4 thoughts on “A *tiny* excerpt”

1. Couple comments and questions:

   Folks on ebay sell (new) t-shirts by the dozen pretty cheaply. Do a search for “hanes beefy” which is my favorite T. You can probably long-sleeve shirts as well. In fact, you can find just about any kind of popular clothing item on ebay pretty cheaply.

   You think an ALICE pack is all that useful compared to commercially available products, now? Speaking of packs and other outdoor gear. Are you familiar with Campmor? Apparently the outdoor industry is like the fashion industry. Last year’s stuff becomes pretty cheap, and they sell it there. They’ve got sleeping bags, uber cold weather gear, rain gear, and other stuff that you’re looking to put in your BOB. You can find cord by the footfrom a place that sells climbing gear. I tend to prefer the stuff used for climbing as the specifications are pretty explicit.

   As for radios, modified amateur radio HTs will work on FRS frequencies and serve as pretty good scanners as well. They also have higher power and are generally more useful than FRS radios.

   Though these people don’t have 5 gallon water containers, they have everything else, and their prices are pretty good.

2. Folks on ebay sell (new) t-shirts by the dozen pretty cheaply. Do a search for “hanes beefy” which is my favorite T. You can probably long-sleeve shirts as well. In fact, you can find just about any kind of popular clothing item on ebay pretty cheaply.
   Actually, the t-shirts that I have squirrelled away are, in fact, Hanes…as are the briefs.

   You think an ALICE pack is all that useful compared to commercially available products, now?
   Nope. But my plans call for four identical backpacks and that can get prohibitively expensive. The ALICE pack is cheap enough I can have the four my plans call for. Additionally, the ALICE pack has the advantage of working with or without the frame, allowing me to task the frame and the cargo shelf to things like carrying ammo or fuel cans. A spare set of shoulder straps, kidney pad, etc, etc, are all less than ten bucks. The ALICE pack also comes in the subdued color I prefer, will work with my other surplus military gear, and is more versatile. The ALICE pack is relegated to secondary-standard status. Primary backpack, actually, is the CFP-90. But if I need to equip several people, set up mission-specific bags, stock a cache, or ‘risk’ losing one in an endeavour, then the ALICE is the way to go. For the price of a good Lowes I can get a half dozen ALICE packs.

   Speaking of packs and other outdoor gear. Are you familiar with Campmor? Apparently the outdoor industry is like the fashion industry.
   
   I get their catalog and once in a while buy some stuff from them, but the majority of my needs are met or exceeded with cheaper milsurp stuff. I do use commercial high-end stuff (camp stoves, flashlights, radios, etc) if I can afford it, but for stocking the bunker with stuff that needs to have be in multiple quantities the military stuff is the way to go. I’ve done three and four day trips with the med. ALICE pack. Its ok but you do have to pack smart since space is a bit limited. However, I feel good about getting it wet, dirty, throwing it over cliffs, going through tangles with it, etc….I have a Blackhawk Patrol Pack and I’d say its a pretty good substitute for the ALICE although it does not use a frame.

3. CFP-90 isn’t so bad, I particularly like the fact that it comes in better colors than standard camping gear. I wondered if ALICE packs were still useful for anybody.

   the majority of my needs are met or exceeded with cheaper milsurp stuff.

   I can’t really find cheap, useful milsurp stuff that compares to the cheaper commercial gear. For example, I can get a zero-degree bag from campmor for fifty or sixty bucks. Certainly not the best or the lightest bag, but I doubt I could find a comparable milsurp bag any cheaper.

4. Well, really, again it depends on what youre expecting…if what youre looking for is, say, a ten or twenty degree rated bag the ‘made in China’ bags from any WalMart will do the trick. But, in this particualr example, I need that same rating and:
   durability
   subdued color
   quiet material
   etc etc

   When you factor in qualities other than the obvious ones, the military surplus stuff starts to beat the cheap commercial stuff but probably cant beat the expensive commercial stuff.

   Lemme give another example to beat the topic even further….
   Standard issue flashlight for the LMI’s is the MagLite. It isnt the cheapest light nor is it the best light. However, it is the most ubiquitous with bulbs and accessories available everywhere and it meets our requirement. A cheaper flashlight would throw the exact same amount of light, but probably not be as rugged; and a more expensive light might throw more light and be as rugged but be too expensive for us to have four or five in reserve.

   Now, there are some pieces of gear we simply go with the cheapest just because of the old “Quantity has a quality all its own” (i.e. if it breaks, who cares we have three hundred more just like it).

   Also, it dfepends on where you shop for your surplus gear. Majors Surplus, Cheaper Than Dirt, Sportsmans Guide (and esp. their ‘HQ’ catalog), and a couple other catalogs give the best bargains and broadest range of gear. eBay, naturally, does a bangup job too if you know what to search under.

   I’m not espousing milsurp stuff as the ultimate solution nor am I disregarding the commercial stuff…Im just saying that when we factor in the qualities we want in a product, in addition to the obvious ones, the military stuff tends to come out on top. But, if theres a commercial alternative that does it all at a better price, then we go with that. (Keep in mind, some military gear is just way to freakin’ expensive..not usually, but sometimes.)

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