From memory, my hoochies had a few eyelets so you could tie your insect bar directly to the tarp. Made it easier to drop your shelter for stand to, and to put it back up after dark.
Yes you can do that and I have done that many times when out on patrol and not much time to set up and pack down. When time allows...which is not much, I still prefer to set them up separately. Sometimes a tarp is not needed at all such as the dry season in Northern Australia.
Hi Gordon, As a recent subscriber I really value your videos for content for us Aussies! Being too old now for the Army (I’m ex- reserve) I don’t get issued with gear, so could I suggest some links to purchase this gear? (The good old disposal stores are rare these days. Seem only big box stores catering to cashed-up millennial backpackers are around!) I have a suggestion for a future video: cold weather bushcraft. Living in Queanbeyan I spend a lot of time locally and the KNP. Keep up the good work! 👍🇦🇺
I am still using this Australian Army Mozzie Net. Sometime I attached it with my Hanging Hammock too because ln Brunei some area is a Pit Swamp Forest.
The only way I have ever set my issued mozzie net was to have my pack near my head, drape the the net over my pack and then the rest laid on my body. There was enough room for my face and the rest of me was clothed. Saying that I rarely used a hootchie; in fact I reckon I could count on my hands and toes the number of times I used a hootchie in 15 years. My stretcher top on the other hand got used a lot and that is a great piece of bushcraft/survival equipment worth doing a review on.
Enjoy your videos. Great setup for warmer climates or summer. Living in the south and sometimes camping in windy winter conditions, I would prefer my zipped enclosed swag, which would be warmer and drier (plus under a tarp as extra cover). I can still open it flat during summer and use a net.
These setups are awesome :). Tricky part for women though is changing shirts in privacy... thus a hutchie or an "I don't care" attitude :). Keeping ticks out still gives me the shudders though just in case there's a small gap (shudder). I'm glad you're teaching this stuff.
Yes, a hootchie and a non caring attitude definitely helps. After leading mixed groups on camping expeditions and running bushcraft survival courses for a few years, all those shyness related things go out the window, no one really cares and just gets on with it. You get ticks by walking through the bush and they drop on you as you brush against the vegetation. They don't seek you out by crawling along the ground. If you clear the area where you set up your hootchie and sleeping kit you should not have a problem, even without a bug net. Mozzies and leeches are another story depending on where you are, so a mozzie net is a good idea. Thanks for watching.
I was wondering how necessary mozzie nets were in the australian army, but if their standard issue then that makes it clear their an essential piece of shelter kit 👍🏻 Have you ever seen or heard of anyone who had a snake crawl into a sleeping bag or swag when they weren’t using a net of some kind? Or any other dangerous animal? Seems every animal in the country that can kill you lives below the knees, just wondering what the risks would be sleeping in natural material shelters for any length of time🤔
Yes mozzie nets are definitely necessary, particularly up north. Yes there are loads of things in Australia below the knee that can put harm on you but the media greatly exaggerates it all, leading you to believe that there are killer snakes, spiders, scorpions, wombats etc on every corner. Australia is a huge country and the bitey venomous dangerous ones are very spread out. If you know what they are and how they behave you can take appropriate measures. Most of them want nothing to do with us, and if left alone will leave us alone. I have never seen a snake get into someone's sleeping bag but there is always a first time. A far greater occurrence is people getting killed or injured every time they get into a car. but we don't think twice about that. Thanks for watching
The Oztrail “Cooper” is a nice basic swag and the bell mozzie net works a treat. Probably more versatile if you don’t have it sewn in permanently. It’s small enough to roll up inside the Swag, although the hoops might bend which you can take out. Thanks for watching.
You used to be able to purchase genuine army hootchies and mosquito nets at a lot of disposal stores but sadly not any more... the army destroys everything now rather than letting it be re-used in the civilian world...so much waste! There are ADF copies of hootchies and you can also get box and bell style mosquito nets made by OzTrail which you can still purchase in a lot of outdoor stores.
With thee humungus spiders you have running around in Australia you actually camp outside in a tent, tarp and 'net'? I do not believe I would even leave the interior of the house!
