Shiny Kit Syndrome (and General Kit Worship)

[Fletching]

Hi Guys / Girls,

I've been laid off work for a bit with a bad back so I've had lots of time on my hands (and lots of 'Buy' buttons to click on) and I've taken the 'opportunity' to both: 1) renew most of my kit (e.g. 3rd hand Bergen that was more patches than Bergen), and 2) decimate my savings (ergo improving the economy so we can pay bankers what they truly deserve - thank me later).

As Martin won't let me come out as a Poshcrafter™ until I get dropped off at meets by limo with high class escorts in tow, I thought I'd share a list of new stuff that I bought that will probably never get used (well, some of it) so you can see how productive my time wasting has been and, hopefully, starting a thread so you can all share your favourite shiny kit bits with tears of worship in your eyes.

I'd like to thank all the members of Natural Bushcraft and BCUK, as reviews were instrumental in choosing some of the wonderful things that I lovingly stroke abut ten times a day:


Hilleberg Akto
'New' style DD travel Hammock (got the karab mods - thanks Ash!)
Tatonka tarp
Tatonka alcohol burner
GB Small Forest Axe to replace a vaguely axe-shaped chunk of rust in the shed
Newly made hobo stove a la Wayland (http://www.ravenlore.co.uk/html/hobo_stove.html) - really small and you're going to carry a Billy anyway, yes?
Fjallraven jacket and pants
Leatherman Skeletool - still undecided on this one for long term use...
Helle Eggen - Can't go wrong
Boker European Game Hunter (beautiful!)
2 x different types of Moras and a Mora Crook Knife
Edgar Bros XVI with Nikko Sterling scope and bits
M-Kettle
Karrimor Sabre SF 45 with 12.5l side pouches, PLCE yoke & 3l Hydro system
Silva Ranger
Silva LED AAA Headlamp
Klarus NT20 250 lumens torch
Cord lock lites for Sabre (and Snugpak Response Pack)


I've also completely revamped my first aid kits, sewing kit, eating kit and all those other 'indispensible' small things just to make sure that the stuff I leave at home has some company.

Too much money, you say? Not any more, I say!

Now I'm ready for Armageddon. :)

I was going to offer some of the stuff that got replaced up for sale, but took a look at it, chucked most of it straight out and took the rest down the local charity shop, where the delightful assistant thanked me with a grimace (and then probably chucked the rest away as soon as I'd departed their august establishment).

There's mine...show me yours.

Right, about that stroking...

Steve

[KERNOW KELT]

I find if you Purr whilst stroking ..... adds to the experience!!! :D

[Martin]

I find if you Purr whilst stroking ..... adds to the experience!!! :D

LMAO :D

Martin

[Martin]

Looks like a great kit list Steve. How do you find the hammock works in your Akto? ;)

I'll try to do the same sort of thing sometime, if I can bring myself to admit to just how much I've accrued over the years. :ashamed:

Martin

[Fletching]

Looks like a great kit list Steve. How do you find the hammock works in your Akto? ;)

...all bases covered as sometimes I like to 'share' a tent. ;)

You should've seen the state of some of the kit I chucked. Think 1980s Eurohike-type cr*p.

Steve

[Ben Casey]

After reading your list I think I have a bit of catching up to do mine is embarrassingly short :(

[Fletching]

Maybe Ben, but at least you're actually able to get out and use it at the moment. ;)

Op. 26th - can't wait. Cabin fever - hence the shopping spree!

Steve

[Ben Casey]

I think when I get out and about I will be looking after base camp as my walking isnt that good I'm just hoping that when I do get to some meets the guys will understand :) I love the outdoors and bushcraft but I'm a bit disabled in the walking side of it so I'm trying to work out how to go about it. So any tips and advice on that side will be great.

[Shewie]

Nice bit of spending there Steve, welcome to the club :)

I wouldn't mind hearing what you think of the Akto once you've had a play.

[Aaron Rushton]

woah. christmas drained all my savings, so i've only just got back a little money. Edgar bos XVI has to be the most military looking air rifle on the market today! how well do they handle? lots of people said they were very heavy and troublesome. right now i own about £20 so am thinking buying a load of commando pullovers which are about £3 if you buy them grade 2 then patch them up yourself.

[Fletching]

Hi Aaron! Didn't go for the XVI for the 'military' thing, but more the fact that it's a take down and packs up quite small (ish), which is handy if I ever have to use public transport without getting the 'oh-oh, man with a gun' look from people!

