Getting Started With Bushcraft - Kit Considerations For Beginners

by PAUL KIRTLEY
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The basic tools needed to explore bushcraft skills will take you a long way. LOTS more detail below.
Photo: Paul Kirtley
Ihave a passion for wilderness skills and encouraging others to go into the woods, to experience nature
through the lens of bushcraft.
I do sometimes fear, though, people may be put off from experiencing nature in this way. If this is the
case, then I see it as a great shame as bushcraft is so beneficial and enriching.
It seems some are given the impression of bushcraft as an activity that necessitates heading out to the
woods with nothing but a knife, having to sleep out in an improvised shelter and forage for your dinner.
While these things are all possible with sufficient skills in different aspects of bushcraft, this
combination is daunting for someone who has limited or no experience of even camping out.
Second, I see a proliferation of particular types of clothing and equipment associated with bushcraft in
some circles. It seems this puts some people off too they want to learn the skills of finding resources
in nature carrying less by knowing more but the message being sent to them is that they must have

all manner of leather pouches, an array of expensive custom belt knives, not to mention an antler
handled neck knife and an antique tinder box.
The truth of the matter is you dont need much to equip yourself with whats required to explore the
world of bushcraft, to start making greater use of the natural resources all around you and having a
much more immersive, connected and direct relationship with the natural world. Nor do you need to be
uncomfortable as you move down this path.
What Id like to do here is explain the few things you do really need to begin your bushcraft journey as
well as include a little of the why.
I should premise what follows with stating Im assuming you have some outdoor clothing and
footwear. If you are out for the day, youll probably need a daypack to carry items such as waterproofs,
sandwiches and a drink and, again, you may already own something suitable. If you are out for an
overnight camp then youll need a bigger pack to accommodate extra items such as a sleeping bag and
a cooking pot. None of this kit is particularly specific to bushcraft and so I will not cover it in more
detail here. If you want to see more wildlife then Id recommend mute, natural colours for your
clothing and pack.
Ill also assume you have the navigational skill to get to and back from wherever you choose to go to
explore the woods and exercise some bushcraft skills. Clearly under many circumstances a compass,
map and the ability to use them would be prudent.
General Purpose Cutting Tools
The most important things to obtain in order to undertake many of the skills you might be interested in
are somecutting tools. You dont need to spend huge amounts of money, though, because there are very
good basic cutting tools available for relatively little money. You will need a knife suitable for the
carving and craft elements of bushcraft. A fixed-blade knife with a comfy, ergonomic handle and an
uncomplicated blade with a fine flat bevel is all you need. Size-wise, a blade length something in the
region of your palm width will serve you well. Most of what youll be doing is cutting and carving, not
hacking. The Morakniv 840 Companion has pretty much become the de facto standard entry-level knife
for bushcraft. It deserves its reputation as a robust, reliable knife, providing exceptional value for
money.

An uncluttered general-purpose blade, with a fine, flat bevel, ergonomic grip and blade length
approximately equal to your palm width will serve you well. Photo: Paul Kirtley
A knife will get you a long way but you should also acquire a folding saw. Saws are very efficient at
cutting across the grain of wood and this will help with many of the jobs which a knife is not
particularly well suited to. Saws are also generally safer to use than knives, making some tasks much
less risky than using a knife alone. The Bahco Laplander, effectively a pruning saw, is very well suited
to the small woodcraft jobs and firewood processing youll be doing. I like this model of saw as the
blade is hard to snap (unlike some similar models) and the blade locks both open and closed, meaning
the chances of cutting yourself unintentionally are reduced. The size of the jobs it will deal with is of a
similar scale to those your bushcraft knife will tackle comfortably. The two tools together form a
powerful combination for little weight and limited cost.

A Mora knife and a Laplander saw make for a versatile, capable and durable combination of tools for
relatively little cost. Photo: Paul Kirtley
If you use your knife for a time it will become blunt, so you need some sort of sharpening stone.
For sharpening back home, a combination oilstone or combination waterstone will serve you well. You
dont need anything expensive; just whats available at your local hardware or DIY store will work
fine.

