View Full Version : Bad Kit/Ideas
StormWalker
07-07-2005, 20:09
Evening all,
Over the past few weeks I have watched with great interest all the differing reveiws about great peices of kit which people have bought, but as I am new to bushcrafting I am also wondering what products are out there which are not as great as the manufacturers would have us believe.
I know nobody likes to admit they spent their hard earned cash on a peice of junk, but please help a new starter. :o
Cheers
SW :D
That Maya fire starting wood stuff in the little tins from Light My Fire. Cotton wool is lighter, cheaper, packs down denser and takes a spark first time, every time.
marshall4771
07-07-2005, 21:37
I spent my cash on " light my fire" - what a waste. I ended up trying to light the whole tin with a fire steel. no chance, I wont buy this rubbish again (serves me right really - short cuts dont work )
Shaun
Ogri the trog
07-07-2005, 22:14
Yup, me too,
Got hooked by the hype of Maya dust - the only thing of any real use is the tin.
Stick with birch bark or cotton wool - much cheaper to get hold of and whats more, they work!
Also, I regularly get tempted to buy a really expensive knife, but at the last moment, a wave of sanity kicks in. Will it really cut any better than a cheaper knife? Maybe it will and maybe it wont, either way I keep on saving the big bucks that I haven't spent on it! And I'm really getting to like the kit made knife from Brisa that I made.
ATB
Ogri the trog
Yea i'm afraid i made the same mistake, sounded great but wasn't.
TwoFourAlpha
07-07-2005, 22:52
I feel slightly better that I only paid 99p for a tin of maya dust when the YHA shops were closing. I still feel ripped off though. I got it home, tried it, decided it was useless and binned it. I went back to the old faithful cotton wool soaked in candlewax. I keep that in the maya-dust tin.
Also I recognised it for what it is ( I'd just been fitting some new doors ) and made my own. It's power-planer shavings. I had better success with shavings from an old pine shelf. ( true )
You often need a trip outdoors to find what doesn't work.
I have an LED torch with a button you press to switch it on. Easy to get knocked on by accident - when I came to use it the batteries were dead. Fortunately I had candles. I have a ham radio transceiver with the same design fault.
I have a lightweight waterproof that I foolishly bought without examining it closely. Seams are not taped, and no flap over zip. It's not completely useless, but I wouldn't use it in the hills - it does leak after prolonged rain.
rapidboy
07-07-2005, 23:07
I never tried the Maya dust ,once i discovered birch bark i never looked back.
I think the only bad "bushcraft buy" i have made is a BRKT Northstar.
IMO It was not a be all and end all bushcarft knife that it was supposed to be.
I returned mine and got a refund so i spent the money on a Fallkniven F1 (actually spent less on the F1) I'm waiting for the F1 at the moment and i hope it lives up to my expectations from other peoples reviews.
After reading reviews my Hennessy Hammock was a little lighter duty than i expected (although in use it has proved to be fine) and i didn't get along with the GB mini or find it particularly useful ,but pretty much what the guy's on here use is top kit.
Kit choice is a very personal thing so just because the Northstar wasn't for me it doesn't mean others don't think it's great (many do).
Did you have anything in particular in mind StormWalker ??
rb
Probably the worst was Integral Design's Sil Shelter. During a heavy thunderstorm, I could watch the water droplets smash through the taut silnylon shell and explode in a mist. I got real wet. Sent it back to ID and got my money back.
Don't have much use for those tiny space blankets. Never cared for hydration bladders though I know lots of folks love 'em.
I've yet to understand the fascination with cotton smocks. Not much use when wet are they? ;) Something to give you hypothermia?
StormWalker
08-07-2005, 08:30
Thanks everyone,
After this I can confidently say that Maya dust will never be something i will put in my pack.
But no doubt that i will learn from my own mistakes. :D
Speak to you soon,
SW :D
jamesdevine
08-07-2005, 10:20
I have made a few bad buy's namly a pair of Solomn boots that after two wears I decide to return to my old leather boots. 4 years on and they are in plastic bag in an un used room. I am selling if anyone interested.