Sure we have some nasties, but it's grossly exaggerated in the media....really! The more you know about things, the less you have to fear. Knowledge dispels fear but we live in a world where people value entertainment over education so people are becoming more dumbed down on a daily basis. The more you know the less you fear so start learning! Sorry for being blunt but I get this question often. Thanks for watching.
What is the point of having that type of swag? Give me a good quality light sloping bag with the combination of a tarp and a net. It will do the same job and easy to transporting it.
You have clearly missed the whole point! I literally sleep under a tarp, in a sleeping bag, bivvi bag etc) for most of the year. Civilian and military . I'm also an outdoor guide, outside army in the NT and use a swag when I'm doing that....that was what this video was about. You have made a comment out of context! Please see other videos in the series. I appreciate the comment.
Noted. It's impossible to cater for everyone and to be quite honest you are probably only 1% that says that, others really like it. I actually don't like the amount of over the top over dramatised background "music" on many videos so I know where you are coming from. I don't think the music on my videos is anything like that and is quite low key. I'm more fussy than than most as I'm a university trained professional trumpet player so have more of an idea than most. Hopefully the content is more important than the music. I appreciate you watching and sticking around.
Noted. It's a fine line and people like it and others don't. Most do. Sometimes it's necessary when there isn't any dialogue and can be dull. I can understand not having music when there is dialogue. Experimentation is also key and you don't know until you try something sometimes. Thanks for sticking around and watching.
From memory, my hoochies had a few eyelets so you could tie your insect bar directly to the tarp. Made it easier to drop your shelter for stand to, and to put it back up after dark.
Yes you can do that and I have done that many times when out on patrol and not much time to set up and pack down. When time allows...which is not much, I still prefer to set them up separately. Sometimes a tarp is not needed at all such as the dry season in Northern Australia.
Hi Gordon,
As a recent subscriber I really value your videos for content for us Aussies! Being too old now for the Army (I’m ex- reserve) I don’t get issued with gear, so could I suggest some links to purchase this gear? (The good old disposal stores are rare these days. Seem only big box stores catering to cashed-up millennial backpackers are around!)
I have a suggestion for a future video: cold weather bushcraft. Living in Queanbeyan I spend a lot of time locally and the KNP. Keep up the good work! 👍🇦🇺
I am still using this Australian Army Mozzie Net. Sometime I attached it with my Hanging Hammock too because ln Brunei some area is a Pit Swamp Forest.
Thanks Gordon interesting video merry Christmas 🎄
Cheers, my pleasure. Thanks again for watching
great video , full of no nonsense practical knowledge. good to see they keep out sandflies .
Thanks for the positive feedback and support. Much appreciated.
Brings back my time on the Army. Lost count the number of times I had to put up both when out bush. 👍
They are a great piece of simple kit but sadly they are being phased out along with other good kit items such as Milbank bags.
Thanks for watching
The only way I have ever set my issued mozzie net was to have my pack near my head, drape the the net over my pack and then the rest laid on my body. There was enough room for my face and the rest of me was clothed. Saying that I rarely used a hootchie; in fact I reckon I could count on my hands and toes the number of times I used a hootchie in 15 years. My stretcher top on the other hand got used a lot and that is a great piece of bushcraft/survival equipment worth doing a review on.
Nicely done. I'm going to try this myself.
Yes it works quite well and is transferable to many setups. Thanks for watching
Awesome Video! Thanks for sharing and have a blessed day!
Thank you for the nice response. I’m glad you liked the video.
Enjoy your videos. Great setup for warmer climates or summer. Living in the south and sometimes camping in windy winter conditions, I would prefer my zipped enclosed swag, which would be warmer and drier (plus under a tarp as extra cover). I can still open it flat during summer and use a net.
A good bivvy bag will also keep that wind out without the extra bulk of a swag if you want to hike in somewhere. Thanks for watching.
Booked my spot in October! Looking forward to learning from you
Glad to have you along. Thanks for watching and your support.
Good video thanks for sharing the knowledge...
My pleasure, thanks for watching.
These setups are awesome :). Tricky part for women though is changing shirts in privacy... thus a hutchie or an "I don't care" attitude :). Keeping ticks out still gives me the shudders though just in case there's a small gap (shudder). I'm glad you're teaching this stuff.
Yes, a hootchie and a non caring attitude definitely helps. After leading mixed groups on camping expeditions and running bushcraft survival courses for a few years, all those shyness related things go out the window, no one really cares and just gets on with it.
