View Full Version : Non expensive kit
Chris asked me to talk about non expensive kit and perhaps show a photo or two, so here is a picture from Tuesday, me the my (almost) one year old grandson
My kit
Thinsulate hat £1.99
Padded shirt £5.99
Second layer an 80/20 wool poly mix top, bit like a norgie £3.99
Base layer 'Long John' Top, £2.99 (with bottoms)
Trousers M65 poly cotton £12.50
Gloves (in pocket), Thinsulate type £2.99
Boots, US Army leather/Gortex/gambrille lined £35
Socks British Army wool Arctic issue 50p
My little weather station said it was -5c but I was toasty warm without a jacket, total cost
£65 head to toe, or £30 if you ignore the boots
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/lottyandjacob/DSCF3872640x480.jpg
traderran
06-02-2009, 05:17
Good starter kit there.
Good starter kit there.
Thats the idea, give new people some idea's on starter kit, they can spend more at a later time if needed. Don't see the point is spending £80/$120 on a shirt you only use two nights a year. I've got some wool Pendleton shirts I got from the states, only about ten dollars each plus postage so around twenty dollars all in, they are very good.
helixpteron
06-02-2009, 06:14
Chris asked me to talk about non expensive kit and perhaps show a photo or two, so here is a picture from Tuesday, me the my (almost) one year old grandson
My kit
Thinsulate hat £1.99
Padded shirt £5.99
Second layer an 80/20 wool poly mix top, bit like a norgie £3.99
Base layer 'Long John' Top, £2.99 (with bottoms)
Trousers M65 poly cotton £12.50
Gloves (in pocket), Thinsulate type £2.99
Boots, US Army leather/Gortex/gambrille lined £35
Socks British Army wool Arctic issue 50p
My little weather station said it was -5c but I was toasty warm without a jacket, total cost
£65 head to toe, or £30 if you ignore the boots
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/lottyandjacob/DSCF3872640x480.jpg
+ Bonny little lad = Priceless! (o:
John Fenna
06-02-2009, 07:58
I have some "Blue Castle" Poly cotton Combats that cost £8.
Made as workwear they are tough and strong (though at that price I would expect some to have quality control issues) but the puller on the fly broke. This was simply replaced with cord...
The size on the label was not too accurate (I had to but a size larger than normal) but the fit was great.
These trousers saw me though jungle expeds and are still in regular use.
You do not need to spend a fortune on kit but do check out the quality of less expensive kit as it is not always the best made in the world (hence the price I guess) and quality can vary from garment to garment.
At the risk of stating the obvious, charity shops and army surplus are both good sources of wool sweaters, fleeces, etc. Any chain store thermal underwear will keep you warm, and some of it is cheap.
When I started hill walking I was told "yer dads old string vest is a good base layer"..........
and it was years before I could afford a fibre pile (pre fleece days) so I just wore more sweaters. It works, and does not cost much.
Bigbear
John Fenna
06-02-2009, 08:07
Charity shops rock!
I just bought myself a double size Merino wool blanket for £2.00 (it was priced at £1.49 but I felt that was too cheap...)
OK it was Dayglo orange, but £6 worth of Dylon has toned it down to a rich golden brown :D
I think it may end up as a woolen shirt or two....
AMerino wool shirt for £6 and a few hours work/fun with a sewing machine - bargain!
The size on the label was not too accurate (I had to but a size larger than normal) but the fit was great.
Yeah, I tell myself that as well. ;)
John Fenna
06-02-2009, 08:33
Yeah, I tell myself that as well. ;)
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :o
I have some "Swannie type" heavy shirts and a poncho made from charity shop blankets.
You certainly don't have to spend a fortune on kit to get out there.
By the way, they were made with a hand cranked sewing machine that cost me about a fiver.
You cant beat ex MOD cotton trousers, i get some of my of my kit FOC from my brother who is in the service but have bought them my self for around £5.
I have a friend who has gotten me allsorts of posh gear from a snowboardy type place and its either too heavy and restrictive or stays wet for ever. My thermals were from matalan and cost £9 for top and bottoms, socks are MOD, hat and gloves like yours are thinsulate ones from my local news agents ?? £4 all in. Snugpack softie was also issue which was a little more at £25 second hand but worth it.
Melonfish
06-02-2009, 09:56
yeah very nice stuff, but where did you get it all from?! hehe
pete
bothyman
06-02-2009, 10:52
At last a thread I can relate to.
All my stuff is cheap usually bought in sales or off ebay.
I am surprised how much some of the army stuff has gone up to.
I look everywhere, eBay, Lidl, surplus stores, charity shops etc. The padded shirt was from Aldi a couple of weeks ago
calibanzwei
06-02-2009, 11:09
Good kit at good prices; whatever and however I can get it. Member sales on here is great! (cheers to Ash and Giles so far)
What a great idea for a thread! I'll weigh in with a couple of things:
British Army can openers. 99p will get you two. Stick one on your key ring. Simple, nothing to go wrong and effective - I've had mine over 20 years now.
Military surplus lightweight trousers (the pale green ones with one map pocket on the thigh). Cheap as chips from surplus stores and they are great 3 season trousers in that whilst they'll get wet - they dry in no time.
Warthog's Crusader Cup lid. I think I paid a fiver for it and it doubles the efficiency of the cup when boiling water.
Trench Lighter as per the following link.
http://www.image2000plus.com/store02/corporate/search.asp?s=1&link=product&tax=1&source=froogle&c=202139
This is a recent find. Less than £6 gets you a solid brass lighter which is just as effective as a Zippo and the fuel compartment is O ring sealed. It uses less fuel than a standard Zippo and lasts twice as long between fills.
Sealed with an 'O' ring to stop evaporation
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3734
You can get those aluminium Sigg-like drink bottles in Poundland (for...er...a pound each). Each one holds about a pint/500ml.
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
I guess after 10 years of playin in the woods im still startin then, im happy with that :D
I love those trench lighters, are they clean to use i.e. dont leak fuel etc ?
Are they also easy to use? by this i mean not too fiddly for every day use?
Sorry for hijacking thread :o
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
Yes, I've noticed that, and its a great misconception. I admit I do have alot of gucci kit, but I've either got it for free (internal review purposes) or second hand trade.... and most of it I dont even use. Anything I actualy have to spend money on I go for the pound shop/charity shop/ ebay /bargin bins etc option.
