When I started as a kid in the 70`s the kit were a little different than today. We didn`t called it bushcraft nor survival.
We mostly used the clothes worn daily when out in the woods, like jeans, denim jacket and sneakers if it was dry weather, but most of us used Viking wellies (bought my first leather boots in 1984). Some had army boots, and army clothes (members of the national guard usually).
I had an old navy blue cotton anorak that I used in winter (my father used it when he was young). In the mid 80`s I bought a British DPM army jacket (probably influenced by the Falkland war
).
If it was raining we used raingear, usually made of a plastic/rubber coated cloth, olive green or blaze orange. In the 80`s we got lighter, thinner varieties made of thin rubberized? nylon, but those really sucked in hard rain (which it usually was).
In winter we used knitted wool hats, wool scarfs, wool socks, wool mittens or padded nylon one (polvott). Some had wool (vadmel) trousers but we also used jeans with wool long johns as a base layer. Usually the same clothes as used in summer with lots of wool added.
We didnt go on overnight trips in winter as we lacked gear (tents) and avalanches were frequently in the mountains. Winter activities was cross country skiing (wooden skis) and ice fishing.
Sleeping bags was usually Ajungilacs (not winter bags).
I used an old khaki colored canvas one I got from an old man I knew. I dont know the brand, possibly Gresshoppa. Good bag actually but a little heavy.
I got my first lightweight tent in the early 80`s (A frame) but we mostly stayed under large boulders or plastic tarps when we were out in the mountains.The tent was not wind proof. A friend of mine had 5 German zeltbahns which we used a lot.
Some people (adults) actually carried along 4 man ridge tent which weigh about 10 kilos
.
People often left gear hidden in different places (tarps, cooking pots
), usually in a scree, as not to carry the stuff up every time.
I have such storage in the mountains. Under a large boulder there is a gill net, cooking pots, matches, trash bags, coffee and so on. All possibly ruined as I havent been there since 1990.
Cooking pots were mostly the same then as now; aluminium trangias and coffee pots.
If we carried stoves it was usually Camping gaz propane/butane stoves or old pressure stoves(Høvik/Optimus). We also used trangias but most of us didnt like them. Too slow and burned to much fuel and in winter it was just as useless as propane/butane.
The knives were a variety of moras, helles, SAKs and saami knives, just as today. A hatchet was often brought along as well. No saws though.
Rucksacks were of external frame type, usually 50-70 litres (some also carried 30-40 liter ones).
My first anatomic ruck was bought in 85-86. A 60 litre DPM nylon ruck with hip belt, made by Wynnster (still have it).
The loads were quite heavy as the fishing was a little different then. We used fishing rods and otter boards but also carried along lots of gill nets and usually an inflatable boat (gill nets are more no go today).
The food was mostly the same then as now.
Of course the freeze dried foods from Dry tech, Mountain house and so on was not available, but I never buy these today either (only use them when Ive been on a military exercise and get them for free).
We carried loaf of bread, butter, jam, dry soups, pasta, sausages, coffee, bacon and eggs (crushed in a bottle).
The things that have changed most since I began roaming the forests are the clothing and tents. The gore-tex has made rain gear obsolete and the tents are far lighter and cheaper than they were then.
Tor