A combination oilstone is inexpensive yet effective for sharpening at home. Photo: Paul Kirtley

While a lovely item to own, a handmade knife is not necessary, certainly not to begin with. Photo: Paul
Kirtley
When You Pick Up A Knife Also Grab These Two Things
Pocket Sharpening Stone
When you head for the woods, you should think about taking a pocket-sized sharpening stone. Bench
stones are too heavy to carry, unless you like carrying bricks around with you. While not strictly
necessary for single day out, as you can sharpen your knife on a bench stone when back home, it is
good practice to have the ability to sharpen your knife while you are out and about. If you blunt your
knife while out, then youll need a small whetstone. If you head out for an overnight stay or longer,
then a small pocket whetstone for the trail should definitely be in your kit. As the old saying goes, you
are only as sharp as your knife.

A well-used pocket whetstone and leather slipcase. Photo: Paul Kirtley

Cuts Kit: Pocket First Aid Kit
The other item you should grab when you pack your knife is a cuts kit. This is a small first aid kit with
everything you need for dealing with cuts you might suffer from your knife. While you should be
careful to employ all the rules of basic knife safety, accidents sometimes happen. In addition, handling
rough, abrasive natural materials, sharp plant fibres, thorns and the like, as well as the potential for
minor burns from campfires, all mean having a small first aid kit is prudent. I would recommend
putting together your own kit to contain the items you want in the appropriate proportions. These can
be purchased from a local pharmacy or online. Youll end up with a better-stocked kit containing higher
quality items than most off-the-shelf kits.

A pocket first aid kit, set up to deal with cuts, abrasions and minor burns. Photo: Paul Kirtley
Firecraft
Another element of outdoor skills that separates bushcraft people from many in the general outdoor
population is the deft use of fire. Fire is probably the most important bushcraft skill, certainly one of
the most important survival skills in many environments. As a species, our ability to ignite and harness
fire is unique yet, for many, lighting a fire in the woods is not always straightforward. It can indeed be
difficult depending on the temperature and humidity of the air as well as the amount of moisture in the
ground, not to mention if its raining.
So having a range of different fire lighting techniques at your disposal is very, very useful. Having a
range of various fire management skills is also very important. We can split fire lighting up into two
main stages really: the first is ignition and the second is taking a small flame up to an established fire.
There appear to be many individual methods of ignition but they all boil down to six categories, these
being sparks, friction, chemical, electrical, solar and compression.
The most universally reliable single method is sparks. Part of the reason for this is that the gadgets and
devices required to generate the sparks are pretty impervious to moisture or even being immersed in
water. Moreover these devices tend to last a long time because they are simple, with no moving parts to
break and the amount of material consumed in each strike of a spark is small. So youre always going

to be able to create the sparks you need. What you do with those sparks to create a fire is where
knowledge of natural tinders and kindling comes in. Yes, were talking bushcraft.

A firesteel, or ferro rod, will create large, very hot sparks with a life of thousands of strikes. Photo:
Paul Kirtley
The modern sparking devices known variously as a Swedish Firesteel, fireflash or ferro rod are the
most widely applicable gadgets for creating sparks. The sparks they produce are bright white (i.e. very
hot) and relatively large, thus the range of different materials that they ignite is the broadest of any of
the sparking devices. I would recommend investing in one of these and learning to generate good
sparks with it. Then see what you can ignite with your sparks. Do be careful in dry conditions,
however, as fires can quickly spread even from the smallest sparks. Remember to seek the correct
permissions needed to have a fire in your jurisdiction.
The more traditional flint and steel generates smaller and cooler sparks but is very reliable if you
prepare the necessary materials correctly and have good technique. The range of materials you can
ignite is more limited than the modern devices but its worth experimenting with flint and steel once
you get the hang of using a modern firesteel. This will extend your knowledge and understanding of
natural fire lighting materials.
Water Production
Whenever you are out and about, it is sensible to have a water bottle with you. A litre of water is a good
minimum amount to carry with you. Water is heavy, though, with a litre of water weighting one

kilogram. If you are out for more than a day, then you will have to procure some water while you are
out. If you take a metal container then you can also boil water if you need to, using fire. Boiling is a
very reliable method of making water safe to drink, as a rolling boil will kill all pathogenic organisms. I
tend to carry a metal mug even when planning to be out for only the day, just in case. If you carry a
water bottle and a metal mug with you then you can always produce and store drinking water free from
disease-causing organisms anywhere you find it in the wilds.