:)
Ed
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
But if you say cheap kit people don't join in the thread:rolleyes: Starter kit sounds nicer;)
Its also needed advise for our new (and older) campers. I'm all for saving a few bob where I can:D
TallMikeM
06-02-2009, 17:00
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
Yeah, I saw that as well. For the last year I've spent pretty much everyday working outdoors (well, up until 3 months ago when I had to go down to 1 day a week cos of college) in all weathers in gear that either came from charity shops or is regarded as starter gear. Not once have I felt cold or uncomfortable, it's not how much you spend but how wisely you buy that counts.
I have used loads of kit over the years and a lot of it is personal taste ,
Being a fat knacker I run hot so loads of thin layers work best for me you cant beat a long sleve T shirt , cheap flecce , and a windproof jacket combo .
Norwegian shirts dont work well in wet conditions but well in cold dry .
Twodogs
I wonder if there is a line where one side there is cheap kit that is adequate and on the other there is cheap kit thats rubbish?
This forum is an ideal resource for those just starting out,you can ask a question about a piece of kit and get some sensible answers.On the flip side you can also be told that a certain piece of kit is the only one that will do the job and anything else is rubbish.It must be a bit daunting for a new starter to differentiate which is which.
I have found that of every piece of kit available world wide there is a member here who has had experience of it and is willing to pass on that experience,but you still have to decide who is biased for or against a certain item eg, gerber shovels in a recent thread.
some of my kit is gucci and some is home made,it all gets treated with the same respect and gets the same use.
When I can afford it I will buy the very best kit I can afford,but only if it does what I want how I want.
My kit is bought to be used not admired(well admired aswell as used).One thing that makes me smile is when it starts to rain how many people rush to get their kit into the dry,if you buy outdoor gear surely a bit of rain won't hurt it.I don't decry people who buy the best of everything ,each to his own,but I do get a bit annoyed when someone asks about what kit they should get and are then told that they MUST have this or that kit and nothing else will do.
As I say each to his own but let new starters have a fair and unbiased reply,by all means if you are impressed with a bit of kit then tell everyone,but don't just run down everything else.Remember some people can't afford some of the prices that are bandied about these days.
TallMikeM
06-02-2009, 17:14
I would say that it's a case of knowing what to spend money on. For example, I have to wear steelie boots for work, and the ones bought for me were cheapo ones. They aren't that water resistent, nor are they warm. However, I wear good socks (generally hirsch socks), so that counteracts the cheap boots. Likewise, I only wear cheapo, charity shop fleeces, but underneath I wear good quality merino baselayers. My wetproof is either a cheap synthetic one or a cheap wax cotton, both do the job adequately, but both are essentially disposable if they get trashed (which happens a lot when your scrub bashing etc).
John Fenna
06-02-2009, 17:23
Given my method of earning a crust, I will wear the best gear that (oher peoples) money can buy.
If I have to part with money for any gear I will look for bargains every time - darn it - I am half Scots and have lived near Cardigan for 30 years, so I am programmed/hard wired for ecconomy!:D
Add to that the fact I have lived under or just above the (UK) "poverty line" for 30 years - I just aint got money to burn!
I have however decided to try and wear more "natural fibres" as they seem to suit my lifestyle better - and they then to come more expensive and harder to find (in some respects) than synthetics!:(
Rik, I had no idea you looked so young. And who's the old geezer holding you up?
:P
TallMikeM
06-02-2009, 17:27
I actually have a wardrobe full (well, not full but...) of woolen jumpers of various weights bought from charity shops. Have never paid more than a fiver for any one of them. The only problem with wool is getting it washed, it takes for ever to dry out. And I seem to spend my entire working time getting covered in filth, mud, chainsaw chippings or deer blood. However, if I'm confident I won't get covered head to toe in filth then wool beats fleece hands down everytime.
tommy the cat
06-02-2009, 17:46
Yep I like to have a look for cheaper kit. Got my motorbike gear from Aldi as well as merino bottoms for $15 which is cheap for merino.
Got a poundland bottle cheap carrabiner.... oh and those italian wool tops for Endicotts $7.99 or something I wear mine loads.
D
Yes wool can be a bit of a pain too wash but hey you dont have to wash it as much!!
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
Yes there is a kind of snobbery that we are all a little prone to I guess.
I've got some expensive kit but also plenty of cheap stuff.
What it comes down to is value for me. If it's something I'm going to use a lot and quality really does matter, I save up and buy the best I can afford, same with my camera gear as well. If something lasts five times as long as something that's half the price then that's good value in my book.
However, some of the best gear I have has been cobbled together, home made, scrounged and recycled.
In the end we will all find the kit that suits our way of doing things. The trick is not to waste money doing it and asking around on forums like this and BCL are a good way to make sure you don't make too many mistakes.
Good thread Richard, it`s been a long time coming :)
Don`t forget the £8 trousers in Asda, 100% cotton
Wilderbeast
06-02-2009, 19:41
Yes there is a kind of snobbery that we are all a little prone to I guess.
I've got some expensive kit but also plenty of cheap stuff.
What it comes down to is value for me. If it's something I'm going to use a lot and quality really does matter, I save up and buy the best I can afford, same with my camera gear as well. If something lasts five times as long as something that's half the price then that's good value in my book.
However, some of the best gear I have has been cobbled together, home made, scrounged and recycled.
In the end we will all find the kit that suits our way of doing things. The trick is not to waste money doing it and asking around on forums like this and BCL are a good way to make sure you don't make too many mistakes.
totally agree,
however I think the reason cheap kit is regarded as starter kit is because it makes us feel abit better about using it. I just brought a hatchet for a fiver because it's my first axe and at that price if I screw it up doing something then I can learn from my mistakes for little cost, wheras if'd brought a granny B wildlife hatchet i'd be more cautious about what I did with it and learning progress could be slower.
I've had my view converted though......I used to think my clipper was a starter knife, and o.k it's not the best knife in the world but after 2 years i'm no-where near REALLY pushing it to the limits of it's ability........plus nearly all the woodcraft school instructors use one's they've had for years.......if it's good enough for those experts, it's more than good enough for me;)
I'd like to point out though that i'm not bothered about people buying exspensive kit at all, as far as i'm concerned we can advise our friends but if they really want to buy something then it's their money and they can spend it on what they like.....worth remembering I feel!
thats my 2p's worth :o :o
MartinK9
06-02-2009, 20:05
totally agree,
however I think the reason cheap kit is regarded as starter kit is because it makes us feel abit better about using it. I just brought a hatchet for a fiver because it's my first axe and at that price if I screw it up doing something then I can learn from my mistakes for little cost, wheras if'd brought a granny B wildlife hatchet i'd be more cautious about what I did with it and learning progress could be slower.
