Classic kit no longer in production, but you wish were.

[CLEM]

I am sure there are many items of kit , classic and modern offerings , some that are only out of production relatively recently , and some pieces of kit having ceased production decades and decades ago that you like the look of and wish you were able to get your hands on given the chance. Kit you regret not buying only a short few years ago to classic items of kit that ceased manufacture loooooooong ago. From knives, to stoves, sleep kit, tents, pots pans even to clobber.
Anything spring to mind?

 

[TeeDee]

Any of the Extreme stuff to be honest - I wish I purchased more when I had the chance.

Thread 'Extreme Outdoor Clothing Explorer Fleece'

Feb 24, 2011

I just received the above garment from EOC (Keith Howes), my interest having been triggered by the Where Eagles Dare Parka on his website. The jacket is made to measure in K2 Karisma fleece, a superb design, windproof, hard wearing, pockets that work well with a rucksack hipbelt, map pockets, very high standard of manufacture and fits like a glove. It also fits perfectly under a Ventile smock and makes a bombproof combination. All for about £75. My Paramo Taiga jacket and various latest soft-shells will be going up for sale because they are now redundant. I'm very chuffed...

• Nonsuch
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Clothing & Footwear

 

[hughtrimble]

There's a bigger thread about this: https://bushcraftuk.com/community/t...-gone-you-could-bring-back-what-is-it.166593/

 

[Snufkin]

Savotta retro packs. I have them but it would be comforting to know I could replace them.

 

[FerlasDave]

Definitely should have purchased the floor for the Bergen’s Lavvo when I got that.

Theres probably other things… One is I regret getting rid of my Bernie Garland knife, it wasn’t great but I’m kinda nostalgic about it being my first woodlore style blade.

 

[Broch]

Real Vango Force 10 tents, original Karrimor frame packs (I had two and only got rid of them about ten years ago ), original (yellow) Karrimats (still must have one somewhere).

I never had money so spend on gear until I was well into my twenties so a lot of the time I was in the 'wilderness' with army-surplus and 'day' clothes - my boots were DMS, my trousers were Lightweights, and my jumper was home-knitted - I miss those simple days as much as the gear.

 

[CLEM]

Real Vango Force 10 tents, original Karrimor frame packs (I had two and only got rid of them about ten years ago ), original (yellow) Karrimats (still must have one somewhere).

I never had money so spend on gear until I was well into my twenties so a lot of the time I was in the 'wilderness' with army-surplus and 'day' clothes - my boots were DMS, my trousers were Lightweights, and my jumper was home-knitted - I miss those simple days as much as the gear.

i remember those days, Mora £3.99, LK35 £3.99, Swedish Trangia Cookset Army issue £5, enamel cup £1. Happy days

 

[Billy-o]

Snowsled ventile jackets.

No idea why, but I sold a single layer smock. It was great and I never found an adequate replacement. I know who has it too

Also, the Bob Dustrude Folding Saw.

Things made in the 1990s were a lot cheaper. So, all of them things.

 

[CLEM]

The Tamarack Mk1 knife, Mors Pots another pair of SASS Spetnaz strides & smock.

 

[stonepark]

SASS Smocks, made to order, in custom camo, specs and size were the pinnacle but we didn't realise how good we had it!

 

[Tengu]

I have an exterior frame Karrimor, Brock, if you want one

 

[Forest fella]

An older GAK by a Brand other than Mil-Tec, still on the look out.

 

[Nice65]

Savotta retro packs. I have them but it would be comforting to know I could replace them.

Are you planning on breaking one? Not happening, it’s a bag for life

 

[Billy-o]

Here's one to add - Garmin Oregon 700 GPS

Idly, I went to look and see what a replacement would be while maintaining weight and/or compactness. Hoping for a bit more speed and a slightly larger, clearer screen. But, nothing. Good job I checked. I was going to just sell it in the expectation things had improved. Seems it is a unicorn after all.

 

[Sooty22]

SASS Smocks, made to order, in custom camo, specs and size were the pinnacle but we didn't realise how good we had it!

What was special about them? I am curious to find out more as I am considering starting something up.

 

[Sooty22]

I think there are too many things these days that do not live up to expectations, probably due to concepts like 'planned obsolescence', quality control being tricky with stuff made where things are usually made these past couple of decades, plus people not bothering starting something up and designing good kit as they know their ideas will be copied and sold ten to a penny after a few months.
Apart from a high price, I find that shopping for stuff made exclusively in Europe or the States tends to be superb, and covers all my tickboxes comfortably.
That said... when I was a kid, I had from my dad a pair of genuine german navy deck boots, unlined, all-leather, unreal quality and feel, and absolutely impossible to source one these days. Those boots were probably already 30-40yo at that point and heavily used, likely having seen plenty of salt water soaking too. They were still like-new function-wise when I sold them around 30y back, and I would part with a lot of money for a new pair in my size, but I know there's no chance.
Maybe it's time to take up boot-making

 

[Herman30]

I miss rubber boots from 70´s. They were made of better and longer lasting rubber.
Modern boots are not so good because EU ordered to lower the amount of sulphur in the rubber.

 

[CLEM]

What was special about them? I am curious to find out more as I am considering starting something up.

One of the best longest lasting clothing kit items I’ve ever owned, top quality and always willing to modify your ordered items if it was something they could accommodate. And i just liked mine.

 

[TeeDee]

RADAR lightweights,

 

[stonepark]

What was special about them? I am curious to find out more as I am considering starting something up.

They produced the standard military pattern smocks (in multiple camo patterns), their own SASS Smock, their Kit Karry Smock (upgraded storage), para smock, as well as soldier 95 pattern issue uniforms and would customise/make you basically anything you wanted based on the starting point of one of their existing lines.

Wired hoods, no hoods, lined, unlined, windproof gabardine, standard gabardine, elasticated hidden cuffs, no rank tabs, different pocket layout, extra length etc etc, anything you wanted could generally be accommodated for, effectively a modern continuation for the common (or not so common) soldier tailored clothing.