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Hi All,
I have been looking at purchasing the following,
http://www.the-outdoor.co.uk/ishop/853/shopscr177.html
I was also going to add a wool pullover and possibly a poncho, but I was wondering is anyone had any comments about suitability etc.
Cheers
Grez..
If it's for bushcraft it will be fine.
Soldier 95 kit is crap!! I wear it every day for work unfortunately. If you have large legs, after a while it will be impossible for you to go commando without scaring the wildlife!!!
The trousers' crotch area wears out very quickly, and the jackets have problems with the collars wearing through and the cuffs fraying.
Go for a pair of lightweight trousers, they are olive green, hard wearing and dry quickly. If you want DPM pattern, try and get hold of the old tropical trousers which are of a similar material with a button fly, which I assure you 95 trousers do not have. The only good bit of this 95 kit is the shirt, they seem to last for some reason. For a good DPM jacket, go for the old temperate field jacket (Smock Combat Temperate DPM), they are indestructible! It's either that or the 66 pattern smock, fully lined, heavy and warm. I've got one in the cellar that may get a new lease of life soon!
Of course, there is other kit included under the name 95, the gloves, boots, goretex jacket and trousers, most of which is pretty good considering the fact that the contract went to the cheapest bidder!!
Can't with agree with that 95 kit is crap. After using for prolonged periods in Forces I had no problems with it. Some of the ealier kit issued had problems, however, this was sorted out. And for the price that you will be paying you can't go wrong.
As with most kit your best to try it out yourself and make up your own decision.
I think that this is my problem really, I don't really have any idea what sort of thing I should be looking at/for.
After looking round that site I was thinking of the following.
Lightweights
General Service Shirt
´Norgie´ Top
SAS Smock
Grez..
Squidders
25-05-2005, 08:45
I think that this is my problem really, I don't really have any idea what sort of thing I should be looking at/for.
After looking round that site I was thinking of the following.
Lightweights
General Service Shirt
´Norgie´ Top
SAS Smock
Grez..
Grez,
I would go for something like:
M65 jacket as it's warm and if you remove the lining, cool... comfy and indestructible if you get a good 'un.
Lightweights because for £10 a pair for new ones you can't really go wrong (I wear them nearly every day)
Norgie or shirt top if you like but I just buy cotton T's
As a personal preference I try to avoid the camo look as people tend to think what i'm doing is of some military nature or think I'm some kind of rambo wannabe.
Cheers
Joe
Spacemonkey
25-05-2005, 16:17
Didn't Rambo wear an M65? Or was that Travis Bickle? ;)
I think Norgie shirts are ace. At the prices that guy is charging, you can't really go wrong with any of it. I probably would avoid the second hand 'sas' smocks, as by their very nature have lived a much harder life, and will be shagged. It's best to actually physically see one in a shop before you buy one of those as the quality really does vary.
I think that this is my problem really, I don't really have any idea what sort of thing I should be looking at/for.
After looking round that site I was thinking of the following.
Lightweights
General Service Shirt
´Norgie´ Top
SAS Smock
Grez..
i would wear
lightweights
t-shirt
norgie
SAS smock
And carry a decent fleece top for wearing on a night time and a decent waterproof jacket for wearing in camp or when your not moving around and its p***ing it down.
Also don't forget a wooly hat in winter and a wide brim hat for summer use
You looking at me! :eek:
Cheers guys for the suggestions.
I went and had a look at lunch time at the army surplus place and I think I have finally decided on,
Lightweights
T-Shirt
Shirt/Norgie
M65 jacket.
Not sure on the waterproof jacket though. Any suggestions?
Grez..
I think you have made a good choice there, can't comment on the M65 jacket, although I wouldn't mind getting one as I've heard too many good things about them, they must be good. How much did it set you back?
I think you have made a good choice there, can't comment on the M65 jacket, although I wouldn't mind getting one as I've heard too many good things about them, they must be good. How much did it set you back?
Do you mean the jacket? If so haven't bought the it yet as I'm shopping round for a decent price, but around £40 seems the average.
Grez
Hmm, £40 doesn't sound too bad, and if you proof it with a wash in waterproofing agent such as one of the Nikwax products, it should be fine in the wet. Has anyone done this, and if so, how did it perform?
I had thought about the nikwax stuff but wasn't sure how it would stand up to a large downpour.
What sort of thing would be sutiable to wear over a M65?
