ARMY SURPLUS BUSHCRAFT BARGAINS 

My mam and dad weren't too well off, they used to buy all my clothes from the army surplus shop, got to tell you, it's no fun going to school dressed as a Japanese Admiral.🤔

Stumbled Cross your channel just now and what a welcome surprise. I get so fed up of watching great outdoor videos only to find the gear costs a fortune. I'm retired and simply don't have that sort of disposable income. So thank you for your excellent content. Right I'm off to look at your other videos 👍

To be honest a lot of dutch army gear in particular is really, really well designed especially re materials. Their camo jackets with the goretex liner, rucksacks etc are great. Got the wool mix fleece. If you want merino just look round the charity shops - marks and sparks merino v necks are e erywhere for base layers/ layering. Cheap as chips.

I've a 1929 bergen, it's perfect but too precious to use! I know of one in the bergen museum, and one in a private collection in Japan. Mine had been in a Norwegian loft untouched until I bought it in 2017. Most of my kit is very old surplus. Back in the 1970's our school bags/piece bags were old WWII gas mask haversacks. They're like hen's teeth now. Great channel. Thank you.

Im sure I have made it clear in the past just how much of a fan I am of mil kit . But watching this makes me want to share it once more ☺️🙌 Hard to beat on price for the sheer level of brutality that military equipment will withstand in the outdoors . 😊

Excellent advice, thanks! I was in the US military and I still have a few items from 25 yrs ago still working for me in the field.

For a kid who grew up on a farm in the 60s, ran the woods, and even spent a little time in boy scouts all this high-dollar, fancy stuff is more the like bushcraft version of glamping. When I was in the U.S. Army from North Carolina to Alaska, field gear was most of my camping gear. I did spend the bucks on Matterhorn duty boots (around $100 then instead of $160 for Danners) and an Ultrarest self-inflating sleeping mat (Luxury for the latter, essential for the boots) that I got from Clothing Sales on Fort Wainwright in Alaska. I still used my well-broken-in basic duty boots I got in basic for road marches. As a kid on the farm in Ohio, it was basic Boy Scout stuff (mess kit, canteen, Yucca pack) that I used for years. Clothing was pretty much what we wore all the time anyway. I used to read Bradford Angier and similar who actually spent a lot of time in the real bush and did it with basic and simple gear, but a lot of actual knowledge. A lot of so-called "essential" bushcraft gear theses days are really luxury items. Yes, they make it a bit easier and add to some fun, but they aren't as essential as the makers and marketers want you to believe.

Neil, I’ve been using military surplus for years, The old school od green. I get gear and clothing from US and other countries. Very durable and inexpensive. I have never been impressed with the hi tech clothing and gear. Wool sweaters, German paratrooper pants that are great for bushcraft. Haversacks, pouches etc. I’m very happy with my surplus. Good video.

If you’re new to camp life, and don’t have a military surplus canteen, but do have a cylindrical Nalgene water bottle, then you can buy a stainless steel camping cup from Walmart for about $5. You might have to put a bandana in the cup to get a snug/quiet fit. Alternatives are available in the $10 - $15 range from amazon

Have had some absolutely stunning bargins from charity shops most of my kit is surplus or second hand .. ok not all but good 70%.

Unfortunately, none of these seem to be available to us Yanks. All the pricing is in a different currency. We have lots of MilSurp gear on this side of the pond, but the pricing you're showing is pretty incredible! I've always wanted to make a long vacation to Europe, camp with all my favorite RU-vidrs, and buy all that great gear you have over there! Maybe someday. Thanks for the informative video

Just a personal observation, but I suspect many owners of very expensive Bush Craft kit don't actually do much Bush Craft. I'm not talking about the You Tube regulars who peddle expensive kit which has been given to them by manufacturers, obviously they appear in the local woods with the latest 'Must have' to keep their YT Channel going, but quite a few of the keyboard Bush Crafters on Forums etc: own heaps of expensive kit which lives in the spare bedroom and rarely sees the light of day..🤣 Keep the message and good example going Neil, if anyone asks me about Bush Craft kit I just refer them to your YT Channel 👍

Majority of my gear is army suplus, mainly for my reasoning is that is tougher and will last longer. I've got an olive green British bergen from 1990 that is still going strong for example.

When I got back into wild camping after a twenty year break, then bushcraft, most of my purchases to begin with, were army surplus- British army basha, bivi bag and sleeping bag. Then I started collecting mess tins- they were most a tenner each!😁.

