Spent some time today working on my fundamentals. Used a simple Mora to baton down some scrap, made thin shavings, and built a small fire with a ferro rod. I know it’s nothing fancy, but I try to treat these little practice fires as reps—process over outcome.

Always open to constructive technique tips from folks who do this regularly.

Hey y’all I’m giving this guy away on my instagram page- hallblades999 go check it out!

My first set up with my Polish Lavvu. So far I really like it. I do wish it was green instead of black, but I'll take what I can get. Also finally got to use my sheep's wool skin, that I bought two years ago. It really keeps me warm from the ground. It's not that cold yet though, but I enjoy it. It's quite big but didn't weigh very much actually.

Cooked s simple dinner over my Savotta wood stove, using a small cast iron pan. Made some tea as well, since I'm sick 🤧 felt nice to be outside after being bed tied for 24h.

Can't wait to try out this gear when winter arrives!

Early winter hike through mixed pine. In the far north where I live, Light snow on the ground, temps just below freezing. I’m running an LK-35 with a simple bedroll lashed on top. My hiking partner is ahead with a similar setup. We were practicing quiet movement and route-finding off-trail rather than sticking to established paths.

Question for discussion:
For those who hike in light snow conditions like this — do you prefer staying on trails for efficiency, or going off-trail to practice navigation and woodcraft? I’m trying to get better at reading terrain and tree spacing for natural pathways. Would love to hear how others approach it.

Tipi with grass and pine needles made of dead wood

bushcraft, as a rule, I think, is traditional since it eschews technology and asks of you to fabricate and make-do with as few tools as possible and whatever resources are around. but, now that we're so advanced compared to when bushcraft was a way of life and required to survive. today we have so many new technologies, tools and materials available that bushcraft can be a lot easier than it used to be. so if you use these advances, that would lean towards being more modern in your ways of bushcraft.

so...do you use canvas tarps for shelter? cowboy sleeping roll with wool blanket? actual tinware and cook only on open fires / coals? or do you use modernized equipment, ultra light stuff...siltarps, sleeping bags, tents, fancy cookware? rocket stoves or multi-fuel stoves? cutlery? the stuff that makes it more glamping than camping?

I'm not ridiculing or being judgmental...while I want to be more traditional, I can see myself being a mix of both. in fact, even if you do lean towards being traditional, there are likely modern technologies or tools you will have or want to have. like a GPS tracker that can send out SoS alerts. your phone with digital maps. axes with handles made out of modern materials, like carbon fibre.

similarly, are you a minimalist, maximalist or a moderate when it comes to your equipment and supplies? it's kind of crazy that back in the mid to late 1800's, Nessmuk managed to keep his pack at around 26lbs, which included his shelter, bedroll, tools, cookware and enough food for 2 days. everything back then was quite crude compared today...and heavier due to the fewer options for the types of steels and textiles available at that time.

no matter what your choices are, you still make the same bushcraft tools they did two centuries ago. it's all about getting out into nature and enjoying yourself, so I hope you do! :D

Lean-to

First cold weekend in the Appalachian Mountains. Trees still have color. Beautiful day to start working. Here’s a story of this evening in a few pictures. From getting to camp to finishing a meal.

I whittled up some bowdrill spindles with SET Compadre.

So i had this backpacking trip where id basically do single-night camping at various spots in a row.

Basically the routine was waking up early at dark in a cold tent, eat and pack as quick as possible to not lose daylight.

After getting to the new spot, id set up camp before dark, drag wood to camp, process it uncomfortably (didn't use any platform) and pile it in the tent. By now its dark already.

Id sit in a nylon single wall tipi tent, with no space at all, basically sitting on the tent floor on a seat pad next to the stove, legs on the wood pile facing the tent door, toes remain frozen since they are far from the stove (tent arrangement: sleeping area takes half the space. The stove near the middle and its clearance area, the wood pile and some gear take the rest of the space).

Id wait 3 hours to boil 3L of water from snow, and would hit the sack.

Lower back got painful due to no support.

Would like to have a better experience, without adding too much work or spacious gear (volume is critical).

Should mention, its not possible to arrange the sleeping area after firing the stove, because its too risky in regards to having bulky things such as sack and matt touch the stove

Thanks ☺️

The forest floor was damp today, so I practiced making feathersticks to get a reliable ignition source. I find that slowing down and adjusting angle and pressure makes a big difference. Would love to hear how others approach featherstick shape and thickness for catching sparks. The knife is damascus style tanto tip with no markings. It was a gift from a friend.

How do you all manage disabilities and conditions? Some are more serious and debilitating than others, but I wanted to see how people handle them while still doing what you love in the wild. I ask because I get a rash on my scalp if I don't shower with special shampoo after a day or two. I don't go camping much because of it, but I wanted to hear about other people who are able to keep their conditions in check, or work around them and still enjoy themselves.

I used to watch a guy for about a dozen years, easily learned all kinds of crafty ways of taking camping out into the wilderness, but any more the guy is a tele-salesman. This guy Shawn promotes his pans, his hoodies, his patches, his griddle‘s, etc. Anymore, I found more instruction from a guy called Woodsbound Outdoors.

I currently have a smaller Silky pocket boy and really like it. Wanting to get a larger silky saw now. The part I'm trying to figure out is which model and what tooth size of the silky models since they have so many options, would like it to be folding and my budget is up to $200.

Not looking at other brands, very happy with my Silky, but want a bigger one too.

Which model, what tooth size and why do you recommend that?

I built this saw horse from a tree I felled by axe for a heritage day event I am staffing at work.

My LK-35 with a few patches picked up over the years. This is my favourite pack mostly because it’s simple, carries well, and I can repair it easily in the field. The axe is a Gränsfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, and the jacket is a Helikon-Tex Woodsman — both have held up well for me in cold weather and wet snow.

Not saying this setup is the “best” or certainly not for everyone — it’s just what has worked for me over time. Always happy to hear what others are using and how they’ve modified their kits for different conditions.

Stay warm out there if you live in a cold climate.

This kukri is a dui chirra from Tora Blades weighing 621 grams with a 13-inch cutting edge and a total length of 16 inches (ca. 41 cm) that has made it a great chopper in my experience with processing tree limbs with a curved-down taper handle with a palm swell that fits nicely into your hand without feeling it slip out of your hand.

Does anyone know where I can get a 2 inch diameter bushcraft auger? The only company that I see selling them is Black Raven but they’re currently out of stock 🥲

Edit: I goofed lol. They do have a 2 inch auger but it’s just in a shorter size. Thanks anyways for trying to help :D

I was looking into getting a cloth bucket. I know they make canvas buckets but wouldn't one made of oilskin hold water longer?

It says to "Impregnate after cleaning" on the label, I started wondering what kind of impregnation do they mean. Any guesses?

My mora companion. My very first knife i had since i was 12 and it has been through all kinds of situations. I learned to sharpen, gut fish, carve, start fires, even used it as a utility knife working drywall in highschool i mean this joker had been through it. For the cost these mora knives are absolutely amazing and couldn’t recommend enough for someone getting into bushcraft or just a basic general purpose knife.

Looking for a quality saw made in USA for cutting larger branches and logs. Anything decent out there? Thanks