Sunday, December 14, 2014

Bushcraft/Survival/Preparedness Last Minute Christmas List

So your trying to do a little last minute shopping for the Bushcrafter/Survivalist/Prepper/Camper/Hiker/Trecker/Woodcrafter/Outdoorsman/Outdoorswoman/Hunter/Fisherman and are running short on ideas. Well I threw together this list for those who are looking for something for their significant other but have no idea where to start. First go to their gear storage area(s) and take a look around for these items and if none are present in a category pull the trigger! Now I'm sure your asking yourself, how in the world is he/she going to have this present(s) under the tree on Christmas Morning if I order online. Amazon Prime is an amazing tool! When you sign up for the free trial (link below) you will receive free 2-day shipping on eligible items (if it has a yellow check mark and Prime written in blue you can get it in two days). In addition to the free shipping you get free access to free music, movies and books (they can read all of the survival books they so desire for a month).

So without further delay here is a ten piece style kit and some extras that are perfect for the survivalist/bushcrafter/prepper/etc. in all of us. There are countless options out there for gear, these are only a mere few that I found while trying to put this article together this week.

Cutting Tool:

A high quality cutting tool capable of fulfilling all the functions needed in camp and of a quality in which you can bet your life on the tool. Here is an article I wrote about on choosing a survival knife based upon the features of the knife (LINK).
 

Combustion: 

Simply put a means through which you can achieve fire. Magnification and flint/steel are two of my favorite means of lighting a fire and are some of the best long term fire starters you can get. The ferro rod pictured below is one of the best I have used, it lasted over a year before I lost it on a hunting trip earlier this month. 
   

Cover:

This category includes everything from the clothing on your back to your choice of bedding to your choice of shelter. For simplicity sake I separated the clothing option into it's own category as I believe it is without a doubt the second most important element of your kit (in a winter environment) following closely behind a survival knife. I have spent several nights with just my clothing a tarp and a wool blanket in sub-0 temperatures and am a big proponent of wool.
 

Container:

While my favorite container (Pathfinder Bottle Kit) is not available on the Amazon market place these metal containers would all be fine substitutes. Add in an Altoids tin for charing materials to save your main bottle of this task and you're set for this category. Remember stainless steel and bomb-proof are what you are looking for.
 

Cordage:

I'm a huge fan of wearable survival items. Get used to wearing them and they will always be on your person and available to you at a moments notice and this method is how  I ensure I always have cordage on my person. Add 100' of bank line to your kit and there isn't much you can't accomplish in a self reliance type of situation.
 

Candling Device:

Weather it be an actual candle, lantern, edc light, weapon light or headlamp your kit is not complete with out a candling device of some sort. I always have my edc light, weapon light and a head lamp in my kit with spare batteries as I always end up setting up my shelter in the dark (due to my work schedule) and have to say this is without a doubt an asset you don't want to leave home without.
 

Cotton:

Yes I have heard the saying cotton kills in a wilderness environment; however, that pertains to clothing aside from that it becomes on the the most useful items in your kit. Cotton can be used to make char cloth (LINK), Water Filters (LINK), used for first aid, makeshift kits/containers and much more. 


Compass:

Navigation is essential in any survival situation and without proper training difficult to say the least when navigating based on just the stars or environmental ques. If you are in an area where you are unable to see the sky this impends navigation even further and generally requires the use of a compass or a field expedited compass (thus the needle included in the kit). 
 

Cargo Tape:

Gear repair, Fire making, flame extension, gear retention, bandage making and much more are the things that a roll of gorilla tape brings to the table. I utilize this element of my kit quite a bit and don't know what I would do without it. Replacing the roll of tape with a business card to wrap around will reduce the profile within your kit.  
 

Canvas Needle:

This needle kit can be utilized to make a field expedited compass, to repair items of your kit or even suture yourself. 

Packs:

The foundation of any good kit is a good pack to carry your gear in. This could be anything from a wool blanket rolled up to a dry bag to a haversack. 

 

Water Filtration:

Water filtration is the key to success in a wilderness environment. the sawyer and lifestraw brands are the two obvious choices here, in addition to cotton above which can be used to make a field water filter.
 

Books:

No kit is complete without knowledge and these books offer a wealth of knowledge through which you can grow your craft kills.
 

 Clothing:

A good set of wool clothing will go a long way toward keeping you warm in any climate, especially a winter environment.
 


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