New Bloke, here

Well, hello all

 I've just joined up, just so I can ask questions, get information/recommendations, pretty much the same as everyone else I suppose

 I reckon the people have got a bit more know how than me, so who better to ask

Used to be a soldier, done all the various things soldiers do, now its time to see these places without some bugger shooting at me

I still have some of my old kit, maybe old but still serviceable, may not be Gucci, but my bergen still holds all me kit, my sleeping bag is still snug and warm

I have probaly left this walking, hiking, trekking a bit late, but I been busy earning a living, bringing up kids, paying of a mortagage

I'm doing a trek to OZ, overland, so I need bits and peices, so, I'm going to look on the forums, post a few questions, rather than ask em here

I'll be starting this trek next year, so would like to get a few bits together, but not spend a vast amount getting it, rather spend my money on the trek, but going to need gear than will survive this trip, (its going to take 6 months, I reckon)

So look for my questions here

Morning, Womble.

Sounds like an excellent plan - and there's shedloads of stuff sold on the classifieds here that are a bargain.

Thanks for the welcome, Tytto

Just going for a run, the gym, then a walk with my bergen, got to keep up with the training for this, catch you when I get back

Hello Womble,

Welcome to OM

As Tytto mentions, you can get stuff through the classifieds here on OM, if you want a particular item it is worth asking if anyone has one spare or or if they don't get on with it, also pointers to good deals on the bargain thread.

You may find that on a six month trip your old forces kit is strong enough to stand up to the rigours. The downside of that is that kit that is obviously military may excite interest among bored officials. that said, civvi kit can do the same, x-ray machines are wonderful and awful. I've had a hammock dragged out as the dragger (in Holland) thought it was handcuffs (don't ask) and a monocular mistaken for a nightsight in Dubai. Both easily and amicably sorted

Overland to Oz, you'll go through some great places whichever way you go. 

Hi Nick

     Well, that the training done  5k run there and back, a quick upper body work out, then a 5 k walk with my bergen on me back

I'll do another 10k this afternoon

I havent had a problem so far with my kit, as I say, its old and the cammo is pretty faded now (and of course, it was made to last and its 'soldier' proof ) and its probably older than some people in here

Right, I'm off to start a new thread now in the forums, going to want a few questions and recomendations and a bit of advice

(oh, yeah, I got a trek in Kenya at the end of this month, for a month, just to get me used to this lark again, its not all walking though, I think a lot of it will be in trucks, with a walk to see the gorillas and the Masai)

Hello Womble, if you are military fit you wont need to be as weight conscious as most people on here. If you train with a fifty pound pack on you've always got that in the bank if you manage to get the weight down. I reckon if you take some all in one wash you could get away with taking less clothes but I'm sure I'm teaching my Grandmother how to suck eggs and all that.

Sounds like you are going to have a cracking time and spend a while looking at tents because there are so many options it's unreal

Hi Simo

         No, no, not teaching anyone to 'suck eggs' As I say, I'm open to all and any advice from ANYONE

When I was a squaddie, it was all provided, plenty of 'backup' this is a whole new game now, then it was just getting there, do the job, get out, I want this to be a pleasure, not a job to be done