunately the early kit with the bergan and rocket packs wasn’t much use… it didn’t ‘mould’ like the ‘58 kit did and ‘making it fit’ was a real challenge.
Having said that the bergan, although a super cheap version of the Berghaus Crusader, was a massive boon over the crap large pack which wasn’t too much larger than a pillowcase!!
Years later it seems that the kinks have been ironed out, somewhat.
This channel - and Nicks natural delivery will never get old… it’s absolutely riveting viewing. 👍🏻
One of the best sleeping bags i have ever owned was a "green maggot" also known as a 58 Pattern sleeping bag the one with the rubberized bottom and the rain poncho that snapped into it...would love to own one again mine was stolen about 20 years ago...best bit of kit
I have to be honest, I've stopped using most of my military surplus, yomping around Dartmoor (as you'll be well aware) is a ball-ache with wet, heavy gear. That said the 2 items I'd never ditch are the waterproof Bergen liner bag and my 1982 issue bivi bag...that thing is bombproof and at almost 40 years old, never failed me.
The camping gear looks so reliable in the woods.😀👍👍
I have a crusader and a 58 pattern bottle. However, gone are the days of having your tea in your porridge, bacon, eggs and beans. So now I use an osprey mug, for its intended purpose. Handily, sitting on top of the bottle.
A thing i want to mention. I see a lot of people doing hiking and camping "bushcraftstyle" with a lot of Camo-stuff. Camo backpack, camo trousers, camo hat. If you are hiking I advise you to wear bright and fairly good visible clothings. You are usualy not hiding from other people and if you get lost or fall down somewhere and need help, they can't spot you when you are in full military gear!
Militarymart in the UK. Awesome kit from UK/Europe. Great prices, good guys.
For this gear I decided to spend for robustness, quality and lightweight. I went with the Karrimor SF 45 w/ rocket pouches, a S2S thermo liner (summer bag + winter liner), a -12 UGQ quilt w/ trimmings on a Thermarest Xtherm pad inside the Goretex bivy from the US MSS and the Pathfinder cookset plus.
Great items there . Robust sturdy functional kit . Thanks
I still use some of my 1950s-70s gear. Web &canvas have their advantages. The 1980s issue up more prevalent now to find. But are more noisier .
Army surplus stores are the best shop stores!
I learned something new today. Thank you.
Mr. Cross
Detroit, Michigan / U.S.A.
Brilliant way to get started I love this kit it never lets you down nice and simply 👍
Excellent advice. Ruggedness, durability, absolutely bomb-proof bits of kit that will get you through no matter what. Crack on!!
Like your straightforward approach and how you keep on topic!
Another great vid can’t stress how much ur enthusiasm shines through great clear and concise info as always thank you 🙏
Final ex ... i love it 😂 so many awesome memories including shoulders popping out due to the weight
Great tips. Surplus gear is super good stuff to get !
I just got myself a 'new' windproof smock and pair of trousers this week for under £30, you can't go wrong at that price!
My favourite purchase from army surplus is definitely the Arctic sleeping bag - the extra weight is "character-building" but can easily be strapped to a bicycle when you're sick of building your character 😂
Yep I got an mtp windproof smock- I dyed it black- perfect fir outside usage! 👍
Have both woodland and desert DPM smocks, no MTP yet, made well, holds up to use, stands out from the Herd of fasionistas' at 1/2 or better , the $$.
i managed to get one of those too-weight heavy but soo warm
Great video, always love seeing military surplus stuff! I've actually been eyeing a US GI modular sleep system on Ebay for a while which should range from 50 to -50 degrees fahrenheit (10 to -45 degrees C). Might pull the trigger after this vid, those Gore-Tex bivy bags seem to be loved by everyone, haha! We get fairly cold winter nights here in the Baltic Ocean but rarely a lot of snow so should work amazingly.
If you don't pull the trigger on ebay then hit me up. I've got a spare that I'd let go. 4 piece set with 9 buckle compression sack and woodland bivy. Tags are still minty. I can't tell that it was ever even slept in. No evidence of any kind of body odor. I'd do $250 + plus shipping through paypal.
I've got no problems sending pics or a video either. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the one you get. I'm still waiting for some real cold weather to test out the black bag.
I have told many people over the years if you think British Army surplus gear is too heavy.......................get fitter. I've still got kit from my time in the 80's. Still going strong, although i'll admit not used on a daily basis anymore.
yep load on hips not upper back. sure get a down bag great until it get wet...I have loved WIGGYS bags
I was fortunate, after 20 years as a Paratrooper and several deployments I had amassed a lot of extra gear. The Army issues you so much prior to deployment they never take back. I have an extra Large Alice Pack, E-tool, mess kit, LCE, body armor, canteens, canteen cups, canteen pouches. It is ridiculous. I rarely need to buy anything for going to the woods. My German wife gets a bit freaked out she says it looks crazy, I have tried to explain this equipment is better than most of the stuff you would pay several hundred dollars for.
