They are all taking sense, which is more that I normally do
I have a "possibles" list for my explorer scout as follows:
Get first :
1 - Frost Mara knife (£10), I love mine
2 - A print of
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=11571, it tells you how to sharpen a kife cheaply (£5!)
3 - Collect bits of string, boot laces etc for experimenting with.
4 - A couple of cheap lighters (70p) are more waterproof that matches, but keep keep one unused for when the first wears out
5 - Collect plastic bottles and small containers (like baccy tins) for keeping things like washing up liquid and toilet paper in.
6 - Water bottle, you can reuse plastic coke bottles a few times altough I hear that this is not recommended now. Avoid cheap sports bottles, they tend to leak and trap dirt.
6 - Keep you eye out for an cheap stainless steel pot or vessel to use as a billy, but not too big as that takes longer to boil.
7 - First aid kit, £1 from Wilkinson or make one up in a small tin. Include a dozen medium sized plasters, a medium bandage, triangular bandage, small tweezers, a few non-alcohol wipes, a few hydrocolloid plasters if you plan to walk far, a couple of small bags for medical rubbish. I also carry a couple of eyewash pods for when I get grit or ash in them. Learn to use the kit properly on yourself.
8 - Stainless steel spoon (50p from charity shop?)
Later on when you have money:
1 - Ray Mears's Buschcraft Rucksack Edition (£10). Its well written and assumes no prior knowledge or experiance
2 - 58 pattern water bottles are really good but only buy one with "Keep Away From Heat of Flame", the NATO crows foot symbol and a long number embossed up on the surface, anything else is a clone and not as good.
3 - Crusader Cups (£12) and Military Trangias (£12) are both extremely good but you dont need then at first, unless you like toys, in which case the trangia is good play value.
4 - A day sack (£10) to put your stuff in, check the stitching if you can, there will be good and bad ones in each batch. Any sign of a seam fraying or the end of a strap visible where it should not be then avoid it.
5 - Head torch (£12) check cheap ones they tend not to be as bright, these really are a case of pay more get better.
6 - Sleeping bag (£30-70) is a subject in its own right.
7 - Tent and roll mat or tarp and hammock
8 - Bahco Laplander folding saw (£18 from
www.amazon.co.uk) not essential until you regularly make fires
9 - Boots....
10 - Coat...
11 - Trousers...
12 - etc....
Finally a subscription to "Bushcraft Magazine", see the front page of this website for deatils.
As a general rule I keep my kit seperate to the domestic stuff, it avoids arguments and I kinow where it is when I need it. Most kit should last for years, but always go out with the thought that something will get lost of broken and try not to get too bothered by it.
