Scrim scarf a.k.a. snipers veil

The scrim scarf or snipers veil was issued to the British Army from 1942 to provide personal concealment by breaking up the silhouette of the soldier and his equipment without overly impeding their vision.

There are many different sizes but usually it measures 1.2m (4ft) square with hems on two opposing edges

Made from green cotton open weave netting occasionally overprinted with brown swirls today you can buy many different disruptive patterned prints and various solid colours.

When not being used for concealment it was usually rolled up and worn as a convenient neck scarf.

Just like the shemagh which has become more popular in recent years due to the Iraq and Afghanistan deployments it has multiple uses. These range from trapping small game and fish, improvised slings, to simple load carrying etc etc.

The open weave construction allows it to dry rapidly when hung up near a campfire or in even a gentle breeze.

Whilst disrupting the soldiers outline it also reduces glare from optics that can reveal their position and was often cut into strips for rifle wrapping.

A great lightweight item particularly if you're wild or stealth camping and wish to remain unobserved.

Take care

Roo

Coronavirus face masks

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has caused panic buying worldwide and there is some misleading information

The US Surgeon General tweeted that face masks were ineffective but at the same time insisted that healthcare providers should have them, so do they work or don't they?

Obviously any protection is better than none but the level of protection varies dramatically depending on what mask you have

Surgical masks

These are designed to capture what people breathe out so they will limit the chance of the wearer from infecting others with what they expel but as they're so loose fitting and don't impede droplets they are next to useless as a means of personal protection

A scarf or bandanna would be similar the main benefit is these simple cloth face coverings keep your hands away from your face

Particulate respirators

These have several grades in Europe P1, P2 and P3 that corresponds to their ability to filter particles and liquids out of the air

America uses a slightly different system of 95, 99, and 100 prefaced with a letter to signify its resistance to oil N for not resistant, R for partially resistant and P for proof for strongly resistant

Some have one way exhale valves for easier breathing and the lettering isn't really important for the transmission of viruses but I will use P for comparison between the two systems as that is the highest rating 

P1 are standard dust masks able to block 80% of airborne particles only suitable for short term exposure in non hazardous environments such as doing some DIY at home

P2 are occupational standard filters that block 94% of particles, the US P95 offers slightly more protection blocking 95% and the P99 is a further step up at respectively 99%

P3 is the highest level of filter you can purchase blocking 99.95% and is equivalent to the US P100 with its ability to filter 99.97%

Both are considered to be effectively 100% for particles and droplets down to 0.3 of a micron

Mostly made as single use disposable masks that surround the nose and mouth but there are reusable versions where you simply replace the filters but retain the mask although this will require you to sterilise them safely

An N95 / P2 rated respirator is the recommended PPE (personal protective equipment) for blocking the SARS-CoV-2 virus but the higher the number the better it is obviously

There are some that include eye protection known as full face that prevent the virus being absorbed through contact with the eyes

So read the specification and know what you're buying, they do work so long as they're correctly fitted but your best defence is to isolate yourself as much as possible

Take care
Roo

Triangular bandages, the medics EDC multitool

The humble triangular bandage seems to be absent in many modern first aid kits but I would argue every IFAK should have at least one due to its versitility 

Most people know of its ability to provide support to injuries as a sling

But it can also be a wound dressing and simple narrow or broad bandages that can also be used to immobilise limbs by securing to splints

By forming a donut shape to allow bandaging over for protruding objects in a wound

Bandaging awkward areas such as the head and hands

As its a simple cotton triangular cloth it also can be worn as a bandana, used to cover a water bottle when filling from a water source, hobo bag and cut into pieces for making char cloth etc etc

You can see some of these uses in this video

So make sure you have one in your IFAK and maybe consider carrying one in your EDC even if only as a hankerchief

Take care

Roo

  

Top 5 Folding Camping Stoves 2019

The range of folding stoves for camping is quite varied, these handy lightweight stoves can use a variety of fuels but are mostly used for self contained fires where a open campfire may not be practical

This is my top five favourite stoves currently available;


5. Bushcraft Essentials Bushbox

Measuring 9.0cm x 9.0cm x 11.5cm at just 270g this was the forerunner for most folding camping stoves that followed the sides interlock to provide a surprisingly stable base

Pots can be supported by the trivets or by sliding wire tent pegs through the holes around the top

Due to the interlocking sides construction they've made kit so that two or more can me connected in parallel which is really cool

4. Lixada pocket folding stove

This handy little pocket stove is much easier to set up as three sides are fixed together with hinges that wrap around the ash grate and locked into place with a simple pin that slides into the fourth corner


11.6cm x 12.7cm x 16.2cm high






3. Toogoo opensided

This open sided stove makes an excellent travel BBQ and is super easy to refuel as it has an open sided front 

15.0cm x 19.0cm x 18.5cm high with a generous 6.0cm ground clearance under the ash plate






2. Pskook bushbox

This fully hinged firebox sets up in seconds as most of the parts are already connected to eachother

Able to hold much more fuel this stove is a genuine replacement for a campfire both for cooking and heat when camping

The door opens to reveal a generous opening for refueling and is hinged so that sticks want to slide down into the firebox rather than fall out

This is my pick for best value stove of 2019 and I recently did an unboxing video here;

14.0cm x 14.0cm x 21.0cm high this extra space means you don't need to refuel as often as the previous smaller stoves






1. Bushcraft Essentials Bushbox XL

The undisputed king of the folding camping stoves thanks to its versatility, its the most expensive stove in the list but that is down to the extensive engineering that has gone into producing it that allows this stove to perform many tasks excellently

YouTube is full of videos showing the numerous uses of this stove and for several years has been seen as the benchmark go to portable stove

12.5cm x 12.5cm x 19.0cm was for a long time the most generous folding camping stove but has now been exceeded by the PSKOOK

Still retains its crown as the best stove due to the multifunction trivets and the various slots that accommodate them 







So that's my top five let me know what you think or if you have any others you would recommend in the comments below 👍

Take care

Roo

Camping Tick List

The Sun is out and many people will be heading outdoors for camping trips or other activities but its a good idea to do a little preparation first...

