As a spacesaver, the crusader is more compact. You get the stove, the bottle the metal cup and a plasic cup in one pakage. You should keep the water bottle full for storage and cooking etc, and a seperate bottle for drinking on the go.

As you say both are totally acceptable and one would not go wrong with either one. I have both. Today there is purpose built metal cover for the metal BCB cup. I really need to “quick draw” my canteen to take a drink. I prefer the versatility of the British/NATO system because the water bottle is a little larger (in the U.S. SW more water is always better), the metal cup makes a better cook pot, and the plastic cup allows to enjoy a beverage while eating out of the metal cup/bush pot. The newer versions use anodized aluminum, I prefer the silver untreated stainless steel to the coated stainless steel or aluminum. Personal preference as many have no issue with anodized aluminum. The black coating on the stainless version can and does chip off with hard use. Having said all that your video was a good and fair comparison.

I have both. Like both. Crusader holds more. I take off plastic cup and carry separate. Replace the plastic cup with another metal cup and have two cook pots. Guy on eBay makes thick aluminum or stainless lids for bcb crusader cup have several great quality built like a tank like the cup

I never cease to learn from your channel, Blackie. Thank you, sir!

Ok going on from my previous comment on another of your videos... I use and prefer the Crusader for the advantages you mention... I don't like the plastic cup and don't use it... can't see the point in carrying 2 cups... I have my Osprey bottle in the pouch sitting in the cup, just like my GI pouch and use in the same way....(I gave my US system to my son)... so really your issue is only and issue if you keep the second, superfluous second cup... As has been said before.. Heavy Cover did briefly make a Crusader lid.. I got one from Rob at the Canteen Shop at the time.. It is very good... a lid and a strainer... brilliant piece of kit. The reason I prefer the Crusader is that I can use if more easily for boil in the (ziplok) bag meals I prepare or for MRE's... it just has a far better capacity.

The plastic cup and canteen, part of the BCB Crusader Mk I and Mk II system, is made by Osprey of the UK. They are marked with the name and a NATO NSN and year of manufacture. If it doesnt have these then they are the inferior knockoffs. The US GI canteen cup lid sold by selfreliance outfitters fits both Mk I and Mk II canteen cups with a very small gap for vent similarly to how Blackie showed us with the US GI Heavycover cover lid. One to one comparison between the plastic canteens and between the canteen cups IMO the BCB Crusader wins. The NATO canteen has a wider mouth, silicone gasket seal in the lid, better shape ergonomically and the canteen cannot be squeezed as easily compared to the US GI canteen.

Heavy cover did a lid for the NATO's crusader mug unfortunately, luckily I got a HC lid before they stopped, the nato osprey water bottle that comes as the set is brilliant, played rugby with the bottle many atime while on down time , thanks for the videos blackie, cheers Craig

There was a heavy cover version for the crusader 1. As a kit to be stored compactly carrying cooking water... it’s the best system I’ve seen. As a hydration system I agree... too much disassembly required for a sip of water.

I was issued the crusader mug and used one for best part of 20 years off and on, there was a after market lid (made by heavy cover) but they stopped making them several years ago, plastic lids are available ... but their not great. IMO ... The crusader mug/cookset is excellent and superior quality to the US canteen cup ... BUT i think the US canteen cup is a better system due to the fact its compact/lighter, not as thick as the crusader so better on fuel consumption if your on limited supply. I recently sold my crusader .... but still have a couple of US canteen cup set ups. (there is a cook stand available for the crusader, well worth buying if you see it anywhere, i use one with my US canteen)

I have both, one on each hip, when serving, drink from the US, refill/cook from the UK, now out, drink from bladder..

Bcb makes a whole kit to turn those old water bottle sets into cool sets.

The British Army water bottle pouch fits just the steel mug and bottle.

Good honest review. Thank you!

Blackie, thanks for sharing, God bless !

Great info sir thanks for sharing 👍 have a great week

I think that this is the most fair and honest answer about both about their pros and cons thank you for an honest review

58 pattern to give it it’s correct name I’ve got one stamped 1995 that I’ve been using since 96 can’t beat em especially with the metal lid sadly no longer in production and a hexi cooker 👍🏻

The NATO 57 patt. waterbottle and cup are all plastic the cup you are showing is a civilian made item and when I was in the army not issued you could buy it and use it if you wanted to. Cooking was done using issue mess tins. The web gear issued before the 58 patt had a metal mug. On the 58 pat system, the plastic cup sits over the top of the waterbottle. To get round the problem of having to get both cup and waterbottle out we just turned the kit upside down! Good luck trying to get the BCB crusader kit and a plastic mug into an issue 58 pouch..... its not easy! There are loads of metal lids for sale in the UK, but the company (BCB) provide a clear plastic lid with the kit when you buy it new. Its reasonably good never had a problem with it melting. However because it is transparent its easy to lose

What is the american ewuivalent system , in what name can i find it on market? Thanks for your time! Excellent videos!

Good video would you ever do a. Get together field course for black powder guns just wondering I have been shooting cap. A and ball pistol some would be fun to get together with a lot of people doing this

Why " shaman's forge "?

Never heard of the Crusader cup I agree it would be a better cook cup.

Blackie, If you're carrying the full US canteen system, where do you stow the lid?

Blackie, camp with Blackie 2020 ???

To be honest, I disliked the Crusader 1 system outside of the 58 pat canteen and plastic mug. The pot stand is a lump as is the metal mug. The Crusader 2 mug was much better in my opinion, it's lighter, has a bigger capacity while still being very tough. The pot stand is still a lump but it's more versatile than the C1 pot stand. I have to go with Blackie on this one, the US type canteen cup has a lot more options available and is large enough while still being fairly compact. My US type kit has had way more use than both of my Crusader systems and that speaks for itself.

The best place to pick up British surplus is on the fields of Yorktown or the fields around New Orleans. The American canteen cup is far superior to the NATO cup with a tensile strength of nearly eight to one, additionally due in large part to the advances gained in aerospace in the 1950's the American canteen cup has radioactive barriers that shield from vapor delivered weapons all to common on the modern battlefield. Plus the American canteen cup has the benefit of possibly being issued at one time and carried by American's defending something, an idea new to this world that everyone has worth and if you dream it and are willing to sweat for it, then you get a shot, it may be a long shot but in America you get it. And that same young crazy country liberated all those countries who said we would never make it. No it is not just a canteen cup it is a grail from a quest to form all that is good in this world, and I would gladly fill it with my last drop of blood and sweat to keep my America Free.

wde

I have both British and US canteen cup systems, I prefer the US system too for the reasons you give plus the US cup is made of a better grade of stainless. The British cup is also made in China. Tea drinkers: to get rid of tannin deposits in the cup, fill it to the brim with hot water and drop in 4 false teeth cleaning tablets, after a couple of hours repeat or if it looks clean, wash it with hot water and soap. No more tea stains! If you need a beautiful handmade lid, look up Bob Bartelme - he is a tinsmith who does beautiful work and makes excellent lids for any canteen cup you need.

I found the MKI (750 ml) version too heavy. But I recently got the MKII version - 1 liter capacity and anodized aluminum. Better for cooking and lighter. I like it much better. But I go back and forth between the two systems, depending on my mood.