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Hey Bushcrafters!

We’re the team behind ZOLEO, the satellite messenger that keeps you connected when you’re off the grid, and we are hosting an AMA with our product experts in the community. Whether you're curious about how SOS works, where it can be used or why someone would carry a dedicated satellite communicator when traveling off-grid, we've got answers.

Join us for a live AMA on Thursday, November 21 at 12 p.m. ET.

Drop your questions in the comments of the AMA announcement, and we’ll be there to answer them all in real-time. Early questions will help us dive right in!

Ask us anything. We can’t wait to chat with you!

– The ZOLEO Team

Read a ton of threads from 3 yrs, 5 yrs, 15 yrs ago, and all the most commonly mentioned packs seem to have tripled in price. Either from high demand or modern redesign, stuff like the llbean continental and swedish 35l have gone from $35 to $120+ over the years. I use a 20L daypack with tarp and pots lashed to the outside so I’m hoping to get something 35L-45L instead.

I mention online because there aren’t any surplus or thrift stores within a 5 hour drive of where I live.

Hey folks, I’d like to share a recent experience that taught me some valuable lessons about preparation and the unforgiving nature of the outdoors.

Last weekend, I set out for a trip in the Swiss Alps—nothing too extreme, just around 800 meters above sea level. As I was packing, I took a closer look at my gear, especially my sleeping bag: a Carinthia Defence 1 with a comfort zone rated at +5°C. I figured I’d be fine if I layered up—jacket, pants, thermal underwear, and a blanket should do the trick.

By 3 p.m., the sun dipped behind the mountains, and the temperature dropped fast. I got to work gathering firewood, prepping feather sticks, and collecting some spruce resin. Starting a fire with my fire steel was no trouble, and I went for the trusty upside-down fire layout to keep it going through the night.

Around 2 a.m., I woke up shivering. The fire was still burning strong, but I barely felt its warmth. I reached for my thermometer—it showed -9°C. My tarp shelter and inadequate sleeping bag just couldn’t keep up with the cold.

The night was long and brutal. By the time I made it home, I was battling a nasty lung infection—proof that even a well-planned trip can go sideways when you underestimate the elements.

The takeaway? Always pack for worse conditions than you expect. A bit of extra weight is a small price to pay for staying healthy and safe. Stay sharp out there!

Emp

First time using a proper SHARP knife left me with a couple bandaids ahaha, the BPS adventurer is a real solid knife so far I definitely recommend, crazy cheap too!

1. long night needs to last

2. Quick and simple fire

3. Cooking

Personally:

1. Sibirian fire
2. Teepee
3. Teepee again but with supports for my pot/cup

Dont know if this is allowed here but I just found out Blackie Thomas on youtube has had a stroke and is dealing with financal issues from it. If you can please go watch some of his videos.

Here the link for his go fund me. go fund me

A few responses to my post about how people find the time for bigger project like cabins etc mentioned how they sometimes did bushcrafting stuff at home rather than outdoors.

I have batoned in the basement and feathersticked in front of of the fireplace but that’s about it.

So, when living in a city, in an apartment, what’s indoor friendly bushcrafting practice that you’d recommend for someone trying to broaden their skills?

If it involves buying something or requires something to be foraged or collected from outside, please include that.

If it’s going to leave the living room in such a mess that my relationship might not survive, a heads up would be appreciated.

So over to you: your suggestions for expanding indoor horizons.

Hi all! Long time lurker first time poster.

We have young children (3.5 and 1.5) and have begun camping with them this year. Mostly car camping but we have some backpacking ideas planned and try to take them into the woods for hikes as often as we can.

My eldest loves watching YouTube channels like outdoor boys and primitive technology. Last time we went camping, I made him a little stick boat to sail down a creek and we had fun copying primitive technology in making cordage. He’s been trying to make things with rope and sticks but isn’t quite dexterous enough (which leads to the occasional road trip meltdown when he drops something and can’t reach it 😅)

Was wondering if anyone can suggest any YouTube channels or resources for young kids that show bushcraft stuff? Also, one of his friends fell badly and had to go to the emergency room and it got me thinking maybe it would be nice to start teaching him basic first aid. Anyone know of toddler level resources for that? (We’ve played doctor and stuff at home but I’m wondering if there some more practical stuff out there)

Also, anyone do bushcraft projects with their kids? Any suggestions for fun little projects we can do? We don’t have a regular place to go to and mess around so it can’t be any (semi) permanent structures

Thanks!