My main problem has been buying top kit and not get enough time to use them my hennesy is an example I got it a year ago and other the using it for that week it's only seen the light of day once since then. A waste but I am thorn between selling it on and keeping it becuase it's so comfortable. We'll see.
Buy what you need not what you think you need is the moral here. Keep it simple and safe the money to spend on get you to the wilderness not on over loading yourself and never using it half of it. I need to listen to myself more.
James
I was seduced by the bomb-proof appearance of the Karrimor Boma 30L day bag. It has a plethora of zips [one of which is 100% waterproof] and more compartments than you need to lose a set of car keys. The outer skin is made of the same material as a sea going RIB [Hyperlon?] and is described as "almost indestructible".
Mayhap. But its complexity conspires to reduce its useful carrying capacity since filling any one pocket expands the bag inwards and pinches space from any other storage nook. Also, it is one heavy bit of kit! Probably edging 3kg on its own.
This acquisition clearly reminded me of the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. The Boma's replacement will be a lightweight, single compartment sac with a waterproof liner.
and i didn't get along with the GB mini or find it particularly useful
rb
don't worry mate, i'm putting it to good use now :D
Buy what you need not what you think you need is the moral here. Keep it simple and safe the money to spend on get you to the wilderness not on over loading yourself and never using it half of it. I need to listen to myself more.
i'm guilty of this aswell. i think buying kit is my way of compensating for not having the time to get out and use it !
rapidboy
08-07-2005, 11:44
don't worry mate, i'm putting it to good use now :D
Glad to hear it :D ,that's what i mean about kit being a personal choice.
rb
Goretex lined boots:
Your feet may vary, but I sweated in em so much I may as well have been stood in a stream. Stank afterwards, too. For ever!
Army lightweight mesh hammock:
Is our army comprised of tiny stunted goblins? NO! Then why does this item appear to have been designed for someone around 4'9" tall?
Anything made from DryFlo/coolmax:
Wear for 20 mins of strenuous activity, smell like a dead dog for the rest of the trip. Wool is a hundred times more civilised (and fireproof)
Jim.
Anything Gore-Tex :(
Biggest waste of time and money ever!
jamesdevine
08-07-2005, 12:44
This acquisition clearly reminded me of the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. The Boma's replacement will be a lightweight, single compartment sac with a waterproof liner.
Black bin liner and a weightless spare one in a pocket just encase.
James
weekend_warrior
08-07-2005, 12:51
Black bin liner and a weightless spare one in a pocket just encase.
James
I'm a double bagger myself - no point having the spare after your kit's all wet.. ;)
Don´t ever buy things that are free in nature or that you can make yourself. Maya dust is easy do yourself and the same thing with maya sticks.
Worst buy you will make will probably be a knife, lots of money for something that you might end up not liking. I guess everyone here has a lot of knives that is collecting dust in a drawer.
bambodoggy
08-07-2005, 13:25
I'm a double bagger myself - no point having the spare after your kit's all wet.. ;)
My bergan, side pockets and day sack all have their own black rubberised canoe dry bags in them as a lining. This is the only why to 100% garentee my kit will stay dry... I learned this back in the TA when upon arrival in Breacon and climbing out of the transport each weekend at least one of the staff nco's would grab the nearest bergan and sling it in the nearest river....you soon learned to waterproof your kit that way. It can then be used as a floatation aid when crossing water too...we didn't use bridges...ever lol
My worst bit of kit is a toss up between those mesh hammocks Jim was talking about and the utterly useless little "Commando" wire saws...total tosh!
Bam :D
Worst buy you will make will probably be a knife, lots of money for something that you might end up not liking. I guess everyone here has a lot of knives that is collecting dust in a drawer.
No comment. :D :D :D
Actually, I quite liked, and used, all my knives(at time of purchase), I just like the later ones better[1] :rolleyes:
Same with axes, rucksacks, stoves, tents....Cont. P94. :o
Jim.