You don’t have to go stupid with money even for a civvy sleeping bag. I bought a cheap 4 season bag from go outdoors for around £75 for a trip to Peru. At 5000m I was waking up to take my clothes off as I was so hot, others in the group with crap 2 season bags were having to wear every item of clothing they had with them to try to stay warm.
Another vote for the 58 mug. I've used mine for everything from cooking to digging holes.
I have even drunk from it. Surprised you didn't mention taping the rim
@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 not always an option for me 👍
I used to tape mine as the plastic ‘rim’ that it came with often mysteriously disappeared! 🤣
I have always been a hard user of army surplus ever since I learned how to use it in the army. My motto is, if it's good enough for the army, it's even better for me. I'm not going to use it half as rough. I've even vot some kit that must be over 20 years old.
Summer bag of a military sleeping bag system was my first real surplus camping gear. Canteens and mesh kits soon followed, and then I needed warmer gear. Size of a surplus version of Carinthia defcon 4 suprised me as my backpack turned to be too small. Dutch
Surplus rucksack was my next purchase, and it now carries my cold wearher gear here in Finland
British Military kit doesn't get the love it deserves but it's never let me down, except the crutch seems in lightweights. My old RAF wooley pully still accompanies me on any cold weather adventure i may go on, poor old thing is like me, old and a bit saggy but still up for it.
Lol im not the only one who sees the bivi bag as a vital last line of defence ive also spent weeks in a wet and cold maggot to know how valuable they are mine goes everywhere even in tents. Thank you for the upload i have same kit as you pretty much even now,if it isnt broke dont fix it lol thank you again.
Military surplus stores have been a god send in buying quality kit cheap. I had a shop bought sleeping bag from Millets (IIRC) that wasn't up to scratch in the cold. I found an M90 ECW Dutch Army sleeping bag for £50 that has been my go to for any camping trips I've had since. The only issue with it is that the pooch decided to christen it, so it needs dry cleaning.
As a Former British Infantry Soldier now 57, I always use there surplus gear.However, I have had to ditch the Bergen’s now due to occasional back pain issues (due to all the tabbing with the Army, with heavy loads ,I now have shortened vertebrae’s) So I now have a Osprey AG back pack, that has a AntiGravity backsystem that lifts the rucksack from your back whilst transferring the load through the large muscle groups in the legs, making the load feel lighter.. i kid you not .. I know a few vets who have bad backs due to carrying huge loads in the past,and always recommend this Osprey back pack. They can be expensive, but I have used mine extensively whilst doing long tabs/wild camping without any back issues 🤗.
Finding surplus gear always like finding buried treasures. Good value on tried & true HD gear. Goretex or MVP rain gear, Rucks of various capacities, mess kits, canteens with cup & stove, helmets & shovels, even gas masks. Online stores or street , you can't go wrong vs high end sports/ camping boutiques.
Yea, I really like your videos buddy! They are well put together and u make it easy to understand all the information you share. Thanx bro 👍
Greetings from across the pond !
Very helpful video!
My old bergen seems to weigh more as I get older. That's before I start loading everything in it I wonder how I carried it all those years ago!
I prefer Milsurp rucksacks over civilian wimp soyboy packs 9 days a week and twice on Mondays. I still haven't abandoned the ALICE pack, however, I have the British PLCE ruck and love that thing. U.S.M.C. Veteran. I live in the U.S.A. I love those Crusader Canteen kits. I have to get one. Ide use it while camping and during hunting season. Thanks the videos are great.
Excellent video thanks.
I love my 1942 L handle canteen cup
If your sleep system is like the U.S. one it is awesome, slept in the open on top of the hummer during a rain storm at NTC CA. was nice and dry inside, woke to a thin layer of ice on the outside and was plenty warm. did not want to get out though.. true test of discipline.
Holy crap, it rained at NTC??? When? One for the history books LOL. Surprised the rain didn't turn into steam first!
@@asmith7876 doesn't happen often, was at dusk and the winter no risk of evaporation was cold as heck at night
@@gordoncody NTC and 29 Palms, miserable pretty much year ‘round!
What a great video! This brought back memories of my beginning camping days. Got a lot of kit from the surplus store to get me started. I see from the other comments that many others did as well. These days, now that I am all growed up, I still use surplus military gear: the US sleep system, poncho, canteen & cup, German Victorinox knife, even some older ALICE gear. All this gear is tougher than I am. Thanks for this fun trip down Memory Lane.