Carrying a metal mug means you always have a container for boiling. Photo: Paul Kirtley
When water is murky you need to pre-filter the water to remove suspended matter. A Millbank bag or
one of the newer Brown Filter Bags is a really good way of doing this. These bags provide a low-cost,
low-tech (read hard-to-break), reliable method of coarse filtration, something that is necessary in all but
crystal clear waters. To remove any turbidity from the water is important because suspended particles
in water can irritate your gut even if there are no pathogenic organisms present. This means prefiltering with a filter bag followed by boiling is an excellent methodology.

A Millbank filter bag in use, removing suspended matter from stream water before boiling. Photo: Paul
Kirtley
If you need to produce more water than you might in a metal mug, youll need to carry a billy can. You
are most likely to need a billy for water boiling and other cooking tasks if youre camping overnight.
This brings us neatly on to camping out.

Bringing water to a rolling boil will kill all pathogenic organisms it might contain. Photo: Paul Kirtley
Sleeping Out In The Woods
Now of course you can camp out how however you want. Sleeping out in a tent doesnt mean you are
not doing bushcraft. Indeed in some parts of the world, even in the bush, its the best option to sleep in
a tent. That said, one of the iconic methods of bushcraft camping is sleeping under a tarp. Whether you
are sleeping on the ground or sleeping in a hammock, a tarp is a good shelter, providing a good amount
of ground coverage for its weight in your pack.
Tarps are particularly well suited to sleeping in woodlands. They are easy to pitch, particularly with
knowledge of a few simple yet versatile knots and plenty of trees to tie off to. You can also make tent
pegs and other simple camp items you might need such as candle holders, using your knife and saw.
So, all you really need to have in your bag to create a decent shelter in the woods is a tarp with guy
lines attached. You dont even need to spend a lot of money. You can buy a small builders tarp or a
trailer tarp from a motoring store and add some nylon cord for the guy lines.

You dont need to spend a lot. This tarp cost 7. Photo: Paul Kirtley
If youre going to sleep out then youre likely going to need a sleeping bag, although some people like
to sleep out with just a woollen blanket. I would recommend most people who are starting out with tarp
camping should start with a sleeping bag, rated to a comfort temperature for the season you are
camping in. Down sleeping bags are lightweight and compress small, but are expensive. A summerweight synthetic bag is not too bulky and can be had for little money. If you are starting your bushcraft
camping journey in the warmer months of the year, then this latter option is what I would go for.
If you are sleeping on the ground youll need an insulating sleeping mat to minimise heat loss to the
ground as well as increase your physical comfort. Another thing that youll need is a bivvy bag. This is
basically a windproof and waterproof bag for your sleeping bag. This serves several purposes. The first,
as my description would suggest, is that it protects your sleeping bag from moisture both in terms of
rain but also just in terms of dew. A bivvy bag makes your sleeping bag more windproof as it allows air
warmed by your body to remain within the sleeping bag without being displaced by cold drafts. In
addition a bivvy bag traps an additional layer of warm air around your sleeping bag, thus increasing the
warmth of your sleeping system. Finally a bivvy bag protects your sleeping bag from dirt, which over
time would degrade its performance.

Tarp with sleeping mat, bivvy bag and sleeping bag laid over the top to air out in spring sunshine.
Photo: Paul Kirtley
You might aspire to sleeping out in improvised shelters but I would suggest initially you become
familiar with sleeping out for one or more nights under a tarp. You can then progress to building
improvised shelters but still using your bivvy, sleeping mat and sleeping bag. As your shelter skills
increase, being confident you can create weatherproof thatching, being able to construct comfortable,
insulating beds as well as having the fire management skills to keep a fire going all night, you can
progress to sleeping out using nothing but your skills.

