hope you enjoy the video safe journeys

Ken Hamm - Not only all the valid reasons in the video, but by collecting and using this stuff we are maintaining important history that current generations will lose.

I lived in a military surplus field jacket for many years when I was a young man, and to be honest I loved that coat far more than just about any other jacket I’ve ever owned, and I think I gave less than $20 for it when I bought it. I have $300 jackets now that don’t live up to that old surplus coat.

Ya we can not beat military gear. It last. Mom bought me a U S extreme cold weather sleeping bag for Christmas back in the 90s . And I got down into - 15 degrees below 0 . Yep I was Cold but I survived. When I woke up I was warm in toasty. That bag is rated for 0 . Well good video. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.

One of the reasons I like surplus is the history of it. If it's used, I think about the troop that carried the item. Even unissued gear makes me think about the time, place and purpose. Cheers!

40 years ago, I bought a Military Surplus Evacuation Bag, the ones they evacuate the wounded with. It is very large and filled with goose down. The only bag that fits my 300 pound body. It had some blood stains on it so I brought it to the Dry Cleaners. Yes it was expensive to clean, but I have used it all these years and have never gotten cold. I live in NYS so it does get cold here.

All the "walk-in" REAL military surplus stores I grew up enjoying are sadly gone now, but I've found a few on-line sources that have quality items at fair prices. For serious field/bushcraft you can't beat military surplus field shirts, jackets, ruck sacks/bergens, sleep systems, and even tents and entrenching tools. At least half of my field gear is U.S., UK, Italian, German & Czech surplus.

With over 10 years in the military I trust the stuff and I can’t afford the caviar equipment on a hamburger budget

Great information! I appreciate the way you handled this video very very very impressed my friend great job I learned something every video!

Varusteleka out of Finland has an amazing array of international surplus gear, their own original stuff as well, and decent shipping costs.

There is nothing better than the smell of good ol’ surplus gear. I miss the old Army/Navy stores. I will be making a road trip to Alabama for some gear. Thanks Blackie

Boy Scout cooks are never too fat cuz we got to put a backpack on and carry all that crud in 4 lb of bacon for the whole Troop gets a little heavy after 10 miles

All the reasons you mention and, for me, nostalgia. I came up when surplus gear was the thing to have, running around in the woods. So now it brings back memories, which are always a pleasant companion when I’m out camping.

Greetings from Tokyo! I agree with you that military surplus is far better than the expensive and trendy outdoor gear. I am glad to see you've earned the BSA Camp School Badge! I earned mine years ago. I am sure you would be an excellent Camp School Trainer or Scout Skills Director or a Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Counselor.

OMG! I laughed out loud when you explained the Navy cooks surplus gear. Classic!

Blackie , Great Video and Information. The best sleeping bag I ever had was the Heavy Mountain Bag that I was issued in Germany back in 1980 . I also have a Large ALICE pack and Medium too. I still use my U.S Army gear from when I was in '79 - '86 . There is a Great Army Navy store in Nashville, TN on 21st Ave . Thanks Again for sharing your knowledge and time. Yes You Are The Master Woodsman and Buschcrafter. Tim L. U.S. Army Vet and rank of Life Scout in Boy Scouts . back in the 70s.

I love my surplus Army gear , it is heavy and that is why I went out and bought myself a Radio Flyer 34" All-Terrain Steel & Wood Wagon and added 4 X 15 In. Worry-Free Tire's With Polyurethane Hub's from Harbour Freight and a lift kit made from 4X4's then painted everything in olive drab for hauling my gear , I also added a set of motorcycle drag bars and some webbing that is attached to a climbing harness so I can keep my hands free while pulling everything . I can still wear my pack and in the bottom of my wagon , I put a piece of pressure-treated plywood that is cut to fit so I can remove it and place it onto the wagons wood sides at 90* to make a table , the larger tires make it very easy to pull the wagon over small logs . I can now haul every item you could think of living in comfort while out on the trail , I do get weird looks but I bet some of the people who gave me the "LOOK" went home and made the same thing . I will be making my "Battle wagon's" axles around 2 inches wider ( each side ) so the whole thing will be 4 inches wider to keep it more stable when pulling on uneven ground . 😎

With the exception of the old flashlights. Always shaking those darn things to get them to work. 😂😂 But yeah, I agree, love my surplus. Was magical digging through the old surplus as a kid in the 60’s. Guns and Ammo along with couple other magazines had new Willy Jeeps in grates for $500. Had to put them together, but what a steal. I believe that was still available thru the 70’s.

