Thanks Paul, great video. However, I noticed that you didn't include a spare pair of socks (even lightweight liner socks). I certainly carry them and sometimes get to use them on my feet, but usually they get used for other purposes.
Hi, Mr . Kirtley . My day pack set up is almost identical . One difference is I carry a pair of clear safety glasses with the option of a tinted lense . Nothing worse than a branch to the eye .
Yes I always carry my military bulletproof safety glasses with interchangeable lenses clear amber lenses and also sun lenses a lot of people seem to forget about your eyes are the most important thing to look after can't see you can't do anything
@@tooyoungtobeold8756 no that doesn't even make sense . If you ever get off Trail and get in dense forest like we have in south Georgia swamps and catch a branch to the eye you would understand. You're obviously a trail Walker
It’s great to come back to these older, comprehensive videos. I know shorter video productions are necessary for the collective decrease of attention spans, but I appreciate the treasure trove of older videos.
Your videos are timeless. I've got a camping trip with the kids coming up and love reviewing your videos in the upcoming weeks before a trip. The depth of information comes through as does your passion.
I would recommend adding a roll of household twine. It's very useful for many small things, whether you want to hang up your jacket or use a mylar sheet as a wind break or add under your hammock as extra insulation.
I carry two medium but heavy duty picture hanging hooks. This means I don't have to waste precious cordage wrapping it around a tree. The hooks get screwed into a (preferably dead) tree and my cordage gets knotted into the hooks. I have 2 heavy duty, plastic covered cup hooks too.
I always bring heavy leather work gloves. It’s very important to protect your hands mostly for people who normally do not work with their hands and it protects the hands from that hot cup and fire.
These are a must. A very common injury in the woods is splinters. No matter how work hardened your hands are, you are susceptible to splinters if you handle a lot of wood. Also protects against thorns. Getting poked by splinters or thorns can lead to a serious infection.
Hi Mr Kirtley, I always take a fairly comprehensive first aid kit with me when on day hikes in Western Australia, some of the items I have found have a dual use in an actual lost/emergency situation is a triangular bandage, great for filtering water before boiling, alcohol wipes are great fire starters, Betadine (iodine) liquid is great for killing nasties in water before drinking and the magnifying glass for splinters etc is great for starting a fire when the sun is out.
Great video sir. Your sample kit is excellent. I live now in mountainous central Arizona, elevations 4000-8000 FT transitioning from hot dry deserts with cactus through chaparral to pine, juniper and aspen forests, most water sources are seasonal (although the Verde river is good year-round) - our summer rains can be intense, winter storms aren't always strong but some years we get buried. Earlier this year I was making a short'ish solo hike around a scenic municipal reservoir, partly wooded and partly rocky. The plan was to work on conditioning and enjoy an MRE for lunch. I'll describe my kit as very similar to yours, except, at the time instead of a head-torch there was this angle-head military-style flashlight with 2 D-cells - heavy and I'm going during the day so I pulled it out (leaving me no flashlight). Knives, fixed and folding, but no saw. I was dressed for 75 F day temps, shorts and cotton shirt plus boonie hat, shemagh and sunglasses (only... another mistake). I had my small binoculars. No extra clothing layers but a military-surplus shelter-half/poncho, and a 6 foot square tarp (plus thin emergency poncho, a space blanket and a Heatsheet from SOL). No spare battery for my mobile. WetWipes not tissues. A metal cup, and an Esbit pocket stove with fuel tabs. And a couple of liter-size bottles of water in the mesh side pockets plus the aforementioned MRE. I planned on launching at 10 AM and four leisurely hours including lunch and bird-watching, but I got delayed and didn't start until 1 PM ... two-thirds of the way through in a rocky and wooded canyon I lost the trail amidst boulders and spent some time crossing back and forth over a drainage that was chocked with debris of spring overflows, despite my map I wasn't making any headway and then I slipped on the boulders (or something shifted) and I smacked my shin - I had three deep gouges between knee and ankle, the bleeding took up all the common items from my palm-sized first-aid kit, nothing was broken and I could stand but I rapidly developed a knot the size of a softball ... still looking for a way forward on the trail I covered another couple hundred yards but had no luck. The sun was falling behind the hills - I had only my prescriptive sun glasses and no flashlight so my vision was getting challenged , when I found a spot where my cell phone did work despite the tight canyon walls I called 9-1-1 and our Fire Department mobilized to come help me .... despite my communicating where I was on the map and my phone giving them a GPS reading of where I was stopped we had some miscommunications and they didn't link up with me until 9 PM.
Hi Steve, it goes to show how a small issue can amplify into something that slows you down or even becomes debilitating. Then having some key items of equipment reallly pays dividends. Interesting point re you leaving out kit because of weight and expected time home. Plus the issue you had with only having prescription sunglasses is one worth remembering for others who use similar eyewear. Thanks for sharing your story. This type of tale is always instructive for other people who read them. ATB, Paul
A couple of observations if I may; I am assuming here that your advice is for people walking 'off the grid' e.g. off the car park, beaten paths, and maybe across more remote terrain such as moor and through forest etc? Firstly, you might be walking in an area where there is no mobile signal e.g. parts of Exmoor where i spend a lot of time; so both your phone and battery would be of no use; so very importantly if you know there could be difficulties with mobile comms, then wherever you are staying or if you are going straight from home, it is vital to tell someone where you are going; your estimated route and roughly the time it will take; and when you expect to be back, even on a day walk. For e.g. If you are walking 'off grid' and you break a leg only 2 miles from the nearest road at 4.30pm in the winter time, it will be very dark at 5.30pm and no one will know you are there if your phone doesn't work or you have not told anyone! Secondly, I didn't hear you mention the inclusion of a good whistle at all? I always have two; one on my pack and another affixed to me, usually on the same lanyard next to my compass. If your phone doesn't work and there could be the possibility of people looking for you at night, a good, powerful whistle is vital to lead rescuers to you. So unless it has been changed, the standard distress call in the UK with a whistle, is still one blast every 20 seconds, so three a minute to help people looking for you locate you and so on; which you didn't mention? My advice would be this; if you are going out for a complete day walk 'off grid' (ie away from the well worn car park footpaths) and into more remote terrain, then plan your kit like you are going for an overnight stay....just in case you are forced to......and do, do take a good whistle as back up!
