Posts tagged bushcraft gear

Seeland. Top-notch hunting gear.

Lord knows, I try to buy British, especially when it comes to outdoor gear. But my experiences over the last few years have not been good with the ‘traditional brands’. Which is why I’m recommending Denmark’s excellent Seeland, who make great technical outdoor gear. Probably because they’re from a part of the world where 1. They hunt; 2. The weather’s shit.

Here’s a quick synopsis of why I’m switching suppliers:

Barbour: their gear is now utterly shit. It’s all gone fashion, and a lot of the stuff is now badly made in China. My next waxed jacket will be from another manufacturer. (My 20+ year-old wax jacket is from Blacks - and it’s made in the UK. The ‘new’ Barbour one lasted about 2 years before the lining fell apart.)

Hunter boots: now owned by Reebok, and made in China. Badly. Had a pair of Argylls that lasted a year, before leaks sprung. Unacceptable.

Chapman: I like a sturdy canvas bag as much as the next guy. But Chapman bags are now fashion items, and cost stupid money. Hateful.

At the same time, there are also some great UK outdoor brands such as Endura, Brasher, Mountain King, OMM and Kreiga who’re making great product (albeit sometimes in China).

Nitestix marker. Handy.

Nitestix marker. Handy.

Ultralight Specialists

If you like minimalist, ultralight gear as I do, then you should consider buying from backpackinglight.co.uk. It’s an independent, UK-based, family-run business, and they practice what they preach (great blog and podcasts).

They stock some really good kit, which they’ve tested themselves, including Evernew’s titanium gear, as well as kit of their own design.

Like heinnie.com, their customer-care’s second to none, and they dispatch quickly. Plus they always send me a free bag of Skittles and a hand-written thank-you note.

The best kit supplier in the UK

These guys are fantastic, so I’m more than happy to give them a plug.

Heinnie.com has one of the most extensive selections of kit in the UK, from basic survival gear to hand-made, super-expensive cutlery - and everything inbetween, including specialist tactical gear.

Their prices are keen, their communication’s brilliant, and deliveries are prompt.

I’ve been using them for a few years now, and I’m a happy customer.

Fenix L0D: Tiny, LED AAA torch with 5 modes: 21 Lumens (3.5hrs) 7.5 Lumens (8.5hrs) 60 Lumens (1hrs) Tactical Strobe Repeating SOS Morse code signal Uses the old ‘twist-on-twist-off’ to set the modes. Waterproof to IPX8, but really needs lithium batteries for decent burn-times. Good little torch, though.

Fenix L0D:

Tiny, LED AAA torch with 5 modes:

  • 21 Lumens (3.5hrs)
  • 7.5 Lumens (8.5hrs)
  • 60 Lumens (1hrs)
  • Tactical Strobe
  • Repeating SOS Morse code signal
Uses the old ‘twist-on-twist-off’ to set the modes.
Waterproof to IPX8, but really needs lithium batteries for decent burn-times.
Good little torch, though.
Gerber EAB money-clip fitted with Benchmark’s ceramic blade: The sharpest thing in my pocket. Ceramic’s perfect for this sort of blade, as all I ever ask of it is lasting razor-sharpness, and not robustness. The EAB’s form-factor means that it’s also inconspicuous and discreet, which is essential.

Gerber EAB money-clip fitted with Benchmark’s ceramic blade:

The sharpest thing in my pocket. Ceramic’s perfect for this sort of blade, as all I ever ask of it is lasting razor-sharpness, and not robustness. The EAB’s form-factor means that it’s also inconspicuous and discreet, which is essential.

My favourite EDC knives (from top): UKPK - for carry during the week, when I’m in London. Legal, non-locking, the CTS-BD1 blade is quality (the steel’s and the fact that it’s made in the USA are the things that separates it from the Byrd Tern, though I’d go for the Byrd if the decision was a financial one, as that’s an awesome legal folder for the money). The design prevents the blade folding back on my hand. Clever. Tenacious - the ‘budget’ Spydey - chunky, with a lovely action and liner-lock and 8Cr13Mov blade. Really robust, and lovely detailing, like the copper washers on the blade-hinge to assist smooth opening.  Pacific Salt - my survival-kit Spyderco. H1 stainless steel from Japan, and a brilliant, robust tool that goes with me on kayaking trips. They’re not beautiful, but they’re just about the best folders I’ve ever owned and used. And I’ve owned and used a lot of knives over the years. If you haven’t tried one, I urge you to. They’re superb.

My favourite EDC knives (from top):

  • UKPK - for carry during the week, when I’m in London. Legal, non-locking, the CTS-BD1 blade is quality (the steel’s and the fact that it’s made in the USA are the things that separates it from the Byrd Tern, though I’d go for the Byrd if the decision was a financial one, as that’s an awesome legal folder for the money). The design prevents the blade folding back on my hand. Clever.
  • Tenacious - the ‘budget’ Spydey - chunky, with a lovely action and liner-lock and 8Cr13Mov blade. Really robust, and lovely detailing, like the copper washers on the blade-hinge to assist smooth opening. 
  • Pacific Salt - my survival-kit Spyderco. H1 stainless steel from Japan, and a brilliant, robust tool that goes with me on kayaking trips.

