talking to some soldiers today

they were telling me that if they want to wear the best kit,they have to buy it themselves,one young soldier bought his own booots at £160....the government should be supplying the best kit money can buy ...shocking in my opnion..

they were telling me that if they want to wear the best kit,they have to buy it themselves,one young soldier bought his own booots at £160....the government should be supplying the best kit money can buy ...shocking in my opnion..

FOOTSOLDIER that posts on here is a serving Royal Marine & he told me that they all buy the American boots etc because the supplied stuff is very poor.

This has allways been the case the Americans get the best the British soldiers get the crap kit it's a disgrace

disgrace .

A few years since I bailed out but generally our kit was far inferior to Americans. American PX stores were always a good place to buy good kit. Shouldn't have to mind but has always been the case as British troops make the best of what they have and get on with it

Yeah it is a bit silly the crap soldiers get issued, but they make do with what they get and they get the job done and thats what makes them the best in the world

You should see the equipment that the Afghan kids had to put up with!

You should see the equipment that the Afghan kids had to put up with!

That's another topic , in this one we are discussing British Troops

Yeah it is a bit silly the crap soldiers get issued, but they make do with what they get and they get the job done and thats what makes them the best in the world

agreed...

As an former soldier, I bought various bits of equipment for my own comfort, boots, warm kit, decent sleeping bag, daysack (rucksack) and various other things.
The Army supplied all this kit, I just wanted better stuff, I know that the supplied stuff could have done the job adequately as I used it during my training and early on in my military career.

I wouldnt read to far into all this 'had to buy my own kit' malarkey, its a mini fashion statement for many squaddies and others just want extra comfort 'gucci kit' as we all called it.

This has allways been the case the Americans get the best the British soldiers get the crap kit it's a disgrace

But a British soldier will always be better than an American

As an former soldier, I bought various bits of equipment for my own comfort, boots, warm kit, decent sleeping bag, daysack (rucksack) and various other things.
The Army supplied all this kit, I just wanted better stuff, I know that the supplied stuff could have done the job adequately as I used it during my training and early on in my military career.

I wouldnt read to far into all this 'had to buy my own kit' malarkey, its a mini fashion statement for many squaddies and others just want extra comfort 'gucci kit' as we all called it.

Asked a bloke i work with where he got his boots from as I needed new ones and his looked quality.

He got them from the stores in Hereford? (Correct me if I'm wrong) said he was just given them.. They looked pretty decent to me comfortable and waterproof etc.. Not cheap either.

This has allways been the case the Americans get the best the British soldiers get the crap kit it's a disgrace

But a British soldier will always be better than an American

Agree with you

they were telling me that if they want to wear the best kit,they have to buy it themselves,one young soldier bought his own booots at £160....the government should be supplying the best kit money can buy ...shocking in my opnion..

A mate i go climbing with is an ex Para and he has said in the past that they were issued with good enough equipment but can upgrade out of their own pockets.. He said more or less what Gavin has said some soldiers want better than standard issued stuff.
That said i spoke to a couple whose young son was off to Iraq and they were buying most of his kit from Army Surplus stores so maybe depends what regiment your in.

they were telling me that if they want to wear the best kit,they have to buy it themselves,one young soldier bought his own booots at £160....the government should be supplying the best kit money can buy ...shocking in my opnion..

wow!lets hold on a moment.

i think they need the equiptment to do the job, that is obvious....but the best that money can buy? i think the gov spends far too much on defence as it is, the idea that these personell should have equiptment far better than they need is insane!if they want luxuries above and beyond what they require to do the best job they can (boots dont make the man if u get me) they should rightly buy it out of their own pocket

Lucky there not teachers or they would of gone on strike an we would be apart of Russia.

Stressful job teaching mind

Lucky there not teachers or they would of gone on strike an we would be apart of Russia.

Stressful job teaching mind

Spitting out drink smiley would be useful here

they were telling me that if they want to wear the best kit,they have to buy it themselves,one young soldier bought his own booots at £160....the government should be supplying the best kit money can buy ...shocking in my opnion..

wow!lets hold on a moment.

i think they need the equiptment to do the job, that is obvious....but the best that money can buy? i think the gov spends far too much on defence as it is, the idea that these personell should have equiptment far better than they need is insane!if they want luxuries above and beyond what they require to do the best job they can (boots dont make the man if u get me) they should rightly buy it out of their own pocket

your opinion is welcome....and as you so rightly stated the government spend far to much money on defence,but maybe they should spend it on the troops.....but just my opinion..

Lucky there not teachers or they would of gone on strike an we would be apart of Russia.

Stressful job teaching mind

Out of curiosity what's your job

they were telling me that if they want to wear the best kit,they have to buy it themselves,one young soldier bought his own booots at £160....the government should be supplying the best kit money can buy ...shocking in my opnion..

wow!lets hold on a moment.

i think they need the equiptment to do the job, that is obvious....but the best that money can buy? i think the gov spends far too much on defence as it is, the idea that these personell should have equiptment far better than they need is insane!if they want luxuries above and beyond what they require to do the best job they can (boots dont make the man if u get me) they should rightly buy it out of their own pocket

WOW
Do you know what your on about? my lad went to Afghan and they gave him the WRONG SIZE BOOTS and then told them they would sort it out when he got out there like f**k i bought him boots costing £160 and worth every penny
I also bought him a better back pack and pouches for his belt.

Talking to a Falklands vet that sells this gear he was telling us that the army supply the basic but some things were ok.

If you see how far these guys walk every day you would see how the best kit is a must