Very similar to what I take with me for day trips on my mountain bike, which I envisage for getting stuck out overnight but with a couple of differences: Dutch Army poncho instead of tarp, bigger than other ponchos (as Dutchmen are tall) and I can throw up a quick shelter, wear it, or even sit with it on and hood up and carefully using a tealight candle keep myself warm, never had to do that though...combined with a mylar type bivvy bag (tiny and light) with 2 x hand warmers which I'd have inside, they generate heat for 10 hours, and a survival bag which I could fill with debris to sleep on...or if I didn't do that just put the mylar bivvy inside the survival bag, and the poncho press-studded around both of those. I also take a small twig burner (Lixada type) and a Zip firelighter, as well as my Trangia burner as I'll normally make a brew whether I'm stranded or not. Like you a water bottle and canteen cup (Dutch or Swiss Army issue) and of course a brew kit, but I'll add about 3000 Cal of food - individual hot chocolate sachet, sachets of oats - you can pour in boiling water and eat from them, they don't break if you're careful - chocolate and/or muesli bar, dextrose tablets, some hot meal for night (normally a British ration pack wet meal so I don't need to actually reconsitute with water if I'm limited), and a Cabanos dried sausage from the Polish products in a local shop, this weighs only 120g but has around 650 cal. Plus I'll usually take some trail snacks and a pack of instant noodles or mug shot but snack on these whilst I'm out anyway, the above is only my ''iron ration'' if I get stranded. Really I should have done a simulation when I'm out and tested this stuff overnight, but now it's a tad cold to do so comfortably. However I'm confident that I would survive no problem even in autumn or winter. Finally re.: knife/saw, I find a Victorinox with a saw (Hiker or Farmer if you want to be completely legal but you could get away with a larger one like the Soldier/Trekker model with locking blade as you would ''have good reason'') covers both unless of course you're going serious bushcrafting in which case obviously you should take a fixed blade and a dedicated folding saw.
I always have two USGI Poncho's with a Poncho Liner, one for shelter and one poncho with liner, to sleep in. And, instead of one big dry bag. I store my extra cloths and anything that needs to stay dry, in Hefty slide lock storage bags. As for your cell phone, there are wilderness area's in the US where you will have no signal, so never rely on them when hiking in real wilderness. Other then that, a very well thought out video. I used to teach wilderness survival to Boy Scouts back in the 80s.
Another great video from Paul. A few things I'd like to offer: Firstly, regarding communication. Remember that Paul is in the UK, a relatively small country with comparatively extremely good cellular telephone coverage. In bigger countries, especially in N. America, your cell phone can be out of signal range very quickly. Hence I always take a satelaite phone, making sure it is fully charged and tested before leaving for my day trip. You can also have other comms devices such as SOS beacons like the SPOT or the Garmin Inreach. Not cheap, but what price do you put on your life/peace of mind? Regarding cordage, I'd argue to take plenty in order to be able to not only put up your tarp (in my case a SilTarp), but also enough to build a quick raised bed (the Canadian jam knot will quickly prove it's worth in such a situation). Put your energy into making a raised bed to get off the damp/cold ground and out of the 'cold zone' (bottom 15"-or-so of air on the ground), put a siltarp shelter over top and you have a decent expedient set-up. A brew kit is a must (whatever that looks like for you - in my case two or three tea bags and some instant coffee and a bit of sugar does the trick). Not only helps to keep you warm, but is a great psychological boost. Regarding the pack: Even on my smallest packs, I like to have at least one outer pocket (in addition to the top flap pocket) to keep the smaller items I am likely to need quickly in, such as toilet paper, head torch, folding saw, etc. I also like to keep my wallet and keys in a little baggie in a zippered pocket in the outer pouch so it is secure, but accessible. Regarding clothing: A decent pair of leather gloves will protect your hands when handling wood, etc., and will save your fingers form getting beaten up by bumps and abrasions. Regarding toilet paper: Take wet wipes, too. Not necesarily for your backside (alhtough theyare hand for that, too), but for cleaning your hands. There are few things worse than getting a case of the galloping trots in the bush because you didn't have clean hands before eating. That said, also pack a ver small bottle of hand sanitizer. Great for killing the germs on hands, but also great as a solvent for when you get tree sap on your knife blade or hands, and of course makes an awesome fire lighter. Regarding navigation: A map and compass are essential, but I always carry a GPS, too (never instead of). It not only complements (and confirms) my manual navigation (especially when I'm tired), but provides data of interest during my outing, such as at-a-glance altitude (actual, gained and lost), real and average speed of travel, and allows my routes to be saved and even plotted onto a map once home. My own GPS also has a camera in it that allows me to keep an electronic journal and a visual reminder of sites (with location data embedded) for future planning purposes. If you are in N. America and can legally carry a firearm, then I would add that to the mix if you think it's needed. In my case, I am in an area that has the highest density of cougar (mountain lion) and black bear in N. America, so I carry a very short (14" barrel) shotgun or a .44 magnum take-down mare's leg. If it was legal in Canada, I'd carry a handgun, but it's not legal, hence the other options. Lastly, it really helps to make check lists for your packing. For me, that means making lists on my computer that I can quickly check off items as they are taekn from where they're stored at home and laid out immediately prior to packing. I have lists for temperate summer and winter, extreme cold winter conditions, rain forest, consitions, and super dry desert-like conditions. Treat a check list as part of your safety gear/approach.
I could recommend a few more things that would be handy, but when is enough enough? I have to say that for weight, cost, utility, and easy to use, there is nothing that beats a Bic lighter with some tubing wrapped around it.
thenrylee Thanks for your comment. Yes, you have to draw a line somewhere. Thinking about having all your bases covered - particularly clothing, shelter and fire - will mean you are less likely to be blindsided by problems though. Personally I prefer a Swedish Firesteel over a Bic lighter as a general firelighting tool but I often have both. Nor am I going to be dogmatic about it - someone should take the tool they are most confident and competent with, and most suitable for the environment they are hiking in. What's important is that you've thought about your potential needs and addressed them. Warm regards, Paul
An arrangement I used when I cycled to keep out of sudden rainstorms or to improvise shelter was an umbrella, a poncho and a smaller tarp, combine that with some cordage and maybe a bungee or two and you have fast shelter that takes up little room in your rucksack. I like my Crusader Mk.1 kit but I begrudge it's comparative weight and lumpiness for a day hike, the US GI canteen cup & stand or the French army aluminium canteen cup are less lumpy/heavy in that small rucksack and more than enough for most day hikes. Thanks for the vid!!
jelkel25 Yes, something to throw up quickly in a rainstorm is worth its weight. Nick Crane is well known for using an umbrella on his hikes (have a read of the book "Clearwaters Rising") but it's not something I've ever got along with. I like to have my hands free when walking. It's the same reason why I don't like trekking poles. Weird as I like Nordic skiing. Just one of my peculiarities! I've been using the aluminium Crusader II recently and appreciate the 100g drop in weight (and greater volume) over the steel Crusader. Thanks for your comment! :-)
Oh I'd never walk with the umbrella, It gets turned into a shelter in heavy storms and the brew kit comes out while I'm waiting. Can't decide on the Crusader 2, the drop in weight is a huge plus. I'm one of the few that doesn't get on with the Mk.1 so maybe this has potential in the future. Thanks Paul!!
