What's your favourite piece of military kit and why?

[British Red]

No.4 Mk 1 (T) most likely Ed

rare these days - and pricey!

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Wool headover, superb

Would have to second that.

But i did like the field kitchen

 

[Highbinder]

Don't have that much military kit, so from what I do own... the British arctic socks? Or the 58 pattern poncho

 

[Fizzy]

No.4 Mk 1 (T) most likely Ed

rare these days - and pricey!

Yeah, if it was an original No.4T then it would be worth a few quid if he still has it!

For me, it's probably my Dutch HH wool fleece or my Berghaus Vulcan

 

[ed_hopper]

........... and the bivi bag is great.......

2nd that. Also love the British rollmat (don't know what year/ model etc); bombproof, has been used on lots of bivi's over the last 15 years and keeps taking the punishment (starting to look pretty rough though).

 

[SMARTY]

Metal mug and waterbottle

 

[Tiley]

Stainless steel Crusader cup and, strangely, Biscuits, brown.

 

[ex member coconino]

The favourite military item I've ever owned was a shirt (French army, I think) which was very well made and comfortable. I gave it away years ago, for some reason I don't remember, but I'd love to get another one, it knocked spots of gear like 5.11. I've used a WWII gas-mask bag since the 1970s and it still goes out with me sometimes as a bits and bobs satchel.

 

[Everything Mac]

not a great deal of my kit is civie gear. 98% of my kit is British army issue.

I'm a big fan of all of it to be honest! Though I have a real weakness for rat pack food, particularly the oatmeal block, biscuits fruit and even biscuits brown!

Andy

 

[Mesquite]

Dutch HH wool fleece as well as my Arktis Dancam jacket & trousers. Said it before, it's probably the best set of waterproofs I've bought.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

58 pat water bottle and metal mug

 

[John Fenna]

Crusader cup/system inc 58 waterbottle - decent sized brews and a useful enough stove for quick brews on a stroll - best bottle in the game.

Dutch wool blanket (for making jackets etc) - cheap and great quality fabric
Rat packs - cheap and convenient grub!
Swedish meths stove - bomb proof ...if not overly fast
Vulcan Pack - tough and holds it all
Issue tarps good for ground dwelling - a bit small for hammocking
Issue bivvibag - roomy and it works

 

[maddave]

Same for me... The crusader cooking system and 58 pat water bottle

 

[MrEd]

Dutch HH fleece - kept me warm in many many places!

 

[Petey]

No mention of the good old "norgie"? And another vote for the headover

 

[lab72]

Crusader mug and bottle great system and biscuits brown and those gummy sweets to.

 

[unorthadox]

Do i have to only pick one piece?
erm tough one then
i've quite a lot of army surplus kit as its cheap shrugs off most abuse and in my opinion looks better the more abuse it has had(i cant stand namby pamby kit you need to protect)
top five would be-
1-58 pattern water bottle - one of my bottles had a close encouter with low flying glass and apart from a wee chunk missing is still doing fine.
2- british army lightweight trousers-harder to find with one leg pocket and only one back pocket nowadays but i lived in them for years (back in my overly prepared stage)and still the comfiest trousers ever in my opinion worn whenever i am out in the woods.
3-58 pattern sleeping bag-yes there are lighter warmer bags but mine has done me for several years throughout the year and i have never ever begrudged carrying it.
4-swedish army trangia-its awesome
5 the new predator 50ltr pack- i bought one last year thanks to a link on here it did the fundamental course at woodlore with me and is THE pack i use now add on a couple of side pockets and its upto 70ltr add on assorted MOLLE pouches and you can have a very tailored load carrying pack

Nah you don't but it helps lower the number of posts with people just listing all their kit, also hoping to see what pieces of kit are bushcraft favourites.
So far it looks like the crusader/stainless steel cup

 

[Man of Tanith]

trust me that wasnt me listing all my kit
crusader cup and bottle defintely seems the main winner

 

[Sleepy Weasel]

Crusader Mug
Sleeka Jacket
Soldier 2000 Goretex gloves
Marine windproof trousers
Ration Packs(Menu F, rice pudding!)
Bashas
Gtx Bivvi Bags


Liking the new Warm Weather Gloves, but I do have a glove fetish.............

 

[dp0001]

Hmm, too many, all with stories. W. German plain parka. Thinking back I seem to have gone from being fairly smartly dressed to an old parka at around the time my dad died 10 years' ago. Lost interest in being smart and shaved then - values just change. When I started motorbiking, I fitted the padding from a crappy armoured motorbike jacket to the lining so it got used for that. At some point it got battery acid all over it so I just use it now for painting or dirty car work.

The german parkas seem to all be disappearing now (like red MkIII Cortinas, which all vanished from the streets the night of 3rd September 1988!) so I got a similar but not quite as good brand new Dutch one as my No2 coat. Strange goings-on in the pockets which have sub-pockets so you can pigeon-hole or order your contents and not find again quickly unless you have a good memory.

Just a few months ago I saw an M65 US jacket re-make in black so that's now my No1 coat, not to be used for dirty jobs. It's close to the original but I suspect not such a heavy duty material. I'll replace the nasty cheap elastic with paracord (is it too late for the hundred uses thread?). It has a better cut but the German one is better with cuffs and a warmer liner and inner pocket. Proper hoodie hood too - what's the point of the flimsy hood in the M65 anyway?

SA Trangia, hexi stove just great too.