Awesome Bushcraft

Did you know that a pencil sharpener can help you start a fire? John from Woodsbound Outdoors shows us how a the right kind of metal sharpener can provide magnesium to spark a fire and shave wood from branches for tinder. As a bonus, the leftover sticks have a sharpened tip you can use for hunting.

This practical survival guide offers an entertaining approach to a serious topic. Its 212 pages are filled with techniques to survive encounters with wildlife and natural disasters, along with practical skills like starting fires, building shelters, and navigating outdoors. Written by documentarian Rob Nelson and science show host Haley Chamberlain Nelson.

Say you’re out camping, and you need a stove. You could pack a storebought metal stove, or you could build your own from a log, some twigs, and a piece of baling wire. Woodsbound Outdoors walks us through the simple process of building this primitive camp stove called a Swedish Torch. If you’re really lazy you can buy this pre-cut Swedish fire log.

This stainless steel bow saw can easily cut through branches and timber for making shelters or campfires. When not in use, its structural tubes serve as storage for its blade and other parts, minimizing its size in your pack and protecting other items from its sharp blade teeth. Comes in black, gold, or silver finishes.

This lightweight, tri-point connector from RoughTimba makes building a sturdy outdoor shelter from three sticks and a tarp easy. Just cut the sticks to about six feet each, insert them into the holes on the Tri-Pi, and cover. It’s also got three holes on its bottom for hanging a lantern or other small items.

This razor-sharp axe measures just 4.5″ long, so it’s small enough to carry in your pocket. Each one is handmade by UK outfitter Silver Fox Tools from BS 4659 high-carbon steel, known for its strength and edge retention. Use it for cutting, carving, branch splitting, and even beard trimming. Includes a hand-stitched leather sheath with a brass snap.

This versatile bushcraft tool is small enough to carry inside your backpack or on a belt loop. It combines a hatchet, a hammer, an ulu knife, an axe, and a skinning tool for hunting. Its blade is made from 65MN carbon steel, and it comes with a leather sheath. A great option for cutting down on pack weight.

The Überleben Kessel is a compact and capable camp kettle. It holds up to 37 oz. of liquid so you can cook up a full pot of coffee or tea or use it for cooking soups or stews. It has a hanger handle that folds down for travel, a pour spout, and a hardwood handle on its lid. Available in stainless steel or titanium.

If you’re stuck out in the woods and need shelter, you can always try to fabricate one from found objects. But if you have a few rolls of plastic wrap, you could make one like Osman Delibash did. By wrapping and layering the plastic around trees, she created a sturdy elevated bed with a roof and sides that keep the rain out.