perfection
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youll see me in kit threads all the time, but mostly plugging the cheap alternatives or questioning the value of stuff
sounds a bit controlling to me...
I'm all for blowing spare cash on stuff I want. It's why I go to work.
I'm all for blowing spare cash on stuff I want. It's why I go to work.
sensing little pokes here mate?
im on the sick so blowing cash on anything aint an option, but even if it were, never really been my thing
im on the sick so blowing cash on anything aint an option, but even if it were, never really been my thing
Of course little pokes... I'll try and be more blunt in future... not because of you but I'd rather have a laugh than come off as snide.
yes I was having a bit of a laugh.
I have also spent loads of time out of work... it sucks... in those times I tend not to buy anything, preferring to wait until I have money again before spending what I like.
Feast and famine works for me I guess.
Actually, the kit I have now has me looking at everything else and thinking I'm more than happy with what I have. Not because i'm being tight but because it'll probably all outlast me.
yes I was having a bit of a laugh.
I have also spent loads of time out of work... it sucks... in those times I tend not to buy anything, preferring to wait until I have money again before spending what I like.
Feast and famine works for me I guess.
Actually, the kit I have now has me looking at everything else and thinking I'm more than happy with what I have. Not because i'm being tight but because it'll probably all outlast me.
I think there is a bigger issue here.
How many times do we see threads asking for kit lists for a night out and listing hammocks, bivvy bags, tarps, umpteen changes of clothes, an axe, knife, kukri and a back up knife to make sure.... huge redundencies of kit.
Isn't this supposed to be a BUSHCRAFT forum? replacing your reliance on shop-bought gadgets with knowledge?
I'm all for the right piece of kit for a job but we are in danger of getting caught up in kit worshiping. There is only so much you can carry. And you are going to be happier if you carry less.
How many times do we see threads asking for kit lists for a night out and listing hammocks, bivvy bags, tarps, umpteen changes of clothes, an axe, knife, kukri and a back up knife to make sure.... huge redundencies of kit.
Isn't this supposed to be a BUSHCRAFT forum? replacing your reliance on shop-bought gadgets with knowledge?
I'm all for the right piece of kit for a job but we are in danger of getting caught up in kit worshiping. There is only so much you can carry. And you are going to be happier if you carry less.
it probably helps to be blunt with me . . . lol
my kit im happy with too, I see fantastic stuff on here and drool over some of it, much like i might drool over an aston martin in a car showroom. but end of the day, an aston martins an expensive bit of tat aint it?
my kit im happy with too, I see fantastic stuff on here and drool over some of it, much like i might drool over an aston martin in a car showroom. but end of the day, an aston martins an expensive bit of tat aint it?
And how many of us want to use yet another precious weekend in the woods building another damn shelter???
Seriously treemonk, once you've built a few shelters, it's done... ok.
By the time I had made cordage, lit a fire, built a shelter, made a flint knife, bodged some chairs and caught, prepared and eaten dinner I'd be late for work on Monday morning. So yes we understand about bushcraft but get a grip before you go on on some ill advised preachy rant will you?!?
Just because we don't want to go through that every single time we're out doesn't mean you can tell us off... ok.
Seriously treemonk, once you've built a few shelters, it's done... ok.
By the time I had made cordage, lit a fire, built a shelter, made a flint knife, bodged some chairs and caught, prepared and eaten dinner I'd be late for work on Monday morning. So yes we understand about bushcraft but get a grip before you go on on some ill advised preachy rant will you?!?
Just because we don't want to go through that every single time we're out doesn't mean you can tell us off... ok.
The ideal thing to aspire to is to get out more often, time and opportunity is the most important thing after knowledge..
Dwardo, I think the main quality for a person to have is a good attitude... time, opportunity and knowledge don't stop some people from being complete... well, i'll leave the last word blank.
Everyone seems to be taking everything so seriously these days.
Everyone seems to be taking everything so seriously these days.
Surely (and going slightly off thread) bushcraft is about what the indivudual wants out of it, knowledge/kit/time in the wilds/peace and quiet/time with friends etc etc. Me, I'm an unabashed kit junky who likes to learn new stuff in new places (although I have a tendency to forget it very quickly!)
