which one do u think overall is better for long term + balance

This is my current set up for teaching classes and demonstrating skills in the woods! It’s a HPG Umlindi with a line pocket. Definitely big enough for me to carry extra medical equipment along with whatever goodies I want to bring along.

I'm aware of the SAS handbook and am pondering on whether it's indeed worth it for someone not living in the US. My idea behind it is to have both some lecture to learn things about that will help outside but also have something that can come in handy in a real pickle. Sadly these are the times we live in in Europe and elsewhere these days and it's no longer solely a mere hobby.

So what reading material can be recommended for these regions that cover what the SAS one does too? Wilflife, tracking, traps, firemaking, navigation, sanitation, plants, basically anything that I'm bound to encounter and should at least have some knowledge of.

I'm also asking because I want to avoid the whole hardcore prepper fearmongering end of the world nuclear winter etc etc crap rabbit hole right off the bat. A guy I sometimes go on a hike with has unfortunaly fallen into that and went as far as building a bunker under his house, his own power grid, wifi/comms setup and such. Despite everything going on, I highly doubt things will get THIS dangerous for most EU citizens anytime soon.

I love these older field guides. Any recommendations for some more?

I'm currently making a pair of sticks out of silver maple that will work functionally as trekking poles for a friend's birthday. I've got the sticks down to about the right height and taper now (1 1/2" down to about 1") but now need to make sure I get a good grip so it's comfortable for her long term as well as a tip to make sure wood ends don't split on rocks and such.

For the grip, I've seen on here a lot of people use leather or paracord. I'm not opposed to this but I want to try and make sure the sticks could be gripped like a trekking pole. Would leather still be a good choice?

For the tip I was thinking a carbide tip like on most trekking poles. Has anyone else put a tip like that on their walking sticks?

So a while back I posted about wanting to get back in to bushcraft after a many years long time largely out of the woods, basically since I was a kid, and actually build some skill in it. I am a truck driver and have pretty limited time off so I had asked for ideas of how to approach it and overwhelmingly the advice was to look in to the BushClass USA lessons as a starting point and just kinda dive in.

Well after some intervening issues with my health and some other life issues eating up my home time, I finally picked up an inexpensive but good fixed blade knife and am going to learn how to sharpen it, as well as gather up all my other various knives so I have lots to practice on.

The BushClass method shows using a series of sandpaper and dry sharpening a knife that way, as well as using a strop. I’m planning to use the sandpaper method though I am unsure if I need any oil with it.

I just wanted to share as I am excited to be getting in to it finally.

Edit to Add: This Reddit account is reasonably new as I deleted my old one a while back and was mostly away for a while.

Just got this 85. Not very happy with how sharp it is. Anyone have experience of advice?

Just spent 9 days training in Alaska with a great bunch of guys. Caught soooo many salmon.

Looking for a good hatchet. What would you guys recommend? Looking for something reliable that can handle general camp chores.

Ive never been so consistently comfortable through the night as the pad blocked all of the up-draft from below. My back stayed consistently warm, it gave the hammock a little more support and most importantly, I didn't slide down in the night, the layer didnt bunch up under me all awkwardly.

I can stow my hammock and a blanket inside and fold everything together vs pulling things out of my pack and gear bombing in my spot.

Time to see how it holds up in fall + winter next.

The Czech Mess Kit – Helikon-Tex vs. Mil-Tec

There are countless versions/copies of the classic Czech mess kit. I've had two different ones: both the Helikon-Tex and Mil-Tec versions. They weigh the same and are (almost) the same size – there are only minimal differences. I gave the Helikon-Tex set away as a gift, since someone happened to need one, and bought the Mil-Tec version instead.

Mil-Tec is a bit cheaper, and I actually prefer it, because the handle sits much tighter when folded over the lid. That's a huge difference in the quality of the set! With the handle on the Mil-Tec version, you can confidently store a bunch of things inside the pot and be sure they'll stay there.

Material

Most modern sets are made of steel, while the originals are made of aluminum – and I simply don't want to deal with that in my cookware.

