We all know this one. We’ve seen this in use for countless years in its various guises as combat jacket, combat smock, Combat windproof, Combat Parka.

Apparently its now official that combat trousers are returning to the high street, the height of fashion during the 90's is definitely making a return. With many stores, including us, offering camouflage prints but it is the combats we are noticing a marked increase with. It remains to be seen however if the combats will become once again regulation issue for the 20 somethings and the clubbers.

Definition of some things is quite necessary even though we all know what they are. Sometimes we just don’t think about describing them. An example is a compass. Have you ever thought of defining a compass or do you just get up and start using it. Let me define it for you. You see, a compass is a device that is used for navigation which uses earth’s magnetic field so as to determine your geographical position. The Chinese were the first to create a compass. The Vikings of northern Europe also used a crude compass in the 12th century. Nowadays, I am sure that when someone talks of using a compass, he or she may seem backward. There has been an upsurge of technology and this may seem to render the use of compasses obsolete. For your information, compasses are still beneficial. First of all, they do not require the use of power unlike many of the current navigational devices or systems. You will be saving on energy and power when you use a compass.

One of the most amazing techniques for survival is camouflage. Camouflage is not only used by humans but also animals. With natural camouflage animals are able to hide themselves from predator and prey. People have decided to apply camouflage seen at animals to their life.  From the beginning of human civilization peoples have been using camouflage in different forms.

The Army Surplus Store army-surplus.org.uk is now part of Army Surplus 365

On the 29th September 2011 the Army Surplus store army-surplus.org.uk became part of Army Surplus 365. We will continue to offer the same great level of service as provided by army-surplus.org.uk. We would also like to offer our warmest welcome to any of army-surplus.org.uk customers and hope that you have a pleasant shopping experience with us.

Army Surplus 365 is now part of the Saltash Card scheme offering 5% off all items in store.

Have you ever been camping and thought to yourself - "I wish I had a.....". I'l leave the blanks to you. Here are five items that every camper should have in their kit bag. They are the kinds of items we never think of until we need them.

Twenty years ago, tents were cumbersome affairs that often took a while to construct. Just carrying them around was difficult. Aluminium poles, ropes, metal pegs, and the tent itself, often with a fly sheet as well. Today, tents are lightweight, come with either telescopic poles, or no poles at all. Today's tents are easily packed atop a rucksack and can be assembled ready for use in minutes.

If you do a lot of walking, you'll know how important a good pair of shoes is. When it comes to outdoor adventuring, while shoes or boots are important, so too are the socks you wear. Your feet are very important to your success when out adventuring, yet they can become injured very quickly.

If you're into outdoor activities such as paintball, camping, trekking, mountain (or rock) climbing, fishing or caving, then you'll know how difficult it can be to take all the essentials along with you.

Paperwork is always a hassle when your out trekking or camping. These days in the U.K., we need licenses for just about everything. Fishing, and it's not just a simple license like some other countries, there are different licenses for each type of fishing. Likewise, when it comes to hunting, you need a license for your shotgun, and perhaps even a permit to hunt in some areas. The question is then what do you do with those licenses and permits.

If you have military footwear such as parade shoes or military boots, then you're going to need a ready supply of accessories. While footwear accessories generally fall into the laces and polish category, they're not the only accessories available.

It may be the middle of summer, however popular holiday getaways like those offered in the north of Scotland still get cool. With an average daytime temperature of around 15c, your still going to need some winter woolies. Even you plan on doing a little trekking, and that regions is famous for great walks, then you need the right sort of woolies.

Camping and trekking can be demanding especially when you're limited in the supplies and equipment you can take with you. The military has it all planned for their personell. Trousers have extra pockets, rucksacks are designed to utilize every inch of space, both on the inside and the outside, and for those essential extras, the military designed special load carrying vests.

When I was growing up my favourite 'toy' was an old pair of binoculars. I could watcht the birds in the trees, the animals in the woods, and even my friends as they played in the park. Now that I've grown up a little, I still have a pair of binoculars (several actually) and they still come in very handy.