I've had my view converted though......I used to think my clipper was a starter knife, and o.k it's not the best knife in the world but after 2 years i'm no-where near REALLY pushing it to the limits of it's ability........plus nearly all the woodcraft school instructors use one's they've had for years.......if it's good enough for those experts, it's more than good enough for me;)
I'd like to point out though that i'm not bothered about people buying exspensive kit at all, as far as i'm concerned we can advise our friends but if they really want to buy something then it's their money and they can spend it on what they like.....worth remembering I feel!
thats my 2p's worth :o :o
2p ? - That's expensive:D
At the risk of sounding controversial, I find it interesting that for some, cheap kit is associated with ‘starter’ kit. Anyone else notice that?
Think its more to do with the fact your more like to damage it when your starting maybe.
The starter kit is just to get you out there, doing stuff, and working out if the kit works for you. Replacing bits that don't work so well, a heavier/lighter/shorter/longer axe etc
Just been flicking through the Screwfix Direct catalogue (as you do) and saw a £8.99 hickory handled hatchet, and bow saw blades for £2.49.
I love those trench lighters, are they clean to use i.e. dont leak fuel etc ?
Are they also easy to use? by this i mean not too fiddly for every day use?
Yup! The fuel is sealed in so you don't get the burn patch on your thigh from an overfilled Zippo (this, I believe, increases it's fuel efficiency - leave a full Zippo for any length of time and it'll empty itself through evaporation in short order).
The opening/ closing mechanism is more complex than Zippo's but easy enough once you get the hang of it and find the technique that suits you. I can't comment on long term durability because I've not long had it but everything is solid brass (unlike the Zippo hinges which always wear out first).
Back to the thread and the use of "starter" for "cheap". I took this thread to be for kit that works and happens not to cost the Earth. Cheap, of course, is a relative word and I think the word "starter" can lead to false economy. I alluded to this in another thread on axes in that someone buys a "starter" axe, gets frustrated with it and goes for something like a GB where his axe work is transformed - he'd have saved money if he/ she had gone for the GB in the first place. I said "cheap" is relative because high end axes are a lot cheaper in comparison to high end knives, for example, where I wouldn't give the same advice - especially when you have the excellent Clipper on the market.
I see the mods have taken the excellent decision to make this a sticky. Rik's opener ably demonstrated that you can be comfortable in inclement conditions - and take your precious wee-un out (almost ready for his first stove there Rik!) without leaping to high end Arctic gear.
I spend a lot on certain items of kit (being of limited talent in the manufacturing stakes I take pride of ownership in quality, hand crafted items) but my future posts on this thread will include items that I use regularly and that I regard as value for money.
Oh, and I endorse the British Army arctic socks - I've never found better or cheaper.
I see the mods have taken the excellent decision to make this a sticky. Rik's opener ably demonstrated that you can be comfortable in inclement conditions - and take your precious wee-un out (almost ready for his first stove there Rik!) without leaping to high end Arctic gear.
Oh, and I endorse the British Army arctic socks - I've never found better or cheaper.
Already got his first stove boxed and waiting for him:)
Wilderbeast
07-02-2009, 10:41
Already got his first stove boxed and waiting for him:)
must be very proud rik! soon you'll have someone to build your shelter for you!! Out of intrest what will his first stove be??
must be very proud rik! soon you'll have someone to build your shelter for you!! Out of intrest what will his first stove be??
Svea 123, original, IMHO one of the best small liquid fuel stoves ever made and a design classic:cool:
With a SIGG Tourest cookset you have a fantastic winter stove and pan set
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSWuvevaMWE
bikething
07-02-2009, 19:24
...With a SIGG Tourest cookset you have a fantastic winter stove and pan set good luck with finding one of those.. it took me over a year!
good luck with finding one of those.. it took me over a year!
Bike, thats me in the video mate, and I've got two for the 123 ;)
bikething
07-02-2009, 19:57
Bike, thats me in the video mate, and I've got two for the 123 ;)I know that's you Rik :p .. didn't know you had a 'spare' :)
The oil lighters from dealextreme mentioned earlier aren't much good, it can take ages to get them to light up. It's better to just get a bic lighter, matches or a firesteel. A firesteel is really the cheapest option if you take into account how many times you can make fire with it and how indestructible it is.
There was another good thread on cheap kit:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18667&highlight=bushcraft+budget
Many people are looking for bargains all the time, me too. But I think more and more it's better to take into account the way it was produced, where, who, etc etc before the price. But anyway, second hand seems for me the best option for people without a lot of money. As it's possible to get good quality items at a low price, which haven't been produced in china. Woolen clothes are easy to get and often I just use a woolen sweater as baselayer too, that's an idea if you find a merino layer too expensive. Here it's also quite easy to get good anoraks second hand, woolen army pants, mittens, wool army socks, woolen hat...
Another advice is to get only few items and get them of good quality. You don't need most of the stuff sold in outdoor stores.
This is all needed:
-Clothes: woolen army pants, some wool sweaters (second hand shop), a jacket/anorak (second hand shop), two pair woolen army socks, underpants, woolen army mittens, leather army gloves, woolen hat (second hand shop)
-Roof: tarp/poncho and some rope
-Cutting tools:
a mora knife, or get a brusletto blade (better steel) and make your own handle , sheath (birch bark sheath is quick to make and for free)
wetterlings axe or gransfors (worth it as they last a lifetime, same for knife)
sharpening with sand paper, or fallkniven dc4
-Cooking and eating:
swedish army trangia (good open fire cooking pots too)
metal cup to drink and eat from (or carve/burn out a small bowl)
a metal spoon ,or make one
Sleeping:
foam sleeping mat (get two for winter)
second hand down sleeping bag (army) or alpkit bag, or ofcourse blankets but often it's not possible to have a good fire going all night to keep warm in the kind of forests we have these days.
And:
a swedish firesteel
a basic silva or recta compass
a second hand backpack or a highlander forces 88l
Often the best quality you can get for your money is by making your equipment yourself.
Klenchblaize
17-02-2009, 08:49
A stick gets my vote
Cheers
K
Melonfish
17-02-2009, 10:18
indeed, i was looking at walking poles the other day and just being horrified by the price (yet drawn to the shiney shineyness) when i walked past a stand of hazel and realised that in about 10m of roadside bush there was about 100 walking poles all wonderfully straight and sturdy.
cord? easy braided para then threaded through the top.
best bit is, they're being cut back shortly and i know one of the gardeners so i'll make sure i get a fair few and have them season!
pete
Threads like this and especially OP are inspiring. One of the things that puts new people off going into the woods is kit snobbery.