A lightweight tarp, which takes up only a couple of litres of space in your pack creates a large covered
area. Photo: Paul Kirtley
Campfire Cookery
If you stay out in the woods overnight youll definitely want to do some campfire cookery, even if you
start off relatively simply. Above I mentioned the value of having a billycan for boiling water in camp.
Equally a billy pot is useful for camp cooking too. There are many one-pot meals that can be prepared.
You should make sure your billy has a folding handle or bail, from which you can suspend the pot over
the fire.

The Zebra billy can with folding handle. Over a campfire, they dont stay this shiny for long but they do
last for years. Photo: Paul Kirtley
This is something you should take particular note of as many camping pots for sale in mainstream
outdoor stores these days are designed to be used on gas burners or petrol camping stoves or similar.
They are not designed to be hung over a fire and therefore they have no means of suspension. The
billycan that has been adopted by many bushcrafters, making it almost standard issue is the stainless
billy by Zebrahead. This is a high quality, robust stainless steel pot, which is very much worth the
money. They come in a range of sizes, the most popular being 12cm, 14cm and 16 cm diameter pots.
12cm is good for individual use if you are looking for a compact pot although personally I find them a
little small for cooking. 14cm is good for one to two people both for boiling water and cooking a decent
meal.

Simple campcraft combined with good firecraft makes for a good bushcraft camp. Photo: Paul Kirtley
Youll need an eating utensil. Id suggest a spoon is the most universal. You can of course take a spoon
from home or an example of the ubiquitous spork to start off with. One of the first carving projects you
might like to consider undertaking in terms of learning woodcraft and carving techniques is carving
your own spoon. Learning how to make things from natural materials is part of bushcraft.
Carving a spoon is a really good self-contained project as its not a huge time commitment to complete
but it does teach you many different carving techniques in a small compact project. It also gives you a
nice, practical item at the end of the process. Moreover a hand-carved spoon is something you can take
with you on your journeys, adding to the happy memories attached to what is already a personal item.

Just because you only have one cooking pot, doesnt mean the meal has to be dull! Photo: Paul Kirtley
Additional Items
An additional item that will prove useful is a good hank of paracord. Strong cordage is hard to
manufacture quickly from plant fibres as and when you need it. So carrying some good quality, strong
nylon cordage is sensible. Useful for everything from a washing line in camp to repairing a rucksack
strap to lashing a shelter, paracord has many uses. Carrying string in your pocket is also good if you
want to learn knots and lashings as you can practise them as and when you want.

A hank of paracord in your pocket is always useful. Photo: Paul Kirtley

If you want to progress onto learning bow drill friction fire, then having some paracord is very useful
as it is more challenging still to practise friction fire with natural cordage made from plant fibres. I
would suggest you become completely familiar with the technique using nylon cordage first. In reality
if you ever need to employ this technique out of necessity then the most expedient way is to use strong
cordage that you carry with you. Traditionally this was a length of rawhide. The modern answer is
nylon cordage. As well as carrying paracord in your pocket, you have shoelaces as well as drawcords
on rucksacks and the like.

With the addition of a spoon knife to your bushcraft knife, you can carve lovely spoons. Photo: Paul
Kirtley
What are other things you might want to have with you? Weve talked about carving already. Your
basic bushcraft knife will enable you to undertake most of the carving and woodcraft skills. One task
you will struggle to complete with a straight-bladed knife is carving a bowl, even the shallow bowl of
an eating spoon, never mind a larger serving spoon or ladle. A curved knife designed for this purpose
makes easy work of the job. The smallest of these types of knife, generally known as spoon knives, is a
good investment. They come in right-handed and left-handed versions. At first get one for your
dominant handedness. This in combination with your bushcraft knife will enable you to carve all the
small the small to medium sized utensils you might ever want.
Dont Forget Illumination
In winter the days are short and most people would probably think to pack a head torch for a day hike.
In the long days of summer, however, packing a headlamp is maybe less obvious. In summer its worth
remembering the night-time interior of deciduous woodland is typically pitch black due to the density
of leaf cover above.
Even if you dont intend to be out in the woods beyond the end of the day, Id recommend you take a
head torch just in case youre out longer than anticipated. If you are benighted, then having a head
torch with you could make the difference between being forced to spend the night in the woods or
making a call for help and arriving safely back at your intended destination, albeit late.

