Non expensive kit

[Wayland]

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.

[Shewie]

Good thread Richard, it`s been a long time coming

Don`t forget the £8 trousers in Asda, 100% cotton

[Wilderbeast]

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

[MartinK9]

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

2p ? - That's expensive

[Jared]

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

[durulz]

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.

[Fin]

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.

[rik_uk3]

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]

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??

[rik_uk3]

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

With a SIGG Tourest cookset you have a fantastic winter stove and pan set
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSWuvevaMWE

[bikething]

...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!

[rik_uk3]

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]

Bike, thats me in the video mate, and I've got two for the 123

I know that's you Rik .. didn't know you had a 'spare'

[gunnix]

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/sho...shcraft+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]

A stick gets my vote

Cheers

K

[Melonfish]

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

[Smudge]

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]

good luck with finding one of those.. it took me over a year!

Here's one

[rik_uk3]

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

[Trojan]

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!

[shogun]

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

[Barney]

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!

[rg598]

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.

[Barney]

There is a very old bushcraft saying which must apply over there also,

"The more you earn, the less you carry"

[roibica]

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]

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

[roibica]

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]

my good god cheep kit is a must thats why i do army serplus

[Finnman]

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)



Some of the colorful stuff in picture are my son´s toys

[waddcal]

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)



Some of the colorful stuff in picture are my son´s toys

:O

both of the surplus stores near me have closed down