Expensive brand names and such are thrown about, I was rereading RM's book the other day and it dawned on me the amount of advertising he was doing.
If I cant make it or make do I buy budget on just about everything, I dont want to worry about money when I'm wading through the brambles, bracken and stomping about the woods.
Just got a new axe from Ebay £8:98 including postage Draper hand axe solidly built, I'm looking forward to putting it through its paces.
Graham_S
12-03-2009, 22:05
good luck with finding one of those.. it took me over a year!
Here's one ;) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Optimus-SVEA-123-Backpacking-Hikers-Cook-Stove_W0QQitemZ170310225717QQc mdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDoma in_0?hash=item170310225717&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177)
Not the 123 Graham, the SIG Tourest Cookset designed for the 123, fantastic kit. The 123's can be had new (a new batch made) for about £60
Here is one with the stove, not a bad price if he would ship to the UK
eBay 110357488417
Well mine is sort of untill you add it up!
5.11 Tac base Layer - New £12.00 (ebay)
5.11 Tac Polo Shirt - New £11.50 (ebay)
Sweat Shirt ?
SASS Kit Karry Smock £23.00 (ebay)
5.11 Tac Trousers £24.00 New (ebay) or Tru Spec OG New £10 (ebay)
5.11 Socks £12.00 (ebay) or Karrimor Socks (Asda) £5.00 for 3 pairs- New
Matterhorn Boots ebay £27.00 (ebay) or Karrimor KSB £23.00 (ebay)
Fleece Hat and Baseball Cap ?
Eagle Industries 3 Day Assault Bag £22.00 (ebay) replaced with Bugout 3 Day Pass £55.00 (ebay) New
Nearly everything bought for a fraction of the RRP!
hi everyone here's what i have spent so far Non expensive kit!! i think..well one of my neighbours had this stuff it was still in the wrappers..
1 x vango vapor tent... 30 pounds
1 x vango conture 50+10s... 15 pounds
1 x vango ultralight voyager 50 sleeping bag... 15 pounds
not bad for 60 pounds & i think the dearest thing will be my boots..& i am thinking of making my own stove like the ones on here..atb shogun
i did buy the dd tarp & dd travel/hammock too!..lol
Some non expensive kit I got yesterday morning,
3 pack of cotton teeshirts £1
5 pack cotton and elastine socks £1
Fleece Head sweat band 50p
Fleece jogging cap 50p
Fleece Buff 50p
Merino thermal t shirt £1.50
Olive waterproof Kagool £1.50
Oliver trousers for above £1.50
2 wool crew neck sweaters £3
1 V neck lambswool sweater £1.50
1 Full length wet suit £1.50.
1 pair padded cycle underpants 50p
1 pair thinsulate waterproof trousers £1.50
2 pack of boxer shorts 50p
1 polycotton blue check work shirt £1
Thats just my stuff, the wife and kids got loads as well.
All New!:D
You guys think there is snobbery when it comes to bushcraft gear!? Here in the US everyone these days is nuts over untralight gear. All your gear put together weighs under 10 lb and costs as much as your car. Most people here think I am crazy for carrying an axe and a fixed blade knife. They look upon me with pity and try to educate me about the enlightened way.
I must admit however, that I fall into the trap from time to time. I do carry a titanium pot. It costs more than my knife, but it does save a lot of weight. I also have a flashlight that can run continuously for a week on a AA battery, but costs an embarrassing amount.
It is a very good idea to cut down your pack weight, but unfortunately the process also cuts down you pocket weight. :)
There is a very old bushcraft saying which must apply over there also,
"The more you earn, the less you carry":D
I have a 70 L backpac .. and a 30 L backpack
when I go out with a 30 L backpack i use a hip kit also
everithing has .. 10 - 15 kg
if i use da 70 L backpack .. I've got a 30 - 40 kg on my back :)
titaniu :-O :P aluminium is light and cheap a pot of 1 L cost 2 euros :) ofcourse it's not so durable as the titanium pot but .. at that price I can buy one for each trip :P
Native Nathan
14-04-2009, 16:20
I would recommend a military IPK Sheet these can be bought for about £5 or less its designed to be a roof for an underground shelter, but its a cheep quality tarp ideal as a starter.
I would also recommend spending a little extra when buying a Knife, it will be worth it.
I would also advise you dont buy cotton trousers unless they they are thin and quick drying, cotton has a tendance to soak up alot of water (like a towel) and takes ages to dry
And finaly have a sence of humour, relax and enjoy your experience..
good luck
That’s my kit:
Trousers – 20 euros (army syrplus shop)
Boots – 20 euros (from the factory shop)
Wool Socks – pack of 3 – 2 euros (from the local market)
Shirt (made from 70% polyester & 30 % cotton) – 4 to 5 euros (from the local market)
T-shirt (made from cotton) – pack of 3 – 3 to 4 euros (hypermarket)
Fleece – 5 euros (hypermarket)
Vest with fleece lining and with a lot of pockets – 10 euros (from the local market)
Wool kagool – 2 euros or 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Bush Hat – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Mosquito hat – 2 euros (fishing shop)
Wool gloves – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Thinsulate gloves – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
PVC Poncho – 15 euros (sport shop)
Gaiter – 18 euros (sport shop)
Military water canteen (bottle) – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Military small bag (for the hip belt) – 8 to 9 euros (army surplus shop)
Aluminium 1L pot – 2 euros (hypermarket)
Aluminium 250 ml can – 1 euro (hypermarket)
Sunglases – 35 euros (sport shop)
Compass – 3 to 4 euros (sport shop)
Knife – 50 euros (helle eggen)
Pocket knife – Opinel nr. 8 – 10 euros
Pocket knife – Victorinox Recruit – 12 euros
Firesteel from Primus – 8 euros
Tarp 3m/3m – 30 euros (decathlon hypermarket)
Hammock – 15 euros (nahanny shop)
Net hammock – 5 euros (fishing shop)
30L Backpack (from highschool :P can’t remember the price)
If I will buy from charity shops the prices will drop :P I will go to some charitu shops in my neighbourhood to see their offer
drewdunnrespect
03-06-2009, 06:09
my good god cheep kit is a must thats why i do army serplus
Hello, I made visit to local surplus store today and got a lot of good clothing and stuff for 12 EUR all together !! That´s best deal I have found for long time
Stuff from up left to down right
1) German long sleeve button shirt 3,5 EUR
2) German canvas laundry bag 1 EUR
3) German toilet case for personal hygiene 1 EUR
4) German heavy duty strap 1 EUR
5) Swedish army technical polo shirt (transform moisture to outer layers) 2,5 EUR
6) 2 pcs German summer camo jacket 1 EUR / each
7) German army scalf (twofold in picture)
8) Austrian army combat pants 2,5 EUR (not in picture)
9) German army backpack (not in picture)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3524875677_3e2685c0e4_o.jpg
Some of the colorful stuff in picture are my son´s toys :)
Hello, I made visit to local surplus store today and got a lot of good clothing and stuff for 12 EUR all together !! That´s best deal I have found for long time
Stuff from up left to down right
1) German long sleeve button shirt 3,5 EUR
2) German canvas laundry bag 1 EUR
3) German toilet case for personal hygiene 1 EUR
4) German heavy duty strap 1 EUR
5) Swedish army technical polo shirt (transform moisture to outer layers) 2,5 EUR
6) 2 pcs German summer camo jacket 1 EUR / each
7) German army scalf (twofold in picture)
8) Austrian army combat pants 2,5 EUR (not in picture)
9) German army backpack (not in picture)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3524875677_3e2685c0e4_o.jpg
Some of the colorful stuff in picture are my son´s toys :)
:O
both of the surplus stores near me have closed down :(
belzeebob23
16-06-2009, 17:53
I have to agree with most people here, cheap kit is not starter kit.