Anything Else?
Its always possible to add items to kit lists. The difficulty is paring it down to the minimum

But is there ONE additional item or variation on the above items that you would recommend and add to
the above list? Let me and other readers know in the comments below
Related Articles On Paul Kirtleys Blog
How To Find A Place To Practice Bushcraft Skills In The UK
A Bushcraft Camping Outfit Equipment for Living in the Woods
How To Pack A Bushcraft Camping Outfit
shawn halloran
Hi Paul,
As the weather gets colder, I really appreciate all of these articles! I will be going out for a 2
night/3 day trip this weekend. I have my base camp built, an LLbean Pine Tent. But I will be
trying tarp camping in November. My problem has always been that I bring too much. So your
articles are very helpful. I am working hard to reduce. I use a Bio-lite stove, which is light
weight, and practical for me. I can cook all my meals on it without using a lot of fuel. I
particularly like your idea about the bivy bag for my sleeping bag, as that always gets dirty fast
and I have to have it cleaned often. I have my favorite kitchen knife with me always, but I
havent tried carving yet, so I will use your suggestions for a knife. A saw is also a good idea.
Thanks and keep writing!
Warm regards,
Shawn
paul russell
Hi Paul.
Great article and right on the money as usual.
One thing I would add to a basic set of items is a notebook or journal for sketching and
recording events, objects and findings in. It doesnt need to be anything Hi-Tec or all singing
and dancing hi speed tactical, Just a simple A5 sketch pad or note book with a standard HB
pencil, one with the eraser on the end if you want to be posh, and keep it all in a ziplock bag
for weather protection.
I have gone up market and invested in a hard cover A5 notebook and made a canvas slip for it
that is treated with wax to protect it from rain and moisture.
My scribbles and sketches are great works of art not and useful for future reference.
Keep the great content coming. We all really appreciate the time and effort you put in for us to
enjoy and learn from.
Kind regards PR.
Dave
Hi Paul,
Thanks for another great article.

As a newcomer to Bushcraft, I was lucky enough to stumble accross your website before I had
spent too much money on bushcraft kit ( but, unfortunately, not before buying a relatively
expensive knife!) So, the rest of my limited kit is just stuff I had from years of rambling, my
sons old Dof E stuff and a folding pruning saw I found in my shed.
As a beginner, there are two things I now never leave the house without; my pocket guide to
identifying British trees and a couple of coffee bags (like teabags, only with fresh coffee in
them,) both of which I would highly recommend to anyone.
Im pleased to say, that after some pretty tense negotiations with my wife, I have put the money
Ive saved not buying kit towards a Bushcraft Essentials Course in the new year.
Craig Taylor
Hi Dave, Are you attending the April Essentials course? If so, Ill see you there.
Dave Stephens
Hi Craig,
Yes I am. I look forward to meeting you.
Jules
Id add alcohol-based hand sanitiser to this, not just for cleaning your hands but also for
sterilising cuts, scrapes and insect bites. And I know its not really doing things properly but in
an emergency on a wet day a squirt on your tinder is a sure fire way of starting a fire.
Matt
Hi Paul
Keep banging the drum Paul, the message still needs to be put out there judging by the
numerous Bushcraft (cough cough) youtube videos and websites out there.
tienne Rodrigue
Mr. Kirtley,
Very interesting article. Back when I was first interested in bushcraft I was initially put off by
the expensive kit deemed necessary by most of the so-called experts on the Internet, namely
YouTube.
Then I found your blog three years ago. Been a happy camper since!
We all appreciate your great content. Thank you and keep it up!
Alan Mearns