I collect mine either tomorrow or Thursday and shall commence plinking in the back garden at once (as soon as I've secured the cat somewhere) - I'll let you know how it goes.

If you're after a review then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3dI75hmBw is a pretty good one.

As for the commando pullovers, great value and there's nowt wrong with 'make do and mend'.

Steve

[Fletching]

Hi Aaron! Didn't go for the XVI for the 'military' thing, but more the fact that it's a take down and packs up quite small (ish), which is handy if I ever have to use public transport without getting the 'oh-oh, man with a gun' look from people!

I collect mine either tomorrow or Thursday and shall commence plinking in the back garden at once (as soon as I've secured the cat somewhere) - I'll let you know how it goes.

If you're after a review then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3dI75hmBw is a pretty good one.

As for the commando pullovers, great value and there's nowt wrong with 'make do and mend'.

Steve

[Fletching]

ooh! double-bubble. That's a new one!

[paul standley]

Hi Guys / Girls,

and 2) decimate my savings (ergo improving the economy so we can pay bankers what they truly deserve - thank me later).

Steve

I'd just like to say thanks to Steve for single handely getting our economy back on the right track...

[KERNOW KELT]

Be Very careful, the Kit Syndrome in all its many forms,will empty a bank account faster than a Woman in a shoe shop!!!

[comanighttrain]

Be Very careful, the Kit Syndrome in all its many forms,will empty a bank account faster than a Woman in a shoe shop!!!

http://files.redux.com/images/dac00535ff2bcac7fddd98044970db2d/condthumb460x600

My missus could empty the bank account looking through a show shop window

[jack_in_the_green]

i have a wife and a child, what are savings?

british army surplus... cant beat it!

[KERNOW KELT]

Your right!!!
Perfectly useable kit without the Gucci-kit price tag.... My place bursting with it :)

Never did the kid thing... tooo selfish, actually never grew up myself!

[JEEP]

Having worked in outdoor stores for the last three years I have way too much gear laying around.

From memory:

Cooking-/eating gear:
Trangia 25-8 UL/HA, with the pan replaced by a teflon one
Tatonka Multiset with a H2O pot
Trangia 28 Mini
Trangia Triangle
Bushcooker
Providus+ multifuel burner
Zebra 12 cm. billy can
Firemaple small HA alu. pot
Vintage alu camping pot set
LMF Mealkit
A bunch of LMF Sporks (including a titanium Spork, Spork XM and the 2010 limited edition Glowing Spork)
LMF Fire Fork
LMF Spice Box
GSI foldable cooking utensils
Tibetan titanium cutlery
Trangia plates
Vintage enamel plates
Tatonka handle mug
Huge stainless "cowboy" mug
Kuksa
Curly birch handle telescopic fire fork
Swiss Spice salt and pepper shaker
Tatonka stainless steel bottles (0,5 and 1,0 L)
Stanley Classic 0,5 L thermos
5 L Ortlieb folding bowl
One the way; Optimus NOVA+ multifuel burner and Esbit titanium mug and tablet burner

Cutting tools:
Eräpuu curly birch handle puukko
Strömeng 8" leuku
Opinel large folding saw
Øyo Viking Axe
Hultafors large hatchet
Victorinox Spartan
Leatherman Xe6
(Aside from the ones mentioned above, which I use on a regular basis, I have a fairly large collection of new and antique puukko and leuku + some more axes and axe heads awaiting rehandeling)

Firemaking:
A bunch of firesteels; old model LMF Army, new model LMF Scout, LMF Mini, limited edition oak handle LMF model Scout, custom antler handle piece with can-/bottleopener as striker and Kauko Raatiniemi puukko w. custom firesteel in scabbard
Primus Power Lighter model II

Light:
Feuerhand lantern
Fenix PD30-R5
LedLenser P3
LedLenser P7
LedLenser Hocus Focus
LedLenser Keyfinder
NexTorch K1
XGlow XO-1200
Photon Pump LED headlamp
On the way; Petzl Tikka2 XP Core

Sleeping:
Mountain Equipment Firewalker I sleepingbag
Mountain Equipment Starlight Micro sleepingbag
Exped SynMat 7 Pump mat
Therm-A-Rest Zlite mat
Mountain Equipment Helium 38 mat
Cocoon Air-core Ultralight pillow
On the way; Exped Lite Line 300 sleepingbag and Exped Air Pillow
Still looking for the right tent, I am considering a lavu at the moment

