Camping & Hiking Gear      






Camping & Hiking Gear



Contributed By: L. S. Barrel







Some      

of the finest and most affordable camping gear in the world is surplus      

U.S. military equipment. The nylon web gear is sweat and mildew      

resistant, it wonât rot, and it pretty much is one size fits all. If you      

get the pistol belt, Iâd recommend that you also buy the ãYä harness for      

the belt. The ãYä harness helps to distribute the weight load away from      

your waist and move it to your shoulders. Iâd also suggest that you get      

at least two canteens (with cups and covers) since you never know when      

youâll need water out in the woods. Adjust the belt and harness so that      

the canteens on the rear part of the belt ride just above the large      

muscles in your buttocks. If the canteens are sitting on your ãcheeksä,      

the belt is too low and may get in your way if you have to move quickly.      

Itâs easier if a friend helps you adjust the belt and Y- harness.      





Military ammo pouches are just about an ideal place for granola      

bars and trail mix (if you have two, you could use the second one for      

carrying a ãpoint and shootä 35mm camera. Youâll want a sealed First-Aid      

bandage and pouch for emergencies. On the back of your pistol belt      

(between the canteens) is a good spot to carry a rolled up GI poncho...      

you never know when it might rain and you can make a hasty shelter out      

of one if it really turns nasty. GI pup tents (with ropes and poles) are      

the least expensive camping tents youâll find. They ainât roomy, but      

they do work.      



Iâm partial to the old LC-1 (nicknamed ãAliceä) medium size      

backpack for carrying camping gear. The outside pockets were just the      

right size for my shaving kit with towel, fresh underwear with two pairs      

of socks, and some Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs). In the large cargo area,      

Iâd carry a complete change of clothes (in a protective, waterproof bag)      

at the bottom, a rolled up GI Intermediate sleeping bag, and my pup tent      

on top. The order was determined by what I might need to get at first.      

If the overnight temperatures were in the upper 40s or higher, AND no      

chance of storms... then Iâd leave my tent and sleeping bag at home and      

just carry a GI poncho liner instead. Open up your poncho, put the      

poncho liner inside, fold lengthwise, snap the bottom snaps and poof!      

Youâve got an instant, waterproof sleeping bag. The lid of the Alice      

pack has a waterproof compartment for your maps. On the outside top of      

the pack Iâd hang my GI folding entrenching tool, in case I had to dig a      

latrine hole. By using the garbage bag that my spare clothes were in, I      

could pick up trash and leave my camping area cleaner than when I      

arrived.      



Get soaking wet and cold while hiking in the rain? If you have a      

GI Triox heat tab (or Sterno), your poncho, matches, MREs, a full      

canteen w/ cup, and an entrenching tool (optional)... I can have you      

almost completely dry, toasty warm and drinking a cup of something hot      

in less than 10 minutes.      



Find a reasonably smooth patch of dirt as a place to sit. If      

youâre not already wearing it, put on your poncho and sit cross-legged.      

Break out your entrenching tool, leave it folded up and put it between      

your legs underneath the poncho (or if you donât have an E-tool, make a      

small trench in the dirt between your legs about 1ä wide x 6ä long x 2ä      

deep). Put a small piece of Sterno or a Triox heat tab in the trench or      

in the opening in the handle of your E-tool. Fill your canteen cup with      

water and add the instant drink or your choice from the MRE (coffee,      

cocoa, or broth) BUT only use about 1/3 of the amount      

in the packet, it is awfully strong.      



Light the Sterno/Triox and set your canteen cup across the      

trench or E-tool handle (youâve made a small stove under your poncho).      

IMPORTANT:  Pull the front of the poncho (by your      

neck) up tight against your neck and let the fumes and heat vent around      

the back of your neck and head. About the time the Triox tab or Sterno      

burns out, youâll be nearly dried out, warm, and drinking a cup of      

something hot!!! (This tip is courtesy of an old NCO Academy      

instructor.)      





        

      