[1] Apart from the Frost's Clipper and an Eriksson wooden handled Mora, which are (if I'm honest) my main users.
tenbears10
08-07-2005, 15:23
Anything Gore-Tex :(
Biggest waste of time and money ever!
I'm not sure if you are refering to bushcraft or wearing around the campfire but this is a very general comment.
I totally disagree, if you have ever been mountain climbing in anything other than summer sunshine you will realise that a gore-tex jacket is the difference between being warm and dry and getting hypothermia. :confused:
I'm not sure if you are refering to bushcraft or wearing around the campfire but this is a very general comment.
I totally disagree, if you have ever been mountain climbing in anything other than summer sunshine you will realise that a gore-tex jacket is the difference between being warm and dry and getting hypothermia. :confused:
Ditto.
For all my railing against it as a boot-liner, I wouldn't do without my Berghaus Lightning 3 layer, or my MOD bivi bag.
I find the benefits of xcr and other light/super GTX fabrics a bit thin for the price diff, mind you.
Jim.
Well here are a few in my opinion of course:
BCB Firesteels.
Camping Gaz Bluet Stoves (useless in cold weather and not very robust).
Meraklon gloves.
Cheap map cases (you may as well spend the money on Fablon and waterproof the map).
Mini Maglites (not very good light and short battery life).
Maglite solitaire (as above, far better of with small LED).
Plastic button compasses (most of the time have bubbles in them and aren’t accurate).
Wire saws (have a tendency of getting stuck or snapping).
Survival tins (you are probably better off making up one of your own which is slightly larger).
Bergan liners (most aren’t that much cop and you are better off with a canoe bag).
Pertex field towels (what exactly are you supposed to be able to dry with them).
That should cover a few bits for now :)
innocent bystander
08-07-2005, 18:46
I did buy the worlds worst wire saw when i was a kid. instead of the many stranded wire type, it was a single wire with nick's cut out of it. Used half a time before it snapped.
Justin Time
08-07-2005, 19:13
I like Meraklon gloves... great if you're moving fast or working hard.. although more for the difference between comfort and discomfort rather than as life savers but then my hands tend to be hot if hill walking. They're cheap and scrunch up small so easy to have a pair in every coat ( meraklon gloves I mean, not hands...). Of course I never actually wear them as liners...
bcb ferrosium rod are ok, but require's are slightly diffrent way of use. Wenn you get it, it will become quite easy. Although not as effective as a full sized millitary firesteel, but that due to the size.
bcb ferrosium rod are ok, but require's are slightly diffrent way of use. Wenn you get it, it will become quite easy. Although not as effective as a full sized millitary firesteel, but that due to the size.
I used them for over 15 years before going onto the current ones (swedish army firesteel, which I have been using for over five years) and they do not compare, you are far better off saving the money you would spend on one and buy one of the ones from the trading post (http://www.thetradingpost.co.uk/), they cost a little more last a lot longer and are far more effective.
Simply put the BCB ones are not worth the price as better can be had for just a little less that will last longer :) .
mine was a cheap folding saw ( I now own a laplander) its had a lot of use and still going but the one i bought before lasted one weekend and 1/2 pint blood when the catch broke and i caught my skin in it .
Just to add annother tuppence worth to the above:
Coolmax/dryflo baselayer: I genuinely find these quite good from late spring to early autumn. In terms of er, body odour, they are better than cotton and propylene (eg 'SmellyHansen') but not as good as wool. But very good at keeping you dry. You do need to protect from fire- a tiny spark mkes a quarter inch hole.
Goretex: Is good, but not as good as the hype.
Goretex lined footwear: I agree - make your feet intolerably sweaty/smelly. However, my new boots are eVent lined and so far, I'd say it is far better than goretex and fully waterproof.