Brilliant suggestion about the dry bag being bigger than the day pack. I always just used a dry bag that goes inside the large compartment of the pack. I’ll be changing my system accordingly. Cheers Paul!!
I wouldn't personally take a dry bag and a survival bag, OK the dry bag can double up as a pillow case but the survival bag can be used as a rucksack liner.
+Norman Butler Hi Normal, personaly I find the survival bags too large for dry liners for day sacs but I understand where you are coming from. ATB, PAul
This was pretty helpful. I didn't know about head torches, or about the folding saw. Both things could come in handy especially since I am new to hiking. Thank You.
Hi Paul, As relevant today as when you first made it, dropping on your vids is like looking in a reference book, this is why you are appreciated so much, it's like we used to look at the encyclopedia brittanica, but now on the Internet, one person acknowledged over many years, hope you and your family and friends are doing well, Stay safe my friend. Nige.
Great video. Sorry to say, day hikers are overrepresented in casualty figures. Quite worrying at the mo, as people who might usually camp are taking day trips.
I always find a bucket of The Colonel's finest and a carton of Lager is the way to go. As a current member of the SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) I find that Carlsberg is the right refreshment for any survival situation. All jokes aside, The things to pack first are common sense, positive attitude, mental fortitude, experience, education, training, a smile and a camera.
Ade Larsen Hi Ade, thanks for your comment, which made me laugh. For a survival ration, I'd go for Special Brew - more alcohol for the weight in your pack and I'd hope it would instil some of the Winston Churchill spirit too. All jokes aside, you are absolutely right with respect to the first things to pack. Stay safe out there my friend. All the best, Paul
Your pack looks very good and impressive. However id add just a few other things. Spare socks, wet wipes, a whistle, and a foil emergency blanket. Also at least two small plastic carrier for taking your trash to a bin or home.
What a superb video, learnt lots from this and however silly this may sound I never contemplated carrying 'overnight' provisions in my daypack up till watching this video. Many thanks for taking the time to share this video and I will be calling you very soon if ok to talk to you about your courses as i've got a couple of questions before I book up. Till then wishing you a blessed week ahead my man ~Peace~
Hey Zed, that's not silly. Many people don't think about staying out for longer. You always assume you'll be home - which is a reasonable assumption - but most days you don't ever have to use your first aid kit either. Glad it was useful to you already. I look forward to speaking with you. All the best, Paul
I noticed that majority of your gear is natural earth tones (dark green, brown) except for your survival bag. Do you teach people to have a brightly coloured tarp or other items that makes it easy to be seen by search and rescue people? Great list of items. One thing I didn't notice was duct or gaffers tape for gear repair, extra fire starting items and possible wound closure/bandaid application.
bwillan Hi there again. You are right that much of my clothing is natural tones. I don't tend to go for camo clothing (apart from the waterproof overtrousers, which were bought because they are tough and cheap) as I don't like to look military for the sake of it. I do have a few Advantage/Real Tree items though which I use specifically for getting closer to animals. But even when I'm not out for a specific reason, I do like to see plenty of nature when I'm out and about - that's one of my motivations for going to the woods - so I generally wear muted, natural colours to blend in. I'm not alone in this - many people wear muted colours for this reason as well as nature photographers, bird watchers and hunters. Anyone who is hard to see should consider carrying something which makes him or her more visible if they need to be. A bright survival bag or a tarp plus a headtorch and spare batteries is a good place to start. Being able to light a fire also helps with visibility - smoke during the day, flames at night. As for gaffer or duct tape, I do carry it in a small repair kit which contains duct tape, zip ties and a sewing kit on backpacking trips but tend not to carry this for just a day hike. I hope this helps. All the best, Paul.
Hi Paul, Would you comment on the use of the so called "survival blankets" ( made of mylar?) as a quick means of making a relector for your campfire. Have heard if you display one in front of your fire or even behind yourself as you sit at the fire, they will make you quiet warm. Thanks for the excellent video.
hey paul I have been taking a snugpack bivi and a fleece sleeping bag liner on day hikes as emergency shelter for some time it's came in handy a couple of times !! when things have not worked out as planned and have had friends with nothing a fleece sleeping bag liner and a bivi is only 800g and worth its weight in gold at a push
It seems like an awful lot to pack for a day hike on a fine summer's day, but you are right to be ready for anything. Over here in Ontario, Canada I would include a bottle of Deep Woods (DEET) insect repellent, because otherwise it could be quite miserable depending on the time of year.
Thoughtful video. I'd be curious about the final weight of the pack when all the gear, water, and food is stuffed back in. Seems a bit excessive, but as a 'general' approach, I like the range of ideas presented.
Just getting started in bushcraft myself and trying to build skills and equipment. Your channel and presenting style are outstanding. Keep up the good work!
I leave 3/4 of this stuff at home. If I'm out for the day in a strange area we're talking about a max of 4 hours out and 4 hours back. That's 8 miles max of walking and generally less. I take a GPS with me. When I reach my put in point I mark that spot on my GPS, then remove the batteries and put the GPS away. When I reach the point where I'm going to return I put the battery back in and check where I am relative to how I want to return. Water, snacks, head lamp, long poncho for rain gear, knife, extra socks and liner (nothing worse than blisters), small first aid kit with mole skin and tape, two sets of spare AA batteries, two Bic lighters, wool pullover and sock cap, compass, cell phone and map.
Hi Paul, It doesn't really age, your information is as relevant to the newcomer as it was then, yes there may be a few technical advances, bls' for us soloist, I keep looking back at your old stuff just to keep the grey matter in place during these unknown times, keep your family and friends safe in these troubled times. Nige.
Hi Paul, thank you for yet another interesting and useful video. I do actually carry a very similar kit on a day out but I also always carry a small home made cook kit with a meths burner, it weighs next to nothing and is easier to use if its wet weather. I am also going to buy a small hammock that has a zip running the whole length so it can be used as a kit hammock or a hammock chair and its big enough to sleep in if need be. I thought it would be a really useful piece of kit, and its only about £15 from I think they are called UK Hammocks but I'm not 100% sure on that. Thanks again Paul and all the very best Regards Simon
Hey Simon, yes carrying a small stove is a good idea - something I'm more likely to do in the hills. A Jetboil or Optimus Crux with a metal mug would be my weapon of choice but I also appreciate the simplicity and ease of use provided by a meths burner. Let me know how you get on with the hammock. Warm regards, Paul
pyt2music Good stuff. I think it's always worth going back to first principles and examining your assumptions/starting points in the light of your experience and the experience of others. It's an exercise I undertake regularly in many areas of my life. All the best, Paul
Great, common sense video, thank you. The music only distracts from the sound track, and I found it irritating. The information was absolutely spot on, thanks again.
