Bushcraft for beginners?

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seanystrangle

Joined
Oct 1, 2009
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374
What would you all recommend to bring as a gear set for a beginner and what skills should I focus on learning before we go? Thank you in advance and sorry if I did this wrong.
 
Wildewinds said:
Go where? Backpacking trip? Hiking? Camping?
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We will be in the wind river range in wyoming there will be two of us for sure maybe four. We are trying to plan this trip to be 4 to 7 days long we would cover about 30 miles we want as little gear as possible I have been in the winds many times I'm taking us on a route I know very well. I just want to see what you would all recommend bringing gear wise and skills to practice on.
 
When you say you have been in the wilds many time, does that mean backpacking and backcountry camping? Bushcraft really doesn't have to be that different from camping. I look at bushcraft as trying to use nature a bit more than complete reliance on gear. In that regard, the question should be more along the lines of 'what gear can I omit' rather than 'what gear should I bring'.

A couple of suggestions to make your camping a little more bushcrafty. Cook using the fire rather than bringing a dedicated stove. Try making a potholder for helping to cook. Practice firecraft in a more traditional way when building your fire. Consider some fun projects like making a bushchair. See one of IAWoodsman's vids for instructions. Depending on your comfort level and amount of bugs, use a tarp for shelter rather than a tent. I think the rest might be best taking a lesson from backpacking, which focuses on minimizing weight carried but don't fall into the stupid carry and forgo essential items like a good first aid kit and good knife.
 
I would make some backyard/local park/carcamping "practice runs" before sttieng out on a 20 mile backpack.
Spend some time using/learning to use your new equipment before setting out on a multi-day trip.

Bushcraft has so many definitions.
MY definiton would be something like "developing maximun skill using minimal tools to enhance the woods/outdoor experience and using what you find in nature in a respectful/minimaly harmful/non-wasteful way"

As far as equipment: good knife that you can sharpen well and easily
small hatchet/axe
something to heat water in
cordage

Mors book "Bushcraft" is a really informative one.

Have fun and don't cut yourself.
 
SAS Survival Guide and Bushcraft are both good books I also like The Survival Handbook, it covers a lot and has great illustrations...

I would say practicing many ways to make a fire is always helpful... Plant identification is also important as is knowing your environment very well...
 
I'd bring a knife, a multi-tool, personal survival kit, first aid kit, a ferro rod, a compass, a map and then any other necessities (food, shelter, clothing). Like the other guys said, it's doing more with less.

I'd also have a list of stuff you would want to practice. Stuff like fire starting, trap making, orienteering, etc.
 
I recommend a good buck fixed blade for your cutting tool and
Any implement of making fire. A first aid kit, small survival kit and some
Paracord can get you a long ways. Like others said, learning how to use those
Things before going into the wild is very important.
 
I don't want to come off as mean or anything, but I am finding it hard to believe this thread as a serious one. You have 335 posts, joined in 2009, and still ask what to bring or practice as a beginner? Hmm... like I said I don't want to sound mean, it just doesn't make sense to me.

But, if you're serious, you need to be totally prepared as a beginner. You need a full pack. All ten essentials (water, food, fire start, flashlight, first aid, map&compass, KNIFE, rain gear, whistle, and sunscreen/insect repellent/proper clothing). You need to start out tent camping, and make sure your sleeping bag is rated for the weather you plan on camping in. You don't want anything too warm for hot weather, and you definitely don't want anything not warm enough for cold weather. A 20 miler is a serious trip for a beginner, so bring something like potable water tabs, or a filter to purify water.

Here's a list: (guys add too if I miss something)
internal frame pack (no less than 40 liters storage space)
backpacking tent 1-2 person
sleeping bag (weather appropriate)
10 essentials kit
water purification method
a tarp
paracord
proper clothing
proper foot wear
mess kit/cook ware
 
Ten essentials plus four is a good place to start off then as I and others have mentioned read, read, read and practice, practice, practice.

A few overnight hikes car camping or very close to the car are a good start. Take what you think will need and try to make it as thou the car was not there. Once you've been a few times and are more comfortable start on some smaller hikes within close proximity to others and your car. Idea is to gradually move up to the point you are prepared and have the skills for longer hikes...

One of the most important things is always being sure someone knows where you are and your trip plans, just my 2 cents :)
 
in the most basic terms possible you will Need:
something to carry stuff in
Something to sleep on
something to sleep in
something to sleep under
something to cook in
something to start fires with
something to tie things with
something to cut things with
something to see at night with
something to signal for help with
something to navigate with
A solid plan
and an informed loved one at home

the items mentioned can be simple and all can be purchased for under $200 total investment if you are willing to compromise, you can still get quality gear, but it won'y be fancy

As Far as skills go.. navigation, Fire, and getting your shelter up as quickly as possible sound like the #1's in your situation
 
Thank you everyone so much and sorry this is a new subject to me I am semi experienced in backpacking I thought bushcraft was much different. I apologize I am just stupid lol. I should have worried the question better as more focus on like what skills and what to bring to supplement my skills or lack of. Thank you all so much again. And I'm sorry for the trouble
 
I'll go against the conventional wisdom and say forget and not be concerned about hardware but rather seek the development of software first. In other words find a school and build up your knowledge and basic skill base first then you can begin to purchase gear to fulfill your mission.
 
seanystrangle said:
Thank you everyone so much and sorry this is a new subject to me I am semi experienced in backpacking I thought bushcraft was much different. I apologize I am just stupid lol. I should have worried the question better as more focus on like what skills and what to bring to supplement my skills or lack of. Thank you all so much again. And I'm sorry for the trouble
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No need to apologize. The people who have responded do so because they want to help out where they can.

There is no bright line transition from backpacking to bushcraft. Its all pretty grey and there is a lot of interchangeability between them. Really, its mostly about perspective. Often, in backpacking there is an emphasis on light weight and this is why the focus gets gear orientated because of people trying to save ounces. The bushcrafter's more often emphasize doing activities (creating things from natural materials) and use of more traditional gear and methods. As much as they often like to argue, sometimes in jest, sometimes in stubborn seriousness they actually meet in the middle grounds on a lot of things and you can only really parse them at the extremes of each spectrum.
 
kgd said:
No need to apologize. The people who have responded do so because they want to help out where they can.

There is no bright line transition from backpacking to bushcraft. Its all pretty grey and there is a lot of interchangeability between them. Really, its mostly about perspective. Often, in backpacking there is an emphasis on light weight and this is why the focus gets gear orientated because of people trying to save ounces. The bushcrafter's more often emphasize doing activities (creating things from natural materials) and use of more traditional gear and methods. As much as they often like to argue, sometimes in jest, sometimes in stubborn seriousness they actually meet in the middle grounds on a lot of things and you can only really parse them at the extremes of each spectrum.
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Thank you I guess for some reason thought they would be much different but now that I think about it they do seem similar thank you so much again
 
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