Army & Outdoors - Australia

Awesome

The parka I received was in as-new/dead stock condition. No damage or wear. Sizes run large (because they're designed as an over layer). I reckon a size 'small' would still work for a lot of people.

So i bought these mostly to do some dumb costuming/the occassional milsim

Despite clearly being priorly well loved, they're still in tip top condition, very comfortable, lots of pockets and easy to use clasps. I genuinely can't recommend higher.

Very high quality and well worth the price, customer service is also very helpful, I ordered the wrong size pants on a Friday night, left an email on Saturday and first thing Monday morning they got back to me and sorted the problem. A couple of days later I had exactly what I was after.

A big strong helmet for big strong Serbs. Quite a substantial steel shell with a godawful suspension liner. It's not unintuitive, it's just terribly tedious to adjust. Even the chinstrap hasn't got a simple clasp or buckle, and must instead be tightened or loosened via steel clamps. That's how the one I ordered came anyway. Maybe it varies helmet to helmet. Eastern bloc stuff, you know how it is.

Don't take it as a bad review of the product. As a collector's piece it's exactly as described and actually in pretty good condition! The one I ordered did not have the red star.

What a fun item!
Not as vintage as I thought - turns out there are a number of German manufacturers with a few distinct, yet visually similar products making and selling these today. The one I received is a Bullard H3000. A new one costs 3-4 times as much. Mine is in nearly new condition, apart from some dirty black marks here and there. I would say it's even tidier looking than the one in the first photo here (but maybe you're a grubby little piglet who wants a dirtier one - maybe these guys will hook you up if you email them)

It's made of lacquered fibreglass composite, and the liner and suspension system are quite well done and can be adjusted for a very snug and secure fit using the ratcheting system.

While clearly a stahlhelm in appearance it sits quite a bit higher on the head than the classic steel models of the 20th century. There are silk(?) straps inside that hold it at that height. I suppose if you wanted it to sit lower for aesthetic reasons you could cut or adjust these without compromising the overall functionality of the liner.

Yeah anyway that's about it. A fun item and it really does glow in the dark which is pretty cool!

Love these bread bags, have so many uses and material is ideal for waterproofing. Not sure what I'll use it for yet but it will last forever.

Wrapped in this headwear, felt is worn as in being flat so it's had plenty of use but maybe able to brush it up like new. Will be ideal for any outdoors activities.

Used surplus combat boot…….

A&O fast extremely economical postage to Australia , communication 5 stars.

Description was 90’s era
Unpacking, in great condition scuffs on the upper little to no wear on the soles.
Considering they have been in storage leather uppers are great condition.
Dubbin/wax will soften and revive and will need a wear in period.
Saying that wearing now no hot spots (blister causing) a little tightness across the width on one foot.

Seriously well made and outlasting

Well worth the money. Proper goretex fabric, good capacious fit, high zips on legs making it easier to put on over high boots, toggle fastened waist draw string works well, covered flaps giving access to side pockets. I paid twice as much for hiking rain pants which are likely to last me half as long - relies on a coating which degrades, not the fabric, and light weight is a lot less robust getting over boots. For thru hiking the lighter ones may be preferable, but for day hikes etc the USGI goretex are better. I'm 5'11, 80 kgs, prefer baggy fit, and the XL works for me. A great buy.

Great bum bag or over-the-shoulder satchel - sturdy, large capacity, molle mounting strips on side & rear. I brought it for the 2 molle side pouches & was not disappointed. They weigh nothing, cinch down to nothing when empty, but with the pleats unfolded can carry heaps. I mounted these on my webbing straight away. Worth the cost of purchase by itself (effectively got the bag for nothing). There are several YouTube clips on the bag that give an excellent idea of its capacity.

Pros
Jacket is new. Only mark is the threads on the left arm, where a patch seems to have been removed. Jacket is actually in mint condition.

It's warm enough. Definitely water resistant and windproof.

Cons

It's a bit heavy. And shiny, not great for hunting.

This winterwear is in amazing condition! Strichtarn is definitely my favourite camouflage pattern of all time, and I reckon I'll just leave a bit of an infodump here :) - - -
Strichtarn traces its roots as far back as the German interwar period when Splittermuster 31 was released for mass production on Zeltbahn shelter halves. This pattern used hard geometric shapes which had an overlay of a raindrop pattern on top of the entire camouflage (sound familiar?). The rain pattern was hoped to increase the disruption of the pattern to a silhouette when viewed at close range. - - -

After the second world war, as many of us know, Germany had been divided in two. After both countries got their act together and started creating uniforms, which weren't just m40 tunics with all the insignia cut off, the West decided an olive drab would be an adequate, cheap solution. East Germany however felt large scale issue of camouflage would be their best option had the Cold War gone hot. Thus Blumentarn '58 (Which deceptively was first issued in 1956, when the NVA was first formed) was issued to troops. This Blumentarn consisted of large jagged 'splotches' of ochre, dark, and light green covered a tan field. It was massively issued and took forms of just about any canvas or fabric equipment you could think of. - - -

Part way through the next decade, the Soviet overlords felt that this pattern resembled the current USSR patterns to closely, which could cause issues with troop organisation. (The Blumentarn does quite strongly resemble Russian patterns of the time, in particular the "solnechnye zaychiki"). It was decided that the DDR must develop a new camouflage which would differ from their Warsaw Pact comrades. This would become the beloved Strictarn. - - -

The Strichtarn harked back to distinctly German designs (although the Polish had already thought of it a few years previously) from the Second World War, like the previously mentioned Splittermuster. The design was made to match the long spindles of coniferous trees in the German woods, and did so with moderate success (Many do speculate the camouflage was only as effective as its base green, I'll let you form your own opinions on this.). Just like the Blumentarn before, this pattern got pasted onto almost every piece of fabric the German military put into the field. It would go onto become synonymous with the Cold War and Berlin wall.
The camouflage would remain nearly entirely the same for the next nearly 30 years which the DDR existed for, except for minor design tweaks to the pattern when raindrops were made thicker and the entire pattern was darkened in 1968, only 3 years after the initial adoption of the camouflage. The jacket being sold here is the more common post 1968 pattern, which I gotta say, I do prefer. - - -

Well, I think that is just about enough Strichtarn for one review, and I just want to say, I picked ip one of these jackets myself and the quality is exceptional! Got a very nice condition jacket, with fabric that was not noticeably faded in the slightest. It is warm and a great addition to my DDR collection. I would recommend it to anybody interested in Cold War militaria, or even just a nice jacket. - - -

Hope something could be learned from my comment, and I hope anyone reading this ahs a lovely day!

Best I have owned, used daily for a couple of years now all weather riding and as good as new.
The extra layer of leather in the cusp of your palm area bonus will last for ever.

Love these with their tough canvas and easy adjusting and attaching, looks great and fits amazing in some of my surplus pants with bigger belt loops, also ALICE gear fits really nice on it so bonus, such a steal!