Hi Paul! very informative video! How many times i forgot packing gloves and a spoon... May i add some points i find interesting? - Hooded clothing rob a lot of space in your sack, wool cap and a shemagh are enough for me - Same thing for waterproofs. i carry a large poncho that if stranded can offer cover for the night as a tarp. - Baby wipes. 'Cause you really can't hike with a sore ass. - Also i prefer multi-purpouse items. so the last three items i can cover with a couple of large trash bags.
You said day hike right ? That's a lot of stuff for a day hike, I go hiking with matches, compass and my knife. Maybe water but water is in abundance and is heavy to carry.
Great video. I always take with me my response pack when in my local woods for a couple of hours. In it I have brew kit water bottle first aid,fire kit and knife I can also attach a poncho or waterproofs to it. Did a video of it a while back. If I was going somewhere further i would pack similar kit to you.
+gerald santos :-) Well there are a few packing tricks, which are helpful, such as this: frontierbushcraft.com/2012/03/13/folding-your-outdoor-jacket-a-neat-trick/ ATB, Paul
Brilliant video 👍 been carrying much of the gear for years, but this certainly made me reconsider a few things..... I'll certainly be adding an ultralight tarp and the necessary cordage....with a couple of trekking poles you could make all sorts of configurations of shelter. Thanks....and all the best....
Excellent advice, very nice. I almost never have the luxury of only packing for myself.. i have to consider at least 2 other people; As others always forget to bring the necessities.
Well made video with solid info, but in my opinion that's a lot of stuff to carry for a 5 hour day hike, even if one accounts for a possible overnight survival scenario. One can have/ make a well equipped 72 hour survival kit that's that weighs only a couple of pounds and is a little smaller in size than that rolled up fleece hoodie. Add an extra insulating layer and you're good to go. It just seems like the amount of gear in that pack set up would be for a 3 day hike minus the food. Great all around outdoors kit you have there.
bradleystrand81 Thanks for your comments. Indeed there are lighter-weight options. But the important thing is that people have thought about what they take and why (including the possibility of being out overnight when they don't plan to). On the theme of putting together a comprehensive yet compact kit, you might be interested in my article here: paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bushcraft-survival-kit/ All the best, Paul
Thanks for the link. I liked that article. Your set up there nearly mimics my own kit. I have a few differences that suite my own needs. I always keep up a compact, disposable poncho and Mylar space blanket in mine due to the fact I live in a potentially cold environment most of the year. I also substitute a "life straw" water filter in place of purification tabs. the straw has an unlimited shelf life and no prep time to use it. Plus a container isn't needed to hold water to process it. You can sip right from the source if need be. Thanks again for the link :-)
Liking your attitude to preparedness, some of the ultra lighters look like they run a few too many risks while trying to cut down on the gear ,,favourited
Paul you really are an excellent instructor and i love your presentation techniques. That is an extremely heavyweight daypack for a single day, do you often carry that much? Hope you're keeping well sir, all the best! Cheers, Jack
A good informative video Paul, thank you. On the subject of clothing, could I ask what are you ideas about Bufallo Shirts? I use one, ( I have the lightweight one in summer), when out in the woods and I tend not to bother with anything other than a lightweight waterproof for when I stop. I find them a cracking piece of kit and wondered whether you had considered them as an alternative to " standard layering"?
Chip Newkirk Hey chip, I think you have some setting selected which prevents me from replying directly to your comments. The head torch I use is a SureFire Saint. This is the older model with an external battery back. You can also run it in the same configuration as the Minimus (i.e. with just a single CR123 battery internally). I like the fact you can use lithium batteries (they fry most Petzl torches) as well as being able to use either 2x AA or 3 x CR123 in the external battery pack. It seems the options now available are either the Minimus version or the AA version, both of this have the same output as my torch. The brightness is continuously variable from very low (great for reading) right up to full power (100 lumens). There are also some more powerful headtorches in the line up now, the Maximus and Maximus Vision: www.surefire.com/illumination/headlamps.html
Hey Paul, thanks a lot for the video - very good information! Regarding your comment about lithium batteries in Petzl torches: I have used a Petzl Myo for several years now with lithium batteries and never had problems. I'm living in Norway and use the torch especially during winter time where we can have quite cold temperatures and the torch/batteries never failed me. I like the external battery pack because I can have it close to my body which helps to increase the battery life! Hope to see more of your excellent videos!
Hey Michael that's interesting feedback. Do you know if Petzl have changed the specification? I used to use a Myo XP and it specifically said in the documentation not to use lithium batteries. My elite on the other hand, came with a lithium battery....
Paul Kirtley Hey Paul, I have to admit that I wasn't aware of that problem before you mentioned it. Luckily I kept the package of my Petzl Myo XP Belt: it says on the back that it's compatible with rechargeable batteries, but nothing about lithium batteries. So I searched the net and found that Petzl updated their headlamps in 2008 with a fuse in the battery pack that "solves" the problem they had with rechargeable batteries (candlepowerforums dot com/vb/showthread.php?219357-Petzl-MYO-RXP-comes-to-America&p=2876421&viewfull=1#post2876421). I bought mine in 2010 which means I have the updated version. In these last four years I only used it with Energizer lithium batteries and never had a problem. I saw on your blog that you use a Surefire headlamp - could you elaborate on it? Cheers, Michael
Michael Puffer Ah, OK. My Myo XP pre-dated that fuse update. Thanks for digging up those details. The headlamp I use now is a Surefire 'Saint". This is basically the Minimus with an external battery pack. The lead runs into the compartment where a single CR123 fits (in Minimus configuration). The plug is the same size as a CR123 - quite neat. The battery pack which fits on the back of the headband can take 2xAA horizontally or 3x CR123 in a vertical configuration. Looking at Surefire's website, they don't seem to produce the battery pack any longer, possibly because they now have a more powerful headtorch at the top of the range (the Maximus). They still produce the Minimus version of what was called the Saint, which takes a single CR123. In my experience, though, this runs down pretty quickly. I only use it when weight is at an absolute premium. Otherwise I use the external battery pack (similar in size to the Myo XP battery pack I used to use). www.surefire.com/illumination/headlamps.html Hope this helps. ATB, Paul
Loved your video & I'm a Berghaus Munro fan too & can't the way the shoulder straps cut into your arm pits, Your a big lad! I own nine old Roc's & an Atlas.
Very good. Maybe you could make a short clip about clothing for each season and explain the layering system. Quite obvious for some people i'm sure, but for others i think it could be an interesting video.
I remember reading somewhere that it's a good idea to take something meat based as your extra food, beef jerky or something, as your body generates more heat digesting and breaking down those types of food.
+Paul Kirtley But doesn't expending energy generate warmth? Maybe not so good in a survival situation, where calories are tight, but if you had a variety of foods, maybe eat your meat before bed to keep you warm? I'm an amateur by the way, I'm just putting an idea I heard about to someone more knowledgeable to see how true it is. :)
I have been advised that good quality waterproofs are an essential. I'm on a budget at the moment and don't want to get cheap ones that create a sauna effect. Would it be worth carrying a large poncho till I purchase waterproofs ? Thanks. Great vid.