Anyone else - well that's down to them.
Anyone else - well that's down to them.
Moab, you're right 100%...
This is becaue whenever someone tries to define bushcraft someone else says "well what about..." It's like answering the question what have the romans ever done for us.
This is becaue whenever someone tries to define bushcraft someone else says "well what about..." It's like answering the question what have the romans ever done for us.
Surely the best bit of kit that you ca have is your own knowledge?
With skills and knowledge you should know how to do things without needing as much kit as someone who lacks the skills and knowledge!
Some people will be happy with minimal kit because they feel confident with that kit and confident they know howto do everything they need to do.
other people may find that having more kit makes the feel more confident in their skills - a tool for every job so to speak.
With skills and knowledge you should know how to do things without needing as much kit as someone who lacks the skills and knowledge!
Some people will be happy with minimal kit because they feel confident with that kit and confident they know howto do everything they need to do.
other people may find that having more kit makes the feel more confident in their skills - a tool for every job so to speak.
johnnytheboy
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I think if there was the prefect piece of kit then ebay would go bust.
Drew I have been reflecting allot about things, my pike fishing gear i bought before i went to uni when i was an apprentice, it was the best of gear then, and i spent allot of cash on it buying the best. But I joined a fishing club recently for the social side and have been on a few outings with them and my stuff is so out of date compared with some of the guys new to the sport, i think some of them kinda look down their nose at my stuff, but like saddle tramp says allthough i bought the best kit back then i have without knowing it focused on using it and knowing what to do with it to catch fish (knowledge) the thing is i know what todo with the kit i have.
I am new to this bushcraft stuff and i'm buying a canoe soon, so i'm trying to focus on gaining the knowledge and experince than spending loads of cash on kit. It is however hard not to accumulate loads of stuff esp when you consider all the wee nick nacks you pick up for pocket change. I have been looking at my stuff recently and trying to pick out things that are doublers maybe i have replaced an old one with another or just over bought, now its time to have a ebay clear out sale.
The thing is with bushcraft, the kit you use isn't everyday possesions for everyone, axes, knifes, dutch ovens etc, so it is fun to buy it then fun to get out there and use it. If your still staying with your parents, then its a great time as you have allot of dispossable income, its very easy to end up having loads of stuff.
Its the chicken and egg thing i suppose, the kit comes before the knowledge unless you are able to borrow some, there is allot of talk on here about kit, and in away its good, as you know folk are going to buy the kit them go out and mess about with it, and if its no good then they will buy more kit, but the experinece and knowledge they have gained with the old kit is still there. So in away who cares as long as everyone is enjoying what ever it is they are doing, buying or using.
Drew I have been reflecting allot about things, my pike fishing gear i bought before i went to uni when i was an apprentice, it was the best of gear then, and i spent allot of cash on it buying the best. But I joined a fishing club recently for the social side and have been on a few outings with them and my stuff is so out of date compared with some of the guys new to the sport, i think some of them kinda look down their nose at my stuff, but like saddle tramp says allthough i bought the best kit back then i have without knowing it focused on using it and knowing what to do with it to catch fish (knowledge) the thing is i know what todo with the kit i have.
I am new to this bushcraft stuff and i'm buying a canoe soon, so i'm trying to focus on gaining the knowledge and experince than spending loads of cash on kit. It is however hard not to accumulate loads of stuff esp when you consider all the wee nick nacks you pick up for pocket change. I have been looking at my stuff recently and trying to pick out things that are doublers maybe i have replaced an old one with another or just over bought, now its time to have a ebay clear out sale.
The thing is with bushcraft, the kit you use isn't everyday possesions for everyone, axes, knifes, dutch ovens etc, so it is fun to buy it then fun to get out there and use it. If your still staying with your parents, then its a great time as you have allot of dispossable income, its very easy to end up having loads of stuff.
Its the chicken and egg thing i suppose, the kit comes before the knowledge unless you are able to borrow some, there is allot of talk on here about kit, and in away its good, as you know folk are going to buy the kit them go out and mess about with it, and if its no good then they will buy more kit, but the experinece and knowledge they have gained with the old kit is still there. So in away who cares as long as everyone is enjoying what ever it is they are doing, buying or using.
