I would love to do the woodsense course if I ever raise the funds. The journeyman was great fun though.
Woodlore Fundamental Bushcraft Course
- Thread starter Mesquite
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Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
I would love to do the woodsense course if I ever raise the funds. The journeyman was great fun though.
Don't forget to always wear a package of tissues on your person, you never know when nature calls you 
Don't forget to always wear a package of tissues on your person, you never know when nature calls you
Wise words Obi-Wan, wise words!
Last week I had the following gear with me...
(Weather was warm to hot every day and dry all the time except for one heavy downpour one night)
If its got an asterisk next to it I didn't use it
Lowe Alpine 50L pack
Thermarest Ultralite full-size
Snugpak Softie 3 (Summer, +5C comfort) with silk liner
Petzl headtorch
Bivi bag (Mine is crappy so I borrowed one of theirs -much more accommodating)
Hilleberg Akto tent
First aid kit
Insect Repellant Roll-on
Sunscreen*
2 sets of clothes (one for the journey home)
Extra over-shirt
Waterproof trousers* and jacket
Bush hat
Buff*
Sunglasses*
Boots
Trainers (worn around camp on the first night and never subsequently)
Things I'd add if I was going again: Wet-wipes and Alcohol hand gel.
I wouldn't bother with a book because there is no time to read it.
Jay
(Weather was warm to hot every day and dry all the time except for one heavy downpour one night)
If its got an asterisk next to it I didn't use it
Lowe Alpine 50L pack
Thermarest Ultralite full-size
Snugpak Softie 3 (Summer, +5C comfort) with silk liner
Petzl headtorch
Bivi bag (Mine is crappy so I borrowed one of theirs -much more accommodating)
Hilleberg Akto tent
First aid kit
Insect Repellant Roll-on
Sunscreen*
2 sets of clothes (one for the journey home)
Extra over-shirt
Waterproof trousers* and jacket
Bush hat
Buff*
Sunglasses*
Boots
Trainers (worn around camp on the first night and never subsequently)
Things I'd add if I was going again: Wet-wipes and Alcohol hand gel.
I wouldn't bother with a book because there is no time to read it.
Jay
I followed the kit list supplied by woodlore. I didn't use the following and wouldn't take them again;
Sun hat
Trainers
Knife fork bowl etc. Just take a spoon and the stainless mug you can buy from the site (Also a hanging hook forthe crusador mug you can buy from ebay for a pound).
Wash kit can be cut down. I would only take toothpaste, brush and soap + buy a shemagh instead of a towel. You will probably only wash once or twice
Suncreen, lipsalve and insect repellant.
I also took a book but other than as tinder it was no use.
Beofre the mini-hike I packed as they told us too and ended up with a huge bag full of the junk I didn't need and didn't use for the rest of the course.
Things I will take for my course next year;
Work gloves (absolute #1 priority and take them with you on the trek). Unless you like getting stung.
Money for when the shop turns up after the trek, a bit dim on their part but still.
A lighter and matches.
Extra bin liners, I needed about 4.
Extra para cord.
Wood glue for when you break your spoon like I did
And stupid as it may sound a camp chair, you would not beleive how much it hurts to sit on a log for a lenght of time (you can leave it when you go for your trek).
Things I bought after the course;
The small woodlore sleeping bag, nearly half the weight of my army bag.
Woodlore green belt pouch for my 1st aid kit that kept falling off my belt.
Combination water stone from Axminster supplies, sawn in half which much effort.
A shemagh instead of a towel.
Woodlore balaclava for sleeping in.
Smaller thermarest, now using prolite3 short instead of traillite (if you don't have a thermarest get one).
Aclohol hand cleaning gel.
I bought a hootchie which will replace the hilleberg tarp I took last time. Hilleberg is good but not as good and I only got it as the hootchie was out of stock. Or you can borrow one when you arrive.
I will get (but are an indulgence);
Sabre 45 rucksack + side pouches and yoke, Less than half the weight of my Berghaus vulcan.
The Fjallraven forester trousers, I used Army lightweights but ran out of pockets.
The Swanndri Ranger Shirt to replace my norgie which when wet gets cold.
