Bushcraft kit - why so much?

[Diamond Dave]

Whe I go camping I take one Sabre with side pockets 70l, one defender 110 and 4 camels plus a couple of kids as sherpas........

[Shocks]

- I'm not really into these sports and hobbies, I'm into gear. The hobbies are excuses.

My brother described it as my hobby is having hobbies, I think you may have nailed it though.

[Beachlover]

When I go out I take a Sabre 35.
I decide if the knife is EDC'able, but otherwise take a stove, primus kettle, a litre of water, brew kit, waterproof top, Tarp, bivvy bag, tinder pouch, binoculars, camera and 50ft of paracord and a first aid kit in my pocket with a mobile phone and my wallet.



Surely that's all anyone needs......







To go to the Offy

[ubermeister]

But I would rather take it all in this:

I remember when I was teaching bushcraft in my old job, I used to tell the kids that bushcraft isn't someething you do, it's something you are. As such, I suppose you could still take the Land Rover and all the kit, yet still be bushcraft.
Nice Landy by the way.

Ant

[the laird]

I don't back pack these days, knees buggered, but when I did, it was the little extra's that added the weight, camera, digi cam, radio, mp3 player, batteries, always too much food, 3 litre wine bladder

Essential kit now includes folding table and chairs

I think we know each other!

[Danzo]

Y'see, this is why I advocate Benchcraft as an alternative to what is surely becoming rather staid and boring; bushcraft.

With Benchcraft you by definition have a bench. That normally is adjacent to a table, with another bench on the other side.

That makes for a comfortable seat, and plenty of space to spread out your gear. This is important as the whole point of Benchcraft is to talk with likeminded people about your new kit, discuss ebay bargains and moan about how BCUK isn't what it was.

And of course put your beer down safely. I like a table for that. With luck some caring woodland loving sort of fellow will whittle you an ashtray just in case you set the wood on fire with your fags, but if they don't then I'd advocate using empty beer cans.

As the woodland Benchcraft evening progresses the thing to do is bemoan the lack of a big fire, and that nobody is telling the songs and stories from ancient times. That's important. Moaning about other people not doing stuff is intrinsic to Benchcraft. But do bring knives, especially totally impractical knives, that you claim you were going to try throwing. Saying you are going to throw knives is very cool.

Not throwing knives you have brought with you is also an essential aspect of Benchcraft. You know that you'll never find them in the morning.

It's very important to not actually get up from the bench, as you may well be extremely drunk, and if you fall over whilst going to have a p*ss, nobody will let you back on the bench. Don't ever try to light anything larger than a cigar, as otherwise you might blow up the entire bench.

That's just some of the basics. My book 'Danzo on Benchcraft' will be released soon by Dorling Kindersley.

Danzo

[Beachlover]

Y'see, this is why I advocate Benchcraft as an alternative to what is surely becoming rather staid and boring; bushcraft.

With Benchcraft you by definition have a bench. That normally is adjacent to a table, with another bench on the other side.

That makes for a comfortable seat, and plenty of space to spread out your gear. This is important as the whole point of Benchcraft is to talk with likeminded people about your new kit, discuss ebay bargains and moan about how BCUK isn't what it was.

And of course put your beer down safely. I like a table for that. With luck some caring woodland loving sort of fellow will whittle you an ashtray just in case you set the wood on fire, but if they don't then I'd advocate using empty beer cans.

As the woodland Benchcraft evening progresses the thing to do is bemoan the lack of a big fire, and that nobody is telling the songs and stories from ancient times. That's important. Moaning about other people not doing stuff is intrinsic to Benchcraft. But do bring knives, especially totally impractical knives, that you claim you were going to try throwing. Saying you are going to throw knives is very cool.

Not throwing knives you have brought with you is also an essential aspect of Benchcraft. You know that you'll never find them in the morning.

It's very important to not actually get up from the bench, as you may well be extremely drunk, and if you fall over whilst going to have a p*ss, nobody will let you back on the bench. Don't ever try to light anything larger than a cigar, as otherwise you might blow up the entire bench.