Over the years I have bought expensive kit and cheap kit.
Lets be honest here we all like a bargain,I personal picked up a vaude fleece for a fiver in shelter in Sterling on saturday morning and in the past have managed to pick up allsorts from charity shops and carboot sales
and i must admit i have spent hundreds of pounds on boots and more often than not end up in my twenty pound para boots for walking.
belzeebob
AntoninoRusso123
03-07-2009, 10:58
if you are after cut price army clothing try www.flecktarn.co.uk
they have some fairly decent clothing on offer and they are not to expensive.
There is also this company who I found in Germany https://www.asmc.de/ the only problem is postage if you only want somthing cheap, but for larger orders there great, most of the kit is brand new un issued stuff.
Silverclaws
24-07-2009, 01:52
I have had good kit, the best money could buy at the time and it took me ages to get my kit together, but I lost it all due to a marriage break up, (that and £4k worth of Snap on tools). Now I am getting back into this stuff again, I notice the outdoor gear prices even higher than they were in the past, yet in the US things are affordable, which leaves me with the thought I am not going to buy into what is obviously a scam. So, for me, I source all of my gear second hand, I have become good at fleabay sniping, and with that my ethics have changed, for pre owned sits well with my ethics. Military surplus gear I use, I adapt and make some things and obtain other bits where I see it, be it Lidls, Wilkinsons, the charity shops, fleabay and junk shops. No, it is not starter gear for me, but perfectly adequate for my needs, if not, adapt it, customise it to my requirement, make it personal to me.
I am investing my time and money in learning skills, defunct skills from the past, so the idea being I can make or repair what I need when out in the boonies, that to me is bush craft and experience in frugal living which I take on into my normal life.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned Swedish or Norwegian army trousers? A mate got some from a surplus shop in Morecambe and he swears by them. They are double layer (independant layers with a gap) and are very warm. He only used them in winter after canoeing trips when you need something warm on to defrost yourself quicker. I keep meaning to get a pair as I think they were only about £10. Also good with welding splatter apparently too.:)
if you are after cut price army clothing try www.flecktarn.co.uk
they have some fairly decent clothing on offer and they are not to expensive.
I've looked at them before- I think mine and your idea of not too expensive differs! :o
Browsing you tube, i found this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAPNtca7RGQ), as part of a series, which looks useful for inexpensive kit.
Ok so a few adaptations will need to made with the shops, prices etc, but the basic idea is there :)
hopefully it will be of help to someone.
Aldi do all sorts of cheap kit, its a good idea to have a look round every couple of weeks as they don't stock the same stuff all the time.
I actually have a wardrobe full (well, not full but...) of woolen jumpers of various weights bought from charity shops. Have never paid more than a fiver for any one of them. The only problem with wool is getting it washed, it takes for ever to dry out. And I seem to spend my entire working time getting covered in filth, mud, chainsaw chippings or deer blood. However, if I'm confident I won't get covered head to toe in filth then wool beats fleece hands down everytime.
Wool jumpers are excellent, but they dont stop wind.
If you wear a cotton shirt over the top, it stops the wind and keeps the wool clean while letting you breathe while you work.
Needs to be a biiig shirt.
davidpopely
11-11-2010, 07:19
Very much agree about re-learning 'old', defunct skills. one day we will wake up and there will be no oil, no petrol, no electricity and (probably first of all) no gas. I don't want to sound alarmist, but I think world governments are putting their heads in the sand on an ongoing basis concerning the finite nature of the world's resources (as well as the futility of building an economic system on a consumerist model, but that's another story!). For us, frugality and skill-learning are the way forward. we're not precious about it (we have laptops etc at the moment) but we do recognise where things are headed...and we'd rather go there now and voluntarily than later and by necessity!
davidpopely
11-11-2010, 07:21
I've got a fleece and outer shell from Oswald Bailey and I have to say the quality is really poor. Will buy a decent one from (maybe) Blacks or something from army surplus next time. Has anyone else experience of OB (vs Millets, for example)?
Hey I'm sorry if everyone just wants to discuss clothing but thought it worth mentioning that you can pick up machettes, hachetts, saws etc for about £4 each from Toolstation. I know you pay for what you get with tools but it's good to have a backup if your pride-n-joy breaks on you, and besides, this thread was all about starter kit.
Oarsnpaddle
19-11-2010, 01:12
I realise this may not be what most people consider "non-expensive", but I have realised that I will buy the best I can find. Meaning, it's usually pretty expensive, but with quality comes price (although a high price in itself does not in any way mean it is necessarily quality).
I probably should have started out with cheap kit this time around, and only slowly eased into it, with an even clearer idea of what I wanted, I have a lot of gear now (more coming next week), and I will have gear for solo tours, for an afternoon row, or short over nighter or even with my better half for whatever length.
