Traditional bushcraft gear

[Ranger]

Hey everybody! This is my first thread so I am going to jump right into it!

I am into traditional bushcraft as opposed to Gerber gear or buying a persons name essentially with gear. I like to make gear like I made fire kit from leather and pouh for magnifying glass, firesteel lanyard out of jute twine, and am looking for more to make myself and to buy!

The purpose of this thread is:
-a. Let me know what you prefer!
And
-b. Does anybody here sell it or make it themselves?

[Valantine]

I think many if not all on the forum prefer to make (from leather, canvas, metal or wood) or re-purpose ex army gear.
I certainly do both.
Recycle as much as possible ;)

[Ranger]

I think many if not all on the forum prefer to make (from leather, canvas, metal or wood) or re-purpose ex army gear.
I certainly do both.
Recycle as much as possible ;)
Yeah! I would love to see some pictures of gear too!

[OakAshandThorn]

I like to make my own kit if I have the means to do so myself, but in respect to the "traditional" aspect, I'm kind of in the middle. I like the look of canvas tarps, tents, rucksacks and so forth, but I cannot justify spending a fortune on something that is also heavier than a similar item made from more modern materials. Wool blankets are out of the question for me, the insulating value to weight ratio is just not as effective as modern synthetic or down sleeping bags.

As far as clothing, I like to combine the best of both worlds - wool blend socks, poly-cotton trousers, cotton-synthetic blend base layer, as well as one made from 100% merino wool, synthetic shirts for the summer (quicker drying than wool, without a doubt), fleece pullover midlayer, wool sweater midlayer, wool blend swacket (sweater jacket combo) midlayer, German army sympatex (equivalent to Goretex) flecktarn parka shell, Tilley T3 duck cotton bush hat for the warmer months, ushanka hat with rabbit fur lining (animal furs repel snow very well thanks to the natural lanolin oils, and I would argue they give a better insulating value to weight ratio than wool), goose down gloves, and synthetic insulated wool-lined gloves. I also have an Austrian army parka, which I believe is made from canvas or a poly cotton material, but I haven't used it in awhile mainly because it weighs twice as much as the German army parka.

I would say that if you are going to incorporate traditional gear into your kit, be mindful of the weight you'll be carrying, and try to get the best deal possible. Most of my clothing, for example, was bought on a closeout sale or is military surplus, so I didn't have to spend a fortune. I cringe when I see ads for Mackinaw virgin wool jacket and pants sets, directly targeted at the Bushcraft community, which can run up as high as $500 (I kid you not), especially when certain people online promote these products as the latest Bushcraft fashion hype. Be careful not to fall into that trap and spend wisely.

But as far as making my own "traditional" Bushcraft kit that isn't a great weight compromise, I'm slowly getting into leatherwork and made myself a fire kit pouch...
12812
Nothing super special, more of an experiment than anything else, but I am pleased with how it turned out :). I also recycled a Starbucks Christmas coffee bag made from cotton and linen into a tinder collection pouch - very light, and because it's a breathable fabric, wet tinders will dry out if I stuff the pouch in between my clothing layers.

I also tinker around with stone tool making, if that counts (though perhaps it would better fit the "primitive category"), as well as open-weave vine basket making (again, probably more into the "primitive" category), and some wood carving here and there, though my carving efforts are definitely outclassed by the gifted folks on this forum ;).

Just my half-pence worth :).

[Ranger]

I like to make my own kit if I have the means to do so myself, but in respect to the "traditional" aspect, I'm kind of in the middle. I like the look of canvas tarps, tents, rucksacks and so forth, but I cannot justify spending a fortune on something that is also heavier than a similar item made from more modern materials. Wool blankets are out of the question for me, the insulating value to weight ratio is just not as effective as modern synthetic or down sleeping bags.

As far as clothing, I like to combine the best of both worlds - wool blend socks, poly-cotton trousers, cotton-synthetic blend base layer, as well as one made from 100% merino wool, synthetic shirts for the summer (quicker drying than wool, without a doubt), fleece pullover midlayer, wool sweater midlayer, wool blend swacket (sweater jacket combo) midlayer, German army sympatex (equivalent to Goretex) flecktarn parka shell, Tilley T3 duck cotton bush hat for the warmer months, ushanka hat with rabbit fur lining (animal furs repel snow very well thanks to the natural lanolin oils, and I would argue they give a better insulating value to weight ratio than wool), goose down gloves, and synthetic insulated wool-lined gloves. I also have an Austrian army parka, which I believe is made from canvas or a poly cotton material, but I haven't used it in awhile mainly because it weighs twice as much as the German army parka.