Every day there are millions of people jogging around our streets, parks and around sporting grounds. While many know how long they have been jogging each day, few know how far they have jogged (in miles) or what sort of speed they have been jogging at.

If you're out trekking and camping, then one concern that many people have is that they leave as little impact on their environment as possible. Digging holes and lighting camp fires does have an effect on that environment, even if only marginal. However, multiply it by hundreds of campers and that effect is no longer marginal.

Ultra violet (or UV) rays from the sun can affect the eyes and skin no matter where you are - even the North Pole. It's a simple equation, if you can see the sun, then UV rays are a danger. In the middle of summer, those UV rays can even penetrate cloud cover and do significant damage. To protect your eyes, you need a good pair of sunglasses.

There's one thing that annoys most hikers - there are never enough pockets to store everything. One of the better inventions to come out of the military were the shorts that included extra pockets at the thigh. These are deep pockets that are large enough to carry maps and compass; medical packs; or even pre-packaged foods.

Being a Cadet in the UK is one way of developing teamwork, leadership and strong citizenship ties for youngsters without having to commit to any long term military ties. In fact, being a Cadet has proved to be the making of many youngsters, helping them break out of traits such as shyness and being easily intimidated. While being a Cadet is a serious undertaking, it's not necessarily a cheap one.

Every weekend there are tens of thousands who are out camping, even in the midst of winter. Right now we're in the middle of summer and that means any form of physical activity is going to create sweat, and after a couple of days, even your own mother is going to reject you. Unless,of course, you have the right personal hygiene gear with you.

Fly fishing is a sport that requires a lot of patience, years of learning, and a willingness to get a little wet on occasions. While you can fly fish from the river bank or from a boat, keen fly fishers like to wade out into the water to get a little closer to their prey. The problem is, unless you have expensive fly fishing trousers, you're going to get wet.

There are some group activities that require strong map reading abilities. Orienteering is one sport that is centred on map reading and youngsters involved with Guides or Scouts are taught early on how to read maps.

If you are into outdoor activities then you'll know that one of the most important requirements is water - and sometimes plenty of it. While out trekking, camping, climbing or caving, the one resource you're not likely to have on tap is water - at least, not good clean drinking water.

Rock climbing is both a thrilling and dangerous sport. Whether you're climbing the man made walls at an indoor rock climbing centre, or out in the wilds climbing the best that nature has to offer, you need the right clothing and the right padding. Elbow and knee pads are particularly useful, especially if you're a novice making your first climb on real rock.

One sport that doesn't receive a lot of publicity is that of caving. In the UK, there are a lot of caving groups and a lot of caves just waiting to be explored. Caving is different to many other sports - it is done underground and often in dark, cold, and damp conditions.

Hunting is a popular sport across all of the UK and one of the more popular forms of hunting involves shotguns. Rather than firing a single bullet, they fire a cartridge loaded with pellets. Shotguns typically don't have magazines, each shot has to be manually loaded into the guns breach. To be successful then, you need to have easy access to those cartridges.

Paintballing is a lot of fun and it is drawing bigger numbers every week. There are hundreds of paintball game zones all of the UK - most provide some protective clothing, all you need is clothing that is comfortable, loose, and easy to wear. Some paintball businesses only provide a small array of protective clothing, if you intend joining them then you're going to need to provide quality protective clothing of your own.

One of the growth areas in outdoor activities is the one day hiking or biking trip. Across the UK there are now designated hiking trails all carefully mapped out. Maps also describe how long and how flat the terrain is.

Camping is a lot of fun for a lot of people. It's so easy to leave home, arrive at your camping spot only to find you have left something at home. Here are four camping products that should form the bases of every camping rucksack. If you have these four products - then you can still enjoy your camping trip.