Hi Paul, High quality and considered article as always. I was thinking as I read WRT muted
clothing and colours. These are great to blend in and see more wildlife. Equally though we
should consider if things do go wrong for whatever reason, the muted colours will make you
harder to find by any rescue team. As such, perhaps people may want to consider packing
something high- contrast coloured against the background to allow them to be located more
easily.
Tony
Yet another great article. One thing I have noticed is that your articles never mention bears.
Bears are a big deal where I practice bushcraft. 270kg grizzly bears in fact. So the one piece of
kit I recommend everyone in my area carry is a can of Bear Spray and know how to use it.
You did mention map and compass. The biggest reason people end up in survival situations is
that they have become lost. Lost proof yourself, learn to use a map and compass.
That aside, bushcraft is not intended to be a survival ordeal when going out into the wilds of
wherever we live. Bushcraft by definition is the skill of living in the wild. That doesnt mean we
need to deprive ourselves of modern tools and equipment. If you are comfortable heading out
with nothing but a pair of shorts and a hat, then do that. Most of us, however, require a few
more tools and gear.
Thanks Paul.
Simon young
Fantastic article. Thank You.
Kent
Hi Paul, another excellent piece. With the exception of the morakniv, this is my basic kit.
Unfortunately, I was seduced by one of the bg knives by Gerber, sturdy but slightly large
although this makes it excellent for battoning. I do usually use a tent, but thanks to you am
progressing to the tarp and bivvy very nicely. I use a Bushbox xl for cooking, for 2 reasons. 1, it
works very well and keeps the fire both contained and off the ground. And 2, I find it helps me
practice my fire skills and I have greatly improved since I started using it. Have you tried it
yourself?
Jake
I like to have a large bandana. You. An make the into a pouch, a sling, etc. I usually have an
orange one to address the visibility issue the gentleman above mentioned.
Mark McDermott
Great article as always. Im currently working on improving my knowledge of wild edibles, tree
ID and animal tracking. My own studies have benefitted no end from carrying a small camera.
Usually I just use my cell phone camera. This may not sound too bushcrafty, but I also keep a
bunch of field guides, track ID apps, bird song recordings e.t.c. on my phone, and frequently

use the phones microphone to record the calls of unfamiliar birds, frogs e.t.c. Id never suggest
people rely on a cell phone for navigation though: I never go out without a compass.
Buck
Excellent Paul. Its hard to top off your article as it is comprehensive a plenty. I used tin cans to
cook in when I was young and have survived to tell the tale, although nowadays, the cans are
mostly coated with plastics and vinyls, yuk. But a cheap container bought at a dollar store (or
thrift shoppe) will serve well to start. I do have a suggestion, and its not really bushcrafty, but
perhaps a sharp whistle in case of emergency? And it cannot be overstated that correct seasonal
clothing is essential as your first shelter. The trick is to use what equipment you got and use it
well. Enjoy the outdoors, its not a competition, its an experience. Work with nature, never
against it. Keep it simple. Keep it safe.
AP
huggins attic stright forward no nonscence advice they live breath bushcraft great place to visit
all kinds of everything for the avid bushcrafter give them a try you cant go wrong
Sean
Not very romantic, not talked about very often, and not strictly one item, but Id suggest taking
a toilet kit. One concern I always hear expressed by people planning on going bush for the
first time is how do they go to the loo, and yes, Im not talking about doing a bush wee, Im
talking about parking a log.
At the very least, Id advise them to take one of those pre-packed packets of tissues, but a
plastic bag with paper, a lighter and some alchohol hand sanitiser could mean the difference
between a great trip and one theyd rather forget.
Mari
What are the Brown Filter Bags and where can they be found?
Dylan
Hi I have to admit after 30 years of been out on the Welsh mountains Ive managed with what I
could unlike some of these modern suggested kit you hit the nail right on the head ! People
forget what its about and are more interested in the kit and not what its used for so thankyou
good to see some people have their hed screwed on right lol especially in todays frantic
buying
ATB Dylan harwich