You get ticks by walking through the bush and they drop on you as you brush against the vegetation. They don't seek you out by crawling along the ground. If you clear the area where you set up your hootchie and sleeping kit you should not have a problem, even without a bug net. Mozzies and leeches are another story depending on where you are, so a mozzie net is a good idea. Thanks for watching.
Very good Gordon!!
Thanks for watching and the positive feedback.
I like your bush hat more so than the ball cap.
I just wear what I happen to have with me at the time.
Will be going to camping soon. From which department store to buy it in Australia. Thank you
I was wondering how necessary mozzie nets were in the australian army, but if their standard issue then that makes it clear their an essential piece of shelter kit 👍🏻
Have you ever seen or heard of anyone who had a snake crawl into a sleeping bag or swag when they weren’t using a net of some kind? Or any other dangerous animal? Seems every animal in the country that can kill you lives below the knees, just wondering what the risks would be sleeping in natural material shelters for any length of time🤔
Yes mozzie nets are definitely necessary, particularly up north. Yes there are loads of things in Australia below the knee that can put harm on you but the media greatly exaggerates it all, leading you to believe that there are killer snakes, spiders, scorpions, wombats etc on every corner. Australia is a huge country and the bitey venomous dangerous ones are very spread out. If you know what they are and how they behave you can take appropriate measures. Most of them want nothing to do with us, and if left alone will leave us alone.
I have never seen a snake get into someone's sleeping bag but there is always a first time.
A far greater occurrence is people getting killed or injured every time they get into a car. but we don't think twice about that.
Thanks for watching
is the Bug net available, link? thanks
When I see this, all I heard is… mate wake up you are on picket
any department stores selling mosquito nets, sometimes in the bush, it gets hard to survive due to bugs. Any suggestion?
I seen a swag that Malcolm Douglas had with a bel type mosquito net sewing into it.
The Oztrail “Cooper” is a nice basic swag and the bell mozzie net works a treat. Probably more versatile if you don’t have it sewn in permanently. It’s small enough to roll up inside the Swag, although the hoops might bend which you can take out. Thanks for watching.
Does anyone know where these can be purchased I am struggling to find one of a similar style.
You used to be able to purchase genuine army hootchies and mosquito nets at a lot of disposal stores but sadly not any more... the army destroys everything now rather than letting it be re-used in the civilian world...so much waste! There are ADF copies of hootchies and you can also get box and bell style mosquito nets made by OzTrail which you can still purchase in a lot of outdoor stores.
With thee humungus spiders you have running around in Australia you actually camp outside in a tent, tarp and 'net'? I do not believe I would even leave the interior of the house!
Sure we have some nasties, but it's grossly exaggerated in the media....really! The more you know about things, the less you have to fear. Knowledge dispels fear but we live in a world where people value entertainment over education so people are becoming more dumbed down on a daily basis. The more you know the less you fear so start learning! Sorry for being blunt but I get this question often. Thanks for watching.
What is the point of having that type of swag? Give me a good quality light sloping bag with the combination of a tarp and a net. It will do the same job and easy to transporting it.
You have clearly missed the whole point! I literally sleep under a tarp, in a sleeping bag, bivvi bag etc) for most of the year. Civilian and military . I'm also an outdoor guide, outside army in the NT and use a swag when I'm doing that....that was what this video was about. You have made a comment out of context! Please see other videos in the series. I appreciate the comment.
Music music why it there music? Its distracting mate i cant watch.
Noted. It's impossible to cater for everyone and to be quite honest you are probably only 1% that says that, others really like it. I actually don't like the amount of over the top over dramatised background "music" on many videos so I know where you are coming from. I don't think the music on my videos is anything like that and is quite low key. I'm more fussy than than most as I'm a university trained professional trumpet player so have more of an idea than most. Hopefully the content is more important than the music. I appreciate you watching and sticking around.
like your videos, just not keen on the background music as you demonstrate and talk, it is very distracting.
Noted. It's a fine line and people like it and others don't. Most do. Sometimes it's necessary when there isn't any dialogue and can be dull. I can understand not having music when there is dialogue. Experimentation is also key and you don't know until you try something sometimes. Thanks for sticking around and watching.