When buying military surplus clothing and equipment, there are three 'grades' that may apply. Generally speaking, we only sell the top grade clothing or equipment - these are products that are brand new and have never been issued yet alone used. Not all products fit this description and they are marked as either Grade 1 or Grade 2.

While the grown ups can kit themselves out for camping and hiking in military gear, that doesn't mean the kids have to miss as well. If you have children, you'll know how much they want to look and dress like their parents. If they are going camping, they want to look the part. Wearing a Dora outfit just doesn't cut when roughing it for the weekend.

We may live in a fast world where everyone has a car and where we think nothing of hopping aboard a jet to fly around the world, we still love our walking holidays.

There are many different ways to go hunting in the UK. For some, it's the chase with dogs and horses. For others, it's the stealth and the surprise attack.

One of the most famous landmarks in the UK is the Hadrian's Wall. For a real touch of the past, you can hike and camp along the 84 mile Hadrian's Wall Path. This takes you across the border country where you can experience some of the most breathaking scenery around.

If you enjoy rock climbing, abseling or the more adventurous mountain climbing, then you'll know all about safety and the need for protective clothing. At the same time, you don't want to be restricted in your movements, especially when your life may depend on being very nimble. Two areas that do require protection are your knees and elbows - damage either of them and you could be in big trouble.

What sort of camping do you enjoy? For some, it's a relaxed feet up throw a line in the water type adventure while for others it's hard work, trekking from one camping site to the next. For the latter, being able to relax and get a good nights rest is very important. The last thing you need is to wake up in the morning feeling stiff and sore and hardly able to go on - or go back.

Hiking boots don't have to cost the earth. However, hiking boots do need to be a good fit, provide good support for the feet and ankles, and be comfortable for the rigours that come with hiking. Mil-Com Desert Boots offer all of that plus more.

Military trousers have been designed with a number of purposes. While the military is not necessarily renown for comfort, their trousers are well designed and easy to wear. Military trousers come in a number of designs ranging from straight black through to camoflage patterns for jungle or desert.

Pouches are not luxury accessories when it comes to hiking or camping through some of the UKs back country. In fact, some of these pouches are essential. That makes sense since they are designed to carry items that could be essential to your survival. Here are six PLCE pouches that you should consider taking with you the next time you go hiking or camping.

Mil-Com have been supplying a wide range of products to the British military for many years now. They have developed a reputation for providing quality products, the type of products our military personnel can rely on when put to the ultimate test.

Rucksacks are a must for anyone who intends on going camping, more so if you need to hike to get to your camping spot. Rucksacks sit on the back and are used to carry almost all of the equipment, food, and water required while camping so they need to be well designed. 

Zippo lighters have a long tradition with British military personnel. There are several accounts of these lighters saving people's lifes, having deflected enemy bullets while sitting in their breast pockets. Being made of good quality metal, it's not hard to believe some of these stories either.

If you are going camping or hiking, then there is a good chance you are going to be miles from any sort of help, particularly medical help. While a good first aid kit can only help to stabilise any serious injuries, they are always handy for those minor scratches, bruises, and insect bites.

Hiking, climbing, mountaineering - they're all popular year-round activities. Unfortunately, they are also activities that lead to a loss of life, often due to a simple wrong turn. Getting lost while hiking should be a problem of the past given the modern technology that is available in the form of GPS units.

Hydration is very important. And, of course, you'll need containers for carrying liquids that hydrate your body and keep you energized for your missions. But not all liquids hydrate, though that doesn't mean you won't drink them. You'll need carrying containers for them too.

What can you do with flyers goggles? Are they just for flyers or can you use them for other purposes? Here are 10 ways to use flyers goggles (even if you aren't an aviator).

Every UK soldier, hunter, and outdoor sportsman will at some point find him or herself in a situation where simple footwear accessories will prove to be a necessity. You want to have your footwear accessories on hand when that happens.

When it comes to protecting the neck and shoulders, even for military personnel, hunters, and wild outdoorsmen, nothing does it better than a scarf. Why not get your scarves at surplus prices?

