These items are the first for a couple of critical reasons: comfort and safety. Taking care of yourself can dramatically improve your comfort when in the field and thus make the hobby more enjoyable. As such, it is advised to get the below items as they are generally easy to obtain and affordable.

1. Clothing
   1. Drawers
   2. Shirt (preferably a white osnaburg government issue shirt)
   3. Socks (2 pairs, wool recommended)
   4. Sleeping cap (wool recommended for cold weather)
   5. Brimmed hat (recommended for sun protection)
2. Equipment
   1. Waist Belt (roller buckle, frame, snake, or billet recommended over “CS” plates)
   2. Haversack (white cotton or osnaburg)
   3. Canteen (tin drum recommended over smoothside or ribbed)
   4. Ground cloth/rubberized blanket
3. Personal Items
   1. Cup (can double as a bowl for soups and stews)
   2. Spoon
   3. Pocket knife
   4. Plate (consider flatness and ask yourself if the plate can hold soups and stews)
4. IF POSSIBLE
   1. Pants (butternut, logwood, or royal blue in color — jeanwools or wool in materials)
   2. Suspenders/braces
   3. Poke sacks/ditty bags

Once you have your bare minimum needs for comfort and safety covered, it is time to acquire items necessary to build a solid standalone impression without the need to borrow much aside from the largest of purchases (i.e. musket). Expect to spend more, but if you’ve listened and learned along the way while completing Tier I, it should save you money!

1. Clothing
   1. Shoes
   2. Spare/second shirt (wool recommended for cold weather layering/sleeping)
   3. Suspenders
   4. Richmond Depot (Type II) jacket (butternut or logwood jeanwools = versatile)
   5. Richmond Depot pants
2. Equipment
   1. Blanket (highly advise getting 3.5lb – 5lb 100% wool blanket for cold weather)
   2. String, rope, or leather straps to secure blanket roll
   3. Blanket pin to secure wool or rubber blanket as shawl or poncho
   4. Cartridge box
   5. Cap pouch
   6. Bayonet scabbard (sewn, not riveted)
3. Personal Items
   1. Fork
   2. Poke sacks/ditty bags
   3. Sewing kit
4. IF POSSIBLE
   1. Musket
   2. Bayonet

After building a standalone impression, making the final touches to it furthers your ability to flex it to different events and portrayals. The biggest accomplishment should be in finally getting your own musket and bayonet if you haven’t obtained one already.

1. Clothing
   1. Spare socks
2. Equipment
   1. Musket (recommend P1853 Enfield — must be full 3-band length)
   2. Bayonet
   3. Soft knapsack (i.e. Kibler, single-bag)
3. Personal Items (optional, personal preference)
   1. Toothbrush
   2. Comb
   3. Mirror
   4. Writing kit
   5. Diary/stationery
   6. Shaving kit
4. IF POSSIBLE
   1. Musket tool
   2. Vent pick

Fully experiencing the hobby throughout the year and having options from one event to another truly enhances one’s enjoyment of it. Once a standalone impression in full marching order is assembled, getting the comforting or fun extras is up to you!

1. Clothing
   1. Additional jacket(s) (i.e. English Army Cloth RDII, commutation, NC Depot, Tait, etc.)
   2. Overcoat
   3. Kepi or forage cap
2. Equipment
   1. Musket tool
   2. Vent pick
   3. Second haversack (i.e. CS painted cloth)
3. Personal Items (optional, personal preference)
   1. Button board (for polishing)
   2. Rottenstone (for polishing)
   3. Small glass bottle (for pills — ibuprofen or loratadine can be helpful at events)
   4. Small spice tin
   5. Small bowl/pan
   6. Personal fry pan
   7. Personal boiler/coffee pot
   8. Tobacciana (pipe and tobacco pouch, cigar case, etc.)
   9. Match safe/vesta (regardless of whether you smoke, matches are very useful)
   10. Candle(s)
4. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
   1. Weapon defarbing