I would say that if you are going to incorporate traditional gear into your kit, be mindful of the weight you'll be carrying, and try to get the best deal possible. Most of my clothing, for example, was bought on a closeout sale or is military surplus, so I didn't have to spend a fortune. I cringe when I see ads for Mackinaw virgin wool jacket and pants sets, directly targeted at the Bushcraft community, which can run up as high as $500 (I kid you not), especially when certain people online promote these products as the latest Bushcraft fashion hype. Be careful not to fall into that trap and spend wisely.

But as far as making my own "traditional" Bushcraft kit that isn't a great weight compromise, I'm slowly getting into leatherwork and made myself a fire kit pouch...
12812
Nothing super special, more of an experiment than anything else, but I am pleased with how it turned out :). I also recycled a Starbucks Christmas coffee bag made from cotton and linen into a tinder collection pouch - very light, and because it's a breathable fabric, wet tinders will dry out if I stuff the pouch in between my clothing layers.

I also tinker around with stone tool making, if that counts (though perhaps it would better fit the "primitive category"), as well as open-weave vine basket making (again, probably more into the "primitive" category), and some wood carving here and there, though my carving efforts are definitely outclassed by the gifted folks on this forum ;).

Just my half-pence worth :).
Hey thanks for the great info! I try not to spend too much money on stuff I can get cheaper, mostly because I don't have the money! But I like the bison bushcraft wool jacket! And I can make you a fire tinder pouch out of leather if you want!

[Ranger]

Also, primitive is great too! I love the concept of friction fire and using nature for building like vine basket making or using sweetgrass and bulrush like slaves used to

[OakAshandThorn]

Hey thanks for the great info! I try not to spend too much money on stuff I can get cheaper, mostly because I don't have the money! But I like the bison bushcraft wool jacket! And I can make you a fire tinder pouch out of leather if you want!
Thanks for the offer, but what I have suits me quite fine, and I'm starting to run out of room to put all my kit :p.

[Ranger]

Thanks for the offer, but what I have suits me quite fine, and I'm starting to run out of room to put all my kit [emoji14].
What do you run in your kit? You mentioned canvas gear being heavy as a lot of traditional great is but what about oilskin? I had my heart set on a tarp but am having second thoughts on it

[Valantine]

I never meant anything like canvas tarps etc, they are way too heavy. I was on about the smaller items like ammo pouches re-used for a fire kit or snaring kit.
But there is nothing wrong with using a canvas tarp or baker tent as long as you're not far from the car and able to do more than one trip to it. I have seen others under canvas and it looks very appealing plus sparks don't burn through it ;)

[Ranger]

I never meant anything like canvas tarps etc, they are way too heavy. I was on about the smaller items like ammo pouches re-used for a fire kit or snaring kit.
But there is nothing wrong with using a canvas tarp or baker tent as long as you're not far from the car and able to do more than one trip to it. I have seen others under canvas and it looks very appealing plus sparks don't burn through it ;)
Oh I heard rumors about them catching on fire or being flammable. I guess they are just rumors though... So any places to buy them cheaper than $165 on Tentsmiths?

[OakAshandThorn]

What do you run in your kit? You mentioned canvas gear being heavy as a lot of traditional great is but what about oilskin? I had my heart set on a tarp but am having second thoughts on it
Mostly modern synthetics, some recycled bits, like these gaiters I made from a Swiss Army Poncho:
12814

12813

Oilskin is essentially canvas, but treated with wax and (I think...) lanolin oil. Oilskin is very water repellant, but not something I would use over a fire because it is flammable (unless it was treated with a fire-retardant). Regular canvas won't have that problem. Sure, you can go for a tarp, and you can probably make one yourself from a painter drop cloth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SIyGE-V3Q8
You may have to treat it so that it won't soak up water and leak, depending on how tight the weave is, but you'll save easily $100.