Great point. My emergency car blanket is a Hudson bay wool blanket that i got at a thrift stor for 3 bucks.

You are 100% spot on , I've been a surplus scrounger since 1965, and I have the same experience in the getting the next best thing out, lasted a couple seasons and it disintegrated, ( one tent and one backpack) Paid well over 1200 for both and used a high end north face bag back when they first came out in the 80s . Fantastic gear served me admirably until they were in third year and i spent a season completely off grid for about 8 months of hiking and camping in the Bravard NC National Forest and the Smokie Mountains National Park, fishing and taking a break from work and school. After learning my lesson I promptly got back into Army surplus. Just works better for rough times. And I've always been rough on gear. But I have had a great time. 👍

I love my surplus gear. It’s budget friendly on a fixed income. I also like thrift stores. Picked up a couple excellent sleeping bags for $3 to $7 each. Same with clothing for the woods.

Nothing wrong with surplus gear I don’t have the money for that ta ta stuff I agree with you 100 percent

I've watched my British Army Basha throw off a storm while my compatriots expensive light weight tarps gave up the ghost and leaked like a seive. If you remove the stretcher straps they're not that heavy. A tip for anyone considering a British Army Basha, I'm told the older DPM pattern ones are better made than the newer MTP pattern ones but I can't confirm that as I've only owned the DPM patterns.

Besides the good food and fellowship, Kauffman's is a highlight of the trip!

I like military surplus because #1- I used it for 8 years as a Combat Engineer. #2- price. Cant beat the price. Is it heavy? Yes. Is it durable? Yes. This is why I love your site, Blackie. Doing what I thought of doing. Keep up the good work.

G'Day from Australia, I came to this video after watching your excellent "How to load a muzzleloading shotgun" video. Learned so much from that. Thanks! I've used a lot of surplus gear since I was a kid--I'm 66 now. Shirts, pants, jackets, all types of hats, belts, pouches and packs just to name a few. Some gear I've used for decades because it is so well made and rugged. The generally sombre colours--browns, greens and grey suit outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing. Most surplus gear tends to be fairly cheap and, as you call it, disposable without too many tears! Also, when using surplus gear, you don't look like a walking advertisement for the many outdoors activities companies! Here in OZ, surplus stores used to be everywhere but many have either closed down or gone online. One of the largest surplus stores now only operates on line or you can now still browse around their huge warehouse----all part of the fun when shopping for surplus gear. You never know what you'll find. Thanks for this and your other videos. I'll eventually work my way through them. Cheers, Steve

Back in the day you went to the surplus store for good gear. The quality was top notch and things were inexpensive. Nothing like scrounging through one and being surprised at the treasures you found. Then there was the "smell" of the place. There were no knock offs or made in China stuff....just authentic US Military or German gear. I got a down mummy bag in 1982 from a surplus store in New York City and headed out went to Arizona. It took me several years of scrounging to find the shell. Together I was never worried about getting cold. I cant fit it anymore but my wife absolutely loves it even though it still has that "smell"

Blackie , good video , I grew up with and still use surplus gear , thanks for sharing ,God bless !

Thats was just such a nice thing to say. "In case someone else needs it" thats just so very thoughtful of you! GOD BLESS ya!

As a 20 yr vet myself... I love a lot of surplus gear. I still have an extreme artic bag I was issued in North Dakota, very similar to your mountain bag. I slept in it at 60 below and had to basically use it as a blanket cause it was too warm. Yes, it is heavy, but I know I will stay warm to sleep.

25 years in military and trust the stuff.

I always figured if it was good enough for our service men and women, then it's definitely good enough for me. I appreciate the fact that you think of others...like your example of "if I rolled up on an accident I would have an old blanket to keep them warm with". I'm glad I'm not the only one that keeps this in mind. I usually have more extra gear for others than I have for myself.