I really enjoyed this, I got some fantastic tips. You are also a great communicator. The kit layout is perfect, I would only include just two more items, a silver space blanket for your pocket gear and a spare pair of socks in your dry bag. I love that huge dry bag, they are extremely multiuse from anything from collecting water to making a insulated sleeping pad, Ie filling it up with leaves if you did need to spend the night on the cold floor. keep up the good work...
This is a very, very informative video. As I watched it I was flicking back and forward between this and Amazon to ensure that I have everything you have shown. Thankyou.
Another great video Paul! Thanks for taking the time to post. This is just the sort of video that I will keep referring back to when G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) sets in and I need to keep things real and sensible. Cheers and all the best!
Another quality and very sensible video :) i might suggest adding 80 gram per person of polenta or similar and a few gram of salt and maybe even a tiny bit of grated hard cheese to the pack. That will for very little weight and room extra per person cook a decent emergency meal, providing slow uptake carbs/energy and a bit of fat and protein from the cheese, (as long as you also have the water and metal cup/pot available of course).
I have a question regarding your water canteen. I see people with the type you have and being a beginner it confuses me. If you collect water from in the plastic canteen and sterilise in metal container then your plastic bottle is no longer sterile and you can't pour boiled water into it to take with you or cool down ? I opted for the stainless steel canteen and cup so I can stick the canteen in the fire and can cool and take with me. Can you please the rationale with the plastic canteen. I see many seasoned people with them and would be very interested as to the pros with that particular option your using. Many thanks and great video
+Kris Douglas I'll jump in and say I use my metal container to collect dirty water. That way the act of boiling in that container will sterilize it, and I put it in the plastic container to cool off and transport.
+sharpuslf hi there thanks for reply. A bit tricky carrying to your campsite if your not camping beside the water source ? Thanks. Just curious not challenging different options buddy :)
Kris Douglas Yeah different people do different things for sure. I also carry a portable backpacking stove, so I could boil the water right at the source in about five-ten minutes, and then be on my way.
Pouring really hot water and then leaving it for a longer period of time will sterilize just as well as boiling water. It is just boiling water does it instantly and is easier to know for sure that the water item is sterile. I like being able to fold up my water storage when it is empty as opposed to lugging it around for the rest of the day.
just question about the color of your clothes. if you hiking, wouldnt it be more beneficial to be wearing brighter colors like yellow, orange or red instead of green and camo? if you ever got hurt of fall somewhere, I dont think they would ever find you in a forest.
Thank you Paul for taking the time to make this video, it is really helpful to hear and see you talk about what and how you do things. Can you give us some details on your water proof jacket? I've seen you wear this before, Thanks. Jay.
pyt2music Hi Jay, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you appreciate this. It would be all too east just to publish a list of specific products as a blog post but I think the real value I can pass on is explaining the reasons why I choose particular items and the rationale that led me there. I'm glad you picked up on this. The "how" is as important as "what" :) In terms of this waterproof jacket, it is a Swazi Tahr jacket www.swazi.co.nz/shop/wet-weather-gear/tahr-anorak/ Hope this helps. Warm regards, Paul
I have recently started to watch your videos and I get really good tips and advices. What I wanted to ask you is if you have any experience of hiking in mediterenean areas (or mayde you already have a video on youtube that I have missed it ?). The needs are completely different, especially during the summer when you need lots of water. I would love to hear your tips
One thing you didn't mention was clothing. "Cotton Kills" was the rule always hammered into my head, so no T-shirts and no denim. Once it gets wet, it stays wet. Also, sport some decent footwear (no tennis shoes,flip flops, etc..). Obvious to most people watching this vid, I know, but just wanted to add to the basics. Cheers.
Good day pack info! But I have a question: How does a lost hiker pinpoint his own location on a map? I know how to orient a map, but not how to figure out exactly where I am. Thanks for your help.
It's not like with GPS, you can't just open the map and pinpoint your own position with the aid of a compass. It would be very difficult even if you were within sight of distinct topographical features or landmarks as you'd have to look at every grid square of the map until you found those features, unless you were next to a village or monument, or maybe at a road junction. The idea with map and compass is that you don't wait until you're lost, but starting from a known position on the map, you navigate step by step so you are constantly checking the map, using the compass to orientate, and registering the points mentally as you pass them, so you always know - at least more or less - where you are on the map. That's why hikers/walkers carry maps in cases outside their packs. If you're already lost, that means that you failed to navigate properly. You could however then use the compass to enable you walk a specific direction until you come to a linear feature on a map such as a road or river, but you couldn't use a compass to head towards a village or specific point, because you wouldn't know where you were starting from.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing another useful video and Blog. You very briefly mentioned an app which can be downloaded on a mobile to aid emergency services locate you. Can you expand on that a little with some more info. Thanks
I'm going on a 13 mile loop hike today and this is my gear list: 35l backpack + Compacter bag liner 2 750ml water bottle Sawyer squeeze Rain poncho tarp shelter Three layer clothing system Balaclava, gloves, extra socks. Emergency bivy Stakes and guylines One trekking pole Food for two-three days Two lighters Headlamp Athletic tape Ibuprofen Toilet paper Pocket knife Compass Phone Battery pack Map
great video as always Paul thanx for sharing , i away carry a similar kit when out walking as you never know. Its annoying when your out on more touristy routes like Ben Nevis for example and you see people with nothing not even a water bottle or a coat and i think what are you doing what if the weather suddenly changes.
+ba survival (basurvival) True. I see it time and time again in the mountains - particularly on the popular routes. Further afield, where there are more forests, you also need to be prepared. Hikers are lost, benighted or injured on a regular basis. Glad you are prepared to look after yourself the best you can. Warm regards, Paul
Hi Paul, I know that this is an older video but still very enjoyable and I like your selection of gear. there is just one other thing that I always carry in the bush, and that is a whistle. In fact if there is one think that my young children always had around their neck when we went camping it was a whistle. Even in the city, on family excursions the kids wore one. But in the bush, I personally believe it is essential. As I have just discovered your material, I am thoroughly enjoying it. Cheers Cameron
Very good point! :) Always carry a whistle! Although in the majority of modern backpacks, they incorporate a whistle in the chest strap clip! Which is actually quite loud and a nice integrated design so you can't lose it!
Yep. If you are injured and conscious, maybe almost immobile (or lost), a whistle is vital. Mountains, bush, waterways...a very powerful (universal), signalling device, that requires almost zero effort to operate. I need to snap one onto my rucksack asap. Everyone should.
