The Fashion Thing.

[Vulpes]

I just take what I need from the hobby in terms of the knowledge it offers. Some things I take more seriously and some less seriously. I wear what I like according to what I think is suitable and practical attire for the occasion. Mostly though, to be honest I'm walking around in OG trousers and M&S jumpers that are full of holes. Wear what you're comfortable in. I'm not a fan of generic outdoor wear because I don't like the materials, design or colours.

I think this whole perceived fashion thing has come from the recent resurgence in the popularity of bushcraft and the enormous overuse of the word from it's commercialisation over the years. It's grown into something big, but I'm sure it'll die down in a few years and only the hardcore fans will be left as usual. If I'm correct, there was a bushcraft fad in the 1970s/80s after the self-sufficiency thing? Seems to be a fair few bushcraft/survival fusion books from that time on my shelf.

If you'd ask me if I was a bushcrafter, I'd say no. I'm sick to death of today's need for nomenclature.

One last thing...haven't we heard a few threads like this before?

 

[Samon]

I'd say untill someone starts reading about 'bushcraft' and all the 'in' things (forums, magazines etc), I doubt they'll end up looking like a hardcore mearsy clone. It's when people come together and talk about and show off all their fancy gear that certain items become 'fashionable' instead of just appropriate and then begin to show up and become desirable items for alot of enthusiastic campers!

I couldn't care less what people choose to wear or look like, I'm no looker myself but when it comes to outdoorsy clothes I find my charity shop goretex jacket,hoody, jeans and a pair of old dr martens do me just fine! (lets not foregt my fila backpack that can barely fit my sleeping bag in! )

 

[MattB]

Steve, I just had a wonderful image of you walking around Hemel in that lot.

He could maybe get away with it in Milton Keynes?

 

[rg598]

I think there is certainly a “bushcraft look”, and it is something we can call fashion. The fashion varies depending on your area. For example, ventile is not part of the US bushcraft fashion. While the Ray Mears look seems very prevalent in the UK (every bushcraft instructor I have seen seems to be out of the Ray Mears factory), it is much less likely to see in the US. I’m sure we have our own items and looks.


Now, the question is, do people select this clothing based on looks, or is it the result of practical choices streamlined by limited available options.


I personally believe that the “look” guides our choices a lot more than practicality or limited options. Most of the clothing items people wear that constitute the “look” are far from practical, and the choices on the market these days are huge. Yes, if you want to look like an 18th century trapper or a 19th century logger, your choices are limited, but the selection of that “look” to begin with is an aesthetic one, not a practical one. People have crossed Antarctica, climbed Everest, followed the length of the Amazon, and worked their whole lives in the backwoods wearing modern clothing of all sorts. Yet, for some reason all of us require wool, ventile, a leather hat and a canvas backpack to carve some spoons by the fire? Seems unlikely.


There is nothing wrong with wanting to look a certain way. After all, as others have mentioned, this is a hobby. But let’s be up front about it, and not try to twist data around to make our aesthetic choices seem more practical.

 

[Vulpes]

Furthermore, when I made the leap and became more involved in this hobby c.2002, I admit, I narrow mindedly bought tons of kit from the RM website and scoured reviews on products within the community. I don't know why, but I let go of my common sense and cash on numerous occassions and ended up feeling disappointed with my purchases in the end. The Swanndri Mosgiel for example - iconic piece of bushcraft kit - costed £115 at the time - carp at stopping a gale on the South Downs in February. Live and learn.

Mostly based on experiences like this, I use my common sense and judgement more to make a wiser purchase and I take brown noser's reviews in magazines with a pinch of salt. I also look to my mentors to what they use and wear quite often.

 

[lannyman8]

im wearing almost the same stuff, i use walking trousers and have just got some good ones in a nice "bushcraft" colour for when im out, now i never get things unless they are cheep tough and will last some time, here comes the unusual part, they are from the Next sale, turns out they are very good quality quite thick so tough wearing and all round good for £18....

the only main change is that i now use less cammo where possible, but i still use lots, as its what im used too...

