Check out this Guide for 10 Essential Bushcraft items
A strong set of bushcraft equipment can be essential on a trip of any type or length. You’ll need to make sure all the kit you bring will be useful at some point as well, otherwise you’ll be carrying unnecessary equipment, adding extra space and weight that could be avoided. This guide is designed to ensure you will only be carrying useful and necessary items that you will be used regularly on your trip.
As an organisation that has worked with UK preppers guide and Jack Raven Bushcraft, we have gained an understanding as to some of the best pieces of equipment for a bushcraft trip.
Head-torch
One piece of equipment that will likely become very useful during your trip is a head torch. Being able to see in the dark is simply a must so you will need some form of light.
The, perhaps slightly obvious, advantage to having a head torch over just a standard torch is that you can use the torch with both of your hands free. This makes things like setting up your camp or starting a fire much easier as you’ll have two hands as well as the light to see what you’re doing.
Water Filter Bottle
Having access to clean water is another essential when out in the wild and the boiling process can be a very time-consuming exercise. A much more time efficient method is using a filter water bottle for your drinking water.
The Water-to-Go filter bottle has been proven to filter out well over 99.9% of all microbiological contaminants from any non-salt water source. This means you can safely drink from any river, lake or stream without risking illness. Additionally, this will save you time as you won’t have to take the time to boil water before it’s drinkable.
First-aid kit
A first-aid kit of some kind can be crucial in the outdoors. This is because if even the smallest cut were to become infected it can have drastic consequences. A good first aid kit will prevent this eventuality.
A great way to make the most of your first aid kit is to create your own personalised kit. By doing this you’ll be able to prepare for the specific challenges that you’ll be facing on your trip. Whilst creating your own is a great idea, there are some essential items you should include, these being plasters, antiseptic wipes/ cream, paracetamol, scissors as well as any prescription medicine you normally take.
Specialised Bushcraft Knife
A knife will most likely be one of your most used items during your trip. It will also be vital for getting the materials from starting a fire. For this reason, it’s important to get a knife that is able to do the jobs you need it to.
Bushcraft specific knives are widely available online, some good examples being ‘the wolverine’ and ‘the nomad’ knives. These should do a good job in terms of creating the shavings and feather sticks you need to start a fire, assuming you have had some experience using a knife for fire starting.
Fire-starting equipment: Ferro Rod
Once you’ve got the basic materials to start your fire, you’ll need something to create the initial spark. A great piece of kit for starting a fire is a ferrocerium (or Ferro) rod.
These are essentially rods in which you can swipe your knife across and it will create sparks. The rods are made up of a substance called Ferrocerium which is composed of an alloy of rare-earth metals called mischmetal (containing iron, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, magnesium and lanthanum). It’s, therefore, a great piece of equipment for starting your fires.
Rucksack or backpack for Bushcraft
A Rucksack is an essential item for carrying all the other equipment that you’ll be using along your journey. Additionally, having the right backpack is important for any bushcraft trip as you’ll need something that is relatively lightweight, durable and will fit all the kit you will be taking.
5.11 are a company that makes a range of ‘tactical’ backpacks that are designed specifically for the outdoors and are great for a bushcraft trip. They are well thought out rucksacks that effectively balance aspects like durability, storage space and weight to provide a brilliant piece of kit. 5.11 are a US-based company however, you can get your hands on their backpacks from The Bushcraft Store.
Navigation Equipment: Compass
Carrying a compass on you is a great form of navigation and a great way to find your bearings. Also due to the size of a compass, it will take up almost no space and very little weight when carrying it with you.
A compass also has advantages over other forms of navigation such as a map. Firstly, it’s much more convenient to use as you won’t be folding up and unfolding every time you need to give yourself an idea of where you are. Additionally, a compass is much more durable as you don’t have to worry about ripping or damaging it as much as you would with a map.
Suitable Clothing and Walking Boots
Taking appropriate clothing will be important as it will make your trip much easier and more comfortable. With the amount of walking you’ll be doing, the most important clothing piece will be your shoes.
Getting yourself some specialised walking boots will be greatly beneficial and something your feet will be thanking you for after a long day of trekking. You can pick up a range of walking boots from the Go Outdoors online store. They have a variety of boots, providing you with great value for money and excellent boots equipped for tough terrain.
Tarp Sheet
One big problem for bushcraft enthusiasts in this country is the UK’s weather. As I’m sure you’re aware, even during summer months there’s a very real chance you’ll encounter some rainy weather.
For this reason, you’ll need a tarp to keep you, your equipment and your fire nice and dry. Finding yourself a lightweight tarp will be helpful for your journey as you won’t need to add any unnecessary weight to the equipment you’re already carrying.
Sleeping Equipment
On your bushcraft journey, your sleep will be extremely important as you’ll need to be conserving all the energy you can during your rest periods. The two most common methods we’ve found for sleep is using either a sleeping bag or a hammock, both of which are effective means of getting your well-needed rest.
If you decide to go with a sleeping bag, make sure to prioritise comfort as you’ll be sleeping on the tough ground. You may also want to combine your sleeping bag with a sleeping mat to make sure you’re able to get a better nights sleep. If you go for the alternative of a hammock, make sure when you’re setting up to choose two sturdy trees or other objects to attach to. You certainly wouldn’t want your bed to collapse in the middle of the night!
