Environmental friendly choice of kit

[Janne]

In Canada/north America/Europe - yes.
We still have rivers with fish in, correct?

Bamboo fiber is not used on its own to make fabric. Has to be made into Viscose.
That is why the sellers of Bamboo Viscose fabrics/clothes try to blow smoke in the consumer's eyes, by writing that is just as soft and fantastic as Silk. .
It can be used in making paper ( a process developed by a Swedish company in Vietnam, the infamous Bai Bang project. My parents neighbor was the head chemical engineer there in the 70's) though.

Sweden shipped a paper mill ( from tree trunks to printing paper) free of charge as a support to the Commie Viet Nam country after they won the war.
Except the Swedish system was developed for Arboreal timber......

 

[Robson Valley]

The Scandinavian countries buy their long wood pulp fiber from Prince George.
It's uses as an additive in local paper making.
The paper web has the tensile strength for modern high speed presses.

You can make paper out of just about any fiber. Windsor & Newton or d'Arches watercolor papers, for example.
One of the very best w/c papers I have ever used was a linen/cotton(?) blend from Wookey Hole, UK.

 

[petrochemicals]

I think actually janne to replace all of your plastic gear while there is plenty of life left in it. I have seen old plastics embrittle and decay to pieces. Good recycling, and not old plastic mountains or islands. Really all thoes synthetic threads mr claycomb talks off need replacing though

For a rant, the ammount of rubber oil chemicals and polution we are all forced to partake in, such is the modern world, a reduction in you wearing new petrochemical garments is rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic.

Hopefully synthesising new bio degradable materials is the way forward. I'm pretty sure natural materials would either be horrendously expensive (silk) or HEAVY.

 

[Robson Valley]

If you're watching plastics break and shatter, there can be good reason:
One way to break down and pulverize plastic in the environment is to fiddle with the chemistry of the plastic.
Add chemical weak links that can be whacked by the UV in sunshine and/or the 21% oxygen in the air.
We all can see that it doesn't work in the ground nor under water (UV blocker and usually low oxygen).

I want natural fiber: cotton and wool. Fur on the edges of my coats.
I suppose it matters more to me with -30C winters and a$$-deep snow.
I want a pure wool sweater. Going to contract some nice knitter to make 2 of them.

 

[Billy-o]

Try Dachstein, and Norlender .. they do a Svalbard. Or try a Cornish fisherman's sweater. It will make you look like a Cornish fisherman though

 

[Janne]

The only stylish wool sweater designs are Norwegian.
Perfect for a trek in nature, perfect for sitting in a restaurant!

Dale of Norway make nice industrially made ones, but the handmade ones are better!

 

[Bishop]

One of the very best w/c papers I have ever used was a linen/cotton(?) blend from Wookey Hole, UK.

Have you tried Welsh Sheep-Poo paper ?

 

[Hammock Hamster]

If you're watching plastics break and shatter, there can be good reason:
One way to break down and pulverize plastic in the environment is to fiddle with the chemistry of the plastic.
Add chemical weak links that can be whacked by the UV in sunshine and/or the 21% oxygen in the air.
We all can see that it doesn't work in the ground nor under water (UV blocker and usually low oxygen).

Reading this makes the cynic in me think this is being done less for environmental purposes and more to ensure consumers are replacing their gear more frequently to help line people's pockets.




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[Janne]

I have plastic equipment that is still going strong after 35 years +. I store all my outdoor equipment in boxes.

Some of it is what I was issued with, so made to mil spec.

 

[Robson Valley]

Our cold winters seem to raise hell with plastics of some kinds.
Not just in the winter but from then on, even in summer, the material is brittle.
Often, it's what look to be substantial but pliable plastic bottles.
Maybe that's encouragement to buy more and discard more?

 

[Janne]

My squadron tested the future new Swedish Army semi auto rifle/carbine. We tested 5 different versions during 6 months.
All had the same problem, the plastic stocks broke wintertime Temps down to -52C that winter. The Israeli Galil was the strongest,
But Sweden could not get that one, a political thing.
The one that was chosen had to have the stock made from a similar plastic/fiber material as the Swedish made HK G3.
They chose the FN FNC from Belgium, but had to be heavily modified before the Swedish manufacturing started.


Normal plastics get brittle in cold. I have cracked many a bumper in Sweden. Just by hitting some packed snow.

 

[Alan De Enfield]

My squadron tested the future new Swedish Army semi auto rifle/carbine. We tested 5 different versions during 6 months.
All had the same problem, the plastic stocks broke wintertime Temps down to -52C that winter. The Israeli Galil was the strongest,
But Sweden could not get that one, a political thing.
The one that was chosen had to have the stock made from a similar plastic/fiber material as the Swedish made HK G3.
They chose the FN FNC from Belgium, but had to be heavily modified before the Swedish manufacturing started.


Normal plastics get brittle in cold. I have cracked many a bumper in Sweden. Just by hitting some packed snow.

The Canadian Rangers have had similar problems - they have used the Lee Enfield rifle for the last 75+ years but with spares getting hard to obtain they wanted a replacement - the specification was pretty hard to meet, and include lying in the bottom of a canoe with freezing water sloshing around it,, will operate smoothly and operate 100% reliably at -52C.

They couldn't get a rifle which would do what the Lee Enfield can do, eventually (after some years) some compromises were made.

