all about rolling your pant legs up

Army Surplus stores, depending on where you live (sorry New Yorkers) can be a great resource for everything from clothing to camping gear. For those interested in well made affordable gear, your local Army Navy is the place to be.

The key in Army Surplus shopping is knowing what you want.

If you want the look and the function of military gear, but perhaps not the vintage (and the requisite wear and tear that comes with decades of use) look for brands like Propper which have government contracts. Propper makes uniforms exclusively for U.S. Marine Corps and their uniforms are Army approved. They offer products made with the same materials at the same factories (here in the U.S.) as the official military gear. Goretex jackets, baselayers, all the technical gear you could possibly want. At really reasonable prices as well. A lot of the better Army Surplus stores have stocked both new civilian issue Propper and used military Propper. If I didn’t have an arc’teryx I’d definitely be buying a gore-tex shell.

If you’re looking for M-65s with that broken in feel of Clarence’s, then vintage is your game. As with anything vintage the dig is half the battle. Generally, like everything else, the older the item the more expensive. World War II gear and now even Korean War and Vietnam era gear are steadily increasing in price. Ebay and the like have made finding authentic pieces a bit harder, although they still can be found.

Here in the states there’s an obvious premium for American uniforms and jackets. There are a ton of European armies represented and generally they are cheaper than their American counterparts.  A lot of non-issued gear. Which is basically deadstock. Brand new. If you’re not picky about the year (lately I’ve been seeing a lot of deadstock mid ’90s) or country, you can get field jackets, trenches, parkas, almost any type of outerwear at a great price.

This is a Belgian field jacket I picked up a few weeks ago. Unlined, it works great as a rain jacket.  Dirt cheap.  Plus it’s the perfect weight and shape to drape over her shoulders on fireworks night.

Adjustable cuffs, metal snaps, the best thing about surplus gear is that it’s made to last down to the smallest details.

Mid-90s German field parka. Lightweight nylon this jacket is the perfect early Spring and Fall outer layer.  Internal drawstrings at the waist and hem help slim up the silhouette.

I still think Army Surplus bags don’t get enough shine. Almost every bag I use for travel is army surplus.

Obviously, pilots’ gear is well-suited for air travel. This Pilot’s bag is the perfect size for a carry-on. Perfect for cramming as much as possible in that overhead compartment.

It’s Italian, it has to be a stylish bag, right?

Feet. All bags should have feet.

Each of these items were priced well under $50-most being under $20.

Always keep an open mind when at the surplus store, you never know what odd item will catch your eye.

Always keep your trigger finger free.