Top 10 Military Surplus Sites Online

This is an updated guide on the best military surplus suppliers. We will continue to update as more military surplus sites, stores, and dealers emerge.

If you are looking for military surplus, whether it’s bags, vehicles, survival equipment, or even bug-out land- there are a few suppliers that consistently come through that you should check first. I’ve always been a fan of surplus stores because they give you the opportunity to get amazing deals on military equipment.

The US military budget is about 750 billion, and only a small percentage of that is spent on military personnel. The rest is spent on operational costs and one of the largest chunks is procurement. There is a massive amount of revolving military equipment making its way into the secondary market each year.

The surplus military equipment ends up being sold off, usually in large lots to contractors. Some of these contractors run websites to sell to the public, similar to eBay. You won’t find any firearms or heavy weapons, but you will find vehicles, communications equipment, generators, military clothing, and much, much more. These stores are the best for thrifty preppers and survivalists looking to maximize their dollar with proven MIL-SPEC equipment.

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Contents (Jump to a section)

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Is Army Surplus Cheaper?

Military surplus gear is usually cheaper than equivalent civilian gear, even if it wasn’t used. Governments approve the sale of huge quantities of this equipment to keep newer gear in the field (for the most part).

Some surplus equipment is better to pick up than others, but we’ll go over those towards the end. Let’s get to the top 10 list of the best places to find military surplus online.

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Physical vs. Online Surplus

Many people (myself included) prefer physical military surplus stores to online sites. The stacks of camo everywhere, the characters you’ll encounter, and the nostalgic smell might not be for everyone, but it’s endearing to me.

That said, online military surplus sites are much better for finding the gear you want. You can filter through thousands of items instantly rather than digging through piles of gear. Occasionally you’ll find a bargain at a physical store, but it’s rarer than we like to admit. Many times we leave without the gear we were actually looking for.

Military surplus store sites have somewhat gone the way of the dodo, with many going out of business or converting to online sales anyway. I still like to pop into the stores to browse but spend much more time online due to the convenience. The closest surplus store to me now is 20 miles away (and I’m lucky), but years ago you couldn’t go 10 miles in our southern state without hitting a store.

Physical stores are great for exploring and killing an afternoon- but finding your surplus gear online is more time-efficient and cost-effective.

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Sportsman’s Guide is an outdoor sporting goods store that happens to have some military surplus inventory. While the inventory isn’t huge, there are some notable finds like the C50 gas mask at an excellent price, trigger finger mittens, and footlockers.

I think it is a little overhyped and I’m not a fan of the membership discount program. Access to the cheaper member prices for everyone would be better, and even then there are less expensive options further up the list on the exact same gear.

Still, the less common gear they push through makes Sportsman’s Guide worth checking out

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The boys down in Nashville, NC have a ton of surplus gear at excellent prices. They specialize in the ‘standard issue’ deployment stuff, like e-tools, rucks, canteens, vests, mag pouches, etc.

I’ve yet to find a cheaper ruck that’s already broken in online, so grab an inexpensive bug out bag at K1-USA Military Surplus.

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Camolots is a great army surplus store to follow because they hunt down bulk surplus gear and sell it at a discount. It’s pretty much the military surplus version of Ollie’s or Costco. At the time of this update, they’re running a great deal on Canadian wool blankets from the 50’s.

Other popular gear is their dirt-cheap camo netting and the European web belts. They have a lot of vintage clothing, so if you are looking for historical pieces you’ll find some rarer finds that cost a bit more than current-era military surplus.

Check out Camolots online so you don’t have to drive up to Buffalo.

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USA.gov lists all of the different government auction sites and even suggests finding your local state auction site. You can buy land, homes, and plenty of stuff seized by the IRS and US Marshals.

GSA Auctions is my favorite though. You’ll need to sift through the many vehicles in their 700+ listings to find great deals on generators, safes, or more rare items like a 55-gallon drum full of spent brass casings. One downside is that you’ll need to filter to your location- they don’t ship.

You never know what you’ll find so it’s worthwhile to cruise through GSA Auctions every once in a while.

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Since 2015, USRO moved to mostly in-person sales throughout their stores around the country, but in the past few years, they’ve shifted once again to online. Many of their recognizable storefronts have closed, and inventory is now moved through a warehouse alone.

All of their equipment can now be found on eBay, and they still give their classic great service, with over 15,000 positive reviews and 100% positive feedback. It’s not going to give you the in-store experience, but maybe that’s not a bad thing for Uncle Sam’s Military Surplus.

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One of the cheapest on the list, you can find everything at rock-bottom prices because most of it is used. If you’re looking for a ruck that’s already broken in, check out this surplus dealer out of Meadville.

The improved combat shelters (ICS) are a good deal here too. Everything is labeled accurately with descriptions ranging from VGC (very good condition) to Damaged. Getting some ‘well-loved’ gear through here has saved me some serious money in the past.