Hey Drew, half the fun of being young is finding things out..So buy your kit if you want to mate, but here's an idea (it worked with my son when he was your age and still living at home..
) Get yourself a big double wardrobe or something similar for your bushy kit. When it's full up the rule is..you don't buy anything else until you've made room for it.. in other words you must get rid of something to make room for the new kit..got it? That way your parents stay happy, and you find out whether you really need 25 knives after all.. Best bit is, you can keep buying, 'upgrading' if you like to think of it that way and your parents don't need to send a search and rescue team into your bedroom when you haven't been seen for a few days and they are worried you may be buried under 19 tarps and or half a ton of Billys..
(With my son it was sea fishing gear, I made the above rule when I couldn't get into the shed one day....full of fishing rods)..
) Get yourself a big double wardrobe or something similar for your bushy kit. When it's full up the rule is..you don't buy anything else until you've made room for it.. in other words you must get rid of something to make room for the new kit..got it? That way your parents stay happy, and you find out whether you really need 25 knives after all.. Best bit is, you can keep buying, 'upgrading' if you like to think of it that way and your parents don't need to send a search and rescue team into your bedroom when you haven't been seen for a few days and they are worried you may be buried under 19 tarps and or half a ton of Billys.. (With my son it was sea fishing gear, I made the above rule when I couldn't get into the shed one day....full of fishing rods)..
Could we not define Bushcraft as any task that can be related to the outdoors, that is about 80% performed by a one human, and not a machine? Might need to be less, not sure but would have to be at least 51%, or what is the point?
I would argue that we do not seek perfection in our kit, but in our self. We want a set of skills that the modern world no longer values, or requires.
As I said before when this came up, I think it would be easy to define the base Bushcraft skills, the things we can all do. It is only when we start to specialise that it becomes tricky.
I think part of Bushcrafting is not to seek perfection in our kit, but to look backward, or to the tasks, for what will perform them. is not part of what we do comprise on things for other reasons, that have nothing to do with, the task we are going to perform.
I confess I was determined to only read this thread because it seemed to be inflaming some very polarised views - but I've given in!
Most of us that have been doing this for a long while have been through the kit 'collection' phase; in some cases only in our minds 'cos the cash wasn't there. But most of us have also been through the 'how little can I go out into the wild with' phase and, for those that haven't tried it, that's when it gets exciting. If you take the Land Rover, tent, kitchen sink and a gas stove it's not bushcraft! (emphasis on the word Craft).
I was a member of a local fly fishing syndicate with a lot of experts that had loads of kit. I would turn up with one rod, one line, and no flies. I could tie a fly on the bank from a wild goose feather and catch as many if not more fish - practice at the craft is what it's all about.
But I do love my kit - that's my collection; most of it rarely comes with me into the wild!
So, buy stuff that's good but with soul: stuff you will still hold dear in forty years time.
Most of us that have been doing this for a long while have been through the kit 'collection' phase; in some cases only in our minds 'cos the cash wasn't there. But most of us have also been through the 'how little can I go out into the wild with' phase and, for those that haven't tried it, that's when it gets exciting. If you take the Land Rover, tent, kitchen sink and a gas stove it's not bushcraft! (emphasis on the word Craft).
I was a member of a local fly fishing syndicate with a lot of experts that had loads of kit. I would turn up with one rod, one line, and no flies. I could tie a fly on the bank from a wild goose feather and catch as many if not more fish - practice at the craft is what it's all about.
But I do love my kit - that's my collection; most of it rarely comes with me into the wild!
So, buy stuff that's good but with soul: stuff you will still hold dear in forty years time.
I think this is one of the best posts so far. From what I read, most people practice camping, or wild camping at best. The word craft is the key here, if you don't focus on a skill based experience it's not about craft.
Of course now the mob will fetch the rope, cos you're not supposed to define bushcraft... Screw 'em! Camping is camping and bushcraft is something different.
The irony is of course that it's a lot easier talking about something concrete, like gear and kit, than experiences and practical skill, so I can see why kit chatter tends to have more readers than for instance out and about.
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