Forces Kit List - Help 19 July 2011 at 11:01AM in UK armed forces MoneySaving 31 replies 7.5K views

Amnesia180

Hi All,

I'm joining the Forces in a couple of months and have been given a rather comprehensive kit list...

The whole lot will quite easily cost between £200 and £250 (maybe £300 if I bought decent stuff!).

So, I'm wondering if all you MSEs could help me find some bargains?

A portable vaccum (this is not on the list, but I think will help me).
Iron (Good quality steam iron)
Ironing Board
50mm 6 Padlocks (with a hasp of at least 5mm).
Battery operated Alarm Clock
Head Torch (Basic LED variety)

I've also noticed that Tesco now do prescription glasses from £15. Has anyone had any experience of these? The reason I ask is because I want to buy a cheap pair for when I'm running/rolling around and won't mind if they get damaged.

There are many, many more things on the kit list such as pressing cloths, Kiwi boot polish, brasso, sealable food bags (different sizes) etc, etc... but I think these things are set prices - I doubt I could find them cheaper (but if anyone wants to to see more from the list, I'd be happy to post!

Thanks for any help
Amnesia

ICATQ

You can get alot of stuff in sales or pound shops.

WH Smiths do cheapy glasses £7.50. You should get a pair of defence specs when you join, they are robust and issued so if you break them in training you should get new ones.

spike7451

Have a read of this thread here,all the info you need.

http://www.arrse.co.uk/regular-soldier-recruitment/97880-my-list-basic.html

And good luck on your training!!

atnoble32

You sure about an ironing board, as they provide those and wouldn't bother with a hoover, and don't see the point of the alarm clock as they have ways of ensuring you are wide awake!

Remember if you buy anything fancy, it will get nicked!

moonrakerz

Amnesia180 wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm joining the Forces in a couple of months and have been given a rather comprehensive kit list...

The whole lot will quite easily cost between £200 and £250 (maybe £300 if I bought decent stuff!).

So, I'm wondering if all you MSEs could help me find some bargains?

A portable vaccum (this is not on the list, but I think will help me).
Iron (Good quality steam iron)
Ironing Board
50mm 6 Padlocks (with a hasp of at least 5mm).
Battery operated Alarm Clock
Head Torch (Basic LED variety)

B****y hell ! do you have to buy a rifle too ??

Little*Miss

Hello,

Good luck with your training it will be tough but worth it!

My OH is in the army, he would say buy your own ironing board, iron, vacuum things like that, as when inspection comes round they all disappear! OH has got a pink vacuum on purpose so the lads don't nick it!:p

I can recommend a good iron on sale atm a Phillips Azur GC4413 Steam Iron was £76.99 now £29.99 OH uses this on his kit says its the best iron he's ever used. We now have two one for me and one for him on base.:D
Argos code 410/2069.

Good luck!!!:D

gt568

ICATQ wrote: »

You should get a pair of defence specs when you join, they are robust and issued so if you break them in training you should get new ones.

You will also look like a [email protected]

angeleyesxx

Good luck with the training and remember "the others will nick anything and everything they can" so don't spend alot on your stuff and especially ya mobile!!!

Also make sure that you get decent locks for the lockers etc as you will need to keep these locked 247.

relic

angeleyesxx wrote: »

Good luck with the training and remember "the others will nick anything and everything they can" so don't spend alot on your stuff and especially ya mobile!!!

Also make sure that you get decent locks for the lockers etc as you will need to keep these locked 247.

Don't agree with this at all.

Fair enough get a decent lock, but saying they will steal anything and everything including mobile phones is ridiculous.. i've never met anyone who would even contemplate doing that.

Marker_2

You can pick up cheap stuff on your list from places like tesco and wilkys. Hubby bought good suit hangers from wilky that he still uses now. Wouldnt bother with a hoover or ironing board. Any old iron will do as well, its how you iron it that matters ...

Good Luck

barnabee

Be aware that individual career offices give out completely different kit lists. When recruits arrive at their training depot they all have stuff that is not required.

For example, one career office kit list states a recruit has to bring 30 wooden coat hangers. Another career office will advise 10.

All of the training camps I know do not want every recruit to bring an ironing board - infact ironing boards are either supplied or come built in to the walls in the block.

It is about time someone in the UK banged the heads together of the area careers officers to stop such a stupid waste of money.

I suggest that if your kit list is supplied by a careers office then contact the training depot direct and ask them to email or post you the correct one. It could save you a fortune and prevent you struggling with heavy luggage.