Had I known what I know now (that my gf/wife is really not interested at all, but prefer to pretend we're sitting in our living room, even if I'm rowing like a mad man), I wouldn't have bought my lavvu and other "big" stuff liek my Petromax and so on. I do enjoy those things when I'm alone, but I would never had them "necessary".
So, I think that the least expensive kit is less kit. Even if you buy titanium stuff and an expensive winter bag, it can still be kept reasonable by simply buying less of it.
To be honest, I still have a hope that she will get "the bug", as today she talked about "when summer comes, we'll go camping", but I have to say I think it's more of an expression of hope that she will, rather than an actual promise (as usual in this department). Sigh.
In summary, my thoughts on this matter is that it is cheaper in the long run to buy good quality stuff if you know what you will be using and how you will use it, rather than the cheap (quality) stuff.
The Lord Poncho
10-01-2011, 14:57
I managed to pick up three diamond stones (about 15cm by 5cm) in TK Max the other day for about a fiver the whole lot. Three grits- so called Fine, Medium, Coarse. But actually, they are very coarse, slightly less coarse, and very slightly less coarse. Still, a bargain!
plastic-ninja
12-01-2011, 02:28
I can't help loving the system of barter and getting new kit is no exception.I made a wedding cake for a family connected to The North Face which we swapped for a 4 season down bag!
Also check "freecycle" in your area as folks literally give stuff away free that they no longer have use for.If you have skills try and swap them for some kit : I did a weeks garden labour for an old guy in town and he gave me a box of tools in return.It's also worth checking out Ebay for stuff that's going silly cheap because of poor descriptions ; more common than you think.You can buy and re-sell or trade up for the good stuff that will last you a long time ; I bought a lot of climbing helmets and harnesses and gradually converted them into some serious kit for example Msr Whisperlite stove with Titan cookset as a swap for two sets of helmet/harness - Arcteryx Bora 35 pack for another set.It just takes a bit of patience and you will get the kit you want without spending a fortune.
On the other hand I have spent enough over the years on various knives to finance a South American coup d'etat so probably saved nothing in the long run!!
FlintSteel
17-01-2011, 15:30
Thought I'd share my idea to you all, I love cheap kit that performs well !
I was walking down the street the other day, it was dusk, getting quite dark, when I saw a bright flourescent drinks bottle in the distance on the ground. It looked like it was lit up like some kind of aliens drink !
Anyway, as I got closer, I realised the drinks bottle was empty, it was the plastic bottle itself which was giving off the colour.
It was so bright (flourescent yellow/green) that I thought that this could be used as flourescent markers for my camping kit.
The drink bottle in question was the new(ish) Mountain Dew Energy drink (picture attached).
What I did was empty the bottle, cut it up into little strips, and use the little strips as flourescent glow in the dark markers for my zips, my buttons, and things that I want to be able to find should I drop it in the dark / dusk.
They are so bright I have used them for all sorts of things.
Rgds,
FlintSteelhttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21FhEaCP6eL._SL210_.jpg
mark j lang
10-02-2011, 21:43
A quick thumbs up for charity shops. Trick is to vist them all and pop in often, every day in your lunch hour if you can, and visit all of them in any town you pass on holiday. over the last 10 years I have found (never paying more than £10):
4 swandri ranger shirts
1 x swandri bushshirts
2 berghaus 70 litre rucksacs
rohan windproof
berghaus windproof
lowe alpine triplepoint ceramic waterproofs
1 paramo explorer shirt
1 rab down jacket
2 snugpack synthetic duvets jackets
1 icebreaker merino thermal
2 x walking trousers microfibre
2 wax barbour jackets
1 pendleton wool shirt
1 wool guernsey ( i love this and you will have to prize it off me)
amongst other stuff not to mention army surplus bargains
all in all once you get used to the fact that you dont need to own expensive gear you concentrate on the essentials and make do mix and match with charity shops and surplus bargains. I have learnt to be selective and only buy something if its a bargain and i have a use for it, paying cahrity prices means you can experiment and learn valuable lessons.
mark Lang
Spikey DaPikey
10-02-2011, 23:23
A local charity shop to me has an XL Helly Hanson down jacket in at the mo for £15 !
I have far too many jackets as it is, so its still there ;)
redandshane
05-04-2011, 08:03
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370487790172&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
Not essential kit but handy and at that price I bought one
Here is the good bit; the green bit on the end comes out and you can stuff a tight roll of toilet paper in a small plastic bag in there
There is a comparable "job" specific product on the market which costs a lot more I believe
Great thread being a Newbie myself :headbang:
I find that a good mix of gear helps me on my way, ive got a couple of fairly expensive (£30ish) berghaus microfleeces, that i combine with a crappy hoody ive had since i was about 20, i think it was about £10 from primark. You dont need to have amazingly expensive gear, its just that sometimes you need to pay for quality.
The first axe i bought was a gransfors and it was around £55. Now, ive got friends who skimped on their initial costs and have, over time, spent more money on worse quality items. Whereas my gransfors is as splendid as the day it arrived (with love and affection of course).
If someone is worried about blowing cash on things like clothes for bushcraft when theyre not entirely sure if theyll get their monies worth - why not just buy a couple of high quality/expensive things that you can sport around the city (fleeces, craghopper trousers.etc) and be used while camping. Then just protect the 'better' items with cheaper clothes. As long as you're layering you shouldnt have a problem! I never have really!
As far as tools go though, i spent a fair amount on my axe, good boots, good saw and a fairly good knife - and ive never looked back.
Dont spend money you've not got, but dont buy cheap just because its cheap
I recommend Clas Ohlson for good inexpensive gear. www.clasohlson.co.uk . The only problem is they don't have an online shop, just the catalogue but the £2.50 moras and most of the other outdoor gear is good quality and inexpensive.
mrcairney
05-06-2011, 14:15
Good thread. I'm just getting back into bushcraft after not sleeping outdoors since I was a late teen. The missus is quite keen to get out there too, but not as hobo as I used to do it (sleeping bag+bivi bag+cider) so I'm on the lookout for more "comfortable" alternatives. I guess it doesn't have to cost a fortune, but I could see how it might!