The Swazi Anorak (if I can get it past the wife ).
You will start to understand why everyone says light after you have been lugging your kit round for a few days. But above all DO NOT FORGET GLOVES!!!
Sun hat
Trainers
Knife fork bowl etc. Just take a spoon and the stainless mug you can buy from the site (Also a hanging hook forthe crusador mug you can buy from ebay for a pound).
Wash kit can be cut down. I would only take toothpaste, brush and soap + buy a shemagh instead of a towel. You will probably only wash once or twice
Suncreen, lipsalve and insect repellant.
I also took a book but other than as tinder it was no use.
Beofre the mini-hike I packed as they told us too and ended up with a huge bag full of the junk I didn't need and didn't use for the rest of the course.
Things I will take for my course next year;
Work gloves (absolute #1 priority and take them with you on the trek). Unless you like getting stung.
Money for when the shop turns up after the trek, a bit dim on their part but still.
A lighter and matches.
Extra bin liners, I needed about 4.
Extra para cord.
Wood glue for when you break your spoon like I did
And stupid as it may sound a camp chair, you would not beleive how much it hurts to sit on a log for a lenght of time (you can leave it when you go for your trek).
Things I bought after the course;
The small woodlore sleeping bag, nearly half the weight of my army bag.
Woodlore green belt pouch for my 1st aid kit that kept falling off my belt.
Combination water stone from Axminster supplies, sawn in half which much effort.
A shemagh instead of a towel.
Woodlore balaclava for sleeping in.
Smaller thermarest, now using prolite3 short instead of traillite (if you don't have a thermarest get one).
Aclohol hand cleaning gel.
I bought a hootchie which will replace the hilleberg tarp I took last time. Hilleberg is good but not as good and I only got it as the hootchie was out of stock. Or you can borrow one when you arrive.
I will get (but are an indulgence);
Sabre 45 rucksack + side pouches and yoke, Less than half the weight of my Berghaus vulcan.
The Fjallraven forester trousers, I used Army lightweights but ran out of pockets.
The Swanndri Ranger Shirt to replace my norgie which when wet gets cold.
The Swazi Anorak (if I can get it past the wife
).You will start to understand why everyone says light after you have been lugging your kit round for a few days. But above all DO NOT FORGET GLOVES!!!
I forgot to say that when your sitting thinking one or two of the projects you made are pretty heavy and decide to burn them, don't.
It is remarkable how little you actually need, how little one actually needs to be comfortable in the forest.
Its one of the great strengths of this course that all the attendees I've met finish the week feeling that they can confidently get by in the wild with much less gear than they would have thought possible at the start of the course.
Thanks for the heads up MM.
Work gloves are already on my personal list as I figured we'll be doing some nettle cordage
I do know what agony it's like to sit on logs and it does my back no good at all. I was wondering whether or not to take a chair and you just persuaded me to
Looks like I'll be doing a last shop this weekend for the remaining few bits and bobs listed below that people have recommended.
Wet-wipes
Alcohol hand wash gel
Shemagh for a towel
Pack of tissues for when nature calls unexpected
Tent for storing gear
My Decathlon tarp for sleeping under
Extra para cord
Work gloves
Camp chair
Camera for one or two pics
My own hook knife as I don't like the frosts ones. ( I just don't get on with them at all)
And most importantly my reading glasses. I've found since I've started carving I need them for close up work!!!
I think that covers everything, and many thanks to everyone who's contributed with their tips and suggestions.
Work gloves are already on my personal list as I figured we'll be doing some nettle cordage
I do know what agony it's like to sit on logs and it does my back no good at all
. I was wondering whether or not to take a chair and you just persuaded me to Looks like I'll be doing a last shop this weekend for the remaining few bits and bobs listed below that people have recommended.
Wet-wipes
Alcohol hand wash gel
Shemagh for a towel
Pack of tissues for when nature calls unexpected
Tent for storing gear
My Decathlon tarp for sleeping under
Extra para cord
Work gloves
Camp chair
Camera for one or two pics
My own hook knife as I don't like the frosts ones. ( I just don't get on with them at all)
And most importantly my reading glasses. I've found since I've started carving I need them for close up work!!!
