“Ground Pounder Series: Ultimate Survival Shelter with USMC Military Surplus Tarps”

to get your own tarp call 334-898-1770 to Kaufmanns military surplus in samson Alabama store hours are Mon thru fri 10 am until 4pm be sure to tell them blackie sent you so they will hand select for ya.
Welcome back to the GROUND POUNDER SERIES! 🌲🏕️
In today’s episode, I’ll be demonstrating how to set up a versatile basecamp/survival shelter using two surplus USMC tarps. This setup features a back wall and provides more headroom than typical shelters, allowing for a comfortable leaf tick bed and ample space to spread out your gear.
This shelter is not only spacious, offering plenty of legroom and easy access to your equipment, but it’s also adaptable to changing weather conditions. Perfect for any outdoor adventure!
If you enjoy this video, please hit the like, share, and notification icons to stay updated with my latest content.
Safe journeys and happy camping!
USMC surplus tarps
Survival shelter setup
DIY camping shelter
Ground Pounder series
Military surplus gear
Bushcraft shelter
Outdoor survival tips
Basecamp setup
Leaf tick bed
Camping gear organization
Adaptable shelters
Weatherproof camping shelter
Headroom in shelters
Legroom in shelters
Comfortable camping bed
Easy shelter setup
Camping in changing weather
Outdoor adventure tips
Silver Wolves community
Senior camping tips

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching !

[@short-hand4312]

I bought my Vietnam-era USMC fanny pack 40 years ago. she still looks as good as the day brought her home. ready for another deer hunt.

[@CanadaFree-ce9jn]

Blackie, every single piece of military gear is limited edition. The military will never make more gear once they discontinue it. The more decades that go by, the harder it will be to get the gear. Love the back wall set up and showing that a ground cloth doesn't always need to be flat on the ground. You effectively created a bathtub flooring more common on tents.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

correct it keeps bugs and water from flowing in

[@markonj1]

Thanks for the tip on the ground tarp. Ordered one came in today and it is great, looks new. Jennifer was who I ordered from and she was very sweet.

[@karlpasco6357]

Blackie, I have found that the side mounted sustainment pouchs from the Molle II ruck can be easily turned into a haversacks. They are abundant and fairly inexpensive. I just added metal D rings to the Molle straps on the back,and attached a general purpose sling / strap.

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks Blackie. My local Army Navy has shelter halfs for about 30 bucks, I should have bought a pair when I was there this past weekend. I think I’ll head back to grab them before they’re gone.

[@rquest3059]

Unfortunately, today's surplus is tomorrow's collectors items. Always be looking for new ways to repurpose common items. Excellent video.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Good luck!

[@smoothvern165]

Thank you for showing us ways to get out there and enjoy the outdoors without spending an arm and a leg! Great video!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

You bet!

[@user-zu4io9qi5e]

And why I carried 3 rain ponchos while I was in the F.M.F. I also made hootches similar to yours. I also used my bug net along with that. The South Pacific was alot like the Southeastern U.S. Humid hot and a gentle breeze at night with Lots of skeeters and other biting bugs.

[@reneschaap8091]

goedemiddag Blackie 👍

[@billvan5219]

The more concepts in our heads the greater likelihood of "a lack of suffering" thank you. You take care of yourself please 😊

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

as my old friend grouch likes to say " it takes no effort to be miserable " so any effort will make it better

[@williamsisk2897]

Blackie, I have found that Fox Outdoor has gear that is good value for the money. I use their German shoulder/bread bag as a haveesack, and it is labeled made in India. I have another bag from them that I need to put to use, also made in India. They have a musette bag available in 2 sizes for $22.55 and they have an ammo utility shoulder bag for $15.75 Looking at the website, they have discontinued several products, including that butt pack.

[@scottmyers4802]

Lol. Have been looking for one for 2 or 3 years. (Butt pack). Finally found one at a off the path surpluss store. 17 dollars. Only had to one in a large box of random stuff. Thought I hit the jack pot. 😁

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

you did

[@ostekuste3646]

I’ve got a brand new late 90s issue desert tan butt pack. Guess I better hang on to it!😂

[@stephenwest798]

I take leave no trace as leave things as you found them so if you dig a drainage trench fill it in when you leave. As long as you don't have driving winds with rain that setup works well.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i agree

[@forestgnome55]

HEY BLACKIE! I BEN SPERIMENTIN WID DAT VERI THANG! GRET MINES RUNN TOGETHAR! :) :) :) HOPE YOU ARE WELL AND HAPPY! HI TO MS HOPE. KINDEST REGARDS AND BEST WISHES, PINK.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Cool 👍

[@jeffrichards5106]

That's a nice setup, Blackie. Thanks for the video and continuing the Ground Pounder Series. I found one of those canvas butt packs last year after seeing your video. I had to spend $70 for mine. It's in good shape. I've noticed that original US military H harnesses are very hard to find now, still looking.. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

wow they are getting pricey.. funny thing is i gave lots of my gear away a few years ago to a young many who is doing Vietman reenacting

[@jeffrichards5106]

@blackoracle69 yeah, I guess I'll be hanging on to mine. I remember also when surplus was very affordable.