Hi Paul, where can I get a shirt and trousers like yours? I've been using military surplus stuff because it's cheap and reliable but I want to try and move away from the military look a bit because i'm planning on doing some backpacking trips that'll take me through more populated areas and I want to blend in a bit more.. Do you have any suggestions on affordable / common man stuff to wear that is also good for backpacking and the woods?
Hi Neil, the shirts I use are Swedish M59 shirts. They are very comfy and cost only around five pounds. The trousers I use are more expensive - Fjallraven - but are durable, fast drying and have good pockets. For you, the range of colours in which they are available will also be interesting. I hope this helps. ATB, Paul
Scott Higgins Hey Scott, thanks for your comment and welcome to my channel. The daypack in this video is a Berghaus Munro: store.berghaus.com/p/day-sacks/munro-day-sack/402280
phil ogden Hi Phil, good to hear from you. Yes the old/retro Nokia phones are a great option. There's a few guys on my team at Frontier Bushcraft who normally use iPhones but due to the poor battery life of these and the fact you can't change the battery, use a Nokia while working outdoors. A pay-as-you-go phone for emergencies is a good idea too. All the best, Paul
Thats great, as long as your phone works in the remote area you might be in; if not and you've injured yourself in an area with no phone coverage, you could be in trouble. Always tell someone where you are going, leave a rough plan of your route, times you expect to be back etc; don't rely on a phone, and carry a whistle to lead rescuers to you.
@@PaulKirtley Paul; I am surprised, you seem to place very much reliance on mobile phones these days to get you out of trouble? But mention nothing about the importance of having a basic whistle in case of emergencies? Since I was walking, trekking, cycling everywhere as a kid of 17 (i'm now 63) I always carried a whistle in case anyone needed to find me if I was injured (the standard distress call of three blasts a minute etc)! This was standard outdoors stuff!, but you 'experts' don't seem to mention this these days and the reliance seems to be on mobile phones! Well if you were to come to Exmoor for example and you were injured you would find your phones wouldn't work in most places so you'd need some other form of alerting people!
Every time I'm out alone or with family I have a detailed route card. Phone 100% will not work everywhere. Even without the capacity to call. SMS can still sometimes sneak out. In conjunction with the route a simple 6 figure grid. Could help
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Put in a couple of heavy duty garbage bags, has many uses, alsocan be used to make a mattress.
Thanks Paul, great video. However, I noticed that you didn't include a spare pair of socks (even lightweight liner socks). I certainly carry them and sometimes get to use them on my feet, but usually they get used for other purposes.
Hi, Mr . Kirtley .
My day pack set up is almost identical .
One difference is I carry a pair of clear safety glasses with the option of a tinted lense .
Nothing worse than a branch to the eye .
Yes I always carry my military bulletproof safety glasses with interchangeable lenses clear amber lenses and also sun lenses a lot of people seem to forget about your eyes are the most important thing to look after can't see you can't do anything
Do you wear them all the time you are walking? Bit strange.
I always pack light safety glasses too, in the woods.
@@tooyoungtobeold8756 no that doesn't even make sense . If you ever get off Trail and get in dense forest like we have in south Georgia swamps and catch a branch to the eye you would understand. You're obviously a trail Walker
@@KirstenBayes Yes ma'am . Definitely come in handy at times 👍
It’s great to come back to these older, comprehensive videos. I know shorter video productions are necessary for the collective decrease of attention spans, but I appreciate the treasure trove of older videos.
Your videos are timeless. I've got a camping trip with the kids coming up and love reviewing your videos in the upcoming weeks before a trip. The depth of information comes through as does your passion.
I would recommend adding a roll of household twine. It's very useful for many small things, whether you want to hang up your jacket or use a mylar sheet as a wind break or add under your hammock as extra insulation.
Jute twine for cordage and tinder is my recommendation as well.
I carry two medium but heavy duty picture hanging hooks. This means I don't have to waste precious cordage wrapping it around a tree. The hooks get screwed into a (preferably dead) tree and my cordage gets knotted into the hooks. I have 2 heavy duty, plastic covered cup hooks too.
I always bring heavy leather work gloves. It’s very important to protect your hands mostly for people who normally do not work with their hands and it protects the hands from that hot cup and fire.
These are a must. A very common injury in the woods is splinters. No matter how work hardened your hands are, you are susceptible to splinters if you handle a lot of wood. Also protects against thorns. Getting poked by splinters or thorns can lead to a serious infection.
Hi Mr Kirtley, I always take a fairly comprehensive first aid kit with me when on day hikes in Western Australia, some of the items I have found have a dual use in an actual lost/emergency situation is a triangular bandage, great for filtering water before boiling, alcohol wipes are great fire starters, Betadine (iodine) liquid is great for killing nasties in water before drinking and the magnifying glass for splinters etc is great for starting a fire when the sun is out.
Great video sir. Your sample kit is excellent.
I live now in mountainous central Arizona, elevations 4000-8000 FT transitioning from hot dry deserts with cactus through chaparral to pine, juniper and aspen forests, most water sources are seasonal (although the Verde river is good year-round) - our summer rains can be intense, winter storms aren't always strong but some years we get buried.
Earlier this year I was making a short'ish solo hike around a scenic municipal reservoir, partly wooded and partly rocky. The plan was to work on conditioning and enjoy an MRE for lunch. I'll describe my kit as very similar to yours, except, at the time instead of a head-torch there was this angle-head military-style flashlight with 2 D-cells - heavy and I'm going during the day so I pulled it out (leaving me no flashlight). Knives, fixed and folding, but no saw. I was dressed for 75 F day temps, shorts and cotton shirt plus boonie hat, shemagh and sunglasses (only... another mistake). I had my small binoculars. No extra clothing layers but a military-surplus shelter-half/poncho, and a 6 foot square tarp (plus thin emergency poncho, a space blanket and a Heatsheet from SOL). No spare battery for my mobile. WetWipes not tissues. A metal cup, and an Esbit pocket stove with fuel tabs. And a couple of liter-size bottles of water in the mesh side pockets plus the aforementioned MRE. I planned on launching at 10 AM and four leisurely hours including lunch and bird-watching, but I got delayed and didn't start until 1 PM ... two-thirds of the way through in a rocky and wooded canyon I lost the trail amidst boulders and spent some time crossing back and forth over a drainage that was chocked with debris of spring overflows, despite my map I wasn't making any headway and then I slipped on the boulders (or something shifted) and I smacked my shin - I had three deep gouges between knee and ankle, the bleeding took up all the common items from my palm-sized first-aid kit, nothing was broken and I could stand but I rapidly developed a knot the size of a softball ... still looking for a way forward on the trail I covered another couple hundred yards but had no luck. The sun was falling behind the hills - I had only my prescriptive sun glasses and no flashlight so my vision was getting challenged , when I found a spot where my cell phone did work despite the tight canyon walls I called 9-1-1 and our Fire Department mobilized to come help me .... despite my communicating where I was on the map and my phone giving them a GPS reading of where I was stopped we had some miscommunications and they didn't link up with me until 9 PM.