[Ranger]

Mostly modern synthetics, some recycled bits, like these gaiters I made from a Swiss Army Poncho:
12814

12813

Oilskin is essentially canvas, but treated with wax and (I think...) lanolin oil. Oilskin is very water repellant, but not something I would use over a fire because it is flammable (unless it was treated with a fire-retardant). Regular canvas won't have that problem. Sure, you can go for a tarp, and you can probably make one yourself from a painter drop cloth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SIyGE-V3Q8
You may have to treat it so that it won't soak up water and leak, depending on how tight the weave is, but you'll save easily $100.
I checked out three video and it is a cool concept. Would it last as long as an oilskin tarp? I know that seems hardly a question but I want to buy something once and not worry about it. Does anybody else make canvas tarps?

[FishyFolk]

I am totally with OakAshandThorn. I am never going to drag a wool blanket into the forrest. I far prefer a modern sleeping bag. And for a top layer of my clothes it has to be the gore-tex jacket and bib. I do sometime if it is really cold go out with my traditional Norwegian windproof cotton anorak. But I seldom wear it. I am on an island in Northern Norway, so the climate is quite wet.
Else for clothes, I prefer wool as mid and under layer. But wool is heavy. And most of the time it's to warm for me to wear the middle layer while hikng or skiing in. So it has to be carried. In those cases if I can use my pulk, weight is no issue, and I bring my wool sweater, if I have to haul it on my back I bring a fleece sweater.

For fire I have a traditional flint and stone fire kit in a leather pouch on my belt, but I rely on char cloth instead of natural materials for tinder as anything you find outside is either frozen or soaking wet. I love using it and most of the time I do. The steel I bought at a loacal historical museum that keeps a permanent iron age exhibit. I I also keep a SHTF fire kit in the bag with all sorts of modern tricks to get a fire going, including a BIC lighter. Plus a modern fire steel in my knife sheath, an extra in the modern fire kit, one in the cook kit etc. Life is to short to mess around, and if I am wet, tired or just want a brew quicly, that is wat will be used. Any idiot can be uncomfortable...

Else my knife is a modern Enzo trapper that I built myself. At least the blade is in a traditional design so it does not scare people. My secondary knife is a traditional Leuku (but factory made). else it's all modern, or modern variations of modern gear, alternatively millitary kit. Much of my gear is second hand kit.

I do not make much myself. I am simply not good at it. I've made some spoons, and tried making some wood gas stoves out of tin cans....but they did not work, so I ordered one from Ali-express that did work :-)

I have a small molle backpack from ebay that I attached the molle belt to with a knife, canteen bottle and a magazine throw pouch that I use to collect stuff I fin in. But seldom use it. If I wear my millitary surplus gore-tex jacket, boonie hat and that contraption, I look like a millitary wannabe clown, so I tend to avoid it....

[TheDaddy187]

i personally repurpose anything... my wood burning stove was made from a large dog food can...

i prefer cheaper alternatives (or free when i can)

there is a few exclusions to this rule... pack must be good quality (my last failed badly) knife must be good quality steel...
axe (or in my case tomahawk)

for tent i prefer a decent quality cheaper tent... waterproof is better but not a requirement as my tarp is waterproof... as long as it holds up in strong winds and wont fall apart im happy...

my sleeping bag is a 1 season cheapo jobby off amazon teamed up with a lightweight fleece blanket that keeps me very warm (plus my dog is my portable self carrying hot water bottle)

oh and paracord... i prefer to replace guy lines with paracord

i would say in all i have spent maybe £350 on all my kit and i could live pretty much permanently outdoors using it...
this includes 2 tents...
many knives...
folding saw...
tomahawk...
sleeping mat...
sleeping bag...
tarp (5.4x3.6m)
solid fuel stove...
solar charger...

i got alot of good deals on the things i have...
i have only recently started to get into light weight camping... so i have switched out alot of my gear for lighter stuff...

anyone looking at my kit can see that much of it originally started off as something else...
im a sucker for a good deal...

but i tend not to buy into named brands that cost 3x more than the equivilent goods of similar quality...

i dont think i ever will buy a bear grylls or mr mears branded item unless i get a brilliant deal thats the same or cheaper than one of the same quality...

but saying that, i have a gerber paraframe mini that comes in BG survival kit... but i got mine seperately...