To be honest, the old rule 'you get what you pay for' still applies. Occasionally you still get things that are good-but-cheap, eg:
- military surplus
- Lidl, Aldi, occasionally Argos kit
- budget kit from quality makers eg Craghoppers
- Mora knives
-good but unfashionable brands eg Wetterlings, Hi-tec
-small makers like K&M Matchcases, Kathmandu Trekking
rapidboy
08-07-2005, 23:04
I use the Light My Fire firesteels and the ones Gary sells(for £5.00) and they both appear to be the same and very good.
What is a BCB firesteel ???
rb I will see if I can get some pictures of one, but effectviely it is a smaller diameter firesteel supported on one side by a thin metal casing with an eye in the top. They normally come with a peice of hacksaw blade attached to them on a bit of cord.
rb I will see if I can get some pictures of one, but effectviely it is a smaller diameter firesteel supported on one side by a thin metal casing with an eye in the top. They normally come with a peice of hacksaw blade attached to them on a bit of cord.
Leon,
Is this the one (top one in the pic) you meant mate?
http://www.bcbin.com/ImagesProducts/CN331.jpg
Piccy from www.bcbin.com
NEVER use a net-hammock for sleeping :) *rubs sore back & bruises*
Motorbike Man
09-07-2005, 11:37
My first proper survival knife. It was one of those things with the hard plastic sheath which contained things like catapult elastics for the fold out catapult on the sheath. These were unbelievably accurate, but only at getting your eye when the elastic pinged off, there was a so called harpoon which you were supposed to fix to a spear with the 6" of nasty nylon string but was so blunt it would bounce off of a block of butter, and to top it all off, you could attach the blade to the sheath and use it to cut wire, or at least toffee. If you were lucky :rolleyes:
rapidboy
09-07-2005, 11:40
:D :D :D :D
Motorbike Man
09-07-2005, 12:20
:D :D :D :D
You too? :rolleyes:
rapidboy
09-07-2005, 12:38
No way mate but your a bigger man than most for admitting it. :p
Motorbike Man
09-07-2005, 12:39
No way mate but your a bigger man than most for admitting it. :p
Well, I was only 15 at the time :D
rapidboy
09-07-2005, 12:58
I remember my mate had one with a little crossbow on the sheath.
We got into a lot of trouble for firing it across the classroom in school. :o
Leon,
Is this the one (top one in the pic) you meant mate?
http://www.bcbin.com/ImagesProducts/CN331.jpg
Piccy from www.bcbin.com
Yes Johan, that is the very beastie, they will do the job, but they are nowhere near as effective as the light my fire or other types, they are quite thin as well so you will get limited usage out of it. :)
Brangdon
09-07-2005, 21:40
I have several rods and the BCB is what I carry everyday; it's a small and convenient emergency backup to my cigarette lighter. I reckon the ones stuck to magnesium blocks are more of a waste of money. They are big, the magnesium blows away before you can make a pile of scapings, and the rod comes detached from the block.
These Tinder Cards (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr2046.html) are pretty disappointing. They'll ignite with a spark as advertised, but because they are not water proof you are better off with Tinder-Quiks or similar.
Credit-card sized fresnel lenses are no good for lighting fires in the British climate. Especially at night.
Don't know if this is a bit of bad kit or not, but I've just been sent a link to this firesteel....if I don't say it's not very good I'll be given one as a present by the friend on my birthday......anybody know?
http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=908
Cheers,
Toddy
Justin Time
10-07-2005, 09:39
Toddy
They're good for one handed use although need something solid to push against. Certainly don't belong in the bad kit pile.
raskusdrotti
10-07-2005, 09:42
Hey Toddy,
I saw this at the Wilderness Gathering last year, its a pretty good bit of kit. It's distributed by Woodland Organics (http://www.woodlandorganics.com/us/products.asp) who do Hennessy hammocks and made by the same company as wetfire tinder, so it should be good :D
BTW - i have no affilly-wotsit to Woodland Organics.
Neil
rapidboy
10-07-2005, 10:27
They are good kit.
Disadvantage are that you need to press them against something so they dont lend themselves to lighting Trangias etc .
