Thread: Military Surplus Gear

Originally Posted by Beavis

One piece of military surplus gear I can recommend without hesitation are the Austrian Soft Shell Sympatex jackets. Honestly, it's the best general purpose jacket I've ever bought. The bonus is they don't have a "military" look to them much either if that matters to you, but it means you can wear them out and about to a Cafe or whatever without looking like a clown. I pretty much live in mine in winter.

The Czech M85 parkas are also excellent in cold weather. They are no good for hunting (way to heavy, won't pack down, not waterproof) but again are excellent just for general wear out and about, very warm.

I just got a 95 Pattern British Windproof Smock to try out. Took it out in the rain for half an hour today, the water repellant treatment works really well, pretty impressive for a cotton smock that isn't seam sealed or anything.

I'm of the opinion that most military surplus stuff is crap and ironically not the well suited to out door activity. But there are some gems out there. Also the modern gear is light years ahead of crap from the cold war.

Where and how much was the Austrian one?

https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/pr...928499dc&_ss=r

I prefer the Sympatex. It feels warmer than the Gortex ones.

I have a German Army flecktarn camo rain jacket. Thought it was a Goretex model, could be sympatex - haven't checked. Good jacket. $50 I think I paid? off the other forum. Packs down into it's hood, so not overly bulky or inflexible. Length seems good to me for walking, but not really enough to keep your arse dry when glassing.

As is common with military issue jackets, the hood was huge - to accommodate a helmet. I tried to work with that, but in the end sent it to Twinneedle because it annoyed me. They did a really tidy job to reduce the size and re-seam sealed it. Discovered with later reading I probably could have done it myself, but that's okay.

I also have a Stoney Creek stowit, also good, reasonably lightweight, but you don't want to sweat in it, not breathable at all. More just to chuck on if it unexpectedly pisses down, real shell, but seems a bit colder than the German jacket. not quite long enough maybe?

For the sleeping bag, just buy something good. and warm. and light. which gets you into higher priced territory, but I suggest buy once, cry once. second thoughts maybe buy twice, cold weather model, and something more suitable for autumn and spring.

Surplus gear is pretty average in my book.

You'd be much better off waiting for the inevitable sale at Macpac, and buying 1-year old technology at low prices compared to 30 year old technology at inflated "cool factor" prices.

For instance, you could by the latest Radix dehy meals for a 24 hour period at less than $50, and it will weight about half of that rat pack... Same will apply to packs, sleeping bags etc.

Last note, for clothing, rather by multiple layers of thin, lightweight clothing in merino or polypropylene than massive bulky military style jackets.

my good down bag was less tha $400 on sale at macpac.....katmando had same 40% sale on same day...went in knowing I could get discount being a SAR member and didnt use it as sale price was better than expected anyway.....summer hunting,either use the super scrawny old bag you had previously or open zip on good bag and sleep in the liner,it gets cold at 3am and you just zip back up again.

I haven’t read the full thread but I would far sooner (and do) use the purpose designed technical hunting gear on the market over military surplus gear. It is so much better. Special forces get the better technical gear but your regular force militaries get whatever does the job and fits the budget.

Originally Posted by stagstalker

I haven’t read the full thread but I would far sooner (and do) use the purpose designed technical hunting gear on the market over military surplus gear. It is so much better. Special forces get the better technical gear but your regular force militaries get whatever does the job and fits the budget.

Thats right, it does the job and at a reasonable cost but is not the lightest. Military bivvy bag and heavy goretex wet weathers were particularily good.

.e.

im going to go against the flow here and state Iuse a lot of mil surplus ,including stuff from my own TF days and it serves me very well .Alright given im a duckshooter primarily ,that may influence my choices but wading about inlake ellesmere and trudging around its swampy shitty smelly perimeters aint exactly dancing across a bowling green.
Ive supplemented this with random purchases of sporting clothing ,brands again often derided on here and i can assure you ive found it very able in coping with some of the almost blizzard conditions Ive seen out there.Its an individuals choice at the end of the day.