Soldiers and hunters all need webbing. You can't get away from it. Where else can you but to an Army Surplus store and get your necessity webbing items at a discount?

Every UK soldier has an identity, and that identity is cataloged. You wear it around your neck, on your chest, and on your shoulders. Rank, name, religion, serial number. Keep it close and you'll always protect it.

When it comes to maglites, you wouldn't think there'd be so many varieties to choose from. You'd be surprised, however. One of the most important choices you'll make is what color of maglite you buy. ArmySurplus365 has as many as 11 different maglite colors.

Equipment holders are such a basic item they are easy to forget. Before you know it you've left home base without them and you've got to shove your most prized equipment down in a cubby hole in your rucksack or a cargo pocket somewhere. One is a lot less organized and the other very uncomfortable. Instead, try one of these special equipment holders.

One item that is necessary for outdoorsmen of all types - campers, hunters, soldiers, and adventurers - is tentage. You don't want to leave home without it.

If you are in the British Navy, army, or a UK military unit and you're looking for a special type of hat that signifies your unit or the special mission to which you've been assigned, where do you go? I suggest you check ArmySurplus365 first.

Anyone who's ever been on a ruck march or has spent an extended period of time in the field knows the importance of taking care of the feet. And a part of taking care of the feet is wearing a good pair of socks.

There are few things so important as having the right underwear when you go out into the field. Whether you are going on a training mission or the real thing, if you leave home without the right underwear, then you will be uncomfortable the entire time. It will kill your mission.

When it comes to military jackets, you have a lot of options in tems of name brand, comfort, and durability. And one of my favorite brands is Jack Pyke.

Every British soldier should have the proper load carrying equipment. Whether your next tactical mission in the desert or the jungle, you don't want to leave home base without the right equipment, especially your load carrying equipment.

Paintball has become a very popular sport in recent years. From the Outback to the UK and even across the seas in the USA, paintballers convene to shoot, kill, and take each other's flags. Which brings me to three of my favorite military topics: flags, tags (as in dog), and camouflage.

Soldiers and hunters have one thing in common: They need the best outdoor equipment to survive. In fact, the true test of an outdoorsman is his taste in equipment. What does of equipment does he use? What brands are his favorite? And how does he use what he has?

The rugged life requires a durable rucksack for carrying those necessities of the field. Whether you are British soldier heading out on a new mission or a hunter going away for a weekend game excursion, the Web-Tex PLCE System can carry everything you need and more.

Sometimes when we travel, we end up in a climate that is much hotter than the climate we normally live in.  Depending on whether we ever get that type of temperature at home, we may not know how to handle it and how to keep healthy while we are on our holiday.

Let let your next camping trip go sour with the wrong sleeping bag. You can purchase sleeping bag online at a good price and buy one that meets the needs of any camper. Here are 4 types of sleeping bags that anyone can crawl into.

An interesting customer review which was posted on a blog!

When I first heard about how popular these are in the UK, I wondered why, after all there not even British….

But when I looked into them I was really surprised, first of all what are they for. Well originally they were designed for German soldiers who parachute out of aircraft hence the term German Para boots. But quite surprisingly they feel quite heavy to hold, again I looked into the British equivalent the British Assault Boot and they are heavier. But then I tried them on….. Well I am beginning to see why German Para boots are quite popular. They are extremely comfortable to wear and after a short while you don’t even notice the slight extra weight. In fact looking on the positive side think of the extra calories you can burn!

You don't have to spend tons of money to equip your head with the right head gear for your hunting trip. Really, what do you need?

Anyone who has ever purchased military boots before knows they can be expensive. From your run-of-the-mill combat boots to special weather boots, military boots are some of the most expensive gear around. It's easy to understand why, too. Most boots are made of leather and they have to be carefully crafted to withstand extreme conditions. That craftsmanship spells expense, doesn't it?