The headline specification was ;

Suitable for use as a hunting rifle for survival and self-defence against large North American carnivores;
Accuracy at ranges from 0 to 300 m;
Operable in temperatures ranging from -51C to +39C with moderate to high humidity;
Resistant to corrosion from long-term exposure to salt laden air and water; and
Suitable for transport by foot, wheeled commercial vehicles, skidoos, sleds, small boats and all-terrain vehicles.

Eventually the Tikka was chosen but only on the condition that Colt in Canada could manufacture the rifle.

As per the Colt Canada press release, the C-19 has the following modifications from the original Tikka T3 CTR:

Larger bolt handle and enlarged trigger guard to accommodate gloved hands;
Protected front and rear iron sights;
Laminated stock in unique orange or red colour with Ranger Crest; and
Two stage trigger with three position safety.

 

[Janne]

Interersting they chose a Tikka.

Army guns have plastic stocks because they are lighter, cheaper and easily replaced. But they are fragile, unless they take extra care in the development.

As my Squadron had parachute capabilities, we had foldable metal stocks normally on our AK4's ( H&K G3) . I rolled onto mine once. It hurt.
The stock ( folded on gun) was fun but I bent the barrel.

I have always wandered if recycled plastic is as long lived and strong as 'virgin' plastic of the same sort.

When Norwegian Helly Hansen started making the fleece sweaters/jumpers, they used recycled PET bottles, unless my memory is completely wrong.

 

[Alan De Enfield]

Interersting they chose a Tikka.

Army guns have plastic stocks because they are lighter, cheaper and easily replaced. But they are fragile, unless they take extra care in the development.

As my Squadron had parachute capabilities, we had foldable metal stocks normally on our AK4's ( H&K G3) . I rolled onto mine once. It hurt.
The stock ( folded on gun) was fun but I bent the barrel.

I have always wandered if recycled plastic is as long lived and strong as 'virgin' plastic of the same sort.

When Norwegian Helly Hansen started making the fleece sweaters/jumpers, they used recycled PET bottles, unless my memory is completely wrong.

The Canadian Rangers are part of the Army (they are the 'Border Force' patrolling between Russia and Canada).
They could not find a plastic-stocked rifle that would stand up to the environmental and operational conditions, - hence the laminated wooded stock.

The Canadian Rangers , often mistakenly called the Arctic Rangers are a 5000-strong sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces reserve that provide a limited military presence in Canada's sparsely settled Northern, coastal, and isolated areas where it would not be economically or practically viable to have conventional Army units. Formally established on May 23, 1947, a primary role of this part-time force is to conduct surveillance or sovereignty patrols (SOV PATS) as required. Some Canadian Rangers also conduct inspections of the North Warning System (NWS) sites and act as guides, scouts, and subject-matter experts in such disciplines as wilderness survival when other forces (such as Army units of the Regular Forces or Primary Reserves) are in their area of operations.

 

[Janne]

Same problem in Sweden, but they solved it by reformulating the composite (plastic) stock.
The resulting stocks are heavily glassfibre reinforced plastic ( not sure which plastic) and can take close combat use down to those inhumane temperatures.
All our armed forces use the same gun, ease of ammo supply, and spare parts, plus the need for semi auto/auto mode.

In my unit we were allowed to use our own side arms though, if the caliber was used within the armed forces, so they had to be able to take .38Spec, .357 Mag or 9mm +P.

 

[Robson Valley]

These gun stocks won't save my sorry butt in a mountain snowstorm. Can you make a feather stick from them?
Or in the 10C rain and 50kph winds of the moment, here.

The more I think about this, the more I believe that I have to be warm and dry and if modern fiber
does the job, so be it. I get what I pay for and I can live with that. Buy it once and buy it for life.

I need wind-proof. Not so much water proof but I have a fabulous old rain coat/jacket when needed.
Insulation that holds its loft when damp/wet ( = aka synthetic).

I am pleased to reveal that I have negotiated a Peruvian wool sweater/jumper from a competent knitter.
Even my truck (Suburban) insurance is cheaper.

 

[Janne]

In a mountain snowstorm I would not worry carving a feather stick. I would dig myself a nice cozy hole to survive in.
Maybe using a rifle stock if I had no large knife, skis or shovel!

Are the Peruvian sweater designs full of bright colours?
I have never seen a Peruvian sweater, only those multi colored caps with ear flaps!

 

[Robson Valley]

I gave the knitter some measurements to estimate the cost of the wool required.
I want monochrome but there might be some of that wild Peruvian color sneak in there.
I really won't know and am not very concerned. The sweater is a winter gift to myself and it won't be cheap.

Today should be 22C and will be a "cotton day."

 

[Janne]

I googled them, and yes, go easy on the colours. You do not want your neighbours to wonder why you have a Rainbow Flag on your clothes!!

Mum used to knit when we were young. She made some really nice Shetland style ( I think) sweaters from a very thick wool yarn.
Incredibly warm.
Tell the knitting lady to be generous on the body length. I am sure you like a warm lower back!

Today we have 35C, sunny.

We are supposedly getting a lot of Sargasso weed floating in, so with a bit of luck I can fish up a couple of wheelbarrow worth.
Super natural fertilizer!

 

[Robson Valley]

I'm a little embarrassed about all the sloppy patches that I've made to my existing 2 real wool sweaters.
I measured the one that I like the best for a replacement.
Any sort of experimental stitch/weave patterns are OK with me.
I've got the winter coat part all figured out. Next comes the layering underneath.

It's dry cold mostly here. If I was in the UK, the wet would make me think again about winter wear.