When living outdoors or journeying in wild country, being prepared is key – and part of that is having the right gear immediately on hand. One question I get asked quite a lot is, “Paul, what do you carry in your pockets?” So, in this article, I want to take you through what my standard pocket loadout consists of – whether I’m teaching bushcraft, camping in the forest, on a wilderness canoe trip, or snowshoeing with a toboggan. Yes, it’s a versatile system. This is my essential pocket gear for bushcraft and wilderness trips…

This isn’t about having a fully-fledged survival kit stuffed into every pocket, nor is it about lugging around so much gear that it affects your comfort and movement. Rather, it’s about striking a balance between practicality, preparedness, and convenience.

Below, I share the essentials that I carry on my person and why I carry them. These items help me tackle everyday tasks and make life outdoors smoother and safer.

Consistency is Key: Setting Up Your Pockets

First off, the basics; most trousers I wear have similar pocket arrangements. This allows me to be consistent with how I organise my gear, whether I’m in Fjällräven, Lundhags, or Norrona trousers, or even Carhartt cargo shorts. The setup is usually two waist (or hip) pockets and two thigh pockets. This layout allows me to always know where my items are, regardless of the type of pants I’m wearing. Consistency is key.

When I’m in wilderness areas, the goal is to have key items on me at all times. This is regardless of whether I’m also carrying a pack, wearing a jacket, or just in a base camp situation. My trousers or shorts are always equipped with my most essential items, because, well, I’m always wearing them.

Waist and Hip Pockets: Essential Tools Always at Hand

Since I’m right-handed, my belt knife and folding saw usually sit on my right side. They’re always accessible. But if I’m hiking with a backpack with a hip belt, I might need to adjust accordingly, stowing the knife and saw elsewhere.

In my right hip pocket, I always carry a pocket knife attached to a lanyard. These days my every day carry is a small Swiss Army knife with a non-locking blade, as it’s versatile and compliant with knife laws. But I do sometimes use other pocket knives, especially if I am not carrying a belt knife (such as on a backpacking trip above the treeline).

In my left hip pocket I have a lanyard holding multiple items. I’ve posted about this lanyard setup before. On this you’ll find some other key items: a ferro rod, a striker, a whistle, and a small microlight or flashlight. These all serve specific purposes—from fire-starting to signaling to illuminating—and being on a lanyard makes them easy to manage without losing anything.

Thigh Pockets: Utility and Safety

On my right thigh, I carry a small first aid kit—what some call an “ouch pouch.” This is for everyday minor injuries, like small cuts and grazes. Yes, I have a larger first aid kit in my pack. However, having some basic first aid items directly on me means I can deal with issues right away.

Alongside the first aid kit, I sometimes carry a small tinder pouch. This could be filled with birch bark or Swedish wax fire-lighting paper (tändpapper). While this can be in my pack or a jacket pocket too, it’s handy to keep it in my thigh pocket if I’m not wearing a jacket.

Also, in my right thigh pocket, I have a small sharpening stone. I know some people like to carry a sharpening stone on their knife sheath. However, I prefer to keep mine in this pocket, as it’s always accessible when needed, even when I’m not wearing a belt knife.

The Left Side: More Utility Items

In my left thigh pocket, I always carry paracord. It’s incredibly useful for a multitude of purposes around camp—tying, fixing, or creating things on the go. Having a length of paracord readily available is something I find invaluable. This is whether it’s for practical purposes or, in extreme cases, as part of a bow-drill setup.

In that same pocket, I also keep a lighter, usually in an Exotac Firesleeve, which keeps it protected from moisture and dirt. If I’m out in cold conditions, I might swap this out for a match case, since lighters struggle in extreme cold. I like to carry at least two fire-lighting methods on my person. It’s a layered approach to ensure I always can light a fire, no matter what. I’ll also have a third method, or a spare of the first two, in my pack.

Pocket Practicality First

The key to my pocket loadout is practicality. I want to be able to move, kneel, and work around camp without bulky gear in the way. I see plenty of folks weighed down with gear, jangling about, and struggling to keep their trousers up. The key is balance: carrying what you need, being ready, but not burdened by excess.

Another critical consideration is security – ensuring everything is where it should be, attached securely, and with pocket flaps fastened. Plus, it’s worth regularly checking all your gear is in place. Attention to detail keeps you ready, comfortable, and safe.

Final Thoughts on My Essential Pocket Gear

That’s it – that’s my basic pocket setup. It’s designed to be consistent, practical, and effective in different environments. Whether I’m deep in a wilderness, out on a day hike, or teaching a bushcraft course in the UK, the items in my pockets remain largely the same.

If you’re interested in seeing how I set up my gear and why I chose these particular items, I encourage you to watch the video embedded below. I hope you find this useful and gain some inspiration for your own setup, whether that means adding something new or simplifying what you already carry.

Watch the full video on my pocket essentials here:

Gear Featured In The Above Video

Light My Fire Ferro Rod https://amzn.to/3XvRxYh
550 paracord https://amzn.to/3TC8AXu
Mini carabiners https://amzn.to/3TEuKbp
Fox 40 Whistle https://amzn.to/4evCEfs
Proton Microlight https://amzn.to/3zsQ1xV
Hammarö Lighting Paper (Tändpapper) https://amzn.to/4eVagUf
Bic lighters https://amzn.to/3XCloOu
Exotac Firesleeve https://amzn.to/3XGU3eq
Loksak Bags https://amzn.to/3zzX08u
Farmer Swiss Army Knife https://amzn.to/3zpd8K0
Fallkniven DC4 pocket stone https://amzn.to/4ejzhIB
Bacho Laplander Folding Saw https://amzn.to/3zNyhxn
Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers https://amzn.to/3XKtSDr
PK1 Wilderness Knife https://www.ravenarmoury.co.uk/product/raven-armoury-pk1-bushcraft-knife/
Henes Leather Laplander Sheath https://www.instagram.com/p/B7QymvYg8NT/?img_index=1

Please Comment…

As always, I’d love to hear what you think – share your own pocket setups or thoughts in the comments below.

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