Survival/camping gear?

[RedneckBuckeye]

Where is the best place to order camping gear(water purification, fire starter, water storage,and ect.)? Cheaper than dirt(I think are normally high on stuff) seems to be the best so far. Anyone have any better palaces?
thanks.

 

[dentpusha]

You could prolly find that stuff at your local army surplus store.

 

[BudTX]

I have had positive dealings with these folks:

http://beprepared.com/Default.asp?bhcd2=1261068619

http://www.survivalsolutions.com/

 

[precision37]

Check out www.survivalblog.com for links to all sorts of stuff.

 

[BIGR]

Campmor has a ton of stuff, like others such as REI, Cabelas and some of those.

http://www.campmor.com/

 

[RedneckBuckeye]

thanks

 

[Ranger]

Depending on what you're looking for, Ebay can also save you money. My water purifier, a MSR Miox, cost me 60 bucks from ebay when it would have been 120 for a new one here in town.

Water storage? new food grade 55 gallon drums, and hit up your local fire department. At least up here we'll fill water jugs for free. Need smaller, military water cans aren't super cheap but are well worth the expenditure for the ruggedness of them... plus if you break off the breather cap, you can run a camelbak hose into it for drinking on the go (provided you strap it down in your rig)

For fire starting I go 3 directions. Bic Lighter, wind/waterproof matches, and a magnesium bar. In cold conditions just take a length of 550 that will fit comfortably over your head. Tie an overhand in each end, and use duct tape to secure it to the lighter. Don't join the ends of the 550 and you have built in strain relief so if it gets caught on something it won't turn into a garrote on you. Keeping it around your neck keeps it inside your layers and warm, and it'll function for you in the cold.

Shelter I go 4 ways.. Big to small:

US Army GP Small octagonal tent. 200 lbs or so, but it'll sleep 10 guys on cots in it. You're looking at around 200$ if you look around, and that SHOULD be with the stove as well. it's what I paid for mine. The stoves come with a fuel adapter so you can do diesel drip, or take it off and just stoke it with wood.

Kelty backpackers tent. Sleeps 2-3 people comfortably, 2 people with gear inside, 3 with gear stowed in the small vestibules. Weighs about 7 lbs or so.

Army Poncho. Keeps the rain off of ya, you can also make an a-frame of sorts. You could use a tarp in the same manner but it wouldn't help keep your gear dry... I always cover up my pack and gear I'm not using when I'm setting up camp or stopped for a day.. dry stuff is lighter If you make a ridgeline with it, hang the tarp UNDER the ridgeline not over it, wind and weather can eventually wear a hole in the tarp/poncho

last line is building a survival shelter using debris, hopefully my poncho, and duff or snow on top of that for more insulation. Make a tripod with a 8' leg and 2 3' legs, stack up more 1-2" branches on the long leg, toss tarp or poncho or any plastic you can find on that.. then just start piling duff (leaves and debris) on top of that, or snow. You'll keep the wind/rain off of you and if you build a reflector for your fire it'll actually stay cozy in there regardless of the temperature.

I still have and prefer the military 3 layer sleep system I was issued. Light bag for light weather/weight, heavy bag for colder weather, both for freezing your testes off weather, and a bivy bag for keeping the weather off. You can use the bivy with either part or both parts together, or by itself with a mil poncho liner in mild weather...

any other things you want sources or ideas on?

 

[RedneckBuckeye]

Thanks Ranger

 

[dentpusha]

Going Gear.com.Great service and lots of cool things needed for camping/hunting.