Hi Steve, it goes to show how a small issue can amplify into something that slows you down or even becomes debilitating. Then having some key items of equipment reallly pays dividends. Interesting point re you leaving out kit because of weight and expected time home. Plus the issue you had with only having prescription sunglasses is one worth remembering for others who use similar eyewear. Thanks for sharing your story. This type of tale is always instructive for other people who read them. ATB, Paul
Love these older videos Paul. Useful to remind us perpetual students of the key basics once in a while. Thanks again.
A couple of observations if I may; I am assuming here that your advice is for people walking 'off the grid' e.g. off the car park, beaten paths, and maybe across more remote terrain such as moor and through forest etc? Firstly, you might be walking in an area where there is no mobile signal e.g. parts of Exmoor where i spend a lot of time; so both your phone and battery would be of no use; so very importantly if you know there could be difficulties with mobile comms, then wherever you are staying or if you are going straight from home, it is vital to tell someone where you are going; your estimated route and roughly the time it will take; and when you expect to be back, even on a day walk. For e.g. If you are walking 'off grid' and you break a leg only 2 miles from the nearest road at 4.30pm in the winter time, it will be very dark at 5.30pm and no one will know you are there if your phone doesn't work or you have not told anyone! Secondly, I didn't hear you mention the inclusion of a good whistle at all? I always have two; one on my pack and another affixed to me, usually on the same lanyard next to my compass. If your phone doesn't work and there could be the possibility of people looking for you at night, a good, powerful whistle is vital to lead rescuers to you. So unless it has been changed, the standard distress call in the UK with a whistle, is still one blast every 20 seconds, so three a minute to help people looking for you locate you and so on; which you didn't mention? My advice would be this; if you are going out for a complete day walk 'off grid' (ie away from the well worn car park footpaths) and into more remote terrain, then plan your kit like you are going for an overnight stay....just in case you are forced to......and do, do take a good whistle as back up!
Very similar to what I take with me for day trips on my mountain bike, which I envisage for getting stuck out overnight but with a couple of differences: Dutch Army poncho instead of tarp, bigger than other ponchos (as Dutchmen are tall) and I can throw up a quick shelter, wear it, or even sit with it on and hood up and carefully using a tealight candle keep myself warm, never had to do that though...combined with a mylar type bivvy bag (tiny and light) with 2 x hand warmers which I'd have inside, they generate heat for 10 hours, and a survival bag which I could fill with debris to sleep on...or if I didn't do that just put the mylar bivvy inside the survival bag, and the poncho press-studded around both of those. I also take a small twig burner (Lixada type) and a Zip firelighter, as well as my Trangia burner as I'll normally make a brew whether I'm stranded or not. Like you a water bottle and canteen cup (Dutch or Swiss Army issue) and of course a brew kit, but I'll add about 3000 Cal of food - individual hot chocolate sachet, sachets of oats - you can pour in boiling water and eat from them, they don't break if you're careful - chocolate and/or muesli bar, dextrose tablets, some hot meal for night (normally a British ration pack wet meal so I don't need to actually reconsitute with water if I'm limited), and a Cabanos dried sausage from the Polish products in a local shop, this weighs only 120g but has around 650 cal. Plus I'll usually take some trail snacks and a pack of instant noodles or mug shot but snack on these whilst I'm out anyway, the above is only my ''iron ration'' if I get stranded. Really I should have done a simulation when I'm out and tested this stuff overnight, but now it's a tad cold to do so comfortably. However I'm confident that I would survive no problem even in autumn or winter.
Finally re.: knife/saw, I find a Victorinox with a saw (Hiker or Farmer if you want to be completely legal but you could get away with a larger one like the Soldier/Trekker model with locking blade as you would ''have good reason'') covers both unless of course you're going serious bushcrafting in which case obviously you should take a fixed blade and a dedicated folding saw.
I always have two USGI Poncho's with a Poncho Liner, one for shelter and one poncho with liner, to sleep in. And, instead of one big dry bag. I store my extra cloths and anything that needs to stay dry, in Hefty slide lock storage bags. As for your cell phone, there are wilderness area's in the US where you will have no signal, so never rely on them when hiking in real wilderness. Other then that, a very well thought out video. I used to teach wilderness survival to Boy Scouts back in the 80s.
Another great video from Paul. A few things I'd like to offer: Firstly, regarding communication. Remember that Paul is in the UK, a relatively small country with comparatively extremely good cellular telephone coverage. In bigger countries, especially in N. America, your cell phone can be out of signal range very quickly. Hence I always take a satelaite phone, making sure it is fully charged and tested before leaving for my day trip. You can also have other comms devices such as SOS beacons like the SPOT or the Garmin Inreach. Not cheap, but what price do you put on your life/peace of mind? Regarding cordage, I'd argue to take plenty in order to be able to not only put up your tarp (in my case a SilTarp), but also enough to build a quick raised bed (the Canadian jam knot will quickly prove it's worth in such a situation). Put your energy into making a raised bed to get off the damp/cold ground and out of the 'cold zone' (bottom 15"-or-so of air on the ground), put a siltarp shelter over top and you have a decent expedient set-up. A brew kit is a must (whatever that looks like for you - in my case two or three tea bags and some instant coffee and a bit of sugar does the trick). Not only helps to keep you warm, but is a great psychological boost. Regarding the pack: Even on my smallest packs, I like to have at least one outer pocket (in addition to the top flap pocket) to keep the smaller items I am likely to need quickly in, such as toilet paper, head torch, folding saw, etc. I also like to keep my wallet and keys in a little baggie in a zippered pocket in the outer pouch so it is secure, but accessible. Regarding clothing: A decent pair of leather gloves will protect your hands when handling wood, etc., and will save your fingers form getting beaten up by bumps and abrasions. Regarding toilet paper: Take wet wipes, too. Not necesarily for your backside (alhtough theyare hand for that, too), but for cleaning your hands. There are few things worse than getting a case of the galloping trots in the bush because you didn't have clean hands before eating. That said, also pack a ver small bottle of hand sanitizer. Great for killing the germs on hands, but also great as a solvent for when you get tree sap on your knife blade or hands, and of course makes an awesome fire lighter. Regarding navigation: A map and compass are essential, but I always carry a GPS, too (never instead of). It not only complements (and confirms) my manual navigation (especially when I'm tired), but provides data of interest during my outing, such as at-a-glance altitude (actual, gained and lost), real and average speed of travel, and allows my routes to be saved and even plotted onto a map once home. My own GPS also has a camera in it that allows me to keep an electronic journal and a visual reminder of sites (with location data embedded) for future planning purposes. If you are in N. America and can legally carry a firearm, then I would add that to the mix if you think it's needed. In my case, I am in an area that has the highest density of cougar (mountain lion) and black bear in N. America, so I carry a very short (14" barrel) shotgun or a .44 magnum take-down mare's leg. If it was legal in Canada, I'd carry a handgun, but it's not legal, hence the other options. Lastly, it really helps to make check lists for your packing. For me, that means making lists on my computer that I can quickly check off items as they are taekn from where they're stored at home and laid out immediately prior to packing. I have lists for temperate summer and winter, extreme cold winter conditions, rain forest, consitions, and super dry desert-like conditions. Treat a check list as part of your safety gear/approach.