Spacemonkey
25-05-2005, 19:26
I bought a Travis Bickle M65 a few years back. Great jacket. I used it for a little while on my motorbike so I 'proofed it with the Fabsil spray on job. Worked to a fashion, but stank of thinners, which can be a good thing, but maybe not ideal around the camp fire...
£40 is for the Repro one, which is a great jacket, £60+ for a genuine, thogh there is probably not a difference you would notice.
I had thought about the nikwax stuff but wasn't sure how it would stand up to a large downpour.
What sort of thing would be sutiable to wear over a M65?
Keep an eye out for a Fjallraven hunter jacket, they look very much the same as M65 jackets, but the material used is G1000. This has been designed so that you can iron on a coating of wax which will waterproof the jacket. They are very good :)
If you get an M65 get a poncho to go over it. You get the added bonus of the pocho keeping the rest of your kit dry as well :D
Moonraker
25-05-2005, 20:00
Keep an eye out for a Fjallraven hunter jacket, they look very much the same as M65 jackets, but the material used is G1000. This has been designed so that you can iron on a coating of wax which will waterproof the jacket. They are very good :) and you should know... :D I am saving up to get one in my size as we speak ;)
The only place I found the genuine article so far is
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/military/products.asp?pg=382
and that is £70.
Grez..
Spacemonkey
25-05-2005, 20:57
The copies really are good, though if you don't want to shell out the extra bucks. The BDUs make excellent summer wear as well. If you get the M65, make sure it has the button in/out cold weather liner, as it makes a heck of a lot of difference. They have hoods rolled into a zipped pouch in the neck. If you feel like getting any american BDU trousers, then get them from Silvermans ( http://www.military.co.uk/ ) as they seem to be just about the only people who stock long length as well as regular, if you have long legs like me! Soldier 95 kit seems long enough to me though.
Incidently, I have heard that the rip stop 95's (so called Soldier 2000) stuff is much harder wearing and fade resistant. Does anyone find this to be true?
if in the UK you should pop into the Beltring Military Fair in Kent, a really big event that usually happens once a year, almost every surplus store in europe as a stall there, good stuff bargain prices, and a massive beer tent, and food stalls. Brilliant dayout.
:eek: how much did i spend????
Incidently, I have heard that the rip stop 95's (so called Soldier 2000) stuff is much harder wearing and fade resistant. Does anyone find this to be true?
Soldier 95 has a couple of parts, one is really for use in camp and the other for use in the field. The ripstop Jacket and trousers are for field use. The DPM Shirt and lighter trousers (look like they were based on Jungle combats) are good for camp use , but not very hard wearing.
The old jungle stuff is far better quality and far harder wearing, but for bushcraft you may as well get Lightweights, OD shirts (summer use) and the likes of the M65 as they are just plain green and do not look quite so militaristic. You may find that Lightweights and OD shirts will be cheaper as well. :)
Not sure on the waterproof jacket though. Any suggestions?
Grez..
Hi mate
i've just bought a green Peter storm waterproof from millets for thirty quid.
It's one of those generic goretex materials and i wore it at the weekend and it with stood a heavy downpour so its passed my test.(thirty quids not bad for a half decent waterproof,not exactly Mt Everest spec but not bad).
Hi,
Just adding my bit to the conversation. I think, after having worn both, that the SAS windproof smock is far superior to the M65. It allows more freedom of movement, is lighter more windproof and has better pockets. It has a decent hood with rear drawcord so that you can actually see when you turn your head. (this maybe only on the arctic model). They dry out extremely quickly and are nice and quiet. in my opion you can't beat them,military wise. If you don't want DPM, then you can get replica versions from SASS which are of virtually the same quality. They are 100% cotton, so breathable too.
The Norwegians are excellent(the army shirts that is).
Lightweights/denims are good but are not 100% cotton, so you have to be careful when sitting around a fire. The leg pocket is only good for a small map or I found leg movement was restricted. I also found that they weren't baggy enough to be totally comfortable. They are very hard wearing though. For the money it will be difficult to find better. I would go for combat trousers which are cotton. I can't remember the model but the ones before the ripstop seemed to be okay.
By the way, there is a place in America that do BDUs for $24.00. I'll find out. They are genuine and arrive in a week. I suppose Silverman's for the SAS smock.
As for waterproofs, a pocho is okay but a bit "in the way" when you need to work. an army gore-tex is better. Yes, expensive but at least it will protect you and you won't get drenched in sweat. I'd get a basha for a shelter.
Julian.