I am most competent with my Casström Lars Fält bushcraft knife. It’s very comfortable and the perfect length. I recently bought a Joker Ember with a scandi grind.

This has shot into first place for me because the ergonomics are indistinguishable from my Casström and it has micarta scales meaning lower maintenance and, most importantly, my favourite steel for a bushcrafter: 14C28N

So that should have been it, right?

Well, unfortunately I’m a sucker for other people’s enthusiasm and the two cheerful Swedes from the West Coast Bushcrafter channel really loved the Joker Nessmuk.

Also 14C28N, also comes with a really nice leather sheath complete with dangler.

It’s a sabre grind, with a walnut handle that is extremely comfortable. Sadly it didn’t arrive in time yesterday’s day trip to the forest, I have done the “living room survival test:” feather sticks are very nice and it throws sparks perfectly well. Not the best but you get sparks.

So come my next trip out I’ll have the very nice dilemma of deciding which of my 3 extremely capable bushcraft knives to take.

And if anyone is on the fence: Joker make excellent knives and staggeringly good prices for what you get. Can recommend.

It happened. I had a Saturday to myself. We drove out to a national park, took the pup for a nice long hike to tire him out as best we could (didn’t seem remotely tired, despite running the whole way) and once that was done, a fire roast meal.

The grill spots have logs cut for people To use but never split so out came The Skrama. I also used my new Joker Ember and that worked beautifully.

Kindling, feathersticks, and a resin fire starter and the blaze was going. A nice meal before heading home.

We had toyed with the idea of camping there but early nightfall, rain and no cover would have meant a very early bedtime that neither of us fancied.

Come spring, this will definitely be a longer camp with my kids.

So that’s it. Nothing particularly extravagant or impressive but a day out in the great outdoors that I’ve been dreaming of for quite a while so I feel pretty good.

I like bushcraft. I enjoy the ethos and practicing it. But of the two, it’s the practicing that’s hardest: time more than money. I’ve bought kit because I like it more than being able to use it. I could do everything I’ve ever done so far with a folding saw and my first Casström.

Yet I see people building log shacks, dug outs, lean-tos and I wonder: “how? How do they find the time?” Or then I wonder “if they have the time, then why? Is it their job? Is it how they spend every spare afternoon?”

I ask because I suddenly had the sad realisation that I’m unlikely to have the space and free time to do that kind of stuff. My days are so full of the stuff I need to do, I lack the time for what I want to do.

How do so many of you find the time to go out and practice when even more of us resort to reading books and feather sticking in our living rooms (and little else) to scratch the same itch?

Hey everyone! I went on my first hunting trip over the last couple days and wanted to show my pack and talk changes I'd make and also see if r/bushcraft has their own perspectives. I'll list all of the gear first and then do a write-up for those interested.

Rifle

Underwear and Warming layers

Hiking Pants

Wool shirts

Wool socks

Warming layer

Rain jacket

Poncho

Boots

USGI Medium Molle 2 Rucksack

Toaks titanium mug

USGI MSS Bivy

Hyke & Byke 0 F sleeping bag

Thermarest Xtherm

Pathfinder Cook Pot

BRS camp stove

Isobutane Fuel

Fork/Spoon

Sea-to-Summit Dry bag

Battery bank

Medkit with tourniquet

Smart water bottle

Camo poncho

Balaclava

Hygiene kit

Olight Warrior 3

Fire kit

550 cord bundle

Packtowl

Leatherman Wave+

Sawyer Squeeze

MSR Dromedary 6L hydration bag

Food bag

Anyways here's the comprehensive list:

There are a couple things not pictured so I'll get those out of the way first:

Remington 783 with a 16.5 inch barrel chambered in .308 was the rifle I took for deer, it's got a medium powered optic on it and weighs about 10 pounds. Right off the bat, not making it into the ultralight category. This was about the best rifle I could afford at the time so it's a bit heavy for its caliber but it's crazy accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. Got a suppressor with it too which was a bit of a process obviously, but worth it if you're into that stuff.