Brilliant advice, thank you 👍👊
I have found over the years that the weight of army surplus gear can be a huge plus, in order to compensate for it I have upped my fitness level to make it easier to carry, and also upped my skill level so I carry less of other things and choose as much kit as possible to be multi functional, most army surplus gear will last you many many years and never let you down
Crusader cups. Easy to make a lid. Look at Tomosho titanium round cup lid to copy for handel. I used a wooden template of cup. Old stailess front from a bbq. Cut 7mm bigger tap edge over template. Rounded blunt chisel. Drill 2mm hole on lid chisel bang. Makes a rounded raise. A bit od Stainless wire bent into triangle as per tomosho cup. Will fit under crusader cup and bottle in pouch or in a canvas nato waterbottle holder. Just wet it jam it in it will stretch
Good Surplus shop in Morecambe,Lancs.Pouchs,boots, clothing.
Thanks for sharing your wealth of experience with us. I really like your concise, no nonsense style and the obvious fact you're talking about tried and true techniques and equipment as opposed to some others in the genre who endlessly rehash the same old same old. The information you gave me about the sudden drop from beech trees, for example, could literally save my actual life!
Some great kit and certainly better than the 58 pattern kit I used in the mid 80s to mid 90s. The sleeping bag for definite! Great video and thanks for sharing
And for those who may find the 95 PLCE 120 litre Bergen with pockets too big there's the option of the slightly smaller All Arm's Bergen at about 80-90 litres with pockets, same back system, similar price. I slightly modified my AA Bergen by removing one of the grab handles and removing the velcro shoulder harness cover, using that as a waterproof seat pad. Can't go wrong with the Crusader mug 👍🏻
That would make a bomb proof kit! Thanks for sharing my friend 🤠
Cheers Mate. Thank you for your videos. I used Mil. Gear for 22 years (USMC and US Army), and I know its quality stuff. when I started my Civvie Bushcraft life, I went with Military surplus gear until I could afford to replace it with Non-Camouflaged stuff! ;-).
I'ts good to see how your site has grown a community.
I have left a comment before being the kettle video . That gives context.
You're doing good work and reaching people who wouldnt normally ask anyone for any sort of help.
AKA Me.
Hope your recovery continues and leads you to a better place.
My journey has just begun.
I'm not exservices but damned similar in context and outlook.
well done.
Great video Nick! Thanks for sharing. I love old military surplus gear.
I find the waistpack riding even with my belly button creates tension I can push against. Kind of like a weight belt when you lift weights. It lets your torso take a lot of the weight of the ruck when moving. Bergens and Alice Packs are the best. The MSS patrol and a gortex bivy are the best. During the summer I run the USMC zippered poncho liner. A good bit of kit for winter besides the second MSS bag is the PCU high loft gen IIi layer 7 coat and pants.
Another great video, mate. That Bergen pack is a winner.
Not as easy to get in the UK, but still a great relatively cheap surplus pack, are the US ALICE packs. I love the removable external frame which you can use to carry other loads on your back like a load of firewood.
They are becoming extremely rare and expensive. I sold mine from the 80's a long time ago. I wish I still had it, more for nostalgia because it's not the most comfortable thing despite the many many owners who will say differently. It is a very robust pack though, like all military gear.
All my camping gear is army surplus now, a mixture mostly swedish. mainly because its cheap and good quality, so worth the weight.
Not sure whether anyone else asked that question but I would greatly appreciate good surplus store suggestions for the UK…ideally to a driving distance from London as a visit is always better compared to just website navigation
Is Silvermans still in business??? 🤔
Thank you Nick! I want a Bergen! Many greerings from the vacation (Creti)
Ann Arbor, Michigan. Great Vid. Cheers 🍻
I have quite a few pieces of military surplus gear. I have the USGI modular sleep system. It's a great system. The whole system is a bit snug on me, because I am a big guy, but it will keep you warm. I divided up the two bags, because the area I live rarely gets down to the teens, degree wise. I also have a poncho liner, and I am pretty certain that I could use it as a sleeping bag liner, for the summer or even the intermediate bag.
I also have various surplus rucksacks, and I'm waiting on a Bergen turtle bag aka the Bergen "other," DPM rucksack. The ultralight is well...light but I am pretty sure those ultralight types are replacing their gear every year. I don't make the type of money to afford that. I want gear that's going to stand the test of time.
As an ex Army Cadet from 13 years old until i was 19 then a year in TA until smashing my knees..i started out camping using army kit and continued to.As you say Nick its cheap its strong and it will last longer than most.
I have upgraded my pack to a Karrimor Condor 60-100 KS -100 E SA 1.
Thanks to your videos iv just dumped the old mess tins from 1984 (i had them from new) to the Crusader Mk2 stove+cup kit.just waiting for it to arrive :-)
Thanks for your videos and time and advice Nick.
Cheers ;-)