Been looking at buying a Norgee (or Norgie or many other variations of spelling!), will definitely check out that top and jacket. I constantly recommend the 58 Pattern Water Bottles to people, and the good old Crusader Cup too, cheaper to buy both used/surplus than just a new Nalgene 1L bottle for example. Loads of cookset bargains around too, and also Haversacks and Bread bags that are great for a day hike. If you use an alcohol stove Swedish military surplus fuel bottles are dirt cheap from Military Mart.

I took your advice on boots ages ago, and I absolutely adore my Iturri Patrol boots.

Can’t beat army surplus

Great Channel no BS and REAL life skills and honest advice. Much love and respect to you Sir

Great video! I got most of my stuff from an army surplus store. They even sell new stuff quite cheap. One thing I consider important and heavily overlooked are SOCKS. I got 10 pairs of used army wool socks for 5 euros, washed them in Oxy detergent, they came out clean and white as new. They are amazing. No sweat, no smell, can wear them for days, durable, dry fast... just amazing. Since then my family noticed them and I had to make several trips to get more so I can give out everyone a few pairs. Now they ask for neighbors, relatives... hahahah

Just found your Chanel! Brilliant! Great advice, great information delivered in a no nonsense manner. Thank you.

One of my hidden heroes of issue kit not many people know about is (I’m sure you do…) the gotlieb Canoe sack either a smock tubed to go that’ll sit better in the bergen or small pack. it’s waterproof it Carry’s it. It’s also a washing machine in a pinch for ya clothing if needed. Long thin so it doesn’t take 100 different items it won’t even line your pack or bergens but for me it is a winning piece of kit. I rocked up in 2002 was issued it then. And it’ll take a small wardrobe of clothing and keep it not much space used

I am a big fan of military kit, great value and robust. My stand-out items are boots, gloves and waterproofs. I was wearing my GS Black leather gloves today, Produced in 1999, in service with me 11 years and still going strong. £5 a pair, so good I bought a spare pair! I really like the British issue smock too but as I use an army training area a lot, I felt I needed to swop mine out for the closest civilian thing I could find.

Great informative vid as always , thanks for the valuable advice - I can feel a purchase coming along

Thanks for the tips, this is brilliant. Will definitely check out the store.

I just love all my ex military gear as it is really tough and robust. I have supposed high end stuff but it's paper thin and no much chop. Love your videos. All the best from Australia 👍

Great info, thanks. Have the boots and Helly Hansen jacket already, as you recommended on an earlier video. Will look at the other kit too, cheers.

Great video also love your smock great bit of sewing

Absolute fantastic video Niall Really appreciate it

Just a milsurp secret... New issued Austrian gear, being just olive drab is some of the best quality, is nice for those not looking for a "camo military" style! I have the fleece polar-tec style thermal top and water/windproof jacket and they are my favorite pieces of kit I've ran across of all types. That's coming from a US Army vet that got their hands on some nice gear. Purchased from Varusteleka, they were almost stolen.

Just found you channel, from Simon, a bloke in the woods, I am a fan now, and defo going to order some bits, thank you

I actually tend to find that bushcrafters are way better about this kind of thing than other outdoors types. When it comes to "wild camping" (when I was growing up it was just called camping!), hiking, etc. everyone seems to think you have to spend a fortune on equipment to be able to do it. When you go out on a hike it's more like a fashion show than anything else. Of course you'll always get your "gucci" brands with any hobby or activity, and there's nothing wrong with having nice stuff. But even among bushcrafters who tend to go for those types of brands, they seem to be much more happy to accept that you don't need all the expensive kit to go out into the woods and enjoy yourself compared with other outdoors types who seem to look down their nose a bit. That's just been my experience anyway.

hi neil, many thanks for the very informative video. just what i've been looking for. kind regards, subbed.

I bought the iturri boots on the strength of your last video. You are right superb boots for the money. Highly recommended.

I’ll be getting them tops, Neil. Good vid sir 😉👍🏼

Absolutely wonderful useful and informative video. Thankyou very much sir.

Good video Neil , thanks for sharing , God bless !

First time seeing your channel. Good stuff

Well done 👍🏻 We are huge surplus and thrift store shoppers over here. Great video

Great video mate

Very good advices, thank you sir!

I think every bushcraft video begins with one minute of someone walking in a forest

In cycling the more you pay the less you get. like your one leg trousers comment, very funny. really enjoyed this and learned a lot.😀

Another great video, many thanks. Like you , I prefer the more neutral colours over camouflage patterns, they seem to be more acceptable in public locations and draw less attention when moving into nature/woodland. Keep up the good work, regards Broadlander

A $15 Morakniv will do 95% of any bushcraft task. Nearly any piece of gear has a cheap alternative. Tarp from the hardware store, clothesline string, jute twine, whatever, bum your grandad’s hatchet…LOL. But I do love me some surplus, it’s cheap but so heavy! Has to be soldier-proof! 😂

Brilliant video, got a new sub there mate. I personally had the boots issued to me and the only problem I had was that the outer layer on the toe wore very quickly and my Sgt had a moan about it. I prefer my Aku boots myself and I kept those too.