[Chubbs]

When I first started wild camping, my wallet was usually empty because I bought loads of new stuff. Now a couple of years later I now realise that most of it wasn't needed and certainly a lot wasn't ever used. I have a loft full of bits and bobs, mostly foreign imports, which is very poor quality and will more than likely stay there for the considerable future.

I've been to quite a few meets where I have taken everything including the kitchen sink, but most of it was unused. Now that I have 'grown up' I am trying to lighten my load by only taking what I need. Its all too easy to buy stuff on a Friday night after a few beers and I have been bitten by beer purchases many times.

I have always enjoyed making my own gear though. I think we all get more satisfaction from making something that costs virtually nothing instead of buying new. I've been wanting to buy a hammock topquilt for ages but just couldn't afford or justify the price. Last week I picked up an old Blacks down sleeping bag for the pricely sum of £3.00. It won't take me long to convert it and is much cheaper than an already made one.

[OakAshandThorn]

I checked out three video and it is a cool concept. Would it last as long as an oilskin tarp? I know that seems hardly a question but I want to buy something once and not worry about it. Does anybody else make canvas tarps?
I can't really say, I've never used one. :p
Hardware stores sell the drop cloths, all it takes is a little Sno-seal and you should be good to go.
Still, you can get a regular nylon PU coated tarp like the DD 3x3 or the Equinox Egret for less than $75 which are much lighter than canvas and more weatherproof. Canvas tarps will require reproofing over time.

[-Tim-]

Me I like the idea of traditional gear but it's modern synthetic stuff for me, more so when I am living out of a canoe for a week.
My wallet dictates I cannot have both so both it is.

Each to there own I guess. :)

Oh and hi

Cheers
Tim

[Ranger]

I am totally with OakAshandThorn. I am never going to drag a wool blanket into the forrest. I far prefer a modern sleeping bag. And for a top layer of my clothes it has to be the gore-tex jacket and bib. I do sometime if it is really cold go out with my traditional Norwegian windproof cotton anorak. But I seldom wear it. I am on an island in Northern Norway, so the climate is quite wet.
Else for clothes, I prefer wool as mid and under layer. But wool is heavy. And most of the time it's to warm for me to wear the middle layer while hikng or skiing in. So it has to be carried. In those cases if I can use my pulk, weight is no issue, and I bring my wool sweater, if I have to haul it on my back I bring a fleece sweater.

For fire I have a traditional flint and stone fire kit in a leather pouch on my belt, but I rely on char cloth instead of natural materials for tinder as anything you find outside is either frozen or soaking wet. I love using it and most of the time I do. The steel I bought at a loacal historical museum that keeps a permanent iron age exhibit. I I also keep a SHTF fire kit in the bag with all sorts of modern tricks to get a fire going, including a BIC lighter. Plus a modern fire steel in my knife sheath, an extra in the modern fire kit, one in the cook kit etc. Life is to short to mess around, and if I am wet, tired or just want a brew quicly, that is wat will be used. Any idiot can be uncomfortable...

Else my knife is a modern Enzo trapper that I built myself. At least the blade is in a traditional design so it does not scare people. My secondary knife is a traditional Leuku (but factory made). else it's all modern, or modern variations of modern gear, alternatively millitary kit. Much of my gear is second hand kit.

I do not make much myself. I am simply not good at it. I've made some spoons, and tried making some wood gas stoves out of tin cans....but they did not work, so I ordered one from Ali-express that did work :-)

I have a small molle backpack from ebay that I attached the molle belt to with a knife, canteen bottle and a magazine throw pouch that I use to collect stuff I fin in. But seldom use it. If I wear my millitary surplus gore-tex jacket, boonie hat and that contraption, I look like a millitary wannabe clown, so I tend to avoid it....