If you get an M65 get a poncho to go over it. You get the added bonus of the pocho keeping the rest of your kit dry as well :D
Cheers for all the advice guys. I think I have finally settled on the M65 and poncho combination. Now all I have left to do is decide on black or olive green!! :D
OhCanada
26-05-2005, 22:43
One of the differences between the Europe and North America is the equipment.
Over here it is all lightweight fleece and nylon. Even our military have traded wool in for fleece, not sure why it hasn't caught on with UK bushcrafters. The army here still uses 65/35 Poly/Cotton because it doesn't make noise as much as nylon and they have gone and put a waterproof/breathable liner in uniform too.
If you want military issue (and can't get military fleece) you would be better going with light military wool pants. I have British DPM pants and jacket and they are both heavy, the pants needlessly so. I used my M65 with liner for a long time and it is a pretty nice jacket. Good work jacket if you are putting up wood for the cabin.
Over all I recommend nylon pants and nylon or polyester shirts. My gortex jackets also double as rain and wind wear adding to my warmth without adding weight. Light weight and quick to dry. You don't need expensive brand name stuff either as I get a lot of nylon gear used at thrift shops. If melting is a concern, carry a light 65/35 or wool jacket.
I do like you Brits for keeping bushcraft alive. Over here it has all gone "leave no trace and lightweight "ie. take nothing", or overweight militia let's play Rambo style. Nice to see less flash and more skills.
Great Pebble
26-05-2005, 22:57
"Soldier 2000" is the invention of a 3rd party clothing manufacturer. It is not issue kit. This in itself is not a problem, the quality is though. It's dire.
It's really sneaky in that it has NSN labels and everything but even a cusrsory examination will reveal it to be pants. As a pointer, if you're being offered UK "mil surplus" in outsizes (40"+ waist trousers and jackets of up to 50" chest) it's almost certainly from this range of clothing. Avoid.
OhCanada,
Do you not find that nylon makes you sweat and it doesn't have much warmth property? I always worry about nylon when near a fire.
Julian.
maximus otter
27-05-2005, 11:11
I'm in the market for a pair of OD lightweight trousers. How do the British army surplus ones size up? Do they have an adjustment strap?
I wear a 34" in Levi 501s.
maximus otter
Great Pebble
27-05-2005, 11:53
34" shouldn't be a problem. And they do indeed adjust.
You'll want either an 88 or a 92 in the metric sizing they use.
maximus otter
27-05-2005, 13:19
Thanks, GP.
maximus otter
OhCanada
28-05-2005, 02:48
Sweating in nylon? Not being warm in nylon?
If these two things happen you are doing it wrong. Good nylon is for pants, and coats. Polyester is what fleece it, but it is also used for many shirts and some pants. This gear has kept many hikers warm and dry. Pants, shirt, sweater, and wind/rain coat is good for spring and summer in many areas. For winter you want thermal underwear and both fleece pants and sweaters covered by wind/rain pants and jacket. You must layer properly as it is possable to sweat even in the winter, and yes, even in wool clothes. Dead men wear cotton when it is cold and wet outside :confused:
Warmth in any fabric depends a lot on layers and wind protection. Clothes do not make you warm. Eating food and burning calories creates heat. Clothing only surrounds you with air pockets to keep your radiated heat in; but on a windy day without wind protection the wind can blow away your heat.
I use wool/nylon mix for socks and sometimes hats. And yes I sometimes wear wool clothes for the charm (at $3 I am addicted to US Army 1951 pattern wool shirts, Canadian Army wool sweaters, styled after your British jumpers, are often around $5)
Wool is ok if you have a car and are just heading to the woods for a day...if you are going hiking for a week or so it gets a tad heavy to carry on your back and hard to dry (compared to nylon). Sparks from flames? Use a cotton jacket or wool shirt if you must and use only hardwoods. I do have an OD 1951 para-parka I love wear from time to time. It is either cotton or a mix, but very windproof.
Well I am now the proud owner of a new M65 copy. Jacket is a bit long in the arms so now I don’t even need gloves…. :D
Thanks again for all the advice.
Grez..
Hi All,
Well after getting my M65 jacket I’m now thinking it is to big on the sleeves.
The label says that its for up to 128cm chest size. Does anyone know if that is the large or x-large? I have also checked with the shop I bought it from and they also say it is a large.
Cheers
Grez..
Grez, here (http://www.1starmy.com/sizes.asp) is a size chart for the american kit, it is done in inches, but 128 to me looks like it will be XL.
To convert just multiply by 2.54 and sorry if you already know this :o
Cheers leon thanks for the link.
I think your right, however they are insisting that it is a large.
Grez..