 

[Wayland]

Curiosity question, but I think all of the input in this thread so far is from the male forum members, Just wondering if any of the female members had a different take on things, or dress significantly differently from the men. <Snip

That's a very good question.

Snip> One last thing...haven't we heard a few threads like this before?

Yep. About five years ago I guess, when this thread was started.

 

[vizsla]

The only "bushcraft" item i realy wear is my swanndri ranger other than that i use a m65 jacket, woolrich field jacket. Then shirts some wool and alot are the check shooting type from game fairs mainly. Trousers i like brown cotton cords, and moleskins.
Im not realy into shopping so alot is from events like game fairs.
And im not into wearing all green i like browns and other natural leafy colours.
Im basicly wearing the same as iv always wore as it all works well for my needs but most items have been adapted in some way

 

[ReamviThantos]

This thread makes me thank god i'm a loner Sorry but too much analysis makes those hatefull intellectuals complete. If someone cares that much about fashion or whether your kit is more expensive than your neighbours then my opinion is you need to get a life and hopefully a hobby more concerned with self agrandisement. IMHO

 

[demographic]

Snickers floorlaying trousers with kneepads (use them at work)? Check.
T shirt with Yamaha/Maico/CZ/Ren & Stimpy picture/logo? Check.
Workboots? or sometimes Desert issue army boots? Check.


Yeah, fashion victim me.

 

[TurboGirl]

Curiosity question, but I think all of the input in this thread so far is from the male forum members, Just wondering if any of the female members had a different take on things, or dress significantly differntly from the men....

I'm new to the thread but it's very interesting... I have a bsc in clothing design & production which convinced me that fashion is a rip off. I guess I take the same approach to my clothing- it's all about the balance of affordability against quality of production and material, so its as likely to be a good quality wool jumper from a jumble sale as exMoD mans gear- but they don't fit so well as female cut garments so it's no fashion show! I'd love to get back into the industry and work with english countrywear companies to get some choice into the market. Country/ steam fairs are a good place to stock up on cheapies towards the end of the season

 

[xylaria]

Curiosity question, but I think all of the input in this thread so far is from the male forum members, Just wondering if any of the female members had a different take on things, or dress significantly differntly from the men.

My kit is almost entirely charity shop purchases, plus a Tilley hat.

I did post some where on the orginal thread. I dont really care what anyone else wears. I dont really care what I wear. There is a bushcraft sort of uniform, which is more noticable in english meets, where i think go outdoors and millets is nearer, in wales there is a tendancy to wear the country gent/shooting gear look. It is is not fashion thing, it is just what kit is available and is practical. I wear a lot of regatta stuff, and stuff from charity shops. It going to get burn holes, covered in mud and stink of smoke.

I have got some trousers that are supposed to be blokes army trousers. They had no tackle room and fit me fine.

 

[sandbender]

At this time of year with the temperatures knocking on 40C I generally wear sandals and a pair of s/h football shorts. About as far from the 'uniform' as it is possible to get.

 

[Laurentius]

Well sometimes I wear a uniform, I have to confess to wearing an old tweed jacket around the Uni, it suits me a lot better than the current fashion whatever that is. A lot of the time I just like to wear what is practical for the situation in hand, and in hot weather I am a shorts and sandals man too. I feel particularly uncomfortable in a suit, though I wouldn't turn up to a wedding or funeral without one. I could of course complain as an old timer that Army Surplus is not what it used to be

BTW I bought my leather bush hat a few years back because a female friend encouraged me to, and said it suited me, oh the vanity of it .... Mind you I had been wearing an Akubra before that and some variety of bush hat since my teens.

