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I have a Snugpak Elite 3 sleeping bag. "Comfort temperature rating -5DegC"? I used it in August and it did not feel as warm as I might have expected. I used it for camping this weekend. It was around 1-2Deg and damp, then down to 0DegC on the first night, and slightly warmer, but more...

This started off as a very cheap hickory handled Silverline felling axe. I have improved the blade profile and put a better edge on it, sanded and oiled the handle and made a simple leather handle protector. I will be making a leather blade cover for it. It will be interesting to find out...

I bought this knife a few years ago, after buying the bigger one. I use it regularly, and it takes quite a hammering (literally, if using it for battening) in construction work, DIY, Scouts projects, bush/camping work, including cooking and general pocket knife duties. The steel is good and it...

I was given these kitchen knives. As they were surprlus to kitchen requirements, I decided to modify them a bit for bush/garden/workshop use. Marked-out, then I used a Dremel with a cutting disc, the bench grinder, a selection of sharpening stones and a leather strop. The bigger one needs a...

I like wearing wool and I finally got around to making a blanket shirt due to having Covid over New Year. I watched a couple of Youtube videos for sizing and for ideas for features (gussets under the arm pits and across the neck opening are useful) I had a qood quality old wool blanket -albeit...

I have an acrylic + Thinsulate 'beanie' hat that i bought for £5 from an outdoor clothing fair in a village hall near Barnard Castle or Kirby Stephen in the mid '90s. The insulation feels quite substantial and there is knitted acrylic inside and out. The 'overlap' of 'brim' material is quite...

I currently have a pair of Goretex-lined Merrell shoes for light outdoors duties (ie. when not wearing boots) I have begun wearing lower heeled shoes for running to promote a 'mid-foot' strike and have been wearing flatter shoes for day-today use. Having worn the Merrells for a forest walk...

I picked up one of these desirable jackets, left over from a previous "Thursday Special", in my local Aldi for the grand sum of £7.99, down from £20. As it packs quite small, the intention was to use it as an extra/lunch layer to keep in my rucksack, but the "lofting" and fit is better than I...

My replica M65 jacket with quilted (but non-elasticated wrists) liner is fine for normal conditions, but no use below freezing. In the past I'd buttoned in a pseudo-polarfleece "waistcoat", but the arms were still a little cold and the coat wasn't quite up to standing around in the cold. The...

I'm interested in moving away from the base-mid-membrane layerss for outdoor activities. I'm mostly a mountain biker these days, but enjoy mountaineering/walking and general outdoor/camping activities. I'm keen to get a jacket with a hood that can be used in a range of conditions and not...

We're off on a road trip taking in NE France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. Having found a superb place in Brittany a few years ago, I was wondering if I'd find anything similar on this trip. Does anybody know of any good surplus shops around Freiburg/Black Forest, Luxembourg, Koblenz...

I picked up a pair of surplus/used full Leather Matterhorn boots with Goretex lining. My comparisons are with my German (2000?, MkIV?) army boots with stitched sole that have never fitted me properly. First impressions are of well-made boots, but much less substantial than the Germans...

I had a look at a Velez Light smock the other day. I liked the look of it and I like the concept, but they're not cheap and even the lightweight material is quite thick. What is the 'pump layer' made of? Would a pertex shell over a lightweight inside-out fleece/merino/wicking top have a...

Were the reindeer herders wearing Russian army surplus kit? I wonder if they wear reindeer fur clothes in the winter? I assume that they live in village during the cold months. The horse breeder chap was wearing some kind of smock, I'm sure that the folks on here would like one.

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax For Leather Cream. How does it compare for performance with the 'Aqueous' stuff that mostly runs straight off? Does it leave a very waxy residue like the original Nikwax?

I went for a walk on the moors on Sunday with my wife and our 9 month-old daughter (wearing many layers, covered in an all-in-one suit, bobble hat, wrapped in a fleece blanket and sheltered by sitting a backpack). I've various clothes to choose from and decided to go with a fairly unusual mix...

My wife is after a light jacket that will keep a bit of rain off, but "doesn't look like a walking coat when I'm at the shops and is a nice colour". For some reason she doesn't fancy a DPM Goretex. I've suggested a Paramo Fuera, although it might look a bit too utilitarian for her (It...

Having found that 'cordura, suede & goretex' boots are just not tough enough for the sort of walking I like (scree, rocks & scrambling) I'm interested in replacing them with a leather pair. I already have a pair of Scarpa Manta for winter walking and a pair of Scarpa Vega from my ice...

Having been to the Lakes last week and into North Wales this week, it struck me how relatively few trees there are in this country. Obviously, I was aware of this before, and have been to New England in the past where there are *a lot* of trees. If we had not cleared the land for farming...

Those heavy Austrian army jumpers appear to be difficult to find in my size (40"). If I do find one, are they comfortable of is the wool scratchy? Are there any other surplus (but equally as not obviously military-looking) jumpers of similar warmth out there?