Army Surplus UK for successful bushcraft and camping

Why is army surplus UK clothing and equipment ideal for bushcraft, camping and hiking? Quite simply military clothing is fit for purpose having been designed and made to survive the world's harshest environments. For the outdoorsman, camper or survivalist having the right tools, clothing and equipment can be critical and may mean the difference between life and death. Military gear has typically had a undergone a significant amount of development, field-testing and has benefitted from substantial investment before it is issued.

Military clothing has to be tough and well made. Combat Trousers, Army Camouflage Jackets and Fishtail Parkas have many similar qualities. All these items are examples of well fabricated items of army clothing which use hard wearing materials that are very well stitched and include useful design elements.  Combat trousers for example utilise double layers of fabric at the knees and seat of the trousers and on army surplus uk camouflage jackets there are wire peaked hoods to shelter the wearer from all weathers. These elements of design were borne of real life experiences and feedback during testing by various military forces which means that when camping, hiking or engaging in bushcraft you can be assured that you are wearing the type of clothing and using the type of equipment which is best suited to your environment and needs. Of course all these military clothing items are increasingly fashionable but this should not detract from their real applications in the outdoors whether camping, hiking or walking in the wilderness.

Bushcraft means different things to people depending on who you ask but almost everyone will agree that it is important to use the best quality and most suitable kit you can source. Army surplus UK equipment is an excellent choice for camping and survival because of the purposes it was designed and made for. Many military forces issue their personnel with firesteels. There are many different styles of firesteels but the ones used by the top military forces are those described as "swedish firesteels" since the magnesium rod is longer and thicker on this type of fire steel than a smaller inferior type of steel. Also the scraper used for creating sparks from the rod tends to be stronger and on a regular firestarter. This is just an example of how the type of equipment issued to various armed forces around the world is used more and more by bushcraft enthusiasts and campers the world over. Similarly British Army personnel, US and European forces are issued with lightweight but highly insulated sleeping bags. As a result of military personnel needing lightweight but warm sleeping bags, army surplus UK sleeping bags are excellent bags whether you are into camping or serious survival training.

Army Surplus UK Clothing and Camping Equipment

One of the major reasons for choosing military grade products for your next wilderness trip is that army clothing and equipment is excellent value. Many of the civilian camping and hiking products on the market these days are label oriented and consumers end up paying a good deal of the item ticket price towards the poster campaign that sold them the product in the first place. Long gone are the days when military surplus offered an inferior product. Many items available these days have the same materials and fabrics as well known fashionable labels. Army boots and jackets are these days just as likely to contain Gore Tex, Ripstop fabrication or some other highly regarded element and at a fraction of the price of similar brand label outdoor products they represent fantastic value for money.

There are many excellent examples of military surplus products which are ideal for bushcraft. Army surplus UK camouflage clothing helps the survivalist blend into the environment and with a wide range of camo designs available there military clothing offers a great variety of choices. Army surplus uk or camouflage clothing is usually worn because the wearer wishes to remain concealed. A very well-known camo pattern is the Disruptive Pattern Material (or DPM for short) woodland camouflage. This is a four colour camo that is ideal for someone camping or hunting in a woodland environment. This type of DPM is available in a range of military clothing that includes combat trousers, camo jackets as well as rucksacks. The need to unobtrusively blend into the environment is the reason why camo is so popular with bushcraft enthusiasts. Many modern camouflage jackets include some useful design features such as multiple and deep button down pockets for stowing a range of outdoor gear and of course wired hoods which can be effectively manipulated to protect the wearer in the wind and rain. In addition many army surplus uk camo jackets have reinforced elbows, cowled double zips and drawstrings at waist, hem and velcro wrist adjusters.

Apart from looking like part of the landscape it is obviously very important for the item of military clothing, hammock, tent or backpack to be fabric which is “quiet” and does not rustle when moved or rubbed. Most modern fabrics on army surplus uk clothing and equipment have been developed to ensure that the wearer not only blends into the landscape visually but also acoustically.

