Non expensive kit

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gunnix

Nomad
Mar 5, 2006
434
2
Belgium
The oil lighters from dealextreme mentioned earlier aren't much good, it can take ages to get them to light up. It's better to just get a bic lighter, matches or a firesteel. A firesteel is really the cheapest option if you take into account how many times you can make fire with it and how indestructible it is.

There was another good thread on cheap kit:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18667&highlight=bushcraft+budget

Many people are looking for bargains all the time, me too. But I think more and more it's better to take into account the way it was produced, where, who, etc etc before the price. But anyway, second hand seems for me the best option for people without a lot of money. As it's possible to get good quality items at a low price, which haven't been produced in china. Woolen clothes are easy to get and often I just use a woolen sweater as baselayer too, that's an idea if you find a merino layer too expensive. Here it's also quite easy to get good anoraks second hand, woolen army pants, mittens, wool army socks, woolen hat...

Another advice is to get only few items and get them of good quality. You don't need most of the stuff sold in outdoor stores.

This is all needed:

-Clothes: woolen army pants, some wool sweaters (second hand shop), a jacket/anorak (second hand shop), two pair woolen army socks, underpants, woolen army mittens, leather army gloves, woolen hat (second hand shop)

-Roof: tarp/poncho and some rope

-Cutting tools:
a mora knife, or get a brusletto blade (better steel) and make your own handle , sheath (birch bark sheath is quick to make and for free)
wetterlings axe or gransfors (worth it as they last a lifetime, same for knife)
sharpening with sand paper, or fallkniven dc4

-Cooking and eating:
swedish army trangia (good open fire cooking pots too)
metal cup to drink and eat from (or carve/burn out a small bowl)
a metal spoon ,or make one

Sleeping:
foam sleeping mat (get two for winter)
second hand down sleeping bag (army) or alpkit bag, or ofcourse blankets but often it's not possible to have a good fire going all night to keep warm in the kind of forests we have these days.

And:
a swedish firesteel
a basic silva or recta compass
a second hand backpack or a highlander forces 88l

Often the best quality you can get for your money is by making your equipment yourself.
 

Melonfish

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 8, 2009
2,460
1
Warrington, UK
indeed, i was looking at walking poles the other day and just being horrified by the price (yet drawn to the shiney shineyness) when i walked past a stand of hazel and realised that in about 10m of roadside bush there was about 100 walking poles all wonderfully straight and sturdy.
cord? easy braided para then threaded through the top.
best bit is, they're being cut back shortly and i know one of the gardeners so i'll make sure i get a fair few and have them season!
pete
 

Smudge

Forager
Jan 20, 2004
107
30
West Midlands
Threads like this and especially OP are inspiring. One of the things that puts new people off going into the woods is kit snobbery.
Expensive brand names and such are thrown about, I was rereading RM's book the other day and it dawned on me the amount of advertising he was doing.

If I cant make it or make do I buy budget on just about everything, I dont want to worry about money when I'm wading through the brambles, bracken and stomping about the woods.

Just got a new axe from Ebay £8:98 including postage Draper hand axe solidly built, I'm looking forward to putting it through its paces.
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Not the 123 Graham, the SIG Tourest Cookset designed for the 123, fantastic kit. The 123's can be had new (a new batch made) for about £60

Here is one with the stove, not a bad price if he would ship to the UK

eBay 110357488417
 

Trojan

Silver Trader
Mar 20, 2009
688
57
The Countryside
Well mine is sort of untill you add it up!

5.11 Tac base Layer - New £12.00 (ebay)
5.11 Tac Polo Shirt - New £11.50 (ebay)
Sweat Shirt ?
SASS Kit Karry Smock £23.00 (ebay)
5.11 Tac Trousers £24.00 New (ebay) or Tru Spec OG New £10 (ebay)
5.11 Socks £12.00 (ebay) or Karrimor Socks (Asda) £5.00 for 3 pairs- New
Matterhorn Boots ebay £27.00 (ebay) or Karrimor KSB £23.00 (ebay)
Fleece Hat and Baseball Cap ?
Eagle Industries 3 Day Assault Bag £22.00 (ebay) replaced with Bugout 3 Day Pass £55.00 (ebay) New

Nearly everything bought for a fraction of the RRP!
 

shogun

Need to contact Admin...
Mar 31, 2009
747
0
U.K
hi everyone here's what i have spent so far Non expensive kit!! i think..well one of my neighbours had this stuff it was still in the wrappers..
1 x vango vapor tent... 30 pounds
1 x vango conture 50+10s... 15 pounds
1 x vango ultralight voyager 50 sleeping bag... 15 pounds
not bad for 60 pounds & i think the dearest thing will be my boots..& i am thinking of making my own stove like the ones on here..atb shogun
i did buy the dd tarp & dd travel/hammock too!..lol
 

Barney

Settler
Aug 15, 2008
947
0
Lancashire
Some non expensive kit I got yesterday morning,

3 pack of cotton teeshirts £1
5 pack cotton and elastine socks £1
Fleece Head sweat band 50p
Fleece jogging cap 50p
Fleece Buff 50p
Merino thermal t shirt £1.50
Olive waterproof Kagool £1.50
Oliver trousers for above £1.50
2 wool crew neck sweaters £3
1 V neck lambswool sweater £1.50
1 Full length wet suit £1.50.
1 pair padded cycle underpants 50p
1 pair thinsulate waterproof trousers £1.50
2 pack of boxer shorts 50p
1 polycotton blue check work shirt £1


Thats just my stuff, the wife and kids got loads as well.