They are bulkier than a simple firesteel and they have moving parts so are not as reliable as a regular firesteel.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/406_0601_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/406_0602_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/406_0605_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/406_0623_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/rapidboy1/406_0622_1.jpg
Advantages are that they are bigger and should last longer.
They produce more sparks than a standard firesteel
They are safer than using a knife blade to strike a regular firesteel.
Not bad kit but perhaps more than is needed for most situations but great to teach kid's with as they don't use a blade to strike them.
rb
Thanks for the information folks; nice photos RB :D :cool:
Maybe I'll just keep quiet and see what my birthday brings right enough then :)
Actually, I might see what the budget is for the Summer bushcraft activities for kids, this may be a goodie for them too.
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Toddy
One thing to point out is that the Blastmatch can be used with a knife like a regular firesteel. I keep one in my car. Not in the bad kit list, but probably more mileage for the money in a regular Swedish firesteel.
My "A Wright" sheffield penknife has been my worst buy so far. It was the first knife I've bought myself (I got a mora based on a million good reviews, so it doesn't count) so I didn't know what I was doing. I later found that the bevel was carved at about 45 degrees, was not at all sharp, and was not even very straight. After much messing about with a friend's poor amateur regrinding I finally got it vaguely sharp and it broke (a little unintended twisting action, the scales seperated around the hingepin, and the blade went sideways) :confused: the first time I used it for anything remotely challenging, which was only cutting/ scavenging nylon straps and buckles from a bag someone had thrown away. :)
I've learned my lesson, and am sticking with my trusty 3 inch locking opinel until I get back to britain, at which time I'll have to find a new non-locking knife.
Has anyone else had any problems with these things? Did I get seduced by history and looks, or are these things normally better?
ilovemybed
04-08-2005, 15:13
:o Still got mine lying around somewhere :o
What a load of rubbish it was. I believe it claimed it could be used to slide down a "death slide" wire too. The non-shiny emergency mirror in the sheath was another classic. And how long was the tang? about 2cm? Not much considering the size of the blade! Still, my parents bought it for me in about 1987 and it shut me up for a fair while so it was probably worth the 12 quid to them at least :p
My first proper survival knife. It was one of those things with the hard plastic sheath which contained things like catapult elastics for the fold out catapult on the sheath. These were unbelievably accurate, but only at getting your eye when the elastic pinged off, there was a so called harpoon which you were supposed to fix to a spear with the 6" of nasty nylon string but was so blunt it would bounce off of a block of butter, and to top it all off, you could attach the blade to the sheath and use it to cut wire, or at least toffee. If you were lucky :rolleyes:
Has anyone else had any problems with these things? Did I get seduced by history and looks, or are these things normally better?
I believe the edge bevel is set up between 20 and 25degrees per side. I don't like it but it does stop them chipping when people pry with them. It's something which I'm going to mention to them though. Blades are used in a few models so they tend to go a bit off on purpose to have space for other blades. It's something I don't like but most do that (victorinox being one of them). Other then that I've had no issues with quality for money (in the UK).
Regarding the blast match
I was told they were designed as part of a survival pack for aircraft crew and can be used when you have very limited control of your hands. They meet that brief very well but I feel that a normal firesteel is better for bushcraft. I don't think they last any longer as they make a lot of sparks but since these aren't as crotrolled don't light things any better.
I have a love hate thing going on with a coleman duel fuel stove. When it's working properly it's stable easy to use and cooks food quickly and is cheap to run on petrol It is also great for bad weather both very cold and very windy. However it seems to need stripping down very often to get the performance out of it and is heavy if your carrying it around. I'm not sure it's worth it.
GPS (Aside from some extreme situations e.g. unmapped jungle/ featureless desert).
Heavy, single use bit of kit, work for <20 hours on a new set of batteries (so no good for mutli-day expeds), easy to go wrong with, don't give you a decent bearing unless you're moving, can't be used to take bearing on anything else, and you *still* need to carry a compass and map to navigate properly.