Army surplus UK equipment and clothing is an inexpensive way of getting kit that is designed and built to do the job rather than down to a price. For campers, bushcraft enthusiasts, survivalists and anyone who works or plays outside in the countryside, exposed to the elements, who need effective top quality kit at a reasonable price then army surplus is the place to look. The clothing, camouflage or olive green (OG) is made from modern materials that dry out fast and are windproof to a greater extent than most people would believe possible. The standard issue windproof smock is a case in point, the fabric is tightly woven to keep the wind out, features such as a generous storm flap, strong zip, and waist and hem draw cords make this a serviceable jacket with reinforced elbows and shoulders and large pockets. Most army or government surplus clothing is built to these high standards and almost all of the waterproofs are MVP, moisture vapour permeable, to the highest civilian standards. Combat trousers with reinforced knees and seats made from rip stop material camo or plain represent the highest value for money.

For the camper, hiker or bushcraft enthusiast it is the kit, the bits and pieces that are as useful as the clothing. Mess tins for example tend to be the right size, small enough for easy packing but large enough to cook a reasonable meal. Metal mugs with folding handles are a piece of army surplus kit that doubles as a drinking vessel and cooking pot. The mug is designed to fit the bottom of a water bottle and so take up less space when packed, a typically thoughtful piece of military design.

Survival kits made up of a Swedish firesteel, tinder a wire saw, signaling mirror, knife and whatever the individual considers vital to his potential situation are generally of better quality and less likely to break at the crucial time if they are sourced from military surplus items.

Army Surplus UK Firesteel Video

Army surplus UK sleeping bags are renowned for their generous size, warmth and light weight, their pack size is small given the volume of the deployed bag. To ensure a good night's sleep outdoors the sleeping bag can be used with a bivi of bivvi bag, this is an outer either partially or fully waterproof MVP bag that keeps the outdoor enthusiast dry and much warmer than he would be without it. All survivalists and bushcraft people should include a hammock and tarp in their basic equipment coupled with a firestarter and the military surplus sleeping bag and bivi a warm, dry and secure night can be spent under the stars. A top quality tarp can be suspended from sewn in loops around the edges and down the centre line. A quantity of paracord and a supply of bungees make deploying the tarp easier in any situation.

This equipment needs to be carried by the hiker and army surplus UK rucksacks or Bergens are designed to be carried all day by a soldier who is covering the rough terrain much faster than the person enjoying their camping experience. A 130 litre army surplus Bergen is a good thing but for those going light the 35 litre daypack is the better option, again built to high military standards to cope with the most arduous conditions.

Army surplus, military or government surplus, call it what you will, is the best solution to most outdoor situations.

Army Surplus UK and our approach to army surplus

Here at Army Surplus UK we are passionate about army surplus and all that great quality clothing and equipment stands for.  We at Army Surplus UK are keen outdoors people ourselves and use army surplus UK kit when we go out into the wilderness or on a bushcraft expedition. We understand that you are looking for quality army surplus backed up by high standards of service to give you an outstanding customer experiece.  Army Surplus UK is committed to selling good value but high quality army surplus. 

Army Surplus UK stocks a wide range of british military surplus alongside military surplus from around the world.  Delivering army surplus UK wide, ArmySurplusUK.org specialises in US military surplus and British military surplus which is ideal for bushcraft and camping equipment. 

Please browse our army surplus UK store and do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions about sizes, colours, or indeed any specifications questions. We have been retailing army surplus for over a decade so the owners and staff of Army Surplus UK are likely to be able to help you with your enquiry whether it relates to army surplus uk clothing or equipment. 

Selling army surplus UK wide gives us a good idea of what our customers are needing however if there is an item of military surplus that you would like us to stock or get for you please let us know and we will do our best to get it for you.  Although army surplus uk stocks a wide range of military surplus, bushcraft kit, Jack Pyke, Webtex and army surplus we don't have absolutely every item of surplus we have in store on our army surplus uk site so do get in touch to make an enquiry.