5 Great Reasons to Shop Military Surplus

Everyone knows if you need a green canvas jacket or a side cap for your vintage stewardess costume, you hit up the military surplus store. But when you’re looking for camping gear, sporting goods, and other sturdy stuff, do you drive right by it? Here are five reasons not to skip the military surplus store.

Whether you’re hiking into the wilderness or riding the bus to class, you’re sure to find what you need among the frame packs, rucksacks, and even kids backpacks. 

When you do trudge off into the woods with your new backpack, don’t be caught unprepared. Your military surplus outlet can be counted on for portable cookware, mess kits, and even coffee makers.

Not only will you find western boots, warm winter boots, and steel-toed work boots, but they’ll also set you up with the right waterproofing, conditioner, cleaner, and even liners and insoles.

Besides maybe the Audubon Society, nobody uses more binoculars than the military. Whether you’re taking them on your next nature walk or to the stadium, compare the compact, full-size, and even waterproof binoculars. And don’t forget the harness and lens cleaner.

You’ll be glad to have one of these around the campfire; when you’re alone in the woods, nobody cares that you don’t know how to play one.

Inspired to plan—and stock up for—your next outdoor adventure? Visit this website and learn more about optical gear stores in San Diego.

 

Is It Safe to Buy Used Binoculars?

Not all used binoculars are created equal, but if they’re in good shape, they’re perfectly safe, and a savvy option to get more bang for your binocular buck. Happily, those that will serve you well are easy to spot.

Do You See What I See?

Even the cheapest binocular is a specialized optical instrument, designed to do two things: they magnify what you’re looking at, and they let in more light than your unaided eye, making things easier to see in low-light conditions. Neither of these functions is diminished by time or amount of use, and a good pair of binoculars, treated and stored with care, will last.

Look Before You Leap

Different kinds of binoculars can withstand varying degrees of shock, and while this may also be true of you the user, depending on what you’re looking at, it becomes a factor for the second-hand shopper. Binoculars that have been dropped or kicked—or messed with by the bear who came so close to your campsite you no longer needed the binoculars—run the risk of being jarred out of collimation, which can result in double vision. Broken lenses can be replaced and collimation—that is to say, the alignment of the lenses with the mechanical axis—can be readjusted at an optical store, but it’s important to take those used binoculars for a test drive before you buy to make sure they’ll give you a nice clean look at your subject, and not a double image.Bring this issue into focus by visiting this website to learn more about optical gear stores in San Diego.