Bushcraft Kits

Your bushcraft kit is the collection of tools you use to live and survive in the wild. You may need different tools for different environments and climates, but there are some common basics.

A hatchet is a regular component in many kits. Great for splitting and chopping wood but smaller and lighter than a full axe.
When space and weight are less of a concern a full sized axe is a great tool. There are a variety of handle lengths to add to the power of your swing. Choose between a single blade, a double blade, or a wider wedged splitting axe.
A machete is another great larger tool. You can hack and chop your way through more dense areas as well as other uses. If serrated on the back like this one shown here it can also take the place of a saw as well.
A small folding saw is great to add to your kit when tight on space. You can get through a surprising variety of sizes of wood if you use some readjustments.
This Japanese style folding saw is a great tool. It is also a folding saw but much larger ranging from 3-4 feet in length.
A traditional bow saw is a great tool and can handle most sizes of wood that you can throw at it.
The Sven saw is another type of space saver. This saw works like a bow saw, but is not quite as strong. However, the advantage is that it breaks down and folds into a single handle.
A good old fashioned folding pocket knife is something you should ALWAYS have with you. A trusty knife is one of the best tools you can have whether a single locking blade or a chunky Swiss Army knife.
A fixed blade knife is also handy for larger jobs. These hold up well to big jobs, and can take a pounding when you need to baton them into larger wood to split things.
A multi-tool is a handy option for smaller blades. These have the tool for every need and can be a good replacement for a standard pocket knife.
Now matter which bladed tools you choose for your kit they will need to be regularly sharpened. A good sharpening stone is great to keep in your kit. Many like this one have two grades, one on each side, for basic and more fine sharpening.
Another sharpening stone option is a sharpening puck. These are small and compact and work beautifully.
A Scotch Auger is a fun little tool for the woods. This modified drill bit comes in a variety of diameters. You can use these to drill holes into logs to make a Swiss Torch style log stove, or create holes to pound connecting pegs when connecting wood for cabins or benches. A great bonus to using this tool is that as you use it you a churning out great tinder for fire building!
The Scotch Auger is just the bit. these are handy because to use it you just have to find a stick to go though the hole in the top and you are in business to add the torque needed to use it.
Some augers will have a tappered end on one side of the handle hole. This is to make pegs. You can take a larger piece of wood and cut it close to the right diameter, then baton this on it to make it perfectly round. The hole is also the same diameter as the bit so that your pegs will fit into the holes you just drilled.
Drinkable water is one of the most important things needed when surviving. In addition to boiling, there are other ways to purify water. These iodine tablets can be added to a canteen or water bottle and in an hour or so your water is safe to drink.
Another option for water purification is a pump system. Drop onehose into your water source and another hose into your water container. As you pump by hand the water will go through a charcoal filter and be clean to drink.
A Life Straw is a small filter that does not require a pump. You can fill a water bottle with dirty water, and place the LifeStraw in it and drink it like a regular straw. It has a built in charcoal filter and will come of purified on the other end. You can evenuse this to drink straight from a water source.
There are great alternative to matches and lighters to starting fires. These magnesium strikers are a great way to create a spark needed to start an ember for your fire.
Good old fashioned flint and steel will let you throw sparks to start a fire, although it takes some practice to be fast with it. The steel ring is nicknamed a "knuckle buster" and as you start learning you will unfortunately find out why.
There are a variety of fire by friction methods you can use to create an ember, and many will be discussed on this page. The most common of them is a classic bow drill. You can purchase bow drill kits, or make your own using the right types of wood.
This is of course a Scouting page so of course we have to include a First Aid Kit. Just about everything else in your kit can; cut you, burn you, or cause you blisters. Some can do all three, so a good First Aid Kit is important.

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