Military Surplus?

[rayne]

We have a military surplus store in the area and my boys used to love to go in there and just look around when they were young. The "stuff" boy dreams are made of. I think they even purchased some things like canteens and belts and such.

[Grandpa]

When coalition forces went into Afghanistan, they found a lot of their equipment was woefully inadequate for the high altitude and cold temps found in the Hindu Kush. Most notably lacking was the cold weather clothing issued to our troops. This prompted the commissioning of a panel to investigate better options. Led by a Sgt Major who was also a recreational backpacker in his other life, this panel came up with a 5 layer system, basically chosen from off the shelves at REI.

Backpacker Mag had a reporter along when this new system was tried out. It was a very informative article about the benefits of recreational gear compared to standard Military issue. A group of Navy Seals were dumped naked into the frigid waters off Kodiak Island for a swim to shore. On the beach were their new layers of clothing. The comments from the Seals about how fast they recovered their body temps made a believer out of me regarding good moisture wicking baselayers and merino wool layering after that.

[Barney]

I would like to see some of that gear appear in the surplus stores but every time something new arrives other new technology has been already developed that is still not available to the common Joe.

[Theosus]

I have an awesome car camping mummy bag. It's rated 20 degrees but I've slept in it down to 30, sweltering inside that darn thing in only my underwear. The cloth is some type of canvas/cotton stuff that sleeps nice without being clammy and slippery like nylon.
But it's easily 5-8 pounds and huge. Probably over 20 liters alone.

I have a semi-rigid green thick walled one liter canteen I bought as surplus in the early 80s which is good on short day hikes.

I had a number of camo coats when I was a kid, usually for hunting more than camping. I bought several pair of those cheap Vietnam era jump boots around the same time. After the third pair I bought better boots. The soles kept coming loose.

Surplus is good stuff for some things...

[IndianaHiker]

Originally Posted by Barney

I would like to see some of that gear appear in the surplus stores but every time something new arrives other new technology has been already developed that is still not available to the common Joe.

It is in stores the article stated that it was purchased at REI. The armed services are ahead in some things. However things like sleeping bags, clothing materials, they are very much behind your typical recreational backpacker.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by IndianaHiker

It is in stores the article stated that it was purchased at REI. The armed services are ahead in some things. However things like sleeping bags, clothing materials, they are very much behind your typical recreational backpacker.

Hi...


Sometimes, that's the unfortunate truth, even though the Military claims to do a lot of research re: new clothing, etc.

[TroyS]

I gotta admit that I haven't gone to visit those stores since we got our Motorhome, but I'll definitely be passing by there in a few weeks to get some stuff for this tent camping trip I'll be having with my boys. I'm just really hoping that I'm disciplined enough not to max out my credit card there.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by TroyS

I gotta admit that I haven't gone to visit those stores since we got our Motorhome, but I'll definitely be passing by there in a few weeks to get some stuff for this tent camping trip I'll be having with my boys. I'm just really hoping that I'm disciplined enough not to max out my credit card there.

Hi...


Never happen...!!

[oldsarge]

Still love the issue jungle boot!

[dinosaur]

Originally Posted by oldsarge

Still love the issue jungle boot!

I like my Mickey's in the Winter too.