I've a mix of cheap (home-made) and 'proper' kit. All reviewed at http://www.jeffzie.com/tagged/bushcraft%20gear
BillyBlade
28-07-2011, 21:53
I have had good kit, the best money could buy at the time and it took me ages to get my kit together, but I lost it all due to a marriage break up, (that and £4k worth of Snap on tools). Now I am getting back into this stuff again, I notice the outdoor gear prices even higher than they were in the past, yet in the US things are affordable, which leaves me with the thought I am not going to buy into what is obviously a scam. So, for me, I source all of my gear second hand, I have become good at fleabay sniping, and with that my ethics have changed, for pre owned sits well with my ethics. Military surplus gear I use, I adapt and make some things and obtain other bits where I see it, be it Lidls, Wilkinsons, the charity shops, fleabay and junk shops. No, it is not starter gear for me, but perfectly adequate for my needs, if not, adapt it, customise it to my requirement, make it personal to me.
I am investing my time and money in learning skills, defunct skills from the past, so the idea being I can make or repair what I need when out in the boonies, that to me is bush craft and experience in frugal living which I take on into my normal life.
So much in there I agree with 100%
Having seen the stuff I used to manage quite adequately with when in HM forces, now as a civilian the price of some of the more 'Gucci' end of the range of kit in the UK scares me half to death. I'd be frightened to use it in case I damaged it.
These days I can do as well as I need to with second hand/perceived lower end of the spectrum/non £450 knife etc.
Not saying thats the approach that suits everybody, but it suits me. Like the other week i.e. I was just as warm in my old Alpha M65 combat jacket and liner as my mate was in his £250 wunderjacket.
Horses for courses I guess.
Scottishwanderer
28-07-2011, 22:31
This thread is awesome.
I don't go for "outdoor" clothing really i just wear my old work jeans, wool jumper, pair of boots etc Simply because i'm in Scotland not the arctic it doesn't get that cold but unlike the arctic it does get very wet so i spent bout 20 pound on waterproofs.
The rest of my stuff minus my knife cost around 70 pound, knife included it's roughly 120 pound.
Spent 3 months living outside from january to april with my gear and was comfy and happy.
My stuffs cheap but really can't go wrong.
Whittler Kev
29-07-2011, 15:54
I think these vids (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAPNtca7RGQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAPNtca7RGQ) are brill for cheap multi use kit
I find that a good mix of gear helps me on my way, ive got a couple of fairly expensive (£30ish) berghaus microfleeces, that i combine with a crappy hoody ive had since i was about 20, i think it was about £10 from primark. You dont need to have amazingly expensive gear, its just that sometimes you need to pay for quality.
The first axe i bought was a gransfors and it was around £55. Now, ive got friends who skimped on their initial costs and have, over time, spent more money on worse quality items. Whereas my gransfors is as splendid as the day it arrived (with love and affection of course).
If someone is worried about blowing cash on things like clothes for bushcraft when theyre not entirely sure if theyll get their monies worth - why not just buy a couple of high quality/expensive things that you can sport around the city (fleeces, craghopper trousers.etc) and be used while camping. Then just protect the 'better' items with cheaper clothes. As long as you're layering you shouldnt have a problem! I never have really!
As far as tools go though, i spent a fair amount on my axe, good boots, good saw and a fairly good knife - and ive never looked back.
Dont spend money you've not got, but dont buy cheap just because its cheap
The wisest of them all, a mix makes the best sense. Quality waterproofs for me I hate getting soaked and sleeping wet!
Totumpole
29-08-2011, 22:58
......What I did was empty the bottle, cut it up into little strips, and use the little strips as flourescent glow in the dark markers for my zips, my buttons, and things that I want to be able to find should I drop it in the dark / dusk.
They are so bright I have used them for all sorts of things.
Rgds,
FlintSteelhttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21FhEaCP6eL._SL210_.jpg
That is sheer genius!!!
Great thread as well, nice one Richard. Some interesting views and comments. I was meant to be doing some work on a presentation but been reading this instead.
For my 1/2 penny worth (as we are being inexpensive) I love my:
-army issue polycotton trousers - hard wearing, fast drying - cost £4
-mora clipper for under a tenner (lost one and had no qualms about buying a replacement - now Ive found the 1st one and have 2 :))
-Canvas gas mask bag which I rescued from a bin when helping my mate clear out his room
-German army mountain pack £16 (only worn once so far, but with my self inflating mat as the back support it is the comfiest thing I have put on my back, the mat was literally like memory foam!)
-Leather Ammo belt pouch £5 (already had a ray mears leather wet molded pouch as a christmas gift - this fits just as much for 1/12th the price!!!)
-Leather jacket that was here when I moved in - will soon become a number of pouches!
-small cammo belt pouch (got one in trade, bought another for £2.99 - perfect size for a good ouch pouch or survival tin)
-2oz tobacco tin - 10p at a car boot sale, got so excited I bought 5!
-Got a £7 torch in tesco - it was a reduced "tesco finest" torch, best Ive ever owned!
-Tesco Ultra-Lite down Sleeping bag £40 - with a silk or cotton liner its all you need for summer use and it packs down tiny
-Gelert solo 1 man tent £25
-Leather "john-tex" boots from a local surplus store/factory outlet type place back in Aberdeen - £25,extremely comfy, lasted ages, still live in the car boot as backups
-Polar-tech fleece - got a few free as they are plastered with brand name
-Casio watch £6-£10
If you want to you can find most of this stuff on google shopping by typing in its name
Having said all this, I'll also give my £100 worth, because their are some things that are just worth the money
-gransfors bruks small forest axe
-Ventile smock
erm, I'm going to add all the pricey knives Ive got here because...... because they are pretty :p... and functional of course
The Ratcatcher
24-09-2011, 22:26
Having started off many years ago, when whatis now called Bushcraft was called "too skint to buy proper kit", I'm very careful not to spend more than I have to.
Ive got a good selection of kit from a couple of local surplus shops that I'm friendly with the owners, which is fine if you don't mind everything in green or camo.
I still use some home-made kit (a catering size baked bean tin fitted with a coat-hanger wire handle is ideal for boil in the bag meals for a family),and I only part with large amounts of cash for something if I'm sure it's good value.In the last 15 years, I've only paid more than £50 on two things, a Ventile jacket, and an Extrema Ratio utility knife, both of which get used regularly.
gliderrider
27-10-2011, 12:03
Personally I didnt like the Blue Castle work trousers, I found they are a tad too heavy, so they take a lot longer to dry. Having said that, Army lightweights are very good at what they do, and £5 a pair.
I have to second Tesco's Long Johns, excelent in the colder days. They also do some good socks, nice and padded, but made from Nylon/Polyester so wear through on the heal quite quickly(it could just be because I'm a tad heavy).
