What's in your 'bushcraft' kit?

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
Hello folks-

I was a little bored this morning and decided to snap a picture of what I put in my small 'possibles' bag. I posted a pic of it a while back, but I've changed up the contents a bit. This is a small bag that I have on my shoulder when I'm just bumming around the woods for a hike or if I'm going a bit 'minimalist' for the night. It is sometimes accompanied by a small daypack with a bladder in it, that will contain a tarp, bigger first aid kit, hatchet, food and small pot.

The pouch itself is a 10 cent find at a clearance rack, the strap is an AK sling. The contents of this pouch are not meant to be any sort of 'survival' kit, but just a few of the things I need more frequently and want closer to my person. However, if I was left with only these items I'd be more than covered for a good while. If the pics are too similar to ones in the past, forgive the redundancy! (Oh, the second fixed blade and any items above the strap don't come along, they just got included in the pic by accident)

100_0098.jpg


My 'fire kit' (Firesteel, fatwood, 'waterproofed' tampon, BIC and foil):
100_0100.jpg


The closest thing to an emergency kit I have, always on my hip (Magnesium firestarter, LED, hacksaw piece, whistle, Lansky ceramic rod):
100_0102.jpg


The blade that I've grown to love, and have shown way to many pictures of:
100_0101.jpg


Cool $10 Tasco 10x25 monocular I found (usually in pack):
100_0103.jpg


Overall contents of pouch:
- bandana
- LED light
- paracord
- twine
- orange nylon cordage
- Opinel #7
- Fire kit
- poncho
- chlorine tabs
- plastic ziploc type bag for emergency water carrying
- duct tape
- mini first aid kit in eclipse tin (various meds, antibiotic ointment, bandaids)

The main redundancies in my kit and other gear concern getting fire, clean water, and light.

Thanks for letting me share! :D

I'd love to hear about and see any pics of what others like to include in their kits or possibles bags.

I really enjoy the kits that see use, rather than survival kits.
 
Nice setup you got there....my possibilites bag is a maxpedition dvildog fanny pack..it holds 2 nalgenes in the outside water bottle compartments, 1 nalgene is settled in a stainless steel alpine mug. Inside the first small pocket is a bottle of bens 100 insect repellent (deet) a bottle of hand sanitzer and water sealed package of tissues, a lighter, a sak fieldmaster, a small package of micropur water tabs and a mini maglight.inside the larger compartment is a poncho, a bandanna, 50 feet of paracord and a first aidkit..and a small ziplock bags with some bullion cubes and tea bags.. usually in a cargo pants pocket is a altoids tin ranger banded to a small mylar blanket thats my psk inside the altoids tin is a whistle, a small coast led, 6 small fishinghooks,6 small splitshots,and 2 swivels,15 ft of 10lb test fishing line, 7 safety pins, a small sewing kit, 4 water proof matches w/striker, 3 trick b-day candle, a bsa hotspark,a razor blade, a really big fishing hook for use as a gaff, creditcard magnifying glass, 4 bandaids and about 6 feet of wire. ranger banded to the outside of the altoid case is a mylar blanket a small pill case filled w/petroleum soaked cotton and 10 ft of paracord. add a mora too that and you have my kit add a machete and a few mountain house meals and you have my kit for several days.
 
BK-7 Kit:
Mag.block w/ferrocium rod
“AAA” LED light
About 30 ft. 550 cord
1Space blanket
1 mini bic lighter
2 firestraws approx. 2” long
10 cotton wrapped, waxed large matches
10 asst. Fish hooks, 3 soft plastic jigs, 3 dry flies
30 ft. of 30lb. Fireline
2 Advil tabs sealed & waterproofed (exp. on wrapper)
4 Benadryl caps sealed & waterproofed (exp. on wrapper)
1 gallon size Ziploc bag
3 medicated band-aids
1 small Beretta air-lite lockback
10 ft. of flat wrapped duct tape
I also have the BK-7 handle wrapped in cord, and a lanyard with a lengthy wrap as well.

That is my knife kit that is on my person pretty much all the time.

My overnight/day trip kit is alot more set up. It has extras like:
12 oz. SS mug
more 1st aid options
cup-o-soup mixes
pop can alcohol stove, 2 oz. fuel bottle for stove
collapsible cup
anti-bac. wipes
mosquito head net
tea bags
2 large trash bags, 2 large Ziplocs
50 ft. cord
50 ft. 30lb. Fireline, 30 ft. 10 lb. mono. asst. jigs, flies, & hooks, 4 prong gig
1 quart canteen, dropper w/bleach for water purification
2 small carabiners
“AA” maglight w/extra bulb & spare batts.
10 Vaseline cotton balls, 1 magblock, 2 full size bics, 10X concave mirror
8X10 tarp, 8X10 plastic sheeting
20 ft. duct tape
20 ft. orange flagging ribbon
Frosts Clipper, Leatherman Wave
about 20 ft. butt wipe
small bottle DEET
1 light poncho
I may be forgetting some stuff, I am at work right now so I can’t check, but that is the biggest majority of the kit.

