The Surplus Store

Wear Your American Pride Out Loud For July 4th

Wear Your American Pride for July 4th

Posted on June 29, 2016

Can't Wait for This Day In the United States, the 4th of July is the American holiday that we may cherish the most. It is OUR holiday, shared by no other nation outside of the US. As we joyfully celebrate the birth of America, we shouldn't be shy about how much American pride we show. Before the 4th of July, make a stop at the Surplus Store, where you'll discover the perfect accessories and products to get you more excited. What's in Store for You Located in the Venice, West LA area; our store specializes in providing affordable outdoor/emergency/camping supplies, school supplies, uniforms, clothes and many more goods for your daily use. America and the military are what we honor most, so if you're looking to go big for July 4th; take a...

A Father and Son Camping Trip: The Perfect Gift

Posted on June 8, 2016

An Incredible Bonding Experience For young men, the first camping experience outdoors should feel like the ultimate adventure and maybe even the first excursion into maturity. This first adventure is also often introduced and shared in the company of their fathers. A father and son camping trip has all the elements to make up a terrific bonding experience. Since we are in the midst of the summer season and Father's Day is around the corner, we feel like this would be an opportune time to discuss how to conduct the ultimate father and son camping trip. Where You Should Go Los Angeles County is home to many magnificent parks; great in providing campsites for kids, teens, and their fathers. So, it is first important to pick the campsite before anything else. If a...

The History of Dog Tags in the Military

Posted on May 14, 2016

Looking Back at Dog Tags As Memorial Day grows near, it's an opportune time to discuss the history of dog tags in relation to its honorable reminder of our loved ones who passed while serving our country. Military dog tags are a simple, yet crucial piece of identification mainly for identifying fallen or wounded soldiers while serving as a piece of remembrance for loved ones. The term "dog tags" is an informal one; coined by WWII soldiers due to its resemblance to animal registration tags. The history of dog tags is rich and worldwide, as it all started in the days of the Civil War. The Need for ID Tags During the Civil War, soldiers realized that some kind of ID was needed on their bodies when in combat. Some of them improvised...

Knife History – Survival Knives

Posted on April 14, 2016

The Ultimate Tool for the Outdoors The beaming heat of the sun is here to stay all spring long which means that it is the opportune time to venture outdoors in LA's natural playground. Southern California is lucky to be full of beautiful destinations for camping and hiking with also some exciting wilderness locales to explore. Every avid camper and explorer knows what supplies to gather for their next journey, but one thing that every individual must keep in handy is the survival knife. This type of knife is useful and efficient for countless outdoor tasks and every survival knife has greatly evolved throughout the years. Here's a quick look at the knife history of survival knives. Evolution of the Survival Knife The survival knife history began where it always has been used:...

Spring Hikes in Los Angeles

Posted on March 14, 2016

Spring Hikes in Los Angeles Take this time to enjoy all the spring hikes in Los Angeles. Whether you have the full week off or only a free weekend day to spend outdoors, it is important to escape the city and explore the outdoors. Doing so is scientifically proven to help you lose weight, reduce stress, and improve happiness. Regardless of the ample benefits, we’ve compiled a list of five of our favorite locations and trails for your spring hikes in Los Angeles. 1.Malibu Creek State Park Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains and accessible by Mulholland Highway, Malibu Creek State Park is one of the most fabulous recreation areas accessible to denizens of Los Angeles county. Containing a swimming hall, beautiful sprawling fields, groves of old oak trees, and even the site where...

Winter Excursions for Your Winter Gear

Posted on February 13, 2016

Put that Winter Gear to the Test Although now in the depths of our Southern California winter the sun might not be shining as much as you’d like, be thankful we don’t experience the blistering cold and snow like the rest of our country does. The inner-explorer in you is probably itching to explore some of the beautiful wilderness we have surrounding our region, whether you know it or not. This winter, take the time to seize the season and go camping or hiking in one or all of these temperate locales suitable for all-day camping and overnight camping. After all, when summer rolls around, it will be too hot to enjoy doing so! Just don’t forget to get your proper winter gear before you do. Joshua Tree National Park Located a couple...

The Winter Jackets and Coats that You Need

Posted on January 14, 2016

Jackets and Coats that Will Protect You With the impending El Nino and the peak of the winter season hitting us, the time is here to find the perfect winter jackets and coats to confront the unpredictable rainy and breezy season that we’re in the midst of. It is essential to have the right jacket that can fight off the cold as well as be fashionable at a low cost. Locate our service at the Surplus Store in Venice and find the right material for you. Here in this blog, we’ll break down five different types of winter jackets and coats that will keep you dry and warm. Heavy Jacket This thick, heavy-duty chore coat from Carhartt is specialized for workwear such as construction and other on-the-field duties. If you are looking for something that...

Discover the Perfect Christmas Gift

Posted on December 14, 2015

Christmas on a Shoestring It is now December. In parts of this country, the ground is white, the snow is falling, and the wind is whistling. But here in California, the sun still shines bright along with the cool, calm air. These are all signs that we are smack down in the middle of winter, which of course symbolizes that Christmas is near. Many people tend to scramble last minute to get their presents in time for the holiday, not entirely sure what kind of presents they should get and what kind of budget they want to spend. Are you on a shoestring budget this Christmas? If so, don't fret. Since we are one of the largest surplus stores in West Coast LA, our collection of camping supplies, accessories, jackets, outfits,...

Veterans Day In Los Angeles: A Guide

Posted on November 6, 2015

How You Can Help This Wednesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day in Los Angeles and across the country. It is a holiday dedicated to honoring all of our veterans who bravely served the United States by joining the armed forces. Throughout times of peace and times of war, these veterans did all they could to help protect and strengthen our nation. Regardless of your stance on domestic or foreign policy, our veterans deserve our admiration and gratitude. Although there are many reasons to honor and celebrate our veterans, unfortunately, they do not get all the recognition or assistance they deserve. Thankfully, there are many things that you, your friends, neighbors and family can do to help honor our veterans and express your gratitude for the dedication they have shown for our community and country. Here...