They’re not beautiful, but they’re just about the best folders I’ve ever owned and used. And I’ve owned and used a lot of knives over the years. If you haven’t tried one, I urge you to. They’re superb.

gracejunkie: Sharpened and oiled #axe #bushcraft (Taken with instagram)

gracejunkie:

Sharpened and oiled #axe #bushcraft (Taken with instagram)

gracejunkie

Got me a Silva ex30 over the weekend to help me log my walks. Seems pretty good to me, and can be carried anywhere.

Got me a Silva ex30 over the weekend to help me log my walks. Seems pretty good to me, and can be carried anywhere.

bugoutblog: Pocket ChainSaw. I like the look of this.

bugoutblog:

Pocket ChainSaw.

I like the look of this.

bugoutblog

The Spyderco UKPK. CTS BD1 steel from Carpenter Technology. UK legal, light and built like a Spyderco. A lovely EDC tool that should keep me on the right side of the law. Just got to remember not to leave it in my pocket when travelling on the Eurostar…

The Spyderco UKPK. CTS BD1 steel from Carpenter Technology.

UK legal, light and built like a Spyderco. A lovely EDC tool that should keep me on the right side of the law. Just got to remember not to leave it in my pocket when travelling on the Eurostar…

nevrfail: PowerPot uses cooking heat to power campers’ devices Thermoelectric materials are able to generate an electrical current, via a temperature gradient within themselves. If thermoelectric fabric were used to make a jacket, for instance, the temperature difference between that garment’s cool exterior and warm interior might be enough to charge devices carried in its pockets. A current could also be generated by a vehicle’s thermoelectric exhaust pipe, due to its hot interior and the cool air surrounding it. Now, entrepreneurs David Toledo and Paul Slusser have developed a line of thermoelectric cooking pots, that use the heat of a fire to generate electricity when camping. Read More www.neverfail.co

nevrfail:

PowerPot uses cooking heat to power campers’ devices

Thermoelectric materials are able to generate an electrical current, via a temperature gradient within themselves. If thermoelectric fabric were used to make a jacket, for instance, the temperature difference between that garment’s cool exterior and warm interior might be enough to charge devices carried in its pockets. A current could also be generated by a vehicle’s thermoelectric exhaust pipe, due to its hot interior and the cool air surrounding it. Now, entrepreneurs David Toledo and Paul Slusser have developed a line of thermoelectric cooking pots, that use the heat of a fire to generate electricity when camping. Read More www.neverfail.co

nevrfail

Evernew Ti Alcohol Stove: Much as I loved my Trangia, I find it hard to beat this for efficiency. Weighing in at 34g, and blooming in under 10 seconds, this little stove just does the business. Not only that, it’ll heat a small pot placed directly onto it, thanks to the way the jet-holes are configured. 70ml of meths give about 20-24mins of burn - plenty for basic cooking. Obviously, as it’s an Evernew, it all fits nicely with the DX multifuel stove and trivet, giving me lots of flexibility with minimal weight. My only gripe is that it doesn’t come with a screw-cap/simmer-ring/snuffer like a Trangia. Which would make it utterly perfect. Supplied by http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk who are splendid folk to do business with.

Evernew Ti Alcohol Stove:

Much as I loved my Trangia, I find it hard to beat this for efficiency. Weighing in at 34g, and blooming in under 10 seconds, this little stove just does the business. Not only that, it’ll heat a small pot placed directly onto it, thanks to the way the jet-holes are configured.

70ml of meths give about 20-24mins of burn - plenty for basic cooking.

Obviously, as it’s an Evernew, it all fits nicely with the DX multifuel stove and trivet, giving me lots of flexibility with minimal weight.

My only gripe is that it doesn’t come with a screw-cap/simmer-ring/snuffer like a Trangia. Which would make it utterly perfect.

Supplied by http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk who are splendid folk to do business with.

Getting there… I’m going to notch the spine for easier firesteel-sparking. The walnut for the scales arrived, so I’m happy about that. Now to find the time to spend in the shed to finish the job. Have yet to decide to build a pommel. Just not sure.

Getting there…

I’m going to notch the spine for easier firesteel-sparking. The walnut for the scales arrived, so I’m happy about that. Now to find the time to spend in the shed to finish the job.

Have yet to decide to build a pommel. Just not sure.

allthingssurvival: Beautiful bushcraft set. source Old school. Damascus and carbon steel.

allthingssurvival:

Beautiful bushcraft set.

source

Old school. Damascus and carbon steel.

allthingssurvival