It rides in a flyfishing chest pack with the straps let out so it rides low and easy. I got on clearance at Wally for $5, and it is great for warm weather since it just has straps, no back or front panels, and in cold weather it just goes over my jacket. I waterproofed the pouches with silicon, and it has several d-rings for attaching various crap too. The straps have quick release buckles, and the front has a Velcro opening as well, so you can get in and out of it however you choose. I took the Old Jimbo “vest kit” idea and put my twist on it. It is a joy to tote, since the load is balanced front and back, and you can access the front pockets without removing the pack, for example, I can get my poncho out and put it on without having to stop, or unshoulder my gear. To me if it’s not comfortable it’s gonna be left at home, at camp, or in the truck, and that is when “Murphy” will show up for sure.
 
Spooky,

If anything, I don't think that blade of yours gets enough "airplay". That thing is beautiful. Everytime I see another picture of it...I get...a...little...bit...emotional.
 
No compass?

I got turned around without a compass one time while deer hunting. Sad part is, I had a compass with me but left it back at the blind when I started out on my "hike". After what felt like hours of walking in the rain, soaked to the bone, I'd have traded my shotgun for a map and a $2 compass.

Just my 2¢
 
Here is my "10 essentials". All this stuff I keep in a sil-nylon stuff sack and it gets tossed in the top pocket of my backpack. I remove or add items as neccessary. Stuff like emergency blanket and more "survival" type items I take out if they are redundant.

Mini Mag 2AA with Nite Ize 1w bulb and IQ switch
First aid kit with some super glue stashed inside
Miox purifier
Mini repair kit
Mini compass / Leatherman micra / Mag bar / whistle
DMT fine
LMF Scout and other fire stuff
Cordage
Real compass / Suunto M3
Duct tape and Zip ties!!!
Spare 2aa batteries for light / camera / GPS etcetera.

I also always carry some large ziploc freezer bags, but not with the kit.
IMG_1985.jpg
 
Hi SpookyPistolero,

That is a beautiful knife who makes it and where can one get one ?
 
Rupestris- Good job noticing the lack of such an important piece of kit. I actually didn't have it with my other gear, but I keep it (and a map if in unfamiliar territory) in my pocket or cargo pocket.

On the blade, it's a Tora bushcraft blade that's had the edge thinned out and convexed. The steel is good and has held the edge well. The edge that came on the blade was somewhat less than optimal, but improves greatly when trimmed down a bit. I believe this is Tora's main site:

http://www.toratoratora.co.uk/catalogue/category.asp?id=6
http://www.toraforums.com/

Tora is better known for their khukris. At the lower forums, I believe a member named Sirupate is who you would want to contact to purchase one. Shipping will be a bit extra as they are not in the US.
 
grab-n-go-bag-640-outer.jpg

My "grab 'n go" bag is a Camelbak Blowfish hydro-pack. Note folder at foot of pack for scale comparison. I keep the hydro-bladder collapsed in its interior sleeve.

grab-n-go-bag-640-mesh.jpg

In the outer mesh pocket I tossed a woven chain of paracord, a camo bandana, and some plastic eating utensils & a sugar pack from a fast food joint.

grab-n-go-bag-640-outer-pocket.jpg

In the outer pocket I carry (clockwise from the top left):
outer circle
SOG Paratool multi-tool
Inova Mini-LED light (Photon II type light)
old red REI belt & headlamp incandescent flashlight (4 AA)
2 ea Inova XM 5-LED lights with sheaths (2 CR123 batteries)
bright green snap-off-point utility knife
ceramic X-rod knife sharpener with attached whistle
nutrition bars, peanuts, sunflower seed packs
mini-kit on snap-together keyring (SAK, ferro rod with striker, orange Fox 40 whistle, Permanent Match)
blue micro-fiber towel & red paracord
Ranger bands

inner circle
gold-capped tapered pocket diamond rod sharpener
Mini-Bic type butane lighter with zip-tie preventing fuel release from depressing
pantyhose in egg container (water pre-filter)
1 oz beeswax block in small ziploc bag
fatwood chunk
Hexamine tabs in white cardboard tube
Benchmade Griptilian folder
paper napkin (white rectangle)

grab-n-go-bag-640-main.jpg

In the main compartment I carry (clockwise from top):
outer circle
Sierra Cup on blue rubber-palmed gloves
8x25 pocket binoculars
200 ft paracord in two hanks
plastic poly knife/fork/spoon on red Sportsman's Blanket
Esbit stove & fuel tabs on black polarfleece stocking cap
Tashiro Pocket Folding Saw

inner circle
two butane grill lighters
lightweight emergency mylar sleeping bag
extra Esbit fuel tabs in red box
charcoal filter water bottle purifier
Swamp Rat Camp Tramp (extra ferrocium rod, striker, & sharpening stone in sheath pocket)
 
Back
Top