[@johnny30806]

Great video Blackie. Do you have a video tat shows how you carried it all on an H harness?

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Unfortunately not but i will try to make one up to show in the future

[@magnusdarkhan974]

You can seal the pin holes with flex seal brown spray.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i plan on doing that soon

[@MiClLC]

Your demonstrations are your best content Blackie, thank you

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

I appreciate that!

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie, Basics are still the best .Yes Sir there is Army surplus that I used in 1979-1986 is hard to find and I was issued Vietnam era gear WEB Gear/ LEB Gear. When I was in the U.S.Army also when your books are printed I will ordered at least 25 of them in the series. Thanks Again Sir for all you do. God Bless You and Mrs. Blackie.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for your service

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

you'll never believe what i found this time, a MSS without the bivvy, and a Helmet Bag, both brand new MINT condition never been used 😂😂 got them for 0$ pls don't hate me guys LOL it's unreal, the smell of the bag's fabrics like straight from the factory. you can see all the original little creases like when you first open something from the store. i didn't think this exists, i think i found a glitch in the matrix of surplus lmao

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good score

[@kennethwilson8633]

Way lighter than when I used to carry two shelter half kits …and that didn’t even give me a floor. I can’t believe people want that gear we had in the 80s .

[@jeffmccausland3569]

Greetings from Newfoundland, Canada. Looking forward to the next live!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for watching !

[@CanadaFree-ce9jn]

How is the surplus market in NFL? We only have one store in my city and anything out West seems twice the cost. Harder to get the modern US gear in Canada.

[@jeffmccausland3569]

@@CanadaFree-ce9jn I think there's one store locally; but, it has very hard to get US gear here -- especially because of duties/taxes from the US.

[@57WillysCJ]

The old butt packs are rare as hens teeth. One place I have ordered from ( no place close by) has ACU waist packs cheap as do most other places I would imagine. They had Belgian drop leg equipment bags that are of interest as well. I am talking about cost of less than $15.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

they are getting hard to find

[@ScottCarlson-cz7wj]

Thanks Blackie. I made a mostly chinese replica of your butt pack set-up, including the compass pouch and M-14 mag pouch. I think it's cool and enjoyable to use. I wasn't retired yet so, cost was no problem.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

wonderful

[@oldminer5387]

Neat setup Blackie, thank you for sharing.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelmichael8406]

And here I was, thinking "hey, $25 for a (Rothco repro) pack? Blackie's right, that IS cheap!"

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

it really is

[@apar1560]

Nice information ! Thanks Sir Blackie. 👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

My pleasure

[@MichaelR58]

Good video Blackie, thanks for sharing YAH bless !

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Much appreciated

[@bretjohnson6188]

I am wondering... since we are talking about tarps and not ponchos, is there a size difference between the two? The ponchos are about 7.5'x5.5'. The tarps are???

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

tarps are bigger 80 x 88 inch

[@mrdelaney4440]

I just picked up a US army ACU camo buttpack for 8 dollars, i live in the uk and delivery was an additional £30 😂 Great kit though.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

it good gear

[@trynsurviven2440]

I’ve noticed the price of some military surplus has risen quite significantly over the past few years. I never would have guessed a butt pack would be around $40.00.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

me either but time are a changing

[@trynsurviven2440]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS Yes they are.

[@RandoCalrisiann]

Leave no trace. I won't leave trash, otherwise it's a no, fire pit. Trench. Wind break from wood, it all stays so it's there for next time.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

lol me to

[@MrAvidOutdoorsman]

C👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@user-yc6fz7ut1f]

There was a ROTHCO branded buttpack on Amazon that wasn’t stupid expensive last year

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks

[@paul7754]

Everything mil-surp is becoming 'collectible'. Mainly it's the big mil-surp retailers and eBay resellers buying things up making them scarce and driving prices up. You'd be surprised how much GWOT era stuff has dried up and gone gold! I've heard the Rothco replica 'butt pack' is pretty good. I like the MOLLE 'waist packs' really well - very adaptable and still damn cheap in UCP.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

Blackie, unless you spend a lot of time on the various surplus sites/eBay you wouldn't have known about the current prices of g e n u i n e surplus, beyond Kaufmans. 3 yrs ago I was lucky to get an almost new Buttpack/Training pack in woodland for $45 incl shipping. I have a new, unissued "H" harness in my cart... $50 + shipping. I'm still trying to decide... Enjoyed your video as always. Stay well. I'm trying to...

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@garylyons844]

over the last 10 years surplus is almost gone over most of the country

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

it really has

[@jasonruth598]

Blacky, can't find how to buy your stuff??

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

send an email to [e-mail] thats where i sell from

[@StevenLaDrig-w1r]

Blackie , I have a tarp From the ladies and it's got snaps on it Does it want you got cut snaps

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i have had a few broken snaps but for the most part they have been ok

[@elrondsoukup29]

Lesson learned: if you find gear that you like, buy 3 😢

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i agree