Very important mention, thanks Bex. Layering properly can be a key to survival in harsh climate and/or extreme scenarios. I did a 170 kilometer backpacking trip last July and the entire time we were between 3,000 - 4,000 meters above sea level. And if there's one thing that played a tremendous role in our trip it was layering and accessibility of our gear. Weather would change very quickly and temperatures would vary widely because of the elevation. Thanks for sharing, cheers!
Thanx for the views. I have a lighter more compact layering system, (video to follow) but this one is by far the warmest. Can be used as a sleep system, without a sleeping bag in milder temps, with out a doubt...bex
Useful insight and good information as always the goretex wins it for me to keeping dry it does its job well I've had mine about 20 years...TOP JOB ATB Dean 👍👍
I assume there are good alternatives to gore-tex these days, (none in a surplus store tho) Gore-tex has worked for me too, for over 30 years, back when it cost a weeks wage...Lol.....bex
You talk so much common sense sir, good to see that most of the people commenting also talk common sense. Made me want to go through the mountain of kit I have and put some outfits together.
The older 7 layer system is a bit bulky when carried, my tan 3 layer MKII softys set that seems to work just as good, but with my Queens guard wool great coat added, can double as a blanket....Maybe a sleeping bag free system. Yet to test...atb fella...bex
Bex , thanks for sharing. I love my fleece liners , I only wish they zipped into the smock . I have sewn buttons into my smocks and add the US field jacket liner .The waterproof smock would be nicer if it had hand pockets . Love my jumpers . Could you do a quick tip on how to wrap the scrim the way you are wearing it . I hope this finds you well, we have a cold snap here right now 38 degrees and had to dig out some cold weather gear . God bless brother !
There are several smocks where the fleece does button in. I think the US M58 has the removable fleeces pile liner, and my German army smock has a button in liner too. The NCB smock is a great alternative to the temperate smock, with a massive chest pocket.... The waterproof smock wont have lower pockets, as when crawling on your belly during ops, the pockets wont rip off. There is a tips vid coming up featuring the 90 bag, and the skim scarf is tied in that vid.....bex
Hi. We were taught to put the gortex without pockets under the smock! You can still easily get to the chest pock of the gortex if required but the smock went on top of everything so the gear is always available. Ammo, first aid etc. The smock was your primary carry system and if E and E was needed you dump the Bergen and webbing for a light escape.
nice vid as usual,i find the big outdoor clothing manufacturers rely on people not knowing how to use their gear,the army invest in top scientists to develop a system that works,i have a couple of goretex jackets not worth the money,my prefered way is to wear a windproof smock as my outer shell (90s pat) or (85 pat) and carry a pvc fishing smock for rain when needed,once you master using your gear in all conditions you will be as happy as a fly to a brad pitt,once again great vid
Just filmed a 4 layer system, lighter and more compact, and using newer tech issue. No where near as warm though. My personal system includes the Norwigian SF ECW coat, my wool great coat, and a poncho. All doubles up as an impromptu nesting system......bex
Looking forward to winterizing the hammock set up now. Cold plays havoc with the old back, keeping cold out and heat in works for me....all the best....bex
Although this collaboration of surplus is heavier and bulkier than other layering systems, this is by far my favorite set up, regarding its insulating value, and long lasting heat retention. Can be used in lieu of a sleeping bag, above 0 C, and is wind proof....thanx for watching, all thh best...bex
Very nice system that bex,I've never herad of a a smock liner b4,but got to get myself a least the top 3 ,liner, smock n goretex outer,like u say with the full system I don't think I'd have a problem just getin in a bivvy n being warm,anyways really good video gud explanation etc
Great video. Still got my old gortex DPM coat somewhere... Just can't find it.....have a DPM Smock that I've sprayed with Nick-Wax. Works a treat. Just need the DPM Fleece now.
Bex do you bother putting a smock liner inside the British Army smock? Like the M65 jackets?. I know you can still get the British Army smock liners which were used in the falklands conflict to make the smock warmer. The British Army liners are just worn underneath the smock. They are quilted with diamond sew lines on them. I put an M65 jacket liner in my smock. I Sewed 12 buttons inside the smock to keep the liner in place. 👍🏻🇬🇧🙂🧥. What would you do? Wear a liner, sew one in the smock? If you didn't have the 7 layer system how would you make the British Army smock warmer? Use a liner or layer up more? 👍🏻🙂
When wearing a smock I generally use the fleece smock liner. One of them is full length DPM the other is 3/4 length green. I haven't had great success with quilted liners under a smock (Too sweaty) but work nice a base layers inside a sleeping bag, as do softies, worn like PJs. I keep liners separate to smocks, invariably my smocks wear out quicker, and the liners are in good condition. I would suggest leaving the smock at home, and try replacing it with the MK3 NBC radiation smock charcoal lined, super warm with just a Norgie worn under it, but needs a waterproof outer. Smocks are produced to be just a protective layer for our BDUs, and are rarely warm, never water proof. How ever if you intent with wanting a smock to be warmer, I will put a tip in the Quick Tips video soon for you....atb...bex
i spend more time deciding on what thermal mid layers to take than any other kit i have, and working out what works with what best. There is a knack to getting clothing that compliments each other. .... I use a sleeping bag maybe 3 months of the year, the rest of the time its softies or a blanket (or poncho liner) By the way the temperate smock didnt have a hood, which one have you added to yours? the 68pat or the ripstop cs95?
The alternating layering works great, Agreed bags not necessary all year round but cant stop buying them, I got a real problem with that...Lol My off screen system just cost £600, also have dedicated winter sleep suit now, vid to follow soon. Think you will appreciate sleeping in the NBC MKIII in late season. Some quality sleep for a cold sleeper....(missing the MKIII pants section tho) Hood add on was from the 68 if memory serves, just sew on buttons, but prefer the 95, but cant hear clearly thru it.....bex
@@bexbugoutsurvivor ... lol, i'm the same with cold weather suits .... got a buffalo suit (£220) used once, got a USAF Primaloft suit (£240) ... havent used it yet .... generally i use the old british army green/tan reversible suit, .... but i sold a PCS thermal suit recently, and also a goretex (softie lined) sniper coveralls. Every time i see a cold weather suit i get an urge to buy it, lol Years ago i slept in an NBC suit, naked underneath, it was summer ... i slept ok but when i took it off i was black underneath, looked like i came out of a coal mine, LOL
Enjoyed that one :) You're an absolute fountain of knowledge. I'm hot now though, watching all that. When I was a boy, all good war films, that had commandos in, had the commando hat. It was square like a brown paper bag, are they still a thing? Cheers, all the very best to you and yours 👍
I know very well the caps you refer to. Very warm, but doesn't cover the ears. The era would be 43 onwards right into the late fiftys, nicked named the hairy marys. Would love the hairy mary shirt, Itchy wool type, and itchy pants.....Dont think they would fit me, Skinny soldiers back then....bex
I would certainly keep survival aids in my pockets (vid to follow) December I think, that would get me through at least one cold night with out a sleeping bag, buying me time to made my next move....bex
Watched the video bex, great tips on layering👍🏻. Like you said Wool jumpers can be expensive. I bought my Army jumper for £30 because I struggled to get my size 130 cm. I also bought a proper royal navy submariner jumper XXL cost me £70 from Military kit.com. But Submariner jumpers seem more expensive but that was cheap compared to some other online shops and the Royal Navy use them. Really warm 👍🏻🙂