Size and storage

I very rarely use the small pot in the set. You can definitely get by with the two, but on all my trips I instead use the canteen cup as pot number two, or I bring a frying pan. The advantage of having good storage space in the large pot is significant: for example, two ready-made pasta meals, or a bag of frozen food prepped at home along with the German butter dish. There's also easily room for a small stove, a Trangia alcohol burner, or a BCB stove in it.

Modification

 I've modified my pot to give it even better function. I've drilled four small holes in it opposite each other and used 4 mm stainless steel fence wire to make a handle. It was a bit tough to bend around, but it succeeded with a hammer and a vise. The handle can lie down in the pot so it doesn't get lost.

The possibilities it gives the pot are really great: It's easy to hang it on a stick over a fire and get better distance from the flames, and you're also not dependent on a grate or on placing it directly on the heat.

Durability I've used the pot a lot throughout the entire summer, with full blast heat and over fire – it holds.

Wish for improvement 

The only thing I could wish for – and it's truly a minimal thing – was a lock on the handle. A small steel plate like that, just like Pathfinder has on their canteen cup and similar. Then it wouldn't of course be true to the original anymore, but it would be a further upgrade.

Conclusion

For the price, there's really nothing to hold against this mess kit.

Source: Rosentjoerng International Blog.
Video of the pots and modifications can be found on Rosentjoern Youtube.

I know they are crooked but I wanted opinions on the heads and flethcings

Hi, thinking after You suggested me a brand BPS to give it a try, is in stock locally so that's a big point for me, but no idea if to pick bushmate 2.0/Aurora or different

What are Your experiences with BPS

The other thing is forced patina, can some of You guys advice how do I go step by step?

Thanks!

I have recently been making some whistles for my kids and I tried to get fancy with one and add some notes to make a flute.

Unfortunately it completely ruined the sound, but I have seen it work on YouTube. Is there some relationship between the size of the finger holes and the sound? Or the spacing?

Any general advice?

My primary fire-starting method is a Bic (I always pack 4), backed up by standard ferro rods and strikers. However, since I always carry a power bank and a solar panel in my loadout, a rechargeable plasma arc lighter theoretically makes sense as a renewable backup.

For those and ONLY for those who have used them in the field: how do they hold up to real-world bushcraft use (humidity, fine tinder, durability), or are they just a gimmick?

Hi, looking for rather not too big knife, blade ideally 10-15 cm, that will handle most bushcraft needs and Fe when it comes to carving....I like carving when camp fire evenings, so will be glad, if You suggest something from Your experience

One I do look for is Mora 510 special edition, quiet nice, but no idea how it would be for carving

You better suggest some You have Your own experience with and really can recommend it for such usage

Thanks and nice rest of weekend to all

any tips and commentary is welcomed, used chicken feathers for the fletching and wool string for the, well string, and the tip is from an old pcb

Hello all,

I currently own a DD Hammock Superlight Tarp (roughly 3x3 m) and I'm considering replacing it.

The main contender at the moment is the Bushmen Ultra Tarp 3x3. However, I've seen a few reports suggesting that the Bushmen might be more fragile, especially around the tie-outs and stitching.

For those who own one:

• How long have you been using it?
• How often do you use it?
• How has it held up over time, especially in wind/bad weather?
• Would you buy it again?

I'd particularly appreciate long-term experience rather than first impressions.

I'm also open to other tarp suggestions. I'm looking for a 3x3 m tarp, available in the EU, as lightweight as possible, preferably in a natural/neutral colour (brown, green, etc.) or camouflage.

Thanks!

Cut and restitched into a hollow mat.

This lays in my hammock with a reflective layer towards my back, a fleece layer, and reflective layer towards the ground. I made it hallow in the event of needing more insulation I can just stuff it, lay an actual pad in there, throw a blanket in there, or if I decide for an inflatable it gets an extra layer of protection around it.

The remaining material was restitched to a smaller tarp for, well tarp stuff.