That canvas cover and a poncho liner make a great bag for spring and summer. Through a good poncho over it and you are golden.

fact is army surplus gear wears harder well made for duty use and is cheap sometimes and its cool history

I agree with all thoughts, surplus gear affordable, rugged, and comfortably sacrificial 👍🏼👏🏼 Great video Blackie 🙏🏼

Great response. I trust surplus gear considering I know how the stuff has been used and what it's held up against.

I have used military surplus and military new issue equipment for over 60 years, as a kid growing up just outside the gates of Ft Bennington, Ga, and for 25 years in the US Army all over this planet. Eaten K-rats, C-Rats, MREs and plenty of Army mess hall meals. They all have served me fine in jungles, the Artic circle and deserts. Some folks think spending more makes it better. I like using my money wisely. Love your videos! Keep it up, and ignore the complainers!

Your preaching to the choir brother. I don’t know why but there’s something about the smell of MILSURP that gets me exited to go camping! I collect the stuff. I’ve got enough packs, haversacks and rucksacks plus the stuff to fill them up to equip a small scout camp! Plus, my knees are shot so car camping is about all I can manage these days. Anyhow, your dead on about cost and the durability of this gear. Keep on with the great videos. My south is right next to you and we’re getting some cold in to the low twenty’s to down into the teens this week. Dutch hooped bivy, a good mat and my MSS and it’ll be alright.

You are a very patient man, mill. Surplus is almost always the best place to look first, I apreatiate you!

I agree with you Blackie. When I was getting ready to PCS to the Panama Canal Zone, I gave $50 for2 full military laundry bags. Then made a deal with my supply sergeant, I had been bidding against him and didn't know it, when I walked into his office and dropped the contents of a full laundry bag onto his floor and said can we deal. All I mainly wanted was to get the heavy winter sleeping bag and a few other things cleaned. He happily gave me the paperwork to get clean serviceable equipment traded. At the TA-50 supply point, I gave them the paperwork and equipment to turn in. The ladies working there took the old stuff and one started pulling replacements off the shelves. The stuff she pulled was all brandnew in plastic bags. As I was leaving the ladies asked if I had other equipment I wanted to DX. Isaid yes but didn't have paperwork for the rest I had. Was told they would be the judge of what I could trade. I walked back in with an arm load of things and left with all new stuff. Due to I'd come on a slow day and was nice and polite they made the trades and said have a nice day. I saw one of them adding the things onto my paperwork that had come from my supply sergeant and not bat an eye about it. That was my earliest dealings with the good old boy/girl supply system and in the remaining of my 20 years in the Army I used that system well and showed others the benefits of it. Well Blackie I've bent your ear enough so have a good one and stay warm. As I finish this it's only about 6 degrees witover 12 inches of snow on the ground. Ken Billings

I went camping in the upper peninsula of Michigan with that surplus bag and the temps were -12 without the wind chill and it was warm . I did a snowshoe race the next day and got a major award!!!!

Growing up my brother and I use WW2 and Nam gear to camp with. It was super cheap in the 80s and it worked well. These days I could not tell you where to get it. The big surplus store in Mobile AL has been closed for years.

Last October I was on my way home from PCB and stopped in at Coffman's. They have a very large building very full of gear. If anyone goes I recommend going as early in the day as possible because they have so much stuff just packed into the building. My visit was later in the day and I didn't have time to really look for the items I had hoped to find.

I don't like storing high end equipment in my vehicle. Even tools have to be locked down pretty well. Although home owners or renters insurance might help some it's not likely enough. Also gear in a vehicle gets knocked around, tossed around and shoved into corners. That is what military equipment is designed for. 👍

Love Your Videos. And Your Practically is Spot On !! H.

You got a killer deal!! I paid $55.00 dollars for a new m 1949 in 1977!! I seriously doubt that the North Face bag will still be around and functional 70 years from now. North Face, Jansport,Eureka,etc. and all the other high end high dollar civilian camping companies don't make quality durable equipment like they used to and the prices are through the roof!!! I do have some older Camp Trails backpacks that are well made from the 90's and some Sierra Designs tents . USGI will always be my favorite!!!

I would like to add that surplus is far more durable then other cheap options. Good discussion Blackie!

18 Bravo here... You are so right on those Navy Cooks they are some squid

Surplus gear does a great job as "truck gear". Plus I trust surplus gear as I grew up with it and learned to use it well. Plus 6 years in the Army gave me a lot of experience with military gear.

