Thread: Military Surplus Gear

These are hands down the best waterproof jacket for the money.
Have a look around eBay to make sure they have your size.I wear mine at work for over 200 rainy days per year and I get 3 years from one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-B...0AAOSwBLlVDV6a

Originally Posted by norsk

These are hands down the best waterproof jacket for the money.
Have a look around eBay to make sure they have your size.I wear mine at work for over 200 rainy days per year and I get 3 years from one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-B...0AAOSwBLlVDV6a

In light of the desert camo is it may good in the Bush?

I have bought a bit of Snugpak kit over the last few years, on recommendation of a mate who works a lot in a somewhat hostile mountainous country. His job supplies kit, but he and his mates generally buy their own. In comparison to big brand names, I've find it quite cheap. I haven't myself given it a seriously hard work out, but have used the tarp and one of their bags in winter in the Wicklow Mountains.
I always bought from https://www.outdoorgb.com and they drop the vat, which usually covers the shipping. With NZ slapping on the Amazon tax now I don't know how it prices, I've not browsed for a while.
Their jacket sizing is shit, I'm usually an XL, but need m or l in theirs, probably m.

Originally Posted by Projects

What does it go like in the rain? have you treated it at all since owning it?

Haven't treated it been in a 10 minute shower and it wasn't beading off so needs a re waterproof.

Ive had a mil surp tain jacket for about 8 years now. Cost me $100. Ive got several other fancy brand name jackets too but for some reason i always take the old mil surp out. It just works.

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Counter idea. You can get good quality hiking brand wet weather gear on sale from macpac and the likes for similar money - between $100 and $200 usually.

I have a marmot precip I have had for years great jacket. Its not camo but the deer dont seem to care. They are a noisier than any brushed fleece style jacket but work much better at keeping you dry also. The surplus jackets are pretty loud too.

The stoney creek stowits actaully work sweet in term of keeping you dry. Not super breathable though.

For a sleeping bag, keep an eye out for a decent second hand number. I picked up a -12c Jacks'r'better quilt of trademe for $150 bucks. Way better bag than anything surplus.

It depends on the type of gear. I wouldn't touch mil surp for clothing (I bought a millitary surplus raincoat a while back, and it felt like I was dressed in cardboard. Very restrictive). For a similar price, you can buy outdoor clothing from the likes of Macpac, Outdoor Research, Helly Hansen etc, that'll be much lighter and more comfortable.

But other milsurp gear: drink bottles, spades, compasses, cooking utensils and the like can often be top quality and hard wearing.

Originally Posted by norsk

These are hands down the best waterproof jacket for the money.
Have a look around eBay to make sure they have your size.I wear mine at work for over 200 rainy days per year and I get 3 years from one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-B...0AAOSwBLlVDV6a

If this is the same one it is a hundy and the surplus store here. wouldn't be too far off on the exchange rate and shipping?
https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/co...ert-mvp-jacket

I didn't want to shell out big$ on a brand name so went the mil surp way.
Bought a new brittish one.
Works well and water proof is good. Quite cold so need to wear warmth under it.
Size was to big so sleeves are a pain. Has a few Velcro fasteners which I find a pain due to noise.
The hood is huge and even the adjuster pull strings done up tight its big. I wear a peak cap under it to stop the front falling to low on my head.
As someone else mentioned they don't come down below ur bum.
The main zip isn't that sturdy and needs to be looked after.
Folds up small and is lite as.
Big chest pockets but Velcro closures .
Cheap, where else do you buy a new goretex rain coat for a hundy.

What's with the modern day rat pack not having toilet paper like in days gone by where everyone shared the paper around as sure as hell there was not enough to wipe an arse in a single pack...i guess the modern army don't shit...and then I guess the modern army would have a tampon in the rat pack as well.

One piece of military surplus gear I can recommend without hesitation are the Austrian Soft Shell Sympatex jackets. Honestly, it's the best general purpose jacket I've ever bought. The bonus is they don't have a "military" look to them much either if that matters to you, but it means you can wear them out and about to a Cafe or whatever without looking like a clown. I pretty much live in mine in winter.

The Czech M85 parkas are also excellent in cold weather. They are no good for hunting (way to heavy, won't pack down, not waterproof) but again are excellent just for general wear out and about, very warm.

I just got a 95 Pattern British Windproof Smock to try out. Took it out in the rain for half an hour today, the water repellant treatment works really well, pretty impressive for a cotton smock that isn't seam sealed or anything.

I'm of the opinion that most military surplus stuff is crap and ironically not the well suited to out door activity. But there are some gems out there. Also the modern gear is light years ahead of crap from the cold war.

Originally Posted by norsk

These are hands down the best waterproof jacket for the money.
Have a look around eBay to make sure they have your size.I wear mine at work for over 200 rainy days per year and I get 3 years from one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-B...0AAOSwBLlVDV6a

Does it rain 200 days per year?

Originally Posted by Beavis

One piece of military surplus gear I can recommend without hesitation are the Austrian Soft Shell Sympatex jackets. Honestly, it's the best general purpose jacket I've ever bought. The bonus is they don't have a "military" look to them much either if that matters to you, but it means you can wear them out and about to a Cafe or whatever without looking like a clown. I pretty much live in mine in winter.

The Czech M85 parkas are also excellent in cold weather. They are no good for hunting (way to heavy, won't pack down, not waterproof) but again are excellent just for general wear out and about, very warm.

I just got a 95 Pattern British Windproof Smock to try out. Took it out in the rain for half an hour today, the water repellant treatment works really well, pretty impressive for a cotton smock that isn't seam sealed or anything.

I'm of the opinion that most military surplus stuff is crap and ironically not the well suited to out door activity. But there are some gems out there. Also the modern gear is light years ahead of crap from the cold war.

Where and how much was the Austrian one?

Originally Posted by Jmac

Does it rain 200 days per year?

West coast it probably does

https://www.armyandoutdoors.co.nz/pr...928499dc&_ss=r

I prefer the Sympatex. It feels warmer than the Gortex ones.