Bags:
Ortlieb Zip City S
Ortlieb Track 35
Fjällräven Toilet Folder
Lowe Alpine Bitz Box
Neverlost packbags
I am still looking for a larger (around 50L) backpack that I actually like

Footwear:
Meindle Borneo MFS Pro
Meindl Malmoe
Haglöfs Vertigo GTX
LaCrosse Stevensons
Teva Terra-fi 2 sandals
Aigle Parcours rubber boots
Smartwool Hiking Medium Cushion socks (lots of them, I never wear anything else)

Clotning:
Impossible to list. A lot of Haglöfs, Pinewood and Fjällräven aswell as some Henri Lloyd, Laksen, Driza Bone, Knowledge Cotton, SNS, Norwool, Seeland, Deerhunter, etc.

Headgear:
Adventurebilt DLX beaver felt Indiana Jones hat (from the company that supplied the hats to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - I bought mine long before they got the contract for the movie)
Mayser City, brown
Mayser soft broad brim hat
A good selection of sixpence and drivers caps
A pile of diffrent fleece and knitted beanies, with Haglöfs Fanatic Print cap and an old Brit. commando beanie being my favourites

Other:
Ortlieb First-Aid-Kit M
WileyX WX Dice sunglasses
WileyX P-17 (brown) sunglasses
SealSkinz Sporting glowes
Smartwool Synergy glowes
Fisher Space Pen

I need to stop buying gear :ashamed:

[Fletching]

Wow! I'm humbled Jakob. I guess you've got a big shed then? ;)

Steve

[JEEP]

No, we live in a small 60 m2 appartment, with a small basement storeage room. I collect antiques aswell (mainly books, glassware and weapons) - our friends refer to our appartment as the storeage or the museum.

What I just listed is only my gear, my fancee is as much an outdoor person as I am and has as such quite a lot of gear herself.

We have way too little space and I like collecting stuff way too much :D

A lot of my gear has been bought with an intent to obtain first hand knowledge about it. Taking my job seriously, I strongly belive in knowing the products I sell first hand. It is quite rare that a supplier in my line of business hands you gear for trying out - so most of my experience has been made on my own expence.
My current gear is a mix of products I like and use (keepers) and products I am currently testing. When done testing a piece of equipment, that doesn't end up as a keeper, I usually pass it on to others, either for free or at a fraction of the actual price. If I kept everything, I would run out of space quite fast.

[Fletching]

I really appreciate it when people take the time to get first-hand experience of the products they try to sell to you. :)

...plus you must have loads of fun playing with the kit you use in your outdoor experiences. I'm usually either stuck behind a monitor or in meetings all day. :(

Steve

[KERNOW KELT]

And I thought I had shiny kit syndrome!!! (Good one Jeep.. I dont have the excuse of ''NEEDING" the kit for trial & testing).
Ah! life is so cruel :(

Hows the back Steve ?

[resnikov]

I need to stop buying gear :ashamed:

Or just open your own store :p

[KERNOW KELT]

Or Send to it All to a great Charity I know of in WestCornwall (not to be confused with the wealthy members in Mid & North Cornwall) :ashamed:

[KERNOW KELT]

Hi Ashley,

What on Earth is going on here? :confused2:

[mark]

having only started 'collecting' since october, bergan, tarp ( dd ), hammock ( dd ), sleeping bag, etc basicly since october through xmas and in to my birthday, i have spent some were near £ 1000

[Martin]

Hi Ashley,

What on Earth is going on here? :confused2:

Nothing to see here! Move away from the area. :D

Martin

[Martin]

having only started 'collecting' since october, bergan, tarp ( dd ), hammock ( dd ), sleeping bag, etc basicly since october through xmas and in to my birthday, i have spent some were near £ 1000

Good man! £1,000 in three months is top work. :)

Martin

[KERNOW KELT]

Roger That!

[Fletching]

Nothing to see here! Move away from the area. :D

Martin

These are not the droids we're looking for. They can go on their way... :)

[Fletching]

On the subject of cost, it's bit like a dr*g addiction. Once you start, there's no stopping...ooh look, a new email from backpackinglight.co.uk with a 10% OFF Voucher!

Bugger!

Steve