Every year I look back at the mountain of good and not so good things I have bought and tried out and each year I do my top ten of the ones that I really feel have really proven to be truly great value for money. I'm not talking gucci-priced kit here and the focus is usually on those disproportionately cheap things that give you more pleasure than financial pain. It is a recession after all. So, alas, its not a list that would include a 25th Anniversary knife. Its also a shame that my German Mountain Pack and Austrian Wooly Pully were bought in 2009 so they don't get into this year's list. Most of this year was buying clothing so this is reflected in the proportion of clothing appearing in the best buys. Only one this year gets into my Kit Hall of Fame (as yet unpublished) but the other nine are great pieces of kit at great prices.
Its a personal choice but here you are:
My top 10 Best buys of 2010
Arktis windproof stowaway shirt £20
For £20 this top really delivers the goods. I bought a second one this year although the first one shows no sign of wear - and I have been using it for two years. Light, genuinely windproof and shower resistant is packs down to smaller than your fist, weighs nothing (150g) and paired with an insulating layer (fleece or wooly pully) is every bit as good as the montane and snugpack pile/pertex shirts. However, one of the best things about this shirt is how amazingly snag resistant it is. Some ripstop just loves to snag and pull threads in the undergrowth. I only had to take my GB Army bivi jacket out for a bimble to show me that. But amazingly this shirt is extremely tough for its price. Although there is no way it is fireproof the shirt has even survived around the campfire without scorch or spark holes (although I am more vigilant than I would be normally) I'm now never without one and this shirt earns a place not only in my best buys of 2010 but as it has been properly tested over a good part of the year on many outings it earns a place in my kit Hall of Fame. Not many things do.
http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/Products/4014_StowawayShirt.htm
http://www.lansdaleltd.com/prod.php/prod/4014G__B__HV
Genuine Issue US Army Wool Watch Cap £5
Beware of imitations. None come close. The specific 'locking' knit on this, the decent length to roll up and down and the softness of the wool makes this a cut above most other watch caps and a real steal at this price. http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/olive-green-wool-watch-cap---genuine-us-army-issue-1233-p.asp
Huskie Hatchet £25
Its been reviewed on here. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66600. I got one early last year. £22. Bargain and punches above its weight. I find the SFA redundant now as I either use this when I am carrying or much bigger axe for heavy jobs. Its a great little kindling splitter and carver.
http://www.ramages.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh...uk/&WD=hatchet&PN=Special_offers.html#a20#a20
GB Army Wool Headover £4.50
Funny, washed with a bit of conditioner, I find these not itchy at all. I seem to live in mine. Its such a small and versatile bit of kit. I am quite glad I didn't fork out for the merino version when this will do for a fraction of the price.
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2211
German Mittens
I bought new ones of these. I think for just £12.95. Warm, waterproof, spark resistant outer. Superb quality for the price.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66132&p=800876&highlight=#post800876
Exped Scout Hammock Combi £60
I still marvel at the build quality of this kit. The detailing and finish are excellent. It makes for a lovely night sleep and is the first hammock (out of my DDs and Hennesseys) that I reach for. I got this in a deal. But if you can search them down even if it is for a few quid more then you could not be dissappointed.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59010&highlight=unboxing
Cargo Shute Cord £2.95
I love Endy's Paracord. Got leagues of the stuff. However when it comes to tarp ridgeline then I love this stuff. Cut from cargo shutes it is even more abrasion resistant and strong than the paracord. Lovely durable stuff
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1868
Mora Bushcraft Force Knife £15
Such good value that I went straight back and bought another.
I love Mora knives. However I am so hard on the little clippers that they get bent blades and chipped edges. I've even had one snap on me this year. These are quite a bit more heavyweight and the sheath 'rocks' compared to the clipper's. This is now now standard issue. Good enough to stand with the big stuff but cheap enough to trash or lose.
http://workshopheaven.com/cgi-bin/c...eneral:MORAB:MORABUSH&pg=ste_cat&ref=MORABUSH
Corrymoor Explorer Socks £16.80
Go on, treat your poor, ignored feet! These socks are made from Mohair (Angorra) and made extra durable with a dash of Nylon. I've been using these socks all year against various smartwool and merino brands and there is no comparison. These are probably the best socks you can buy...and they even come in three types of green and two types of brown. You'll never have 'unco-ordinated' feet again!
http://www.corrymoor.com/the-socks/explorer.html
p.s. I have an embarressing admission to make - I bought a pair of their 'soft as' bed socks to use when I am sleeping out in cold weather and...its like having Angels kissing your feet to sleep each night
http://www.corrymoor.com/the-socks/bedsocks.html
Arktis Waterproof smock
Say no more. Well there are no more. So the lucky few are indeed very lucky.
My absolute 'best buy' was not kit last year. It was this amazingly useful, ultra-ultra light multi-tool called Knowledge. I gained a bit and it is worth alot.
Its a personal choice but here you are:
My top 10 Best buys of 2010
Arktis windproof stowaway shirt £20
For £20 this top really delivers the goods. I bought a second one this year although the first one shows no sign of wear - and I have been using it for two years. Light, genuinely windproof and shower resistant is packs down to smaller than your fist, weighs nothing (150g) and paired with an insulating layer (fleece or wooly pully) is every bit as good as the montane and snugpack pile/pertex shirts. However, one of the best things about this shirt is how amazingly snag resistant it is. Some ripstop just loves to snag and pull threads in the undergrowth. I only had to take my GB Army bivi jacket out for a bimble to show me that. But amazingly this shirt is extremely tough for its price. Although there is no way it is fireproof the shirt has even survived around the campfire without scorch or spark holes (although I am more vigilant than I would be normally) I'm now never without one and this shirt earns a place not only in my best buys of 2010 but as it has been properly tested over a good part of the year on many outings it earns a place in my kit Hall of Fame. Not many things do.
http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/Products/4014_StowawayShirt.htm
http://www.lansdaleltd.com/prod.php/prod/4014G__B__HV
Genuine Issue US Army Wool Watch Cap £5
Beware of imitations. None come close. The specific 'locking' knit on this, the decent length to roll up and down and the softness of the wool makes this a cut above most other watch caps and a real steal at this price. http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/olive-green-wool-watch-cap---genuine-us-army-issue-1233-p.asp
Huskie Hatchet £25
Its been reviewed on here. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66600. I got one early last year. £22. Bargain and punches above its weight. I find the SFA redundant now as I either use this when I am carrying or much bigger axe for heavy jobs. Its a great little kindling splitter and carver.
http://www.ramages.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh...uk/&WD=hatchet&PN=Special_offers.html#a20#a20
GB Army Wool Headover £4.50
Funny, washed with a bit of conditioner, I find these not itchy at all. I seem to live in mine. Its such a small and versatile bit of kit. I am quite glad I didn't fork out for the merino version when this will do for a fraction of the price.
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2211
German Mittens
I bought new ones of these. I think for just £12.95. Warm, waterproof, spark resistant outer. Superb quality for the price.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66132&p=800876&highlight=#post800876
Exped Scout Hammock Combi £60
I still marvel at the build quality of this kit. The detailing and finish are excellent. It makes for a lovely night sleep and is the first hammock (out of my DDs and Hennesseys) that I reach for. I got this in a deal. But if you can search them down even if it is for a few quid more then you could not be dissappointed.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59010&highlight=unboxing
Cargo Shute Cord £2.95
I love Endy's Paracord. Got leagues of the stuff. However when it comes to tarp ridgeline then I love this stuff. Cut from cargo shutes it is even more abrasion resistant and strong than the paracord. Lovely durable stuff
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1868
Mora Bushcraft Force Knife £15
Such good value that I went straight back and bought another.
I love Mora knives. However I am so hard on the little clippers that they get bent blades and chipped edges. I've even had one snap on me this year. These are quite a bit more heavyweight and the sheath 'rocks' compared to the clipper's. This is now now standard issue. Good enough to stand with the big stuff but cheap enough to trash or lose.
http://workshopheaven.com/cgi-bin/c...eneral:MORAB:MORABUSH&pg=ste_cat&ref=MORABUSH
Corrymoor Explorer Socks £16.80
Go on, treat your poor, ignored feet! These socks are made from Mohair (Angorra) and made extra durable with a dash of Nylon. I've been using these socks all year against various smartwool and merino brands and there is no comparison. These are probably the best socks you can buy...and they even come in three types of green and two types of brown. You'll never have 'unco-ordinated' feet again!
http://www.corrymoor.com/the-socks/explorer.html
p.s. I have an embarressing admission to make - I bought a pair of their 'soft as' bed socks to use when I am sleeping out in cold weather and...its like having Angels kissing your feet to sleep each night
http://www.corrymoor.com/the-socks/bedsocks.html
Arktis Waterproof smock
Say no more. Well there are no more. So the lucky few are indeed very lucky.
My absolute 'best buy' was not kit last year. It was this amazingly useful, ultra-ultra light multi-tool called Knowledge. I gained a bit and it is worth alot.
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