When I was a kid, military surplus meant smelly old stuff that had a cool look and feel but was historical rather than practical. Hell, even when I was in the Marine Corps, I’d comb surplus stores, hoping to find something useful, maybe something modern, but it always came up short. I kind of forgot about surplus until I wanted to check out some GWOT shotgun gear. That’s when I realized that the world of surplus is currently dominated by GWOT surplus and stuff from the international market.
Modern surplus kinda rules. In fact, I had an entirely different word for how great modern surplus is, but I doubt that it would read as professional. The surplus market has changed. Dusty old stores and dirty Vietnam-era ALICE gear no longer rule it.
The modern market is all over the internet and chock full of a mix of modern, old, and awesome gear. The GWOT surplus market is the more practical surplus, but the international surplus has also introduced new camo patterns, gear, and more.
Let’s dig into some of that GWOT surplus and see what’s out there and available.
GWOT Surplus – The Gear
You can find GWOT surplus and international goodies in a few places. Ebay is one. That’s where I found my shotgun surplus stuff. Another is Venture Surplus, they are a modern, online company with tons of cool stuff. Americana Pipedream is another company that’s become pretty popular as of late and has released some cool stuff.
These are my three big go-tos for GWOT surplus and international gear. Let’s dig into what we can find at each of these awesome one-stop shops.
TAPS Rig
How much does a well-made US-produced chest rig with eight mag pouches, three admin pouches, a strap system, and multiple methods to attach the rig to a plate carrier? Probably a helluva a lot more than 30 to 70 dollars, right? Well, a GWOT Surplus TAPS rig only costs 30 to 70 bucks, depending on condition and color.
The Army’s craptastic UCP pattern is the cheapest, and a new UCP TAPS rig only costs 30 bucks. As you get into USMC Coyote and Multicam, the prices can get a bit higher. Unissued Coyote and Multicam are typically 70 bucks at the high end. Mine is used and in good condition; the TAPS rig retailed for 50 bucks with all the extra stuff.
TAPOS stands for Tactical Assault Panel System, and it has enough space for a combat load plus two extra mags, or you can fit a radio or other gear. We have three small admin pouches and enough MOLLE straps to attach whatever you might need. The straps aren’t the best, but they are easily replaceable, and the velcro retention kind of sucks, but you get a very well-made chest rig for not a whole lot of money. It’s one of my favorite pieces of GWOT surplus.
Poncho Liners
I’ve heard people call this the wooby, and that might be an Army thing. We always just called it the poncho liner and it’s long been a legend that Chesty Puller and George Washington invented the poncho liner to provide their beloved infantry with a soft, warm, blanket to sleep after a hard day of fighting.
Poncho liners are designed to be tied into the grommets of a tarp. When combined with a poncho or tarp, it provides a rainproof, warm, and comfy protective layer. I’ve never combined one with a tarp or poncho, but it’s my most used piece of gear. It was soft, warm, and lightweight, so it was easy to carry.
Poncho liners are fantastic and M81 pattern poncho liners are plenty cheap. They are great for camping, and hell, just awesome. They are a great bedtime blanket and mine was stolen years ago by my son. As far as GWOT surplus goes this one is just comfy and perfect for camping.
USGI Bandoliers
People sleep on bandoliers to carry ammunition. In an age of plate carriers and chest rigs, it’s easy to see why they aren’t so popular. However, they can be a nice, low-profile, lightweight way to carry ammo. An alternative to a chest rig in some ways. It’s also a great way to pack gear as a whole. The USGI bandoliers are dual mag cells, so there is plenty of space for all sorts of stuff.
A bandolier can carry a medical kit, a waterbottle, and snacks for a hike. It can also carry six magazines and act as a supplementary ammo option. If I was a police officer, a bandolier would be a great option for carrying ammo for a patrol rifle in a less-than-stellar situation.
Camo and condition matter a lot for bandoleer design. The Multicam models are in new condition and cost 20 bucks. The UCP patterned designs are almost free. They sell for less than ten bucks for two bandoliers all around the net. It’s one of the cheapest pieces of GWOT surplus.
Pouches Galore
Mag pouches are what got us here—well, shotgun ammo pouches. The surplus market is awash in magazine pouches—for rifle magazines, pistol magazines, and even Dutch SMG pouches. There are mag pouches everywhere and for a ton of different platforms. They are super cheap.
These mag pouches might not be the most modern, high-speed piece of gear, but they work. They are modern enough for modern gear with MOLLE mounts and various designs. Most are dual mag pouches. There are also tons and tons of admin pouches of various sizes. These are perfect for making IFAKs, admin pouches, and more.
Packs
Yep, packs are part of GWOT’s surplus. I’ve seen USMC FILBE packs selling for anywhere from 50 to 150 dollars. I’m not sure why there is a big price disparity, but it’s there. These packs are all used in most cases, but even a FILBE in good condition is less than 50 bucks at some retailers.
The FILBE isn’t the only option. The UCP MOLLE packs retail for ten bucks because people hate that camo pattern. On top of those kits, we have old ALICE packs that are pretty great, especially with the metal frames of yesteryear. There is also the foreign market which has all sorts of neat stuff.
More Than GWOT Surplus
Maybe surplus is still old, dusty stuff, but I just happen to be old and dusty myself. Either way, I’m digging the current surplus market. It seems to be better managed and produced than the markets before it. Plus, the GWOT stuff benefits a lot from modern design and usage. Give it a look and see what kind of kit you can scramble together for very little money.