That's just some of the basics. My book 'Danzo on Benchcraft' will be released soon by Dorling Kindersley.

Danzo

[Saint-Just]

Benchcraft? I have done that for ages and always called it beercraft.

[Danzo]

Benchcraft? I have done that for ages and always called it beercraft.

Indeed yes, but you have been an amateur.

My new book will show the skills of a veteran Benchcrafter, and most importantly how you can actually make a living from this, if you subscribe to my online Benchcraft School and pay me several thousand US dollars.

Beerstein Benchcraft is almost up and running.

Danzo

[Beachlover]

Indeed yes, but you have been an amateur.

My new book will show the skills of a veteran Benchcrafter, and most importantly how you can actually make a living from this, if you subscribe to my online Benchcraft School and pay me several thousand US dollars.

Beerstein Benchcraft is almost up and running.

Danzo

Don't forget to corner the survivalist end of the market with "bunker Beercraft."

[Danzo]

Don't forget to corner the survivalist end of the market with "bunker Beercraft."

I think Martyn is writing his own book on survivalists, and I wouldn't want to intrude.



Danzo

[Beachlover]

I think Martyn is writing his own book on survivalists, and I wouldn't want to intrude.



Danzo

I do believe I saw a preview of the first draft last night - a winner

[rik_uk3]

I do believe I saw a preview of the first draft last night - a winner

I saw it too, wonderful stuff

Back to bushcraft
I've read the books, built the shelters, made cordage and used a bow drill, to be honest, these days I watch the telly, use a tent, tie stuff with paracord and often use a stove.

[Beachlover]

I've read the books, built the shelters, made cordage and used a bow drill, to be honest, these days I watch the telly, use a tent, tie stuff with paracord and often use a stove.

I'm with you on that one. When I was a schoolboy, the only escape from the poverty of inner city Brum to the countryside was by making almost all of my kit - tent, bivvi bag, blanket sleeping bag, tin can cooking pots etc from any readily available source. My "camping" was often stealthy and snaring, catapulting, fishing and some "wombling" usually added to the little tinned or dried food that could be carried.
I seem to recall that boys annuals and scouting books contained an awful lot of post war frugalism and encouraged boys to be creative and adaptive. To my mind Ray et al merely took us back to that then added an international and "touchy feely" component to what already existed.
I agree with you that it's nice to be able to use a bow drill, make cordage and know that if pushed you could do it, indeed I still make sure I can from time to time, but mostly it's with recourse to a large warm tent (soon to be a large tipi), with a few home comforts, a BBQ, decent stove, good food, some beer and all transported there in a Land Rover.

[rik_uk3]

I'm with you on that one. When I was a schoolboy, the only escape from the poverty of inner city Brum to the countryside was by making almost all of my kit - tent, bivvi bag, blanket sleeping bag, tin can cooking pots etc from any readily available source. My "camping" was often stealthy and snaring, catapulting, fishing and some "wombling" usually added to the little tinned or dried food that could be carried.
I seem to recall that boys annuals and scouting books contained an awful lot of post war frugalism and encouraged boys to be creative and adaptive. To my mind Ray et al merely took us back to that then added an international and "touchy feely" component to what already existed.
I agree with you that it's nice to be able to use a bow drill, make cordage and know that if pushed you could do it, indeed I still make sure I can from time to time, but mostly it's with recourse to a large warm tent (soon to be a large tipi), with a few home comforts, a BBQ, decent stove, good food, some beer and all transported there in a Land Rover.

As an ex brummie my first camping trips was with the scouts, based at St Pauls Church on the Moseley road and me and mates would make dens on the old 'bomb' site near us, great fun

In the scouts we were taught campcraft, years later I came across a book on campcraft, only it was called bushcraft I've pointed this out to younger people, new to bushcraft and most were not impressed,,,,,,,, "we have things like ventile these days" said one "so did I, back in 1966" I replied

Bushcraft is a daft term IMHO; the moment you leave the house intending to sleep outdoors, you are going CAMPING and you may well use your campcraft skills

ATB
Mr Grumpy
ex brummie
now South Wales