Well I would love to see a pic of your gear! I was considering the option of making an enzo knife or having one made for me rather, but I have a guy that will make me my custom neck knife for $100 with sheath. My thing with sleeping bags is that I haven't found a heavy duty modern one and wool blankets are multi purpose and, well, I have one :p

[FishyFolk]

Well I would love to see a pic of your gear! I was considering the option of making an enzo knife or having one made for me rather, but I have a guy that will make me my custom neck knife for $100 with sheath. My thing with sleeping bags is that I haven't found a heavy duty modern one and wool blankets are multi purpose and, well, I have one :p

I've uploaded many to this forum, but it's hard to find them again.

But I also have a youtube channel so here are some vids that will show some of my gear.
This one shows my anorak, Optimus 111 stove, snow shoes , trousers etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFEmdxQLYz8

In this one you'll see that liitle molle daypack that I modified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7U2yTVKlk

Here my wood gas stove is in action, and it's wet so I wear my UK army goretex.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7U2yTVKlk

Here my go-out bag is, from when I just had gotten the solo cook kit. Today the cook kit has more or less been replaced by the wood gas stove and GSI stainless teel kettle you saw in the last video. (But I still have it :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwPiV70uWs

In this vid I tested my pulk, hammock, tarp, under quilt etc...and I wear a soft-shell jacket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCNSmQkSQc0

Many more on my channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9FgRZL78CerC9y9ql6HAug

[FishyFolk]

Well I would love to see a pic of your gear! I was considering the option of making an enzo knife or having one made for me rather, but I have a guy that will make me my custom neck knife for $100 with sheath. My thing with sleeping bags is that I haven't found a heavy duty modern one and wool blankets are multi purpose and, well, I have one :p

I've uploaded many to this forum, but it's hard to find them again.

But I also have a youtube channel so here are some vids that will show some of my gear.
This one shows my anorak, Optimus 111 stove, snow shoes , trousers etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFEmdxQLYz8

In this one you'll see that liitle molle daypack that I modified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7U2yTVKlk

Here my wood gas stove is in action, and it's wet so I wear my UK army goretex.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7U2yTVKlk

Here my go-out bag is, from when I just had gotten the solo cook kit. Today the cook kit has more or less been replaced by the wood gas stove and GSI stainless teel kettle you saw in the last video. (But I still have it :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwPiV70uWs

In this vid I tested my pulk, hammock, tarp, under quilt etc...and I wear a soft-shell jacket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCNSmQkSQc0

Many more on my channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9FgRZL78CerC9y9ql6HAug

I haul it all in this one:

http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?655-What-Have-You-Bought-Now!!!&p=98952&viewfull=1#post98952

[Ranger]

I've uploaded many to this forum, but it's hard to find them again.

But I also have a youtube channel so here are some vids that will show some of my gear.
This one shows my anorak, Optimus 111 stove, snow shoes , trousers etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFEmdxQLYz8

In this one you'll see that liitle molle daypack that I modified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7U2yTVKlk

Here my wood gas stove is in action, and it's wet so I wear my UK army goretex.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj7U2yTVKlk

Here my go-out bag is, from when I just had gotten the solo cook kit. Today the cook kit has more or less been replaced by the wood gas stove and GSI stainless teel kettle you saw in the last video. (But I still have it :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwPiV70uWs

In this vid I tested my pulk, hammock, tarp, under quilt etc...and I wear a soft-shell jacket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCNSmQkSQc0

Many more on my channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9FgRZL78CerC9y9ql6HAug

I haul it all in this one:

http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?655-What-Have-You-Bought-Now!!!&p=98952&viewfull=1#post98952
Great videos! I recognized the wassailing song in the first one, as I sang for a victorian Christmas event one time [emoji14] . I need to really start using the oil fire stick 'method'. I'm sure I could find some pine pitch somewhere...

[ian c]

I try and make some stuff but find some of the things I would like to make difficult as I do not have electricity to make them in my garage so have to use hand tools, I do use of a lot of kit that I had left over from when in the army (hell of a lot) and know how to repair it in the field, I make my own snares and sell them mainly to gamekeepers also make purse nets for ferreting and a few bits and pieces for fishing, I have a fishing rod that I have repaired more times than I can remember, I would say that most of my kit is made of modern materials.

[TarHeelBrit]

Not much to add really except I prefer primative fire making methods, Flint and Steel and Bow Drill. BUT there's always a but:) , I stink at bowdrill I need lots more practise. Like you I shy away from the named gear as it's usually way over priced tat.