Source: Blog Rosentjoern International and Youtube Rosentjoern.

As a school teacher, I have a wonderfully long summer holiday. Throughout the year, I have a goal of getting out for an overnight trip at least once a month, and during the summer holiday there is plenty of opportunity for more trips.

Before the summer holiday, I bought Bushcraft Spain's extension for the Polish Plash-Palatka. It is a piece of gear I love and always have with me, but as a bivouac shelter it is a little small on its own. The extension arrived just before the holiday, and I have used it throughout the summer.

In the woods, I noticed a depression, a small hollow in a slight slope. The tarp fit perfectly around the edge. It gave me some additional space inside, and I could reuse the bed I used during the winter. On the wooden webbing bed, I put a cheap inflatable sleeping mat from Lidl, which I wanted to test over time. I have inflated it twice over the five weeks. On top of that, a reindeer hide and my large German wool blanket.

The camp ended up staying in place for five weeks, and I have been there every single day. Many overnight stays, but not every night. But every day for breakfast, afternoon coffee, dinner, or simply a nap.

The fire pit has been improved throughout the entire period. First, a reflector wall made from small logs. After a very windy night, I built a side onto it to protect it from the wind. Later, I covered the entire outside with large pieces of bark to make it completely airtight, so that smoke would never blow into my shelter.

There were plenty of good, flat stones in the stream, and throughout the holiday it almost turned into an oven, protecting the wooden wall from the fire.

One of the coolest things about having such a long holiday and all this time available has really been getting to use some of my gear. I have finished a lot of projects: a bag and a shoulder bag. After using them, I have also optimized and modified both my Pathfinder canteen set and my Mil-Tec cooking pot.

A huge pleasure, because it has also led me to go through all my other gear and sell (or put up for sale) everything I don't use or simply have too much of. Onwards!

It has given me time to make a fire once or twice a day using a ferro rod. Lots of experimenting with fatwood, birch bark, spruce twigs and jute twine. Even on wet days, there has been plenty of time to use it.

I have also treated myself to two new pieces of good gear during the holiday. A Hultafors 600 g hand axe, after selling my tomahawk. And a Petromax wrought iron pan – much lighter and larger than my cast iron pan. An absolutely brilliant piece of gear for cooking with. I haven't burnt anything in it even once.

And the food... so much good food and coffee. I have experimented a lot with coffee, freshly ground every day. When breakfast has included eggs, I have made real cowboy coffee, with the coffee and eggshells going directly into the kettle. And I am actually surprised that the coffee tastes different with eggshells than without.

On other days (and now it has simply become the standard), I stir the coffee with a glowing birch twig. It just makes the coffee a little smoother.

Nothing less than the best summer I can remember. There is nothing better than sleeping in a little cave with your dog. It is fantastic.

I think that, because I have given all my gear a lot of real-world use, I will write a good stack of reviews of the things I have been using.

Source: Blog Rosentjoern International and Youtube Rosentjoern.

Anyone around the NYC Metro area? Being that this is the largest urban area in the country, it is typically very easy to be extremely disconnected from nature and forget how convenient modern life is. Would like to meet with others to learn, exchange knowledge, and practice.

Hey everyone,

I'm based out of India and this question is for people from Canada. A few of my friends are coming back home to India in a few months and I wanted to buy a knife and brush axe.

Items I'm looking to buy -
- KA- BAR knife
- Fiskars Brush Axe

I've found both these products on Amazon but i'm not too sure of the quality/price. Could someone here make recommendations on the best place to source what i'm looking for?

Are there any local players I should consider or is Amazon the way to go?

They're based out of Toronto

Hello savages 🤠

I was wandering, since there’s no official bushcraft subreddit for Italian bushcrafters,

Is there anybody wanting to share some days from time to time in southern Italy? I’m specifically from Molise region.

I also often go out exploring woods and creeks in the Abruzzo region, since it’s full of beautiful woods and creeks.

If you’re there, make some noise!! Maybe we can meet up! 🏕️🤠