 

[ol smokey]

I agree with a lot that has been said, especially,that. We have no right to be critical of other peoples choices. They have the right to think what they like about others but should keep their thoughts to themselves. This is where disharmony creeps in to the forum. For my part, I do not really care what others choose to wear, that is their business and for their own reasons. I personally tend to choose muted colours, such as olive and browns so as to merge with my surroundings, I am interested in nature and do not wish to scare off any of the birds or animals I hope to see, any more than necessary. and I have done this long before I had even heard of bushcraft, Ray Mears , or Bear Grills.
Probably since my Boy Scout days, I favour broad brimmed hats, because they protect you from the sun, and also the. Rain i got my first one when in Canada a long time ago . On a once in a lifetime holiday there " a Tilly " yes expensive. I have however known times of hardship in my youth, but I now believe that if you choose good quality and can afford it then nine times out off ten it will outlast a similar item of poorer quality several times over. Like a lot of other members. Ihad to get myself a Mora knife, in fact several, just to see what they were like, however I personally do not like them, andto the disgust of some members I have paid £200. For a Damascus knife which I appreciate the workmanship of plus
it fits my hands well and does its job for me. It has real body to it and it weighs a ton.

 

[Miyagi]

Good thread, thanks for resurrecting it.

I've always been impressed by Wayland's practical gear to be honest, as seen in the Paul Kirtley course fotos.

I wouldn't wear the green outfit as made and modelled by Tombear though, as a small fella I'd be mistaken for one of Santa's helpers.

The clothes I wear could be said to be bush-fashion;

An old barbour copy body warmer/gilet, of various weights depending on the season - not a fishing vest.
A checked shirt, t shirt or hoodie.
Old army lightweights/tesco cargo pants and trouser elastics/cargo shorts. (Not desert shorts in a Don Estelle stylee)
Pair of boots/sandals in summer, the rest of the year its wellies.
Baseball cap/flat cap or cricketer's floppy hat.
Bergan or daysack depending on the trip etc.

The thing is, I've been dressing like this since the mid 80's and my "going out" gear is still short sleeved shirt, faded jeans and desert boots.

I don't go out in DPM nor Chef's whites as these were my work clothes at various times past.

Liam

p.s. My elder brother had a Davy Crocket 'coon skin hat like Fess Parker wore in the films.
Now that would be cool...

 

[KevinH]

Really interesting thread especially as Im just starting out and getting my gear together.

It does seem as though there is a Bushcraft fashion so to speak, but within that there seems to be a sub division, oldsy worldsy (look & natural materials etc etc) and tactical or military (modern fibres etc etc). I suppose you can only do so much green, brown and/or dpm outdoorsy clothing thing without all starting to look the same lol (yes I know a lot of you don't do it). I for one have gone down that route purely from a blend in, get closer to nature and be as unobtrusive as possible thing (no dpm yet but still much to the amusement of the wife).

It does seem that you guys seem to wear this stuff day to day, please correct me if I'm wrong. I certainly do not, my bushcrafty outdoorsy gear is nothing like I would wear around Birmingham city center, now that certainly would not be blending in to your surroundings lmao. No I don't wear track suits lol...Im a polo (designer I'm afraid), jeans etc man.

Now back to the fashion thing. Maybe it's just me but I have normal clothes, shooting clothes (checkered shirts etc), bushcraft clothes & walking gear you get the idea. So yes what ever your into there is a look but there is normally a practical reason for most of those looks in my opinion.

Equipment is a very interesting one. There appears to be quite a lot of division between the Oldy worldy stuff and new tech or tactical etc. I for one really appreciate the look, workmanship and materials used in the Oldy worldy stuff but like the practicality and again look in some cases of the modern or tactical (I think I'm a rare mix). So for example I love Maxpedition gear but also the Duluth bags etc, I own 2 mora's but have ordered a knife from Toby at TP as when I looked at his knives I was blown away by the workmanship and would consider it a privilege to use such a tool, work of art (yes I know I don't have the skills yet to appreciate it etc etc)

Anywho I could go on and on as I have done. To end I will say its a personal thing what you wear and use!!


Kev