British Army Surplus Basha – Refuge Grade 1

Looks the job, appears to be built to last, I have paracord on the corners and for ridge line so ready always to pitch.

Quality equipment

It would be my recommendation that you buy a different one. Delivery too slow, quality too poor and any conversation with the company too sharp. Frayed edges poorly finished.waste of money. Still need to buy a 1/2 decent one

this basha wasn't deliverd so I woudnt know if it was any good

I didn't buy mine from these suppliers so cannot comment on delivery or after service from them. It came from the official distributor of surplus MOD gear (search British Military Surplus) a couple of years ago. was £15 (+p&p) and was delivered promptly in a couple of days. It was listed as a Grade 1 issued item and I could find no fault with it as it arrived in mint condition hence my 5 stars. They are also available in the **same sized 90s DPM version and the current MTP version in unissued new condition (more expensive).Whilst the weight is correct at 1kg (2lbs), *which is heavier than most similar sized and larger civilian tarps, the size listed above is wrong as they are a more generous **256cm x 222cm (8.5ft x 7.4ft) which is ample to keep your head and feet dry and give lower protection at the sides for a hammock set up or can be made into a two man squeeze enclosed tent set up on a ground pitch for foul weather (see YouTube videos), but a bivvy bag is advisable when used as a tent, as being non breathable, interior condensation builds up. It has a centre suspension point, with reinforced webbing tape loops and brass grommets for guying or pegging around the edges and corners, has two loops on the centre seam inside for hanging a mosquito net or light and has webbing carrying handles sewn on the centre seam and edges for use as a battlefield stretcher. These also come in handy as a wood carrying device in a group camping situation.I got some flexible acrylic aerosol paints and made a woodland camo pattern effect on the outside for spring to autumn and can reverse it for winter conditions when the leaves have fallen covering the ground where foliage has also browned out. Two years on and after several camps, treks and cycling tours later in all weathers, it's still in great nick, fully waterproof and should last many more years as it has a *thick waterproofed/siliconised centre seam, is made of tougher quality materials than civilian versions and copies, and will be with me on Offa's Dyke in the spring and Wainwrigth's Coast to Coast walk this summer.