By Pat Tarantino

In the midst of a faulty economy, cash-strapped college students need all the breaks they can get. Enter the Army Barracks, an army surplus store stockpiled with enough low-cost essentials and impulse buys that you’ll gladly sign on for a second tour.

Located at 173 Massachusetts Ave., the Army Barracks stands as a no frills alternative to Newbury Street shops. The shop offers a more hands-on shopping experience, where taking the time to sift through the racks can turn up some great deals.

The tightly-packed aisles offer countless costume options, including military and police uniforms, flight suits, astronaut helmets and cowboy gear, as well as an assortment of odd knick-knacks guaranteed to make your get-up a conversation starter.

Although the racks of medieval-looking weapons and realistic B.B. guns flanking the entrance might intimidate some shoppers, friendly employees keep the atmosphere light. Ranging from rail thin hipsters to decidedly grizzled yet informative veteran types, the helpful staff will guide customers through the aisles and run to the basement or order specific items online.

For more practical-minded shoppers, the Army Barracks offers a wide variety of cheap solutions for winter, both physical and financial. Thermal undershirts and pants ($3.99 – $5.99) are great investments, while fleece-lined hats, piles of gloves and scarves and other cold weather essentials mean you can bike all winter or default on your heating bill with equal amounts of confidence.

The Barracks specializes in outdoor wear and offers rows of low-priced jackets and parkas ranging from $7.99 to $59.99 that are built to last through considerably more strenuous activities than a trip to the library and offer just enough frays and holes to keep the vintage set happy.

While much of the store’s inventory is military themed, shoppers who would rather not blend in with Boston foliage can choose from a wide variety of work clothes made by Dickies and Carhartt. For a winter-ready spin on the ubiquitous hoodie, check out the selection of thermal-lined sweatshirts ($25), while no-nonsense button-down shirts and khaki work pants can help budding interns save a few bucks and a trip to the Gap.

For shoppers looking to get out of the city and do some fall hiking, the Army Barracks offers a surprisingly expansive selection of outdoor gear including tents and hammocks, as well as camping ovens, Nalgenes, flashlights and sleeping bags at prices that would be unheard of in dedicated camping stores. Of particular interest to dorm dwellers are sleeping pads ($8) capable of making even the most unpleasant sleeping arrangements a bit more tolerable.

The Army Barracks offers a rotating selection of goods that rewards returning customers. Although the low prices and solid selection are enough to make the store stand out from the crowd, it’s really the odd impulse buys the store encourages that make for a different experience.

There are few other places in Boston where a buyer can contemplate purchasing a samurai sword while picking up a pair of socks.