Great advice, you got another subscriber 👍

Grew up with surplus gear. Used it in scouts and was the only kid in my junior high to use a pack (WWI style) to carry my books. Also, wore an old OD green field jacket. Now have a bunch of my old kit from being in the Army, plus additional kit that I bought. Habit forming.

Thanks for sharing nice kit 👌

Hi Neil. Can’t beat army surplus. I still wearing my 1977 issued German Army lined parka,which I bought from a surplus shop called The Mendip Trading Co. which was in our town,in 1986. The shop is long gone now,but the coat is still going strong. It’s a bit tatty,but still does what it’s supposed to,and does it a lot better than many newer equivalents. All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧

Great bushcraft show 😁

That canteen stove is awesome

The best thing I ever bought and I absolutely love was my Dutch army hooped bivvy, use it all the time

Endicott’s is fantastic! I even have ordered from them from the States!

As a Boy Scout in the 1960's I managed to pick up some WW2 army surplus gear from a local shop for Scout camps etc, aided by a paper round. A few lads in our troop had MK III signalling lamps, these took a # 126 bell battery which originally used brass terminal nuts. Later batteries came with plastic terminal nuts which required filing down the longer threaded terminals and re used the brass nuts. One of these lamps cost half a crown back then. These days I haven't found any mention of these lamps anywhere on the internet.

There's so much bomb proof kit out there. My bergen wasn't very comfortable though but it is now since there are companies out there that tailor them with better straps etc. My best buy is the fast drying army t-shirts, managed to get 6 for £16 :)

Excellent. Bushcraft is about the experience not the gear.

I like your brew kit. Is it dutch canteen mug or the American GI mug? Great vid and 100% spot on. Thanks for posting 📫

I was issued 511 pants in 2015 to work around and under semi-trucks for a government organization. 4 black in first 2 years wearing and washing them 1.25 times per week, 4 more pairs of khakis issued in 2017. I have worn these 8 pairs in rotation 5 days a week at work to date. I slide my fat butt across asphalt and sometimes gravel inspecting parts 1-2 days a week. The black ones are starting to fray at cuffs and have very small holes forming at thigh pocket corners but are still in service in 2022! The khakis are all good. The extra pockets below the thigh, loop straps from hip to back pocket, etc. do come in handy for my work but I expect would be more useful in the "wild". For pants that last so long at 60USD I would consider the expenditure.

Like your style Mate

Hi I'm at 3:49 Mark, and I've done this, bought like £500 of gear from Amazon, like two seater inflatable Kayak, Bergen, Gerry Cans, cutlery in all forms, pots that incorporate plates as lids, Trangia Stove, got two but Amazon sent me one that must've got knocked into the already filled box, so two for one there, same thing happened with my 8 sided fire shield's, ordered one, got 2 mind, shh now! Got a 2 man tent, plus the usual 'DD 3x3 metre tarp, plus another 3x3 metre one that's bright blue, don't know where I got this, had it before I'd brought all this gear, and got a smaller, but squared came tarp that would be good as a groundsheet, but I think a small set up, and a cut open bin liner would give you a very cheap groundsheet, especially if tour tarp is going to be your Amazon footprint one, always take the Trangia's full of Meths, and use as last resort, or use these on simmer style to keep you warm in your set up. Gas cannister Collemans and the pot holder attachment coming so is my "Bluet Stove" So I can put a tarp above me as a further sit out and cook and eat set up, (I somehow managed to say "kayaks not coming I'm sure puncture will be fixed by Decathlon, and it can be arranged that "were off!"! I'll find out if I can post up pictures, but remember I'm 56 and bit of a technophobe, but I get by..Cheers...Paul. Keep you informed.....

Thanks for the tips!.. Cheers!

It used to be all about surviving on what you were stood in. Nowadays its nuts how designer Bushcraft has become which totally defeats the object. The German army waterproof trousers I have have been superb and if they had a designer label on would probably be £250, mine were £30 as new.

Used surplus since I was a kid, as every uncle, dad , or cousin had boxes of it from the wars or service time.

Great advice

have 3 pairs of iturri boots, brown / black / brown cold weather gortex, great boots, use them as work boots as well as my goto hiking boots and, iturri (a spanish company) also own the karrimor brand

another great video! i accidentally stumbled across endicotts last time i was in exeter. what a great shop!

Good old battery acid, clutch plates and break pads. Just another day in the devils caldron.