Almost anywhere in the countryside you're liable to be in close proximity to small but nasty little creatures called ticks

These little relatives of spiders are bloodsuckers that like to climb tall grass and other vegetation in order to cling onto any passing mammal that brushes past them for a free meal

And unfortunately they can transmit a bacterial disease called "Lyme" from the bacteria that lives in their stomachs

Symptoms are similar to flu;

• Fever
• Headaches
• Pain in muscles and joints
• Fatigue

Some people have claimed to suffer for many years after being infected if they didn't get early treatment...

Once they find a victim they like climb into a nice warm spot like the groin or armpit where they will not be disturbed as they eat

There are chemical products that can deter ticks and as they only climb up simple steps like tucking trousers into socks can also help prevent bites

A common symptom of a tick bite is the "bullseye" rash shown here of a red swelling surrounded by an outer ring shaped rash sometimes these can take weeks to develop long after the tick has gone so if you have something like this visit your doctor as soon as possible

Many first aid kits will include tweezers which can be used to removed the tick but this is very difficult as their jaws are jagged like a saw blade to give them a strong grip on their victim

Often the body can be crushed leaving the head embedded in the wound prone to infection or even when being gentle run the large risk of squeezing the little beastie causing it to vomit its stomach contents, including the aforementioned bacteria into the wound 

But you can buy very inexpensive little plastic tick removal tool similar to a prybar for pulling nails that fit around the ticks head allowing you to twist and lift it out which greatly reduce this risk

For anyone going outdoors I would recommend having one of these in your first aid kit particularly parents or pet owners like dog walkers, and as I said they like to climb into areas difficult to see a small mirror is also advisable

Not all tick bites will result in bacterial infection but in all cases its advisable to see a medical professional for assessment

Have fun outdoors whatever you're planning, but be prepared for you and your loved ones...

Take care

Roo

Camping Power

Its great to be able to get away from technology when we want to but having the ability to power your phone or other devices could be a lifesaver

I've had a couple of these power banks from Aukey for two years now and they've been great at keeping my devices charged when camping but usually are left in the car glove box for emergencies

Aukey 20000 mAh power bank


Please note this is an affiliate link and as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases on this link but you will not be charged any extra, I have not been paid to review this product

Specifications:

capacity of 20,000 mAh

5V 3.4A dual USB output 

lightweight (388g / 13.7oz)

They were £19.99 when I bought them and are similarly priced on amazon today and there are many sizes and brands of power bank to suit your needs or budget but they are a great addition to any B.O.B. or vehicle

Take care
Roo

INTEY 10 in 1 multi tool review

For the last few months I've had this little multi tool as part of my E.D.C. (Every Day Carry) I bought it from Amazon but I've also seen them for sale on eBay for around £10 to £15 

The 10 tools are;

1. Knife

2. Saw

3. Flathead screwdriver

4. Phillips screwdriver

5. Bottle opener

6. Can opener

7. Plier grip

8. Needlenose pliers

9. Wire cutter

10. Carabiner

It is packaged with a 600DD cotton carry pouch that has a nice belt loop for wearing on your hip or attaching to a pack. You can see a video of the various uses here;

Click here to find the Intey 10 in 1 multi tool on Amazon, please note this is an affiliate link and as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases on this link but you will not be charged any extra, I have not been paid to review this product


I've been pleasantly surprised by how good it was for most tasks, only the can opener was a sub par performer for what I would expect from a multi tool but it still worked!

It's no leatherman but for a fraction of the cost is a value for money tool.

Take care

Roo

Swiss Army Volcano Ranger Stove Review

This military surplus aluminium three piece set comprises a water bottle that nests between the cup and stove itself.

I really like this set for hiking as you don't require any fuel you simply use whatever dead wood and pine cones etc you find wherever you decide to take your break.

Its widely available online and you may find it at various army surplus stores priced from £10 to £18 depending on condition, as new or previously issued.

You can see a quick video I did showing it in use here 👇  

Eagle eyed viewers will have noticed that my set has some modifications, whilst it worked fine I decided to try some alterations to my set which I feel have improved it.

Firstly the bottle that comes with it is fine but I didn't like the push fit cork stopper so I swapped this for a cheap bottle with a screwtop cap.

Next to aid airflow I drilled additional holes in the cooker and found a sink drainer cover that fits inside to allow the air to get under the burning twigs to help create draught. The opening for adding more twigs etc was fairly small so I widened it slightly as well.

Lastly to speed up water boiling time I fashioned a lid for the cup from a tin can that was a perfect fit, and the ham made a great sandwich win-win!

It burns very efficiently producing little smoke so is excellent for stealth or wild camping.

All in all it's a great little set that I recommend you buy if you see it available as its exceptional value for money 👍

Take care,

Roo