Modern bushcraft !?!

Sep 8, 2012
239
2
west sussex
it worked out alright quit interesting, I think the nearest it got to even handbags was me and another guy
sniping each other about fishing, if you thought that was bad you should have a look on the fishing forums
you get blokes threatening to punch each others heads in PMSL :-D
 

Bluffer

Nomad
Apr 12, 2013
464
1
North Yorkshire
All the makings of a good essay to be fair mate, as this is clearly a subject that people get passionate about. I've been offered a handmade leather pouch today, which I'll probably use to carry a titanium mug, I'm a bit confused now as to whether I'm a traditionalist or a young thruster?
 
I have a mixture of old skip dived tat, and gucci kit, as and when funds allow I'm upgrading all the kit to full-bore-gucci, so by the time I die i'll be able to leave the kids a full set of gucci bushcrafting,stalking and fishing kit - obviously it'll all be hopelessly out of date by then and they can heave the lot into a skip for the next saddo to adopt, before buying their own. I just hope they dont make the mistake I did - taking it outside and getting it muddy
 

CACTUS ELF

Need to contact Admin...
Feb 16, 2012
108
0
Cheshire
I have been asked to write an article on modern kit and equipment and its uses in bushcraft in 2013.

I was just wondering what people's thoughts are, what do you guys think on the issue, I enjoy modern kit I must confess to being a bit of a jack door when it come to shinny kit.

But I am fascinated with the more traditional methods and the skills used, but I much prefer wearing gortex and full strech fabrics than wax jackets and wool.

Can the two mix or is there a hard core bushcrafters scene!
Maybe go with what Bear Grylls wears, he finds himself in various extreme situations and always has a fire. Never seen his clothes get burnt, but then he's a bushcraft master ;) i have seen him do fire by friction too, thats old school bushcraft in modern clothes :) atb cactus ;)
 

John Fenna

Lifetime Member & Maker
Oct 7, 2006
23,305
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Pembrokeshire
Maybe go with what Bear Grylls wears, he finds himself in various extreme situations and always has a fire. Never seen his clothes get burnt, but then he's a bushcraft master ;) i have seen him do fire by friction too, thats old school bushcraft in modern clothes :) atb cactus ;)

The only clip of BG doing fire by friction showed absolutely rubbish technique and an ember I doubt ever came from his efforts!
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,120
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Florida
Never had Merino wool, at least that I am aware of. But had plenty of wool base and mid layers and still use them.

But the main idea of wool is not that it will keep you dry, or wick away moisture. The idea is that even when it's wet it keeps around 70% of it's insulating capability. I.e it keeps you dry even when wet.
But wool takes it's time to dry to, and when wet it becomes even heavier than it already is. The thing with wool is that you accept that you are going to be wet anyway, so you use a base/mid layer that will still keep you warm when you are......

That's all quite true. BUT! The main purpose of boxer shorts isn't insulation. It's to keep you from chafing; and that ain't happening if they're wet! I don't really even consider them a "base layer" in the sense of insulation; that would be my longjohns or union suit in cold weather. In hot weather my ONLY layer is my T-shirt and shorts (both cotton or cotton synthetic blends) and loads upon loads of sunscreen at 30SPF or higher. If going into real woods (sawbriars and snakes) i hot weather, I change the shorts for thick jeans (either denim or even 1000 denier cordura)
 
Last edited:

Niels

Full Member
Mar 28, 2011
2,582
3
27
Netherlands
Never had Merino wool, at least that I am aware of. But had plenty of wool base and mid layers and still use them.

But the main idea of wool is not that it will keep you dry, or wick away moisture. The idea is that even when it's wet it keeps around 70% of it's insulating capability. I.e it keeps you dry even when wet.
But wool takes it's time to dry to, and when wet it becomes even heavier than it already is. The thing with wool is that you accept that you are going to be wet anyway, so you use a base/mid layer that will still keep you warm when you are.

Modern materials is much better at wicking moisture out, they are lighter than wool also, and dry time is shorter. But they smell terrible from sweat, and lose much more of their insulating capabillity when they do get overwhelmed.

The debate is somewhat the same between down and syntehtics. When I was buying a new sleeping bag this winter, I was debating with myself if I should get a down or a syntehtic bag. Since I plan to use it laying under the nothing but the stars, and this is Northern Norway on the coast we get fairly wet winters, I chose a syntetic bags, as it's hollow fibers will retain some insulation power even when wet. While down collapses and becomes useless in that condition. The penalty is added weight and bulk for the synthetic bag...but I haul my winter kit on a pulk, so no problem...

And the pulk is definately modern with it's plastic material. I did look at an old school wooden pulk from the Norwegian army. But the pulk alone weighs 17 kilos empty, so a 2,5 kilo plastic paris Expedition pulk it was. My old school, heavy winter gear is heavy enough.

What to use must be up to each of us. We all have to walk our own hike.

Wool doesn't keep help when it's wet at all. You'd be better of naked than in wet wool.
Read this if you want:)

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.nl/2012/03/does-wool-keep-you-warm-when-wet.html
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,120
68
Florida

CACTUS ELF

Need to contact Admin...
Feb 16, 2012
108
0
Cheshire
The only clip of BG doing fire by friction showed absolutely rubbish technique and an ember I doubt ever came from his efforts!
yeah maybe, you never know whats real on tv. However he has got that new pro knife with built in fire steel so he probably doesnt need to bother with bow drills etc. I bet he's like the ATeam all in one with that bad boy :)
 

Skaukraft

Settler
Apr 8, 2012
539
4
Norway
Natural fibres just makes me feel better. Synthetics smell like crap, it is noisy and I do not feel well in them.
The only reason I use synthetic clothes and kit is price and avalibility (and weight in a few occations).
 

Greg

Full Member
Jul 16, 2006
4,335
260
Pembrokeshire
@ Cactus Elf

Have you seen how BG uses a firesteel ?
Hit and hope for the best springs to mind...very example if you ask me!
 

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