Boots and clothes worn. Smartwool t-shirt was my first layer followed by a sturdier merino tech shirt. This helped not smell like death after everything. I've also got some standard hiking pants are convertible to shorts. Definitely more summer attire and the material is thin, but they're comfortable and dry quickly which was a huge benefit out in the woods. Boots are Bates Black Combat Boots with a zipper. I love these things and do a ton of rucking in them when training for backpacking trips. Also have some typical underarmour leggings and top. Poly pro "waffle top", intermediate warming layer from Black Diamond, and a Izod waterproof shell I got from value village (also secured that sweet coffee table holding all the goods for less than $50)

Pictured:

The pack is an Army issued Medium Molle Ruck with Alice Pack Strap replacements. I'm a veteran and have a ton of nostalgia for this gear and I'm very familiar with it and trust it... but the weight adds up. I think with the rifle, having a pack like this made everything else feel just a little heavy, especially with how much off-trail movement we did. You'll notice a trend with all of the military issued stuff is that most of the time it's just too heavy. Attached to the pack are a couple sustainment pouches (this helped with organization because the pack is quite full when loaded) Also one holds the bathroom kit which I wanted to keep more on the exterior. On my waist belt is a USGI canteen cup holder which houses my Toaks titanium cup.

In the pack is my sleep system which consists of a MSS Bivy, a Thermarest Xtherm Sleep Mat, and Hyke & Byke 0 F sleeping bag. The bivy is great and is a last layer of protection against condensation on my down sleeping bag. I was definitely getting every last degree out of that temperature rating. We got down to 26 on the coldest night and you could feel it if the sleep system wasn't organized right. The thermarest xtherm is a great sleep pad, nothing but good stuff to say.

Cook kit: Pathfinder pot, BRS stove (works great and is crazy light), fuel and a "foon". We made a really nice fire while we were out and cooked up a good stew with the steak, onion, and potatoes my friend brought. Hung it off of a stick used for a pothanger.

Orange Sea-to-summit dry bag which held my battery bank to keep my phone charged. Other things found their way into it when the rain inevitably picked up. We had to use OnX to make sure we were in the correct land and not drifting into other private land or somewhere where hunting wasn't allowed.

Medkit with some booboo kit stuff, blister treatment, and also some more heavy duty stuff like a tourniquet in the unlikely event of a firearm mishap or run-in with bigfoot.

What I've found to be the gold standard of waterbottles, the Smartwater bottle... However, I swapped it out for an essentia which is maybe a couple mm wider and fits my titanium camp mug perfectly. I recommend this setup more when you add the nozzle to it.

Black (somewhat) dry bag holds my socks to keep dry as well as a camo poncho to serve as a small shelter from weather when worn or setup. The camo helped me chill in a field for a couple hours to where a bird even landed a foot away not noticing me.

Balaclava (mostly for sleeping since I have a face exposed sleep system and shelter)

Hygiene kit: toothbrush/paste, tums, various meds like melatonin, benadryl, and ibuprofen.

Flashlight Olight Warrior 3 I believe. Great light. I love it. It's so great. Just bring a headlamp. I wish I had just brought a headlamp instead. The benefit is that the light is near indestructible and is waterproof and incredibly bright. If you have headlamp recommendations please share them

Fire kit in the green alice clip: Waterproof match holder with matches, lighter, ferro rod. As always, the lighter worked fine. I think I'll probably leave a couple of these redundancies at home. Despite the wood being waterlogged to the bone, we found some birch bark and spent a ton of time gathering intermediate stages to burn. Took 20 minutes of hands-on fire-tending, but we got it without needing to split anything.

550 cord bundle. Used every inch fastening the poncho shelter.

PackTowl. I'd probably leave this behind, it was so wet we basically just relied on fire to dry everything.

Leatherman Wave. Important tools are the knife and the saw, but the needle-nose pliers rescued a splinter.

Sawyer Squeeze! Great filter setup but we ended up surviving off melted snow.

MSR Dromedary bag, this is useful in a lot of applications and helped me bring some water out and also wash my buddy and I's hands after cutting up some steak for dinner. Surprisingly light, I recommend it.

In the food hang bag is instant rice, instant oatmeal, jerky, trail mix, Bloom supergreens + metamucil powders, and some electrolyte packs. Pretty basic.

So that's it! Right off the bat, I would have taken a small axe for splitting to make the fire more easily but I'm still really happy with how we got along without it.

Let me know any thoughts, recommendations on things to add/remove. It was a great trip, unfortunately didn't get a deer but ended up being a great trip with my friend and got some really good hiking and camping in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZxxA689GHY&t=529s

Personally, I like the Corona fixed blade saw. Most of the Arborists in my area use Corona fixed blade saws.