Mentioned this in another post but thought I put here too
Jet Boil? An affordable alternative is:-
One of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-S...item1c1b14b52c (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Strong-power-Camping-Stove-C1-x1-/120713426220?pt=UK_SportingGoo ds_Camping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item1c1b14b52c)
and one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PHOENIX-He...item1c1b14c05c (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PHOENIX-Heat-polymerize-pot-1-2P-/120713429084?pt=LH_DefaultDoma in_3&hash=item1c1b14c05c)
Will give much the same performance as the Jetboil but costs £25 - $37 for both delivered and a good budget for those who can't afford or are not prepared to buy the JB.
Its worth getting the propane/butane/isobutane cans of gas, same price but better performance certainly in cooler weather.
gliderrider
29-10-2011, 14:54
I like the look of the pan, maybe marry it with a Camping Gaz Twister.
Just picked a Vango 3 person stainless stackable cook set off ebay for £15 anyone know if it's any good?
England Ram
05-12-2011, 12:03
This thread is very apt for me as I am just starting out into the world of Bushcraft and Survival.
After years of playing in woods when I was younger and not bothering about kit, now ive got older, and want to learn skills properly and be in a position to support the family in the environment if necessary, I want to do things better:-)
cost is an issue if for nothing more than to keep the wife on my side!
I have realised I have several bits of kit that I have gathered over the years that are spot on.
like always buying top quality walikng boots,
having a sleeping bag by karrimoor that is a -50 all seasons one that I have always used, so these items are in the bag.
Even my old walking boots I wear for doing work round the house are perfect for being in the woods and getting trashed if im not walking for any long distance while I hone my skills.
I've always had NI gloves, and even though I am due a neew pair as I put mine through the wringer, my old ones will be spot on for bushcraft for the time being.
My tool kit already contains pull saws that perform better than most, although a laplander is on my list to get.
Always bought good quality socks.
Have under armour from playing golf and it keeps me warm walking round for 4 hours in the open and is a brill base layer in any colder environment.
Cheap kit I have picked up over the past few weeks are:-
Mess tins set £6 -Army surplus
gaiters £4 - Army surplus
Mora Companion knife £10- Army surplus
Mora 511 £5 - Army surplus
craghopper fleece lined trousers £20 - t k maxx
lightwieght quick drying combats £14 - mountain wearhouse
Water proof DPM trousers £5 - army surplus
Euro Hike framed 65 litre rucksack £8 - Ebay (picked up 2 other ones for a total of £12 for the family as well, both 65l framed)
large ruck sack liner £2 - ebay
Tactical assault vest £18 - ebay (I like these for small kit days rather than a back pack)
paracord belt £3 - self made:-) (as you can see, I'm most proud of that)
snood £3 - ebay
fishing net 50p - car boot
fishing reel & line £2 - lidle
fire steel, lmf £7 - Milletts
cotton wool balls 40p - tesco
vaseleline 80p - tesco (amazing to see the difference in lenght of time a vaseline covered cotton wool ball burns for compared to not, also quite waterproof)
sanitary towels 10p - tesco
parra cord 150 feet £6 - army surplus
tea light candles £1 for millions - b & q
Army windproof smock £free - Dad (although to short and looking for a longer one)
Gelert pod rain jacket £12 - amazon
Food for free £3 - amazon
bivi bag £3- Don Amotts
Large Tarp £10 - Costco
Much more, but probably bored you by now:-)
Now looking for a windproof fleece, smock, heavy duty shirt, and a machette(bad hand struggles with weight of an axe)
Magicdan
29-01-2012, 17:17
I'm on the fence with this one.....
Absolutely nothing wrong with "cheaper" kit, as long as it does the job but I do always think that when you can afford it and you can justify it then you should get the best you can.
I don't earn a huge amount, far from huge but i like nothing better than going shopping and buying a nice bit of kit, I brought a buffalo mountain shirt the other day, ill get a fair amount of usage out of it but there was nothing wrong with what I was wearing before, a couple of cheap base layers and a fleece but when I put it on it makes me feel good, and as much as that may sound weird, that's the way it is!
As I cycle a fair distance for work, no matter what the weather, I tend to sue a lot of the same gear for my other outdoor pursuits and because at half 4 in the morning, I want to be as comfortable as possible so I've gone for the best i can!
But to sum up, nothing wrong what so ever with the cheaper stuff, it all does the same!
Magicdan
29-01-2012, 17:20
I have just re read my post and it sounds like i walk around head to toe in gucci gear, i dont, far from it but the few bits that i have spent money on, ive made sure they are the best i can get at that time.
Just had to add that!
:)
hedgerowpete
29-01-2012, 20:21
for what alot of people have paid for a jacket or a knife i have pretty well fitted my self out
Me too
I buy a lot at car boots these days.
Or for just a couple more £ you can get the "original" made-in-China Optimus terra HE cookset on amazon.co.uk with their free super saver shipping. You get the exclusive green handles only if you go optimus/katadyn ;)
munkiboi182
03-02-2012, 11:45
I can't help loving the system of barter and getting new kit is no exception.I made a wedding cake for a family connected to The North Face which we swapped for a 4 season down bag!
Also check "freecycle" in your area as folks literally give stuff away free that they no longer have use for.If you have skills try and swap them for some kit : I did a weeks garden labour for an old guy in town and he gave me a box of tools in return.It's also worth checking out Ebay for stuff that's going silly cheap because of poor descriptions ; more common than you think.You can buy and re-sell or trade up for the good stuff that will last you a long time ; I bought a lot of climbing helmets and harnesses and gradually converted them into some serious kit for example Msr Whisperlite stove with Titan cookset as a swap for two sets of helmet/harness - Arcteryx Bora 35 pack for another set.It just takes a bit of patience and you will get the kit you want without spending a fortune.
On the other hand I have spent enough over the years on various knives to finance a South American coup d'etat so probably saved nothing in the long run!!
theres a site called "goofbay" which picks out all the spelling errors and mistakes on ebay. its the stuff that sells cheapest cos its only viewed by the dyslexic and those who know about the site, now including you!
Apologies if this is a bit of thread necromancy, was in ASDA earlier today and they've started to roll out their spring seasonal stuff, besides the chocolate eggs i mean!
Today i picked up 4 LED tent pegs for £4, an adjustable angle 9 LED headtorch for ~£6 (1 mode only), an orange 9 LED torch for ~£4 [orange to find it easier] and a few other bits and bobs. Next time you do your shop have a mooch at the seasonal aisle and see if there's anything to take your fancy.
Just thought i'd share :rolleyes: