What to buy...

[Asa Samuel]

Well I did my first ever real paid work for my girlfriends parents company and have an extra £17.50 to spend, so my question is: What should I get?

I'd quite like a hammock or maybe a tarp, or a bivi bag. bivi bag is probably the thing I need more but I'm not sure I could get a decent one for that ammount posted.

Any other suggestions?

Asa.

 

[MartinK9]

Well I did my first ever real paid work for my girlfriends parents company and have an extra £17.50 to spend, so my question is: What should I get?

I'd quite like a hammock or maybe a tarp, or a bivi bag. bivi bag is probably the thing I need more but I'm not sure I could get a decent one for that ammount posted.

Any other suggestions?

Asa.

Several on evil bay for less than £17.50 at the moment

 

[Asa Samuel]

Not a big fan of evilbay, I prefer the buy it nows and the only ones that are within range are lace up, bit odd if you ask me.

 

[Asa Samuel]

Nothing else? No bits of kit people can think of?

 

[Toddy]

How about a IPK.........about £3 last time I checked. For that you get a tarp, some excellent pegs and some really good cordage (even if it is white). The tarp isn't huge but it'll let you play with configurations or it would make a brilliant groundsheet. The cordage is good to work with but even if it just gets used for lines, or practicising making paracord key fobs and the like, it's still good stuff.

You could buy some leather offcuts, thread and needles, a good awl makes a huge difference too. All sorts of usefuls can be made from leather,

What kind of axe do you have ? The local garden centres are selling a Fiskars one for £14. Warthog1981 worked mine over and now it's a beautiful tool

How about a block of stropping compound ? £3.50......a bit of a plank and glue on either leather or an old mousemat, and you have a really good strop that will keep your sharps in fine fettle.

A reel of leather thonging, make some bracelets and keyfobs, sell them on and make enough to cover your leather and get your money back too

Have a look at Endicott's website.........goretex waterproofs......an entire set will cost under £40, so maybe there's something there ?

Just some ideas

atb,
Toddy

 

[Peter_t]

go to a car boot sale, you can pick up good quality axes and bill hooks from 50p to £15 you can oftern pick up ex army kit cheep too and camping stoves. ok they may be a little dirty/rusty but value for money is great

pete

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

A Buff, wonderful piece of kit, so many uses from hat to improvised millbank bag to wash cloth and in lots of patterns & colours around £12

or a book, Roger Phillips "Mushrooms", Eric Langmuir's "Mountain craft & Leadership" or whatever you fancy.

 

[widu13]

How about a PSK.........about £3 last time I checked. For that you get a tarp, some excellent pegs and some really good cordage (even if it is white). The tarp isn't huge but it'll let you play with configurations or it would make a brilliant groundsheet. The cordage is good to work with but even if it just gets used for lines, or practicising making paracord key fobs and the like, it's still good stuff.
Toddy

Toddy, that should be IPK unless you mean the silenced sniper rifle

 

[Big Geordie]

A surplus poncho fits the bill too. OOOOps youve got one. DUH
Good luck with your choice.
G

 

[Toddy]

Toddy, that should be IPK unless you mean the silenced sniper rifle

oops, sorry, before my coffee

I did mean IPK . No idea what I was thinking this morning, the rifle stuff is the other Toddy's department.

cheers,
M

 

[Shewie]

TkMax were selling the TrekMates hammock a few weeks ago for around £12 I think, I've heard they're quite good so might be worth checking out.

 

[redandshane]

Dont just buy something cos you have £17.50
try thniking what you need or want
The Trek Mates for £12.50 is worth it if you have no hammock
Take a look at car boots tomorrow as well though

 

[helixpteron]

+1 on the Buff!

An extremely versatile piece of kit.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

i would spend it on a takeway and an film and stay in with gf and have and early night cos thats going to make Browny points and well every man knows points make prizes

 

[sandbender]

Get yourself a copy of John Fenna's book "A Basic Guide to making your own, Budget, Bushcrafting Equipment".

14 fully illustrated, step by step projects (using the simplest of tools) plus detailed instructions on seaming etc.

The projects cover - Drybag, stuffsack,Poncho/basha, Giant Basha, Daysack, Canvas "Foraging" Bag, Zipped Bivvi bag, trivet, Billy Can, Hobo Stove, Coconut Mug, Coconut Ladle or water dipper, Soft Leather Storage Pouches, Leather "Possibles" Pouch.
All in A4 format, wipe clean, cover with easily removed pages for ease of working.

All this for only £10 inc P&P!​

More info. here.

 

[Mikey P]

Or......

Rather than spend it straight away on something that's 'OK', why not save it, do some more work, then buy something that is 'Excellent'. DD Hammock, perhaps? Better tarp?

Word of caution - do not buy the 'mesh' hammocks if you want to sleep in them - tend to be quite uncomfortable. Save the money, get something that is specifically made for what you want it to do.

<Obi Wan Kenobi mind-meld voice> You do not have to spend it all now. You do not have to spend it all now.

Alternatively, get 20 Marlborough, a box of matches, some chips and a large bottle of cider. Then go and sit on the beach and shout at people. I believe that's traditional.

 

[ex Member swampy99]

Alternatively, get 20 Marlborough, a box of matches, some chips and a large bottle of cider. Then go and sit on the beach and shout at people. I believe that's traditional.

That is the yoof of South Essex to a "T". The younger ones who can't get cider go for blue fizzy drink with meths or alcohol hand gel. Class