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…
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 […]
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
In cold environments, a very good set of mittens is essential. A truly good set of mittens is hard to find, though. There’s a lot of tat on the market. Plus mittens that are ideal for one type of environment or activity are not necessarily ideal for another. For a long time I was…