All New!:D
 

rg598

Native
You guys think there is snobbery when it comes to bushcraft gear!? Here in the US everyone these days is nuts over untralight gear. All your gear put together weighs under 10 lb and costs as much as your car. Most people here think I am crazy for carrying an axe and a fixed blade knife. They look upon me with pity and try to educate me about the enlightened way.

I must admit however, that I fall into the trap from time to time. I do carry a titanium pot. It costs more than my knife, but it does save a lot of weight. I also have a flashlight that can run continuously for a week on a AA battery, but costs an embarrassing amount.

It is a very good idea to cut down your pack weight, but unfortunately the process also cuts down you pocket weight. :)
 

roibica

Member
Apr 8, 2009
30
0
Bucharest
I have a 70 L backpac .. and a 30 L backpack

when I go out with a 30 L backpack i use a hip kit also

everithing has .. 10 - 15 kg

if i use da 70 L backpack .. I've got a 30 - 40 kg on my back :)

titaniu :-O :p aluminium is light and cheap a pot of 1 L cost 2 euros :) ofcourse it's not so durable as the titanium pot but .. at that price I can buy one for each trip :p
 
I would recommend a military IPK Sheet these can be bought for about £5 or less its designed to be a roof for an underground shelter, but its a cheep quality tarp ideal as a starter.

I would also recommend spending a little extra when buying a Knife, it will be worth it.

I would also advise you dont buy cotton trousers unless they they are thin and quick drying, cotton has a tendance to soak up alot of water (like a towel) and takes ages to dry

And finaly have a sence of humour, relax and enjoy your experience..

good luck
 

roibica

Member
Apr 8, 2009
30
0
Bucharest
That’s my kit:

Trousers – 20 euros (army syrplus shop)
Boots – 20 euros (from the factory shop)
Wool Socks – pack of 3 – 2 euros (from the local market)
Shirt (made from 70% polyester & 30 % cotton) – 4 to 5 euros (from the local market)
T-shirt (made from cotton) – pack of 3 – 3 to 4 euros (hypermarket)
Fleece – 5 euros (hypermarket)
Vest with fleece lining and with a lot of pockets – 10 euros (from the local market)
Wool kagool – 2 euros or 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Bush Hat – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Mosquito hat – 2 euros (fishing shop)
Wool gloves – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Thinsulate gloves – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
PVC Poncho – 15 euros (sport shop)
Gaiter – 18 euros (sport shop)
Military water canteen (bottle) – 5 euros (army surplus shop)
Military small bag (for the hip belt) – 8 to 9 euros (army surplus shop)
Aluminium 1L pot – 2 euros (hypermarket)
Aluminium 250 ml can – 1 euro (hypermarket)
Sunglases – 35 euros (sport shop)
Compass – 3 to 4 euros (sport shop)
Knife – 50 euros (helle eggen)
Pocket knife – Opinel nr. 8 – 10 euros
Pocket knife – Victorinox Recruit – 12 euros
Firesteel from Primus – 8 euros
Tarp 3m/3m – 30 euros (decathlon hypermarket)
Hammock – 15 euros (nahanny shop)
Net hammock – 5 euros (fishing shop)
30L Backpack (from highschool :p can’t remember the price)

If I will buy from charity shops the prices will drop :p I will go to some charitu shops in my neighbourhood to see their offer
 

Finnman

Member
May 22, 2009
21
0
Finland
Hello, I made visit to local surplus store today and got a lot of good clothing and stuff for 12 EUR all together !! That´s best deal I have found for long time

Stuff from up left to down right
1) German long sleeve button shirt 3,5 EUR
2) German canvas laundry bag 1 EUR
3) German toilet case for personal hygiene 1 EUR
4) German heavy duty strap 1 EUR
5) Swedish army technical polo shirt (transform moisture to outer layers) 2,5 EUR
6) 2 pcs German summer camo jacket 1 EUR / each
7) German army scalf (twofold in picture)
8) Austrian army combat pants 2,5 EUR (not in picture)
9) German army backpack (not in picture)

3524875677_3e2685c0e4_o.jpg


Some of the colorful stuff in picture are my son´s toys :)
 

waddcal

Tenderfoot
Jul 4, 2008
98
0
31
Solihull
Hello, I made visit to local surplus store today and got a lot of good clothing and stuff for 12 EUR all together !! That´s best deal I have found for long time

Stuff from up left to down right
1) German long sleeve button shirt 3,5 EUR
2) German canvas laundry bag 1 EUR
3) German toilet case for personal hygiene 1 EUR
4) German heavy duty strap 1 EUR
5) Swedish army technical polo shirt (transform moisture to outer layers) 2,5 EUR
6) 2 pcs German summer camo jacket 1 EUR / each
7) German army scalf (twofold in picture)
8) Austrian army combat pants 2,5 EUR (not in picture)
9) German army backpack (not in picture)

3524875677_3e2685c0e4_o.jpg


Some of the colorful stuff in picture are my son´s toys :)

:O

both of the surplus stores near me have closed down :(
 

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