The Armour Archive

When I am at wars there is one thing I like to carry on me now that I am starting to show my years. Especially the big wars like Pennsic or Estrella.

A camelback.

I highly recommend these things. Mine holds 70 oz of water/gator on ice. It'll last me most of the day and it's right here when I need it.

I wear mine under my surcoat so all you see is the little hose at the neckline sticking out.

Another advantage is that you don't have to use the straws that everyone else uses. We had a TB scare here a number of years ago (no one got it though) that made me swear to use these if at all possible.

What do you like to have with you to help you last the day.

-Sir Parlan

I like to have a couple of power bars. They usually hold me until I get a chance to eat real food.

A favor.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Parlan:
A camelback...holds 70 oz of water/gator on ice. I wear mine under my surcoat so all you see is the little hose at the neckline sticking out.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Make sure it is red Gatoraide. A font of crimson spraying out of the neck tube in response to a deep wrap to the spine would be hilarious.
Green would be funny too

Bring a sence of humour...

ROFLMAO!
I can just see your opponents and the marshall's reaction... omg.. too too funny..

Crystoll Mackintosh

duct tape. and pickles.
you dont need food for pennsic just good home brew. that way you dont have to cook just find some one with food and share.

ducttape, a credit card, and a sense of humor...

bela

Here's my site with a metric buttload of tips I've gleaned from several folks.

http://home1.gte.net/res031er/tips.htm

Thank you for clarifying that it is a metric buttload. Nothing is more aggrivating when you have your buttload prepared and you mix Imperial and metric systems. Quite a mess!

Tea lights. Lots of tea lights. You can use them to start wet campfires, light your lantern, and absorb some of the wet mist that comes in the tent in the evenings.

A fireplace lighter. Beats mucking around with matches that may or may not be dry. Helps to light things in any weather.

Some variety of sunshade for the Serengeti at Pennsic.

What Hushgirl and I affectionately call <B>De Tyre Chow:

1 bag raisins
1 bag dried apricots
1 bag walnuts
1 bag almonds
1 bag prunes
1 bag banana chips

Takes the edge off when you want to eat light on a hot summer day. And you want to save space for [b]meat!</B>

One box of gallon Ziploc type baggies. Keeps your socks dry, and keeps ants and other vermin out of your De Tyre Chow.

And bottled water by the gallon. Best way to avoid the "Pennsic Plague", and you'll feel cleaner using a wash of bottled water and rubbing alcohol than going to the solar showers.

Sturdy shoes or boots, that are well broken in. Nothing will cripple you worse at Pennsic than bad (or brand new) footwear. Almost as bad as going barefoot.

Oh, and fresh [b]meat for the grill...

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Robert Coleman, Jr.

The Noble Companie and Order of St. Maurice
<B>Those who beat their swords into plowshares end up plowing for those who don't.

Remember: In Living History/Reinactment, Real Life is the Great Leveler of Man.</B>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Parlan:
<B>

What do you like to have with you to help you last the day.

-Sir Parlan</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

-=> squires!

A Dewalt Cordless Drill with several charged batteries and the associated flashlight/reciprocating saw/trim saw, a big hammer, a little hammer, cobalt tipped drill bits AND A CHUCK KEY, a small anvil, diagonal snips, pliers and beer. Anything not on the list before beer can be had at Pennsic in trade for beer.

Gold Bond.

for the battle field:
Ducktape
Extra Leather laces
a small camp stool ( trying to climb off the ground in 15th cent plate is a serious pain n the ass)
belt pouch that will take a wrap shot for me cigs.

for the camp.
a small camp stool for other camps ( they never seem to have enough seats.)
lamp
Alarm clock (for those early morning battles)

Insane Irish

My lady - For with her, I can overcome any odds.

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Virtus vincit invidiam
"Virtue overcometh envy"

Wide brimmed felt hat. Buy a cheap one so if you lose it on the battlefield your not out a lot of money.

We carried ours out to the battlefield at Estrella this year (kept them in the armor cart when we had our helmets on). Putting that hat on dropped the temperature about 10 degrees... felt like the difference between sitting in a parking lot on a hot day and sitting on a nice beach on a hot day.

Of course I lost mine, so now must find another... hopefully theres a felt merchant at my next event!

True, having your lady with you helps. Camelbaks are wonderful, and duct tape and trail mix are life support. food is a wonderful thing, when you have to make it all day wearing armor

Spare glasses, if you're fighting or wear contacts. At least bring your perscription.

Yes a hat, and sunscreen. And random large pieces of cloth, good for anything from a facecloth to a sling to an extra blanket.

My list; a shovel and rake to prepare your campsite if needed, extra T.P., a wide hat, small first aid kit,and a mini armour repair kit for last minute fixes.

One of those butane long-nosed lighters - "Aim'n'Flame". Keep it ready to hand for lighting your/fire/stove/lantern/tiki-torch, etc

Beef jerky in my belt pouch - to keep my growling stomach from disrupting A&S classes...

A camp-cart for ice/armor/children/etc...

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"Or, a pall inverted surmounted by an orle Azure counterchanged"
mka: Sam Pearce

I was wondering about that camelback you wear Parlan. I have been thinking of getting one for a while. I am getting tiered of getting sick after events. I have had some one to carry water just for me and that helped but I won't have that at every war.

So does it add significant weight? How well inslated is it? I have a cop and will probabley have to wear it under that. So it will get hot. How hard to refill is it, can I just go to the water bearers and have them refill it with out takeing it off? The tags say they are strong but how strong are they realy, can they survive me at the bottom of a large pile up? Will all the liquid drain out of the hose if it falls down?
Well thanks for any help


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Dero

I can speak from experience with camelbacks, but not in use with armour (I have a 14th C globose - tough to put a camelback under that).

The average size for a camelback is 70oz, which should last you a good 3-4 hours of fighting. It would be tough to refill as the bladder has to come out of the "backpack" holder, with the air being bled out. Most of the packs don't have great insulation, so after a while it'd probably assume body temp (2 hrs or so I'd guess). BUT, body temp water is better than none at all, and in the meantime it might help keep you cool.

Durability? They're pretty tough but I haven't put one up to that challenge (a full pileup).

Water leaking is a non issue as the hose tip has a bite nipple (no comments from the peanut gallery), that only allows water out when you actively use the device.

I've though about it in the past and it's definately a more viable option in a COP.

Good luck!

C.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Cerdic:
<B>...Water leaking is a non issue as the hose tip has a bite nipple (no comments from the peanut gallery), that only allows water out when you actively use the device...
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Unless of course the bite nipple goes AWOL somehow while your climbing Mt. Fuji at 2 AM some fine summer morning. Drenching you in gatoraide just as the temperature starts to drop at about 11,000'.

Ask me how I know about this

Well my cop is pretty lose and I think I could fit it under. At least it looks like it, depending on how fat the camelback gets. Also becuse of my cop loseness I'm not sure it will go over it. How much weight does the 70 oz. add?

Oh, how do you know that Rainald? By the way did it happen becuse of the change in air pressure as you went up in elevation, like a bag of chips when you drive up a mountain?

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Dero

How much weight? Well a gallon of water is just over 8 lbs, so 70 oz is roughly 4.5 lbs, probably 5 including the pack.

C.

Oh, and sorry to hear about the drenching Rainald. Guess ya have to make sure your nipple's on tight.


[This message has been edited by Cerdic (edited 03-12-2002).]