getting started on a budget?

shootist16

shootist16

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I'm not new to knives, but I am bushcraft. If you were making equipment recommendations to a newb, what would it be? Keep in mind someone that has zero equipment probably wont be able to afford all the "best" equipment. What are the good values out there?
 
Goodwill, garage sales, flea markets, auctions. look for things that can be adapted to camping. You'll be amazed what people get rid of for pennies on the dollar.
 
what is it that you need?? a lot of gear and knives can be had right here on BF...
 
A Mora. A Ritter PSk is a good way to start--a good amount of stuff for around $30, then you can see what works for you and build your own. Get a coffee can, attach something to hang it, and you have a billy can that is cheap, recycled, and can hold a fire kit inside! I made one last week, easy as heck. A tarp and some twine go a long ways too. Just a start...
 
Start with clothing appropriate to the outdoors tasks you will be engaged in. From clothes, work your way to boots. After boots, get yourself a backpack and cookware. From there consider shelter option (tarp, tent, hammock etc). I presume you already have a knife :)

Okay, among any of the above topic areas there are many different ways to economize. Army surplus can get you much of what you need in the clothing department. An army poncho can serve as raingear and emergency shelter. A simple U.S. army mess kit is a great kit item that is metal and can be used for cooking as well as eating.

The one thing about getting army surplus is it is often a great value for the money. Even if you later end up upgrading, it is often nice to have some of that spare gear to lend out to a buddy or girlfriend or what have you. Good luck collecting stuff, and you really don't need to go all high tech to have fun out in the wilderness.
 
You've come to the wrong place. The folks here like to camp under a tarp or garbage bag, cook their food in a Billy can (old steel coffee can), and light fires with flint and steel that they've scrounged up. :p

As for gear, you can get some good quality stuff from CountyComm. paracord, sporks, peanut lighters, compass, bags, emergency/space blankets, whistles and other goodies at fair prices and good service.

Of course Mora knives are stellar values.

Your local Army/Navy Surplus can have some good deals as well if you don't mind older equipment in some cases.
 
Rupestris said:
You've come to the wrong place. The folks here like to camp under a tarp or garbage bag, cook their food in a Billy can (old steel coffee can), and light fires with flint and steel that they've scrounged up. :p
Click to expand...

Ha! Too true.

The great thing about getting into 'bushcraft' is that the whole point is to do more with less. There are just a few 'basics' that I'd recommend, and after that it's all gravy. Let's make a general late spring through early fall kit...

-GI canteen/cup/stove/pouch ($15)
-GI poncho/poncho liner ($40)
-Billy can (old coffee can and coat hanger, free or a couple of bucks)
-Bic, magnesium bar, matches ($8)
-Used milsurp pack ($10)
-Paracord ($5)
-Jute twine( $2)
-Flashlight (I know you already have at least one)
-Bandanna( $1)
-Blade (Mora or old hickory, used kitchen knives. Go to yard sales, etc.)
-Sleeping pad ($5)
-Tupperware (plate, bowl, food storage, already have this)

So that's some really rugged, life-time gear that won't cost much at all. You'll probably already have a lot of it. Total from about is about $85

Here's some places to look for gear:
www.campingsurvival.com
www.sportsmansguide.com
www.cheaperthandirt.com

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603761&highlight=cheap
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582620&highlight=cheap
 
for day outings, you really need little more than water and a knife for practicing bushcraft skills. a ball of twine is good too.

for overnighters in the summer you don't need that much gear either. alot of people like wool blankets, but i have been experimenting with fleece blankets and i have been happy. fleece is lighter too. if its wet outside an 8x10 or 10x10 or 10x12 basic blue tarp will do wonders for keeping you dry, and these are cheap and not too heavy really. lighter than a 1 man tent, and much roomier to boot.

the coffee can billy is a favorite of mine, i nest a 1 liter nalgene in the one i keep in my pack and have water and a cooking pot in one nice little package.

enjoy yourself!
 
Can't go wrong with any of the above suggestions :thumbup:

Doesn't it just feel great to get a "newbie" on his way to the eventual madness of W&SS :D
 
KuRUpTD said:
Can't go wrong with any of the above suggestions :thumbup:

Doesn't it just feel great to get a "newbie" on his way to the eventual madness of W&SS :D
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Amen to that. I fell in love with this place the first time I visited. Learning from these guys is the best, and the pictures are always great.
 
Looks like everybody's got you covered.Here are a few more items off the top of my head
1. space blanket
2. Lrg Orange trash bag
3. coffe filters
4. Whistle
5. ace bandage/bandaids/neosporian/gauze
 
Honestly, you don't NEED anything if you have knowledge. Many things will make life a LOT easier when you are starting out.

I would recommend a good book to start with. There are many threads addressing good books. See where they send you.

One guy who has a great list of CHEAP stuff is Cody Lundin's 98.6 degrees. If you set up a BOB or PSK like his - you would have 95% of all situations covered - and I cannot imagine his entire kit cost 100 bucks.

TF
 
Rupestris said:
You've come to the wrong place. The folks here like to camp under a tarp or garbage bag, cook their food in a Billy can (old steel coffee can), and light fires with flint and steel that they've scrounged up. :p
Click to expand...

Rup, that is very funny and should be adopted as the forum motto :)

Thanks for the laugh.
 
Knowledge is priceless. If your community has a library, see if it has any survival or bushcraft manuals you can take out, free of charge.

Also, you can download the US army survival manual here (I know, not really bushcraft): http://www.equipped.com/fm21-76.htm

Other manuals and such are also available in PDF form online. Use Google and get creative to find them.

Matt
 
go to a paint shop ( Sherwin williams ) ask for a new 1gallon paint pail w/lid, OK there is a container to store your items in,plus doubles as a cook pot with a handle
 
A "Newb" will probably need to compensate for the lack of knowledge with at least some reliable gear.

I would start by breaking it down to the essentials

A lot depends on when and where you are going to when you bust out all "Bushcraft" and such.

Appropriate Clothes
Decent knife/blade
Reliable firemaking with backup device/method
Shelter
Water storage and purification method
Food carrying or method of acquiring
Means of carrying your "stuff"

Can you give some detail of Location and time of year?

For instance, if you are headed out in Florida in October, you may want a machete and a tarp, the same time in Maine and you better take an axe and some seriously warm clothes. Head into the desert and you will need Gallons of water.

Give us some detail and I am sure we can help
 
texastonydobbs said:
go to a paint shop ( Sherwin williams ) ask for a new 1gallon paint pail w/lid, OK there is a container to store your items in,plus doubles as a cook pot with a handle
Click to expand...

Be sure to ask for an unlined can. Many of the newer cans are lined with plastic or Teflon. Teflon is only good to about 600*F before it gasses some nasty stuff. You can also get these at automotive paint stores like Keystone or FinishMaster.

I have a 1 quart unlined can I just picked up. Haven't used it yet but it should work well. :thumbup: Good call Tony.
 
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