We enjoyed the video very much!! Very useful info! I was looking all over Europe to find army surplus and/or knife shops. Didn't find anything too good i think! Now the question is if i can order from that shop, exactly the items you proposed, for delivery to Greece. I guess my best bet is to make a friend who lives in London bring them to me when he visits.

Good on ya mate don't need all the flash gear to go bush

Nice video my friend. Greetings from Oklahoma USA

Thank you for this video! I really like your jacket, what make/model is it? All the best from Sweden/Finland!

I'm gathering up quite a bit of kit at the moment things are going a certain way and I like to be prepared.

Good info, thanks.

I've just bought a pair of "distressed" (meaning second hand) pair of Altburg's issued boot for £20 from a surplus store in the UK, bought 1 size up as recommended and they are perfect! Back in the day we used to buy things like a Goretex bivvy bag, even DPM barbour jackets so we could strut around camp, mised in with US Jungle boots!! Now the good is so good it's unreal. The one thing you can't buy tho is the mental side of being out in the wilds, that's experience.

Thank you for your sacrifice!

I love army gear especially my poncho ! Nobody in the bloody outdoor fashion world makes a poncho like that 🤗💪🏼

Greetings from New Zealand! Found your channel, and I'm impressed. Add one more subscriber, brother!

The forest is still pretty good....there are still lots of lush trees... This is a very interesting bushcraft....

In the past I brought army surplus never buy brand new , but now days it has been brand. Still at bargin prices! When I do outdoor sports I buy mre meals and take a solid fuel cooker never let me down.

Just one point about the merino shirt: There’s no point wearing that shirt if you are going to wear a cotton or cotton-mix tee-shirt underneath. That would completely ruin the idea of wearing a wool shirt in the first place as the tee-shirt would hold moisture against the body and make you cold! Instead, invest in a couple of merino tee-shirts to wear under your merino shirt. Layering wool is the way to go!!

Love the tea making gear- where did you purchase it from?

I agree with the rest of you all. No need to spend thousands ro be able to get outdoors.

I like the Swedish trangia mess kit. I also like the smell of the stuff that comes from the surplus stores, it all smells the same.

I still got the helly hanson i put in a suitcase forgot about it fetched out few times to wash mint cannot part with it use sparingly lol

All my wardrobe is ex army bar t-shirts and trainers, ex German or ex British are my go too

Clothing aside, the most important love of kit you will buy is a fixed blade knife. You do not need to break the bank to buy one. I have a LOT of knives, some of which are very high-end, expensive models. But to be honest I find hat my day-to-day knife is a cheap Mora Companion HD. They can be had for anywhere between £15.00 and £20.00 depending on where you shop. The standard Companion (just a slightly slimmer blade) is also very capable and will be even cheaper. Great knives for cheap!!

the military stuff is good to have 🙏

Neil I concur but camouflage gear came a benefit leave no trace not be seen and if your a wildlife photographer being not seen camouflage is perfect if it keeps you warm and dry who cares on colour or pattern some animals eyesight is based on movement like deer stand still soon as you move they has it on their toes and are gone 👍🦊🐾🍀

The Dutch army fleece is a must!!

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Great video, what stove is that in your video?

Hi mate ,showed a tarp in one of you videos, really interested it's the one that seals itself if punchured can't find it now ,can you let me know what it's called and how to get one, thanks

Starting a new hobby does mean for many that that funds need to spread thin and wide, when premium brands of high repute, don't leave much to spread around. Wilkinson, a UK high street hardware shop sells a very nice folding saw, own brand, Japanese steel, and murderously sharp for about - £12.00 English, freeing up a useful sum to put towards another bushcraft essential. I think its a good'n, well worth the money for anyone starting out in bushcraft, compared to the premium brands.

As usual a great video. It is really disappointing to see videos plugging high dollar gear. Like that you show budget friendly gear or how to make your own custom gear. Most of my gear is mil surplus because it's cheaper and usually better made.

What is the “fire” can / pad and squirt bottle gear?

I'm on the other side of the pond and I want those boots lol. I also have wanted a basha for a while but the shipping costs as much as the gear sadly. It's a sad state of affairs when regulations and tariffs are such I can't get a 2lb item from the u.k for under $40 american. Eventually everyone is gonna get out of manufacturing and into shipping. One day all the humans will be standing next to empty boats wondering where all the stuff is to put in the boats

I like your stove. Do you have a video on how it is made?

While I haven't been there for awhile, sportsmans guide has great deals.

Good kit choices. The 5.11 sounds very WP lol

Unfortunately a lot of Mil surplus isn't all that cheap anymore but luckily all you need for bushcraft is a nice knife.