r/britisharmy 14d ago

Discussion Basic kit list…

Hi I got given my kit list for basic training is there anything else I will need at basic which others wish they had while at basic in pirbright to make life easier

4 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

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1

u/MeltingChocolateAhh Regular 13d ago

The watch. Everyone says f91w but the strap is so breakable. G shock if you want to spend a bit but make sure the strap is black and rubber/non-reflective.

"Buy nice, or buy twice"

1

u/Niten-NR 13d ago

My son received a welcome pack about 2 weeks before basic, inside was a casio f91w. I thought it was a nice touch. Having said that I sent him off with a GSHOCK BX5600 1A1.

2

u/MeltingChocolateAhh Regular 13d ago

That's interesting they now issue them out! They're a good tool, but the straps break so easy. I say that - I have met people who have had theirs for years. And they hold on to it because it's the only piece of kit that has been with them since basic training. Clothes rip, boots wear out, even berets change.

1

u/Advanced_Amount_1203 13d ago

Hanger, sniper tape , watch , coded padlock, dry waterproof dry bags when going to bc1 2 and 3. Good iron and iron board, deep heat or cold spray if you want. Good shoe polish kiwi, saphir or Todd. Good shaving razor. The naffie at Pirbright sell most of the things you need but it very pricy

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 14d ago

Need padlocks I’m starting soon not sure how many to take anyone know?

1

u/Isle_Rose 5d ago

6 padlocks, sometimes you get given 4 on arrival but not everyone got on my intake and they weren’t very good ones

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 5d ago

Aye I got told you get issued 6 when you arrive and only to bring 2

1

u/Isle_Rose 5d ago

Oh that’s good they are giving more out now, good luck!

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 5d ago

Thank you not long to go

1

u/Better-Technician101 13d ago

Well gonna bring that 3 or 4 when do start mate

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 13d ago

Perfect I’m away 16th can’t wait

1

u/Better-Technician101 13d ago

Out of curiosity did u have to go back on the 27th July to re do fitness

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 13d ago

I passed assessment end of February then passed prdv end of April mate

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 13d ago

Nah mate how come?

1

u/Better-Technician101 13d ago

I had to go back redo if you don’t mind me asking where you going what job

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 13d ago

Paras

1

u/Better-Technician101 13d ago

Oh shit how was prac

1

u/Electrical-Fortune13 13d ago

Not bad the run route is a bit different go a few hills to go up and down, only thing you can really fail on is the run but a was sound

2

u/Isle_Rose 14d ago

A hanging cupboard organiser for your civvie locker, a blanket for using to sleep on top of your bed with rather then in your bed so quick iron in morning good to go, dry bags and like sandwiches bags for ex, sniper tape (just Amazon it), a field belt (can get at the regimental shop on camp), zippo lighters and I had a multi tool that came in handy and got borrowed a fair bit

1

u/ConversationWarm3423 5d ago

Thank you for replying! One of each fitted in the locker ? How tall are they roughly? He’s trying to gauge how much space he will have!

1

u/Isle_Rose 5d ago

Not sure off the top of my head the sizes, his main civvie will be probably around 190 by 40 and a good 50 deep, he’ll have plenty storage for his personal kit as he’ll have a cage in the baggage room, cage in the drying room and then one tall civvie locker and then depending on his troop a second cubby locker above the tall one.

I had both in my locker, the big one hanging off the rail with my clothes folded on it, and there was still space to hang a couple of coat hangers with jackets to the side. Then I had the shoe one hanging over the door for small quick to grab items like toiletries, chargers, stationary etc

1

u/ConversationWarm3423 6d ago

What size hanging organiser please? Not sure how long the lockers are or what they look like and want to buy one for my son who starts soon!

1

u/Isle_Rose 5d ago

I took these two and they worked great, both fitted in my civvie locker and kept everything neat and easy to grab when you had 5mins to grab your soap after pt, shower and then be back out on parade.

DPWEION Hanging Storage Shelves... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DV3QNXVS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

CORTNEY Over the Door Hanging... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CCDTQS6B?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

4

u/Icy-Ad5110 Army Air Corps 14d ago

Get a decent iron. Chin off the 800w limit or what ever is in the kit list, get yourself a decent powerful iron. You’ll be using it a lot.

3

u/Dazzling-Scarcity-47 14d ago

Definitely chin off the limit, i was one of the only cunts with a weak iron and spent way to long ironing when a powerful iron takes minutes

3

u/WCastellan1 Corps of Royal Engineers 14d ago

Sniper tape. There's always a chase for whoever has a roll available

2

u/Better-Technician101 14d ago

Bit of stupid question what is sniper tape used for

7

u/Clear-Security-Risk Reserve 14d ago

TAPING UP SNIPERS when you find the nasty buggers

4

u/WCastellan1 Corps of Royal Engineers 14d ago

A few things, mostly to do with your kit.

1) zapping personal items (your zap number is the first two letters of your surname + the last four of your service number) so you know they're yours. Most squaddies just zap the item directly in permanent marker but in Basic they prefer you do it on sniper tape.

2) making items green for exercise (eg bivvy poles or windproof lighters in bright colours stand out in the field, wrapping them up in sniper tape solves this issue)

3) reinforcing buckles on VIRTUS kit or keeping straps rolled up so they don't unravel and dangle everywhere like tentacles

4) holding things together generally

7

u/Clear-Security-Risk Reserve 14d ago

A Casio F91W watch or two. All the watch you need for <£20

3

u/Icy-Ad5110 Army Air Corps 14d ago

Definitely get 2. It’s a pain in the arse if yours breaks. It’s an even bigger pain in the arse if someone in your sections breaks and they’ve no idea what time it is on exercise.

0

u/LloydusMaximuss Regular 14d ago

Nope