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Beginners kit list

Matt Mac

Extremely Talkative
Messages
235
Points
380
Age
31
Hi guys. Ideas on cheap kit.
  • Tarp
  • Knife
  • Water purification
  • Billy can
  • Axe
  • Etc
 
Billy can: catering size coffe or bake bean can ;)

Plenty of stuff can be found at boot sales.
 
Sweet ideas. Ide love to put together a cheap kit list and review it all, for me that's where it is at. Cheap kit but good kit that you know. Make do and mend. :) Keep them coming.
 
The cheap tarpaulins are great fun they can be modded any way you want and a good way to start off, once you know what type of set up you like and the size then go for a proper bushcraft tarp like a DD etc ;)

I've made many a better tarp than the expensive ones like DD from the fly sheets from large old style tents and even tents themselves, the ground sheets from old tents are very handy also even if you have to cut them out ;)
 
For a knife still don't think you can do much better than a mora clipper or a hultafors basic knife.

British army ponchos can be had for around a tenner at boot sales.

38
 
For a knife still don't think you can do much better than a mora clipper or a hultafors basic knife.

British army ponchos can be had for around a tenner at boot sales.

38
Never owned a Mora 38 but I couldn't agree more about the Hultafors. A brilliant all round work knife
 
I've got a mora that's mine and two hultafors that I let kids use when working, they're bright orange so are easy to keep track of. I prefer the mora as the blade is slightly longer and thicker but there's very little between them except the hultafors were half the cost of the already reasonably priced mora
 
Hi guys. Ideas on cheap kit.
  • Tarp
  • Knife
  • Water purification
  • Billy can
  • Axe
  • Etc

OK, here we go...

TARP: Not a tarp expert but if you want cheap *and* good, the British Army issue basha gets good reviews (I acquired one recently, mainly for an admin area outside the tent, but haven't used it yet). For myself, I have a Norwegian Army poncho which doubles as a small tarp, and have slept under comfortably in winter. It can also be folded and buttoned up into a bivvy bag. Canvas, heavy, but just about everything-proof. Makes a good groundsheet, too, if you really feel you need such a thing.

KNIFE: Second hand German Army Victorinox pocket knife. Comes with saw blade, screwdriver, can opener, awl and bottle opener. One of the best investments I ever made.

WATER PURIFICATION: Millbank bag to filter out the crap, then potassium permanganate crystals (about 4 per litre). If it's light pink, it's OK. (Permanganate has several other handy uses, too). Then boil for 60 seconds.

BILLY CAN: I use the aluminium cup that comes with the old French Army canteen, but if you want a cheap billy as well, the German Army do a canteen/cup/billy set which will set you back on eBay for about £12. I also have the Swedish Army 'Enmanskok' (affectionately known also as the Smutbucket) which comprises billy, frying pan/billy lid, windshield/stand and meths burner. You can get these for just a couple of quid more on eBay.

AXE: Years ago I was given a rusty old hatchet blade which I cleaned up, sharpened and hafted onto a 20inch length of ash (about the size of haft you'd normally expect on an axe head double the weight of a hatchet - say 3lbs). The longer haft makes it more versatile as a bushcraft tool without adding much extra weight. Car boot sales are the places to go - or consider a billhook instead. Whatever you do, avoid buying a new, cheap hatchet. I have never seen a good one. Or ask yourself: What do I really need an axe or a billhook for? If asked I'd always say a novice might want to save up and get a decent khukuri instead, which will do the work of most knives and most axes together, if used properly.

ETC: As you may already have guessed, I'm a fan of ex-military kit as offering (usually) the best combination of affordability, durability and reliability. For rucksacks, dossbags, boots, I tend always to check out what NATO surplus has to offer online first, before looking elsewhere (though some items are becoming chic these days and are overpriced). But for other things, such as a torch or a sleeping mat, I grit my teeth and pay full whack for something designed for the civilian market.
 
For a knife still don't think you can do much better than a mora clipper or a hultafors basic knife.

British army ponchos can be had for around a tenner at boot sales.

38


Could not agree more 38......great knives.:thumbsup:

Army ponchos are fine for an overnighter in reasonable weather if packing light.....or to use as a shelter to cook under.
For longer 3/5 days out in the woods I like a bit more cover from the eliments and room to move about in.....comfort ( My Bungalow set up is testament to this :rofl: ).... also other kit storage.

I much prefer being out in foul weather....also prepared for foul weather.....I think its then that shelter and other kit choices evolve......nothing worse than having to abort a trip.

When... and if..... moving on to hammock camping a larger tarp would be better than a poncho.....just my humble oppinion.......so would it pay in the long run to go for a decent sized tarp from the beggining??

If a person is more of a survivalist than a bushcrafter or wild camper then the kit choice would certainly differ.

Of course it all boils down to to the individual at the end of the day and how far they want to go forward with thier outdoor adventures.:thumbsup:
 
The more recent ponchos are quite big, I think 8x7 feet with a multitude of eyelets, loops and handles which make it properly multifunctional, basha or stretcher.

The older ones with a good are useful to wear over all your kit but are much smaller and they will leak through the hood opening and it will be on your face!

38
 
Could not agree more 38......great knives.:thumbsup:

Army ponchos are fine for an overnighter in reasonable weather if packing light.....or to use as a shelter to cook under.
For longer 3/5 days out in the woods I like a bit more cover from the eliments and room to move about in.....comfort ( My Bungalow set up is testament to this :rofl: ).... also other kit storage.

I much prefer being out in foul weather....also prepared for foul weather.....I think its then that shelter and other kit choices evolve......nothing worse than having to abort a trip.

When... and if..... moving on to hammock camping a larger tarp would be better than a poncho.....just my humble oppinion.......so would it pay in the long run to go for a decent sized tarp from the beggining??

If a person is more of a survivalist than a bushcrafter or wild camper then the kit choice would certainly differ.

Of course it all boils down to to the individual at the end of the day and how far they want to go forward with thier outdoor adventures.:thumbsup:

Bungalow!!!! More like a bloody great mansion Bill:rofl:
 
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