This hunter's jacket from Jack Pyke is comfortable and offers options you don't get with a regular hunting jacket.

Army Surplus 365 is an authorised retailer of Jack Pyke products. Jack Pyke are well known for high quality clothing, knives and accessories for the tackle and gun clientele.

A Look At Army Surplus

Simply put, an army surplus store is a store that obtains and sells surplus items from the army. Individuals from all walks of life purchase and enjoy these items. Clothing from the army usually becomes available when either a change in technology or a change of clothing requirements takes place. The clothing is no longer needed and only desired to be out of the way so that they can function well...............

Saving Money Through Army Surplus Clothing

Anyone who has been affected by the current financial crisis that we are going through with certainly be wanting to find some ways of cutting costs. With your own income going down and costs of various necessities going up it is certainly becoming very difficult for many regular people to keep up with their financial obligations. As such, we are all doing everything we can to save money and when we look into the option of purchasing clothing we may well do is consider the idea of going to an army surplus store.........

What Can You Find At An Army Surplus Store?

Some of you might have heard about an army surplus. You might have gone by this sort of store when you were driving around. Some of you might be wondering what they carry and things of that nature. We're here to help you understand just that. Then maybe you can decide if this is the store for you.....

The army surplus store can be a very resourceful store for many people. Some people wonder just who shops at these stores and why. There are many different types of people who shop here and we will discuss a few of them. Here are a few examples that find these stores great.

Always wear long sleeves and long trousers to protect your bare skin. A genuine paintball mask that fits correctly, a hat and some gloves are also essential. Knee pads are optional, but if you feel like pulling of rambo moves they are crucial. Extra body armour can be purchased including check and leg armour. Choose clothes that are not restrictive but offer good padding. Think about what clothing suits your environment. Playing in snow is a lot different to the woods. Before you arrive in white tennis shoes remember that your shoes also need to be concealed. Paintball specific gloves have foam on the back of the hand for extra protection. You can cut the trigger finger off to help you fire faster.

When it comes to clothing for hunting everyone has their own taste and favourites. Here are some tips for your selection if you are new to hunting and looking for some attire advice.

It takes teamwork, awareness and strategy  to clean up your competition on the field at paintball. Of these qualities strategy is the most important and who you are playing will determine which strategy is best to apply.Learning how to adopt tactics that can allow you to penetrate the opposition without leaving your own position open.

There is a massive variety of paintball guns on the market today. The cheapest gun would start at about £49 stripped down. Then you could get a starter package that includes a hopper, air tank and mask for £99 as an entry level price. Most of the time if you are playing on a walk-on rental field you will probably be using a tippmann gun as these are the work horse guns of paintball guns. They can take a lot of abuse and are a standard within the game.

Joining the British Army Infantry Training

Small game is usually hunted with a shotgun from a close range. There are many locations within the UK where you can have a mini shooting vacation; Scotland hosting some of the best around. This article will cover some main points when hunting with a shotgun.

This article will give you some good tips on camping in cold environments. It is a lot different and more dangerous that camping in a warm climate so its important to know the differences.....

Back backs for camping

One of the first components to look at when selecting a back pack is storage capacity; you want to make sure that there is enough room to fit all your gear. During summer camping it is not as important to have as much space as during the winter. During the winter its obvious that you will have more clothing layers and that you will be packing a bulkier sleeping bag and possibly a larger tent.

You will find some people hiking in any shoes when they are not sure what they are doing, but it is important to wear the correct foot wear when treking over any abnormal terrane. Hiking boots secure your foot into place a lot more so there is less friction and not as much rubbing....

When you are intending to go hiking it is essential to know something about surviving in the wild. Just a bit of knowledge and a few items can mean avoiding an stressful ordeal in the woods or not even coming back. This quick guide is aimed at giving you the basic techniques and survival tips to help keep you safe when hiking in the wilderness......

In the early days of warfare the military clothing was bright and used to unify the soldiers creating a smart and tight team......................