I was genuinely wondering what the others in NZ and Norway thought and why the UK was a joke, I also wanted to know what they did that was so different.
Can you let me know what folk in those countries do do? and what do they think?
Hi,
I can Speak for NZ with some authority as I've been here for 5 years now The last time I was in Norway was with 3 Cdo Brigade so that's a bit different.
Ok NZ..
1. Swanndri's are not the norm out tramping etc at least not in my experience here in the NI. You do see them from time to time out and about mainly I see then being worn by farmers on quad bikes and folk contracting on roadworks etc. By far the norm is a cheapish fleece from either Kathmandu or a fleece pack of clothing from Hunting and Fishing ( $99.00 for 5 bits!!) occasionally a Swazi fleece. I'd say Kiwi's percieve Nylon fleece to be a bit better than a wooly Swanndri and there certianly a lot cheaper and both are made in China.
2. You very rarely see anyone wearing a Swazi Thar Jacket unless they are a very serious hunter or Minted. They are just too expensive for most Kiwi's again A cheaper Goretex jacket from Kathmandu and a lot of Trampers wear a PU nylon non breatheable jacket from Oringi.
3. Ventile is pretty much unheard of. There was one guy making Ventile 'waterproof' jackets down in Christchurch but he died IIRC and the business folded and the stuff was so expensive it was laughable.
Bushcraft here is just a generic term that covers the skill set needed to operate effectively in the NZ bush and on the open tops below the snowline. It is generally does not incorporate wood craft and carving and manufacturing techniques. Nor Primative living skills, Nor generally foraging skills. Most Kiwi Trampers will know how to constuct an emergency shelter in the bush. A lot will happily use a fly ( tarp / poncho) for year round camping augmenting it with a back country hut. I rarely see Hammocks in use. Like the real Kiwi we're ground dwellers for the most part. Lighting a fire is a survival skill most Kiwi Trampers / hunters will know both in the dry and wet. They're most likely to use a bic lighter rather than a firesteel for it. However it's less common to see fires being lit as it's percieved to be bad for the environment to light a fire every time you want to have a brew or a kerfuddle etc.
Hunters may have a sheath knife it's unlikely in my experience to be a really expensive hand made blade Gerber is considered to be a top brand here ,Trampers generally carry a pocket knife or SAK. Axes are not too common Granfors is not imported.
Getting anywhere involves a good walk ( tramp) fitness is important and the terrain is very different from the UK and UK Woodland or Moorland. If you really want to get into the Ulu then you'll fly in either fix winged or Helo especially for a hunt.
With a very low population density you can get away from it really quickly. I've Done a heap of: Climbing, Tramping, Hunting and Mountaineering here and in the UK. It's nothing like the UK at all. Not that the UK is bad far from it. But don't imagine that NZ is somehow the same but a bit more lumpy.
Outdoor kit here is generally very very expensive so people tend to make do. I'd observe that Kiwi's are less 'obsessed' with kit than folk are in the UK. Hunters tend to 'go on' a bit about firearms but that's generally the guys who are not doing that much the blokes who are doing a lot of shooting tend to have a firearm that looks pretty nasty but gets the job done.
So generally there are not a lot of us wandering around the Bush with a Swanndri Ranger and Swazi Tahr jacket and a Merino Beanie on with a Svord knife swinging on our hips..
Sorry to dissapont you. I found a lot of the 'Bushcraft kit' or uniform I brought out with me from the UK such as my Ventile jacket, Wilkinson Sword RM Knife and Granfors SFA have been languishing in the shed.
I've had particularly good service here in NZ from the following bits of kit.
1. Berghaus Lightning Goretex jacket, Simple and waterproof.
2. Meindl Desert Fox Boots very quick to dry.
3. Berghaus Vulcan 'Bergen' simply the best.
4. La Sportiva Makalu Boots, Superb in the Alpine environment.
5. Swazi Micro fleece T shirt, top kit worn all year.
6. Hell Hansen 'Hairy Bear' fleece Jacket,Ugly but warm
7. Macpac Shorts.
8. Icebreaker merino top,made in china not NZ but still nice and toasty.
As to what do I think about Bushcraft in the UK and the forum.
I think Bush craft in the UK is a lot different than here in NZ for all of the reasons stated above. But mainly because we don't have TV as a major influencer here in NZ. We get BG on Discovery and Prime. 'Outdoors with Geoff' a local Hunting and fishing programme. RM doesn't appear on TV much at all I think his Walkabout series was on last year. My perception is TV personalities still have a reasonable level of influence on the UK Bushcraft 'scene' and to a degree set a bit of a trend.
I personally struggle to see / understand the need to equip yourself with the latest and greatest bit of kit to practicion bushcraft in the relatively benign environment of UK woodland when legions of Kiwis are roaming around less than benign NZ bush in pretty basic kit. However having made that statement. I also fully understand that part of any hobby or pursuit is getting the kit and equipment together and enjoying using it. So each to his own.
I've dipped in and out of this forum since 2003 and I do not have a massive post tally however on reflection I'd say it 'feels' less friendly than it used to.
There you go a Kiwi (or Johnny foreigner's) perspective.
Cheers
John