K.
lardbloke
04-08-2005, 19:31
I have a etrex legend and would not use it in my mountaineering role if my life depended on it, the signal is usually out by more than 20 or so feet and would end walking of a cornice or ledge. The batts only last a few hours and even less if I use the light function. The only time I use it now is to get myself out of bad traffic down the M62, give me a map and compass any time.
j.roberts7
05-08-2005, 14:53
anything bcb
greg2935
05-08-2005, 15:22
I have to admit I am pretty dissappointed with gotex kit too although I think this may be because the kit I usually buy is "used", I guess it gets brittle after a certain amount of use.
The most dissappointing kit I have ever bought was an expensive carbon steel knife... blade snapped off while carving a walking stick!
Other stupid things I have bought are cheap 5 season sleeping bags that you freeze in, in the middle of summer and badly fitting highly recommended shoes.
Bardster
05-08-2005, 19:05
Most annoying bad piece of kit recently was the humvee version of the palight - ridiculous 2 inch circle of light at 4 ft - what use is that?? dont get me wrong, the survival version that i bought for the wife is pretty good but the humvee is horrible - and its bigger too :(
bikething
07-08-2005, 20:36
anything bcb
You won't be wanting a crusader cooker then ;)
Minotaur
08-08-2005, 11:46
Goretex: Is good, but not as good as the hype.
That sums it up. I never gave in and now lots of people agree with me that it is expensive, and evidence points to its habit of failling.
I have been sat here reading this thread and I do not think I have an item to add.
Yep, I had one of those survival knifes and looking back on it, it did not get a lot of use, but my bushman is in the same boat now. It must be the personnel choice thing, because I loved mine, improved it as surgested in S, W & T. It could be that you all had the Altor, or the cheap chinese rip off, but my Explora was brillant if under used.
My Bushman, really good knife and would recommended it to anyone, but I must admit it sits in its sheath most of the time. If it is not a mora job, it is a billhook job.
Just thought of something, my cheap Aldi fleece, love it but you have to wear a wicking t-shirt, or even with it open you get a wet back. Forgot this recently on Exmoor, to cold to leave it open, I was lovely and warm but soaked to the skin.
I have the Army kit problem in the other direction, (this also applies to other makes of combats), what is the point of the lower pockets on the legs if they are level with my knees so I cannot use them?
innocent bystander
08-08-2005, 17:26
Heres one. The us army cot. The one you need the crowbar to assemble. The one that's so taught that it's like sleeping on a sheet of iron (i was going to say a sheet of plywood, but that has some insulating quality).... That is seriously crap.
Brangdon
15-08-2005, 14:01
GPS.Sounds like a case of mismanaged expectations. I bought mine primarily for in-car navigation, but I take it with me when I'm walking too. It provides a backup to map and compass, especially valuable when visibility is poor. You don't have to leave it on continuously; you can switch it on to check your location, then switch it off. Batteries last ages like that. It can be a convenient way to make a record of a trip, which you can later attach (digital) photos to on a PC.
Different models vary, of course, but I wouldn't say my Garmin GPSMap 60 was "bad kit". I'd say it was verging on irresponsible to venture into the wilderness without one. Even if it got left at the bottom of my rucksack I'd still want it with me to help if/when I get lost. There are loads of "rescue" stories that GPS would have helped avoid.
bob_the_bomb
12-10-2008, 05:19
The US army cot...yes, you do need to eat your weetabix to get that last piece in place but it was IMMEASURABLY better then the Brit horror made out of two coathangers that would tip you out if you dared to roll over...
I'm a weedy little orang utang and never have any problems putting the american cots together. You need to know the secret technique! ;)
I've still got one and use it as a spare bed or if my back is playing up, very good for stressed backs.
Andy
w00dsmoke
12-10-2008, 10:15
I'm quite shrewd when it comes to buying kit these days but when I was younger...oh dear!