I think that covers everything, and many thanks to everyone who's contributed with their tips and suggestions.
I don't like the Frost models either, however (unless things have changed) Woodlore use the Svante Djarv knives, which are excellent...
http://www.djarv.se/ovrart.asp
http://www.wealddown.co.uk/Shop/djarv%20handwerk tools.htm
Gloves - well you should be able to do it without them.......but wish I had had them
Camp chair - I would not take this - much better to sit on a spare fleece etc - i did this for the camp craft course and had no problems.
the Svante Djarv knives are a league apart from the frosts - did a small Kuska in birch - the frost single sided and double sided had trouble - but just needed sharpening - whereas the Svante just went through it like butter - I think it is just better sharpened out of the box and has a tighter better feeling blade.
however in green willow for spoons the frosts were absolutely fine.
The whole carry less is really difficult - a lesson hard to learn as there is always something 'extra' to take and all the lessons on comfort with stuff you make really only apply to being somewhere for a period of time - shelter building is so energy intensive!
Have a great time!
James
Camp chair - I would not take this - much better to sit on a spare fleece etc - i did this for the camp craft course and had no problems.
the Svante Djarv knives are a league apart from the frosts - did a small Kuska in birch - the frost single sided and double sided had trouble - but just needed sharpening - whereas the Svante just went through it like butter - I think it is just better sharpened out of the box and has a tighter better feeling blade.
however in green willow for spoons the frosts were absolutely fine.
The whole carry less is really difficult - a lesson hard to learn as there is always something 'extra' to take
and all the lessons on comfort with stuff you make really only apply to being somewhere for a period of time - shelter building is so energy intensive!Have a great time!
James
I think the knives we used were something other than the frosts one which seems to have a wide (thick blade?). They were selling them on the course for 30+ quid and I think the frosts ones are only around the 10 mark aren't they?
I second that, I got eaten alive on the hike.
If it's anything like the course Ogri and I attended, you'll meet some fabulous people and have a great time.
As for what to take if you follow the kit list you'll be fine.
As for what not to take...an ego! Mine got dumped halfway through the week and I felt much better for it.
Enjoy yourself.
Cheers, Alan.
I also suggest a pair of leather/strong gloves to prevent stings and blisters and a cheap foam kneeling mat (from most garden centres) to sit on the tree stumps when round the camp.
Does anyone have any similar advice for the Journeyman, I am off in a few weeks time after completing the Fundamental back in June?
Does anyone have any similar advice for the Journeyman, I am off in a few weeks time after completing the Fundamental back in June?
I second that, I got eaten alive on the hike.
If it's anything like the course Ogri and I attended, you'll meet some fabulous people and have a great time.
As for what to take if you follow the kit list you'll be fine.
As for what not to take...an ego! Mine got dumped halfway through the week and I felt much better for it.
Enjoy yourself.
Cheers, Alan.
Hi chaps,
I was on the same course too - great week, the challenging conditions on the last day only added to the fun. Doing that course gave me the bug and I got a late cancellation booking for the Journeyman in September - which I look forward to with nervous excitement.
I'm not sure I can add any useful advice to the collective wisdom already shared. However if someone asked me for my top tips they would be:
1) Pace yourself. Being too frantic in the first 24 hours has its cost in your energy levels later in the week.
2) Help other people with their kit after sorting out your own.
3) Take the opportunity to stash dry tinder in your tent when you can
I thoroughly recommend the course as an excellent introduction to a broad base of bushcraft skills and you are certain to leave wanting to do more.
Malcolm
I was on the course last month. I stuck solidly to the kit list and the only extra item I wish I had taken was a box of matches. Everyone must think the worst of me not bringing matches to a bushcraft course, but as Sandbender said, the less you take the more you will get out of the course.
The only bit of kit I would change was my towel, I should have taken a packtowel or a shamagh.
Hope you enjoy it
Dave
The only bit of kit I would change was my towel, I should have taken a packtowel or a shamagh.
Hope you enjoy it
Dave
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