Bushcraft Equipment Recommendations

Bushcraft is a great outdoor adventure. You can start having fun in the woods without having to buy any additional tools or equipment. But most experienced outdoor adventurers agree that carrying a few basic tools, especially those that are difficult to replicate in the woods, will make your bushcraft adventure safer and more enjoyable!

Here are a few equipment recommendations for new and experienced bushcrafters. We have done extensive research and testing over the years, and these are some of the items we carry into the woods.

5 Critical Pieces of Equipment

  1. Cutting Tool (knife and saw)
  2. Combustion Device (ferrocerium rod)
  3. Container (steel water bottle or pot with lid)
  4. Cover (10' x 10' tarp)
  5. Cordage (parachute cord & bank line)

Here is our recommended list of basic equipment for adults getting started with Bushcraft Wilderness Survival:

Condor Terrasaur $44

A full tang, fixed blade knife that has a 4.15" cutting edge, and a scandi grid which makes it easy to sharpen in the field. This is the knife for heavy camp chores like battening wood to make a fire.

Mil-Spec 550 Paraord $11

Orange cordage that is highly visible, strong, and hard to replicate in the woods. Paracord can be used for shelters, binding things together, making a bow for friction fire, etc...

Silky Ultra Accel $60

Cutting big branches into little branches is much easier with a saw than a knife, and much safer with a saw than an axe, Silky is one of the best all-around saw manufacturers and this aggressive folding saw will make quick work of branches up to 4" in diameter.

Morakniv Companion $18

A partial tang, fixed blade knife that has a 4.15" cutting edge and a scandi grind, making it easy to sharpen in the field. This lightweight can do it all, but is not recommended for heavy use chores such as battening wood.

Stanley Adventure Camp Cookset $14

In order to insure water is safe to drink, we recommend boiling it. And you'll need a steel container to boil your water over your fire. This inexpensive kit gets the job done.

Fresnel Lens $6

This credit card sized magnifying glass can be used to focus sunlight onto charcloth or a tinder bundle to help light a fire.

DD Tarp 3x3 $70

An excellent quality tarp with 19 reinforced tie-out attachment points, this 10'x10' heavyweight nylon tarp gives great coverage for a wide variety of shelter configurations. Worth the weight and space for a shelter tarp you can count on.

1" x 10" Scotch Eye Wood Auger $35

For drilling into logs to construct durable camp shelters, furniture and other useful additions to your bushcraft camp. An auger allows you to take your bushcrafting to a whole new level...

#36 Bank Line $8

#36 bank line is a tarred nylon rope that is just the right diameter for use in combination with 550 paracord for making a quick deployment tarp shelter ridgeline. As a lightweight and easy to carry single cord option, it works for almost everything else - especially making bow drills and binding things together.

Mora Garberg $80

Morakniv of Sweden is our go-to for bushcraft knives. They produce great knives at a price that is hard to beat for the value. The Garberg is their full-tang offering, with a scandinavian grind (wicked sharp and easy to sharpen), a comfortable grip, and 4.3" blade - a decent size for most woodworking and camp craft.

Helikon-Tek Bushcraft Satchel $55

Carrying the right equipment is much easier to do with a medium-sized pack. The Bushcraft Satchel is designed to carry everything you need, and has plenty of molle attachments for a few items you might want to access without opening your pack.

Helikon-Tek EE Pouch $35

Having easy access to essential items makes your wood collection, shelter site selection, and water procurement more efficient. Lighten your load by keeping necessities in this small pack and leaving your extra gear at the camp. You can strap this pouch to your belt and scout around...

Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel 2.0 $14

A good quality ferro rod with a sharp scraper is a necessary tool for getting your fire started quickly. Light My Fire ferrocerium rods just work! Lots of sparks, easy to use, and the orange handle makes it easier to find when you put it down. I carry 2 - just in case!

Silky ONO Hatchet $75

For quickly processing wood for your fire, the Silky ONO hatchet is a great tool. With a large cutting surface, and an easy to sharpen edge, this is a tool that can make splitting harder woods a little less of a chore than simply battening with your knife.

Bushcraft Bucket (for Kids)

A "kid-friendly" variety of tools and resources hand-chosen to get kids started with bushcrafting at home. All contained in a 5-gallon bucket with a lid to keep it easy to store, easy to transport and easy to carry. And with the lid on top, you can even sit on it!

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Morakniv Craftline Basic 546$12

An inexpensive wood carving knife with a fixed blade and a partial tang. The 3.6" stainless steel blade comes wicked sharp and is easy to maintain.

Fiskars 7" Folding Saw $14

A folding saw is ideal for cutting branches into short "rounds" before battoning.

First Aid Only 130 $13

Equipped to deal with minor cuts, burns, splinters, and other injuries one might encounter when working around sharp tools, wood, and fire!

Fatwood Ferro Rod Tin $12

Equipped with fatwood, ferro rod, a tin for char cloth and some jute twine. Everything you need to start a fire in wet weather.

6x8 Tarp $7

A durable tarp and some cordage make a hasty shelter to keep you out of the rain. Use to collect firewood, process tinder materials, and cover your gear when it rains. This is nothing fancy, but a very functional tarp.

18 oz Stainless Steel Cup $7

A durable stainless steel cup that you can use to boil water, heat soup and drink hot chocolate. A necessity for your campfire!

Lixada Camping Stove $13

This tiny "stick stove" is ideal for practicing fire lighting, boiling water, making char cloth, and just getting your hands warm on a cold day. Works with marginal wood, but will need lots of sticks to keep the fire going!

VGO Kid's Gardening Gloves $10

Sized appropriately for smaller hands, these gardening gloves will protect children's hands from scrapes, cuts and splinters.

Gear Aid 325 Paracord $6

Great for learning camp knots and building shelters, but still inexpensive enough that you can replace it once it has been knotted or cut.

Pocket Bellows $4

Direct air into the center of the heat when you are trying to get your fire started, or keep your fire going. Focused air increases the heat and makes the fire grow!

Fresnel Lens $6

Focus the sun's light onto charred material and get your fire started with the power of solar ignition!

5-Gallon Bucket with Lid $9

Grab a simple bucket with a lid for storing your gear when not in use, and then use it to carry your gear, collect your firewood, keep things organized and even sit on during your bushcraft adventures.