Great, down to earth tips! That’s one reason why I love your videos!!

Man Blackie I remember I believe the winter of 2001, I was spending Christmas with family between Crestview an Florala, an it may have been the coldest I ever felt in my life. An One summer Crestview, the hottest, Just some strange weather there sometimes! Love what ya do, an thanks for sharing!

I have carried the same sleeping bag, wool blanket, tent and everything else that I needed on the Appalachian Trail. My unit hiked 35 miles back in 1985. You are right there is a lot of lighter gear but none quite as durable. It's all in what you are used to and have trained with.

Totally makes sense, been doing this my whole life. Common sense is kinda uncommon. Thanks for the videos, Blackie

I agree with you on military surplus gear I use it my self a lot. At my surplus store I found the compression straps for the military sleeping bag that you have there and they work great for making it smaller for transporting it under the pack on a frame and will leave enough room under it for an old military rubber bitch mattress or the inflateable rubber mattress.

Blackie, I grew up in the 50's and 60's in Augusta Ga and all of our camping gear was military surplus that we bought at the Fort Gordon surplus store on Fort Gordon in Augusta. We couldn't have had a better young adult and childhood experience.

Great video and I really appreciate the Down to earth mentality. We can’t all afford the top of the line gear. Having also grown up poor I enjoy finding alternatives as opposed to $$ gear

Kaufmans is great love my MS sleep system. every time I ordered something they would ship it fast. Military surplus is part of my camping and the lighter more expensive equipment is for hiking. great video Blackie

Good information> My uncle who was in the reserves in WW2 guard ing a state prison. He hard a couple types of WW2 era bags. As I recall both mummy bags. I liked both of them and felt fortunate to get to use the down bag, but the wool munmmy bags looked cool event though they were scratchy. Never saw them for sale.

Agree with you about durability of surplus everything.

Well said Backie... I utilize surplus in my camping and you are spot on about the value...

Your two cents is worth a fortune. Thanks for the videos.

I love military surplus and own military gear 30+ years old and even old Army foxhole shovel from my Dad. The gear just outlasts everything. I'll have to check out Kaufmans. I'm ex USNavy and 6'4 but not a Navy cook.😂😂 Enjoy your videos Blackie!

Good information. Appreciate it

Shopping at surplus stores is a very good idea. The items you can get there, has already been tested by the military so you it's good. I like the old-fashioned wool blankets. But they are getting harder to find. I like to keep 2 or 3 blankets in my vehicle.

Another advantage of buying surplus is that you can mix and match the best bits of kits from different countries and from different eras, and don't have to equip yourself with a standard issue that serving soldiers had to use. I served in the British Army 1988-93 and to be honest a lot of our kit was pretty dire and now I don't think I own one single piece of issue kit that I used back then. I have a mix of British kit which was issued later on e.g. DPM goretex bivvy bag, DPM basha, and kit from other countries i.e. predominantly Dutch and German but with a few items of Swiss, Swedish and Belgian kit too.

I like surplus gear because I'm familiar with it. I've been using it for 60 years.

I took that bag 65 miles hike at Philmont in 1967

kaufmans army surplus is one of the best in the country. See you there in April!!!

Yep, my thoughts too.

Hahaha, great info. But the best was the Navy cooks reference. I am an old retired firefighter and that reminded me if the firehouse and our drivers who also were normally our cooks and we would say the same thing about them. Most of those dudes would put in for larger uniforms every year from the time they made driver until they retired. Lol. Great info thanks brother.

The US Army surplus gear i liked most for value/cost ratio and comfortwere the self inflating mats. About 50usd brand new and if they do not hold air they are very cheap like 9usd and usualy they are very easy to repair. my 2cents. ...and i have bought them on ebaybecause they usualy do ship to Israel. I guess that in the US you can find them much cheaper!

