How to build a kit!
This article is only meant as a guide and a guide only its my opinion and you can take what you like from it and ignore what you like. The thing with building a bushcraft kit is it needs to be what works for you and in most cases that is different for everyone!
So lets get started, the first things we need to think of are what, where and when for example, you use different kit depending on what your doing, different kit depending on where your going and finally you use different kit in different seasons.
The quality of your kit you buy will depend on your spare cash flow however, if you know what to do and where to look you can put a decent kit together!
The basics, the easiest way to organise these is in a system called the 10c's ( developed by Dave canterbury )
1 Cutting tool
2 Combustion
3 Container
4 Cordage
5 Cover
6 Compass
7 Candling device
8 Cotton bandana
9 Cargo tape
10 Cloth sail needle
This system allows you to prioritise the basic kit you can survive with ( with knowledge of course ) however, for a beginner i would highly recommend more kit so personally the 10c's are categories.
So lets get started, the first things we need to think of are what, where and when for example, you use different kit depending on what your doing, different kit depending on where your going and finally you use different kit in different seasons.
The quality of your kit you buy will depend on your spare cash flow however, if you know what to do and where to look you can put a decent kit together!
The basics, the easiest way to organise these is in a system called the 10c's ( developed by Dave canterbury )
1 Cutting tool
2 Combustion
3 Container
4 Cordage
5 Cover
6 Compass
7 Candling device
8 Cotton bandana
9 Cargo tape
10 Cloth sail needle
This system allows you to prioritise the basic kit you can survive with ( with knowledge of course ) however, for a beginner i would highly recommend more kit so personally the 10c's are categories.
Cutting tools
The first and most important parts of your kit are your cutting tools, they allow you to create everything you could need to live comfortably in the wilderness for as long as you wish.
The next few paragraphs will go over:
The next few paragraphs will go over:
- Knives and knife selection
- Saws
- Axes
Knife
Whether it be an £8 Mora or a £200 pathfinder knife in the woods it will be your best friend. The cutting tool can help you complete all important survival tasks if you know how to use it from creating a friction fire set, to creating a shelter!
Things you should look for:
Things you should look for:
- Full tang blade
- Around 58 rockwell hardness
- 4-5 inch blade
- Good grind whatever your preference may be
- Correct size handle for your hands
- Good strong sheath
- High quality steel
Saws
the usefulness of good saw should not be underestimated, in uk woodlands an axe isn't always necessary as a knife coupled with a saw will often do the job!
Things you should look for and consider:
Things you should look for and consider:
- Durability is the saw cheap plastic with a thin fairly dull blade or is it hard wood/plastic with a strong sharp blade.
- Is the blade a push or pull cutter or even both.
- Do you need to do a lot of heavy cutting or will you be cutting small pieces of wood
- Locking mechanisms, if its a folding saw is the lock sturdy enough to stop the blade closing on your fingers.
- Type of blade, will the blade cut green wood and dead or just one of the two.
Axe
Combustion
Often considered as the second most important item for survival, your fire kit is very very important!
The next few paragraphs will go over:
The next few paragraphs will go over:
- Combustion devices
- Tinder kit