Useless bits of kit I've purchased in the past:
Some canoe airbags at £40 a pop-crap, lasted me a season before leaking, why are they made of total crap materials and so expensive?
Sorrell boots-have u tried walking in these? Murder
Brit Army boots, floppy when wet
Berghaus Strom boots-like rocks on my feet
Camel desert boots, fell apart after a month in the outback!
A wind and waterproof lighter that wasn't either!
Whisperlite pumps-plastic fragile and frankly very badly designed pumps! No room for error in these!
Thermarest base camp-what a waste of money for what it is!
Highlander rucksack-finally collapsed when trecking in to do some felling with a chainsaw in it! (almost anything by highlander afterwards! junk)
Plastic spork...it melts when you are stirring hot food? What's that all about? doh!
Hmm. Probably made loads of bad investments, i simply have chosen to forget about them :D
First thing that comes to mind is a backpack. Häglöfs shosho. Brilliant frontloading pack.....with 3 kg worth of zippers. Soon got changed out though.
MSR gas-lantern. The one with the metalmesh instead of glas. Produces great working light, is fairly lightweight, fairly noisefree during operation, and can stand up to almost any abuse. But lets face it. Whos going to carry the alntern aswell as 1 or 2 gasflasks around for a 2 week hike?
Knife-ways i still use and carry the very first knife i ever made. Scandinavian style, good ole danish oak, black horn, and a 8 cm blade made out of the coilspring out of a beemer. Honestly it is the only knife i ever use. (but i too must admit to have huge amounts of knifes lying around wich i never use. Most of wich are Mora og the like)
Clothing. I have the Härkila Lappland set. Jacket was bought first. A few years after the trousers came along. Expensive as h..., heavy, robust, and Goretex. Never had any trouble with it. In fact if i pull the legs of the pants tight enough to my boots i can walk across streams without worrying about water in my shoes. Done so quite a few times now.
And the i have variuous amounts of wool and cotton shirts, turtlenecks (from the army) Pinewood lined pants and what not. (basically the cheaper alternatives.)
Worst buy of it all: the washingmachine from hell, that managed to boilclean most of my woolen clothing last year :Thinkingo
I can't think of anything woefully inadequate, although I've "outgrown" kit as it were. I think this is due to finding the next thing that is better.
The zeltbahn is underused, more of a garden tent in the summer. It only cost 15 Euros though, so hardy a biggie! My waxed Stockman was a coat I really wanted until I had to reproof it and then wore it out and realised that walking in it is not really possible, the long coat wraps around your legs and soon becomes a nuisance! A shame as I really like the look of it, it's hung behind the door on a coat hanger since I bought it really, I wore it two or three times after reproofing it. I'm thinking of shortening it slightly to the same length as the Swanni I got off Eric, it may fare better at that length.
John Fenna
12-10-2008, 11:53
Plastic Crusader cup lid! What a joke!
bronskimac
12-10-2011, 20:46
Just been reading through this thread. Very instructive and amusing. Is there another newer thread on "bad kit" or did the idea just run it's course?
bronskimac
12-10-2011, 20:54
Ignore me. Found the newer; kit you wouldn't recommend (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71546&highlight=recommend)
I have outgrown kit and have too many knives (and axes) to use.
The bad stuff I just forget about.
I dont get on with army mess tins, hammocks. (I keep a net one for storage and summer afternoon longing) and fancy clothing. (never been able to afford any)
jonnie drake
13-10-2011, 22:03
a double walled steel mug... they dont heat up well at all!!! titanium mug proved to be so much more efficent!
cheap knife sharpener and knives with crap steel blades with dodgy grinds that are ridiculous to get back to anywhere near sharp. Either put good money into sharpening gear or make your own from wet and dry paper, and also get the right first knife. I think mine was a buck bantam which in the right hands would make a nice knife for someone but it is far from an ideal bushcraft knife and its not fun to shapen, thank god my second knife was a mora clipper.
Also berghaus vulcan bergen... wow heavy or what. unloaded it can weigh more than all my dry gear in my current pack.