Sift through the thousands of listings at Allegheny Surplus Outlet when you have time.

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Militar has over a staggering 5,000 items listed on their site- and that’s not including inventory multiples. Most of it is from Europe so there is some really interesting gear to browse through.

Want Belgian jigsaw camo? They got it. German Flecktarn? Of course. The Dutch bivy sack? Yep.

The shipping isn’t overkill, but the VAT tax makes this site more friendly to our friends in Europe. Still, if you want some of that military gear from when you were stationed in Europe or deployed with friendly forces, they’ll get it to you quickly.

Check out Militar if you haven’t yet.

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The huge collection of surplus gear combined with militaria collectibles makes Gear Rack a great choice for browsing. You never know what you’ll find from standard-issue US gear to rare international collectibles.

The German Bundeswehr Moleskin lineup is tough to find and they also have a huge stash of ‘bringbacks’ from Iraq. Both of those appeal more to collectors than for their practical survival purposes, but they are still interesting to check out.

Surf the 3,300 listings to find some surplus that’ll catch your eye at Gear Rack.

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Their prices are competitive and they have thousands of surplus listings of high-quality gear from around the world. These items seem to always be in stock and sell like hotcakes:

• M7 bayonets
• NATO jerry cans
• Czech shoulder bags
• French troop tents

The wider variety than most other stores makes it feel just a bit like an old-school surplus warehouse. I’m always impressed when I can find gear that’s unexpected but at a great price. Check out Coleman’s Military Surplus to explore their catalog of thousands of surplus items.

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This military supplier out of Texas has plenty of surplus deals with great prices. They rate the used gear, so you know what type of condition to expect when it arrives. I come back to this one for cold weather gear and to grab military gear to test in our reviews.

Besides their huge list of surplus, you can also roll the dice with their surplus gear mystery box which usually doesn’t disappoint. Visit Army Navy Outdoors Military Surplus to browse from a huge, clean, well-run outfit.

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Honorable Mention Surplus Sites

Our top 10 list is limited… to 10 spots. But there are more surplus sites and stores out there worth checking out if you have time. They may not have made the list because they don’t carry an extensive selection or may not have the most competitive prices. Still, we can’t check every single listing out there so you might be able to find some hidden deals with a little persistence:

• Varusteleka – The Finnish surplus dealer has a wide range of international supplies, but the shipping and VAT tax makes it a bit tough to browse here in the US. If you’re in Europe or the UK, it’s definitely worth checking out.
• Action Surplus Eugene – Their listings have slowed down over the years, and they had less than 100 up the last time we reviewed- knocking them out of our top 10. When they do have items in stock you can usually find a bargain.
• MRE Depot – Selling MRE components must get tough because listings have dropped here too. Finding those niche MRE packets was nice, but some of my favorite listings are no longer going up.

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The Best Military Surplus Gear

There is way too much ex-military and ex-government gear to list, so what exactly should you look for? Some of the best finds I’ve stumbled on include:

• Gas Masks (M50, MCU-2/P, Israeli, etc) – see our top reviewed gas masks.
• Rucksacks, Duffles, and other Bags
• Military Clothing
• Ammo Cases
• General Storage Cases (From CONEX to small Pelican Cases)
• MOLLE/ALICE Accessories
• Safes
• Generators
• Vehicles and Trailers
• Bug Out Land/ Houses – see how you can get free land too.

It’s not just basic issue stuff for sale: there are tons of great equipment from deployment packages and specialized units that get pieced out as well. All of these finds are excellent for filling out your basic kits:

• Home Survival Kits
• Bug Out Bags
• Get Home Bag
• Everyday Carry (EDC)

You can do a lot worse than grabbing some military surplus for dirt cheap on stuff you were going to need anyway.

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The Final Word

I may be a little biased, being in the military for several years, but I can’t turn down checking out some military surplus every once in a while. I know those who have served like to gripe that the equipment isn’t always the best, but the US military is the best so the equipment can’t be that far behind it.

After testing tons of equipment for this site, we tend to notice military equipment rising to the top in a few key categories: durability and functionality. Military equipment is meant to function in a harsh, unforgiving, disaster-like environment. For the most part, it can handle the punishment. This makes military gear an excellent choice for survivalists and preppers.

Here are a few other guides our subscribers have found helpful:

• Best Storage Shelving for Food Supplies and Prepper Gear
• 10 Survival Skills You Can Learn From Your Couch
• Home Survival Kit List | 53 Essentials

I hope you find some great gear on these sites. Even though they are not well-known, there can be some bidding competition on the hot items. Also, be sure to check your area for local military surplus stores. You can find great stuff and meet like-minded people there. You can also check out our Deals page, which we update frequently if you are looking to stretch your dollars to fill out your survival kit.

Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.

See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.

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