The Adventurer's Gear Thread

[Chasseur]

Thank you gents!

Alas no grouse in Hawaii, but we do have pheasants, quail, and several types of Indian and African francolin.

 

[Oldsarge]

You might even have use for that outfit bird shooting in Hawai'i if you were high enough up a mountain and it was January. Most people don't know just how cold and dank Hawai'i can be because they stay on the beach. I was once up on the Pahakaloa Training Area with the 25th ID. 'Bout half froze to death!

 

[fabiovenhorst]

Metzler binoculars

Metzler Binoculars

 

[Mike K.]

Today's news from the world of exploration & adventure:
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_23511824/archaeologists-discover-lost-maya-city-mexican-jungle

Note the classic attire of the archaeologist in the photo!

Does anyone know what kind of boots he is wearing?
*link to larger image - http://extras.mnginteractive.com/li...y_7434d6b6-c0d8-4644-ae4c-dc1848a2ad52~p1.jpg

 

[scotrace]

The whole kit is pretty grand.

 

[Baggers]

Moc toe leather field boots with what looks like speed hook lacing on the shafts. The laces are even nicely tied off and tucked away so they don't dangle. The soles are not the usual running or hiking type sole you see on boots these days either. All he's missing is a pair of breeches. Still, sharp looking as heck. How great is that?
As for what they're made of of, natural colored suede or rough out leather with a crepe rubber or modern composite sole? Not sure how that leather would perform in wet jungle, but the high tops will definitely keep bugs and other crap from getting to his skin.

Very cool. And yes, I want a pair.

 

[Eric P]

Closest boot I could find to them are 'Joof' boots from Russell boots, http://www.russellmoccasin.com/boots_safari/joof_boot.html

 

[Curmudgeon]

Does anyone know what kind of boots he is wearing?
*link to larger image - http://extras.mnginteractive.com/li...y_7434d6b6-c0d8-4644-ae4c-dc1848a2ad52~p1.jpg

My best guess would be Russell of some kind.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Anyone know where to get a good bush hat similar to the ones worn here?

Those hats are either the same hats or very similar to the M1949 bush hats worn by the French in Indochina. There's a couple examples here: http://www.indochinamilitaria.com/vheadgear.htm.

That style was carried on first by the South Vietnamese forces, the early US advisors, then by Air Force Special Ops. There was actually a US issued version, with an integral mosquito net, but it was cheap and not well liked. There were many, many more locally produced versions in OD and various camoflage patterns. Some examples here http://www.authenticmilitaria.com/vietnam.html. Lots of examples here: http://www.indochinamilitaria.com/vheadgear.htm. Here's some history on the Air Force Air Commandos, including the advisor hat arch: http://home.earthlink.net/~aircommando1/Zapatch1.html.

 

[Mike K.]

All of these old faces emerging from the shadows...guess we've been too busy adventuring.

 

[Late to the Party]

Over the last few days, I've enjoyed wading through this whole thread. Early on, there were many images of adventures afield, and I immediately thought of 5 films (requiring Adobe Flash to view) digitized by the Bentley Historical Library at University of Michigan, and available on their website.

This is the link.

Scroll down to the bottom where you will find 'Young, Edward' and there are 5 videos available there of professors and students of the Civil Engineering Department at the two engineering camps - the original one at Douglas Lake in Michigan, and the later one, Camp Davis, in Wyoming.

Plenty of lovely work boots and hats and various sorts of trousers, even some swim trunks. And lots of surveying work for the surveying aficionado.

These films were all taken and edited by my grandfather, Edward Young, a professor of Surveying and Geodesy at U of M.

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

Thanks for the link, nice collection of hats in use.

 

[Flipped Lid]

Today's news from the world of exploration & adventure:
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_23511824/archaeologists-discover-lost-maya-city-mexican-jungle

Note the classic attire of the archaeologist in the photo!

Does anyone know what kind of boots he is wearing?
*link to larger image - http://extras.mnginteractive.com/li...y_7434d6b6-c0d8-4644-ae4c-dc1848a2ad52~p1.jpg

It's hard to tell for certain, but those boots in the picture appear to be suede to me. These aren't the same boots, but they are very similar although they don't have as thick of a sole as the boots in the picture appear to have. I don't have the boots, but I have a couple of pairs of Minnetonka moccasins. I can attest to their quality and comfort.

http://www.moccasins-by-internet.com/products/Men%27s-Laced-Hardsole-Suede-Boot.html

 

[mikepara]

I wish I could find a period-correct set of trousers to go with the uniform like this French paratrooper:

I cannot help you source the kit but a book you should buy is this. Les Paras Francais en Indochine 1945-1954 by Eric Adam & Patrice Pivetta Printed by Histoire & Collections. It is superb. Here's a little relevant pic. Chassuers Alpin en IndoChine

 

[Renault]

Binary Blue,

PM me if you would be interested in an original set of M47/53 Lizards as used in Algeria... also include your hat size. May have an original Chapeau de Brousse or two about...

Renault

 

[Dragon Soldier]

As some of you gents are discussing post-war French airborne, just to get it "out there" I would be extremely interested in a TAP 150 if anyone has a notion of where one could be found.

 

[Renault]

LOL! Only one of my favorites too DS!!! I know where one of the more important components "might" be located

 

[Dragon Soldier]

These days I live very much within my means, which aren't that extensive.

There are however a few things in the world that I would be prepared to go into debt for, and the TAP 150 is one of them.

 

[AntonAAK]

I prefer to do my adventuring with a gin and tonic in hand.

 

[Renault]

I prefer to do my adventuring with a gin and tonic in hand.

Well done! And helps with that pesky malaria too!! Or at least I like to think so!