In my Hippie Daze I hitchhiked all over the U.S. & Backpacked most states west of the Mississippi. This was in the 70's & I bought my down bag from J.C. Penney's when they still sold everything, including tools, mowers etc etc. & it has never let me down or cold. That same down bag is opened up & spread across the top of my bed as I speak. I live in Wisconsin & it's cold right now. Since I live alone I just get under that down bag instead of having to make a King size bed up every morning by myself. That's a 50 yr old bag & still useable today, American made when things were built right. To wash it I just put it in the washer alone, then the dryer & put an old tennis ball in there to pound out the feather clumps in it & it comes out good as new. A few feathers slip out now & then, but that bag was on my back for years on the road & in the Mountains. The memories it holds, I will not part with it. OOHhhhh the good old days of American made stuff. Wish J.C. Penney's was still around like the old days selling stuff that lasts a lifetime made in America.

Blackie, if you see a skinney cook in the navy, you’re in for a rough, long cruise!

Blackie, many great points Sir. For me, surplus says "tried and true" in many cases. Kaufman's West here in Albuquerque for some good surplus I have to say!

I completely AGREE Blackie! FYI: Kaufmans Army Surplus doesn't have a website, but they do have an Ebay store

Great thoughts and well thought out. I will be contacting your source. Minneapolis, MN has very little to shop at. And we dooo get cold.

I like surplus gear, it works, I have used a lot of it while in the military for over 20 years.."

Thanks for the info I didn't realize Samson had a surplus store! The only one I knew about was MP surplus and pinkard and it's been closed for quite a while now.

What’s the link to the surplus store you use ?

You said it right. If your leaving it in your vehicle you got to be ready to write it off. That's where "truck" guns & tools came from. Lost, stolen or loaned aka: "borrowed off" & the tears will be smaller going surplus. The Gucci bags & equipment gotta be near you at all times, & everyone knows that isn't always possible... Surplus will also let you set up multiple kits in various areas without the need of transferring kits from location to location. If each vehicle or out building has a kit, life will be easier in a stressful situation. My 2 cents of course...

I love surplus stuff. There used to be one in Pinckard, AL call MP Surplus that I spent hours in when I a a teenager. I still have some of the stuff I bought there.

Love surplus gear 🤠

Second hand stories are a good place to look.

There used to be a great local surplus store here, I grew up going there and got a lot of great surplus that I used for camping. Sadly that closed about 20 yrs ago. I have the MS Sleep system. But I would like to get the M-1959 down bag like you have. Can't find one locally. Looked on EBay, weren't many and they want to charge twice what you paid for a used one. Thanks for the info! appreciate it. I'll give Kaufman's a try.👍

Used to have stuff at our gun shows but not anymore here in Indiana.

I used to rock an army set up like that and I'm most of my gear is military surplus but you're right now I rock a to kill teabags a light summer and a heavy winter bag soon I'm going to cut open the heavy winter bag and collect all the down out of it and cut up my summer bag cuz I like to design better and it's a cosmic Intergalactic and imma take all the cosmic and put it into the galactic bag if you know Kelty bags anti-rock a fleece-lined inner liner and I've been down to -5 - 6 and I stayed quite warm but I want to combine the two sleeping bags to make them more efficient and easier to carry

Hey Blackie, Great video. Good "common (or uncommon nowadays 🤔) sense" stuff.

Very well said Blackie. Thanks for the source.

Hi Blackie, I have a lot of military surplus gear also. Some say why ? I say why not!

Facts surplus proven n tested n still using today at 63yrs old. 🇺🇸👍

Good advice as always. Greetings from Malta!

Thank you Blackie good counsel .

also another nice point... as a teacher your showing skills on gear students are far more likely to have acess too as fancyer gear is more likely to be one offs.... as where surplus is made in massive bulk

I am a big fan of military gear as well. There are a few reasons I use it that you hadn’t mentioned, but I would imagine you’d agree. I like to keep my money as local as possible, so if I have to pay 3X the price for gear that is Barry Compliant I will. I’m also very partial to earth tone colors, and I enjoy everything matching and working well together. I also like fire resistant materials. And lastly I guess I just don’t want to be trendy, I like tried and tested, battle approved gear that I only have to buy once. 🙏🏼

I've used a lot of surplus gear over the years.

GREAT video as usual

I was issued a lot of gear in the military but stayed on the go so much there wasn't much time to sleep for any period of time to even unpack it.

I like surplus also, I have a bunch of it.😊👍

I like military surplus. Thanks and take care.

That's all I buy a surplus my surplus close sleeping bags doesn't matter food everything the best way to go cheaper and it's easy to pack