Wilderness Bushcraft Blog: Paul Kirtley

Nutritional Breakdown of the PLCE Side Pocket Menu

by Paul Kirtley

I thought it would be useful to have a further look at the macro nutritional balance of the PLCE side pocket menu outlined in a previous article and video. In particular I thought it worthwhile to lay out an analysis of the amounts of carbohydrate, fat and protein in this diet – both proportionate and absolute – as well as the amounts of dietary fibre and sodium it contains… Read more >>

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How To Pack Enough Food For A Week In A PLCE Side Pocket

by Paul Kirtley

In a previous video I packed up all of the kit that I take when I working on UK bushcraft courses or camping in that way. It’s my typical baseline northern temperate kit. It all fits easily into a Karrimor Sabre 45 with side pockets, with room to spare. At the end of the video […] Read more >>

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Integrating Bushcraft With Modern Outdoor Life: Bushcraft Show 2014 Presentation

by Paul Kirtley

For the second year in a row I was among the expert speakers on the main stage at the Bushcraft Show. I was honoured to share this platform with illustrious names and authorities such as Lofty Wiseman, Cody Lundin, Steve Backshall, David Scott-Donelan, Ray Goodwin, Johan Skullman, and Dr Sarita Robinson […] Read more >>

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What Gear To Pack For A Day Hike In The Woods

by Paul Kirtley

When we head out for multi-day hikes, we’re usually quite considered in our choice of equipment. As soon as a trip involves spending at least one night out, we’re usually found reaching for appropriate sleeping equipment, a cooking pot, a means of lighting a fire or a stove, a head-torch, and toilet paper amongst other […] Read more >>

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Snugpak Travelpak 3 Sleeping Bag Review

People seem to visibly cringe when they ask me about sleeping bags. The conversation goes something along the lines of “Paul, I’d like to buy a new sleeping bag, what do you recommend? What do you actually use yourself?” “Well, I have half a dozen sleeping bags” “What?!” “Well it depends on where I’m going, […] Read more >>

Bellroy Very Protective: An Adventure-Tough Wallet?

Little things can make a big difference. I certainly find this is the case when I’m travelling. I like to have a place for everything and everything in its place. The danger is, of course, that you end up adding bulk and weight to your kit by using organisational items. If you’re not careful, all […] Read more >>

A Framework For Preparing Yourself For A Survival Situation

You don’t need to look far for almost countless incident reports, news items and accounts of woe whereby ordinary folk have found themselves in difficulty in the great outdoors due to lack of basic skills and knowledge. So, how do we make sure we have the attitude, skills, knowledge and equipment to see us through […] Read more >>

Portable Sharpening Stones: Keeping Your Edge On The Trail

When we are at home, in a cabin or a fixed camp, we can use full-sized bench stones to sharpen our cutting tools. When we are on the move, however, we do not want to be carrying full-sized stones. They have a similar density to bricks. Even a full-sized combination stone, which would provide a […] Read more >>

Arctic Lean-To Revisited

Lean-to shelters have become one of the touchstones of bushcraft, particularly northern forest bushcraft. They are often held up as superb survival shelter – in combination with a long log fire – ideal for surviving cold conditions with limited or no sleeping equipment. This combination is indeed very effective in keeping you warm through the […] Read more >>

Choosing And Using A Snow Shovel For Winter Camping And Travel

If you ask people to draw up a list of the equipment they think important to take with them on a winter journey or on a winter camping trip, particularly in the northern forest, they might state an axe for felling dead standing wood for firewood. They might also state a saw for sawing up that firewood into manageable lengths but… Read more >>

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