I could recommend a few more things that would be handy, but when is enough enough?
I have to say that for weight, cost, utility, and easy to use, there is nothing that beats a Bic lighter with some tubing wrapped around it.
thenrylee Thanks for your comment. Yes, you have to draw a line somewhere. Thinking about having all your bases covered - particularly clothing, shelter and fire - will mean you are less likely to be blindsided by problems though. Personally I prefer a Swedish Firesteel over a Bic lighter as a general firelighting tool but I often have both. Nor am I going to be dogmatic about it - someone should take the tool they are most confident and competent with, and most suitable for the environment they are hiking in. What's important is that you've thought about your potential needs and addressed them. Warm regards, Paul
An arrangement I used when I cycled to keep out of sudden rainstorms or to improvise shelter was an umbrella, a poncho and a smaller tarp, combine that with some cordage and maybe a bungee or two and you have fast shelter that takes up little room in your rucksack. I like my Crusader Mk.1 kit but I begrudge it's comparative weight and lumpiness for a day hike, the US GI canteen cup & stand or the French army aluminium canteen cup are less lumpy/heavy in that small rucksack and more than enough for most day hikes. Thanks for the vid!!
jelkel25 Yes, something to throw up quickly in a rainstorm is worth its weight. Nick Crane is well known for using an umbrella on his hikes (have a read of the book "Clearwaters Rising") but it's not something I've ever got along with. I like to have my hands free when walking. It's the same reason why I don't like trekking poles. Weird as I like Nordic skiing. Just one of my peculiarities! I've been using the aluminium Crusader II recently and appreciate the 100g drop in weight (and greater volume) over the steel Crusader. Thanks for your comment! :-)
Oh I'd never walk with the umbrella, It gets turned into a shelter in heavy storms and the brew kit comes out while I'm waiting. Can't decide on the Crusader 2, the drop in weight is a huge plus. I'm one of the few that doesn't get on with the Mk.1 so maybe this has potential in the future. Thanks Paul!!
Brilliant suggestion about the dry bag being bigger than the day pack. I always just used a dry bag that goes inside the large compartment of the pack. I’ll be changing my system accordingly. Cheers Paul!!
I wouldn't personally take a dry bag and a survival bag, OK the dry bag can double up as a pillow case but the survival bag can be used as a rucksack liner.
+Norman Butler Hi Normal, personaly I find the survival bags too large for dry liners for day sacs but I understand where you are coming from. ATB, PAul
I usually carry something similar, just in case, and much of it gets regular use. Comfort is half the battle, preparing is the main trick
A 2 person SOL blanket makes a great, light weight shelter. I enjoyed your video, great advice.
This was pretty helpful. I didn't know about head torches, or about the folding saw. Both things could come in handy especially since I am new to hiking. Thank You.
+Ciara Smith Yes, those items are very useful even in a dayhike. And in cases "you never know".
+Jailhouse Bradley Yup I'd second that :-)
Here in the eastern United States the woods and the mountains are one in the same. If you’re in the mountains, you’re in the woods.
17:50 batteries tend to loose charge if stored for a long period of time. Always recharge your spare batteries before hike.
Also don't store them fully charged. It reduces their lifespan.
Great advice, but, something I always carry is a small/fold up magnifying glass, handy for a many things
Agreed. See my comments elsewhere.
Cádiz county,near Gibraltar strait......High windy area.
And good Jerez ;)
Hi Paul,
As relevant today as when you first made it, dropping on your vids is like looking in a reference book, this is why you are appreciated so much, it's like we used to look at the encyclopedia brittanica, but now on the Internet, one person acknowledged over many years, hope you and your family and friends are doing well,
Stay safe my friend.
Nige.
Hi Paul what make is the green pouch on your belt and what’s it contain thx?
Great video. Sorry to say, day hikers are overrepresented in casualty figures. Quite worrying at the mo, as people who might usually camp are taking day trips.
I always find a bucket of The Colonel's finest and a carton of Lager is the way to go.
As a current member of the SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) I find that Carlsberg is the right refreshment for any survival situation.
All jokes aside, The things to pack first are common sense, positive attitude, mental fortitude, experience, education, training, a smile and a camera.
Ade Larsen Hi Ade, thanks for your comment, which made me laugh. For a survival ration, I'd go for Special Brew - more alcohol for the weight in your pack and I'd hope it would instil some of the Winston Churchill spirit too. All jokes aside, you are absolutely right with respect to the first things to pack. Stay safe out there my friend. All the best, Paul
Your pack looks very good and impressive. However id add just a few other things. Spare socks, wet wipes, a whistle, and a foil emergency blanket. Also at least two small plastic carrier for taking your trash to a bin or home.
What a superb video, learnt lots from this and however silly this may sound I never contemplated carrying 'overnight' provisions in my daypack up till watching this video. Many thanks for taking the time to share this video and I will be calling you very soon if ok to talk to you about your courses as i've got a couple of questions before I book up. Till then wishing you a blessed week ahead my man ~Peace~
Hey Zed, that's not silly. Many people don't think about staying out for longer. You always assume you'll be home - which is a reasonable assumption - but most days you don't ever have to use your first aid kit either. Glad it was useful to you already. I look forward to speaking with you. All the best, Paul
I noticed that majority of your gear is natural earth tones (dark green, brown) except for your survival bag. Do you teach people to have a brightly coloured tarp or other items that makes it easy to be seen by search and rescue people?
Great list of items. One thing I didn't notice was duct or gaffers tape for gear repair, extra fire starting items and possible wound closure/bandaid application.
bwillan Hi there again. You are right that much of my clothing is natural tones. I don't tend to go for camo clothing (apart from the waterproof overtrousers, which were bought because they are tough and cheap) as I don't like to look military for the sake of it. I do have a few Advantage/Real Tree items though which I use specifically for getting closer to animals. But even when I'm not out for a specific reason, I do like to see plenty of nature when I'm out and about - that's one of my motivations for going to the woods - so I generally wear muted, natural colours to blend in. I'm not alone in this - many people wear muted colours for this reason as well as nature photographers, bird watchers and hunters. Anyone who is hard to see should consider carrying something which makes him or her more visible if they need to be. A bright survival bag or a tarp plus a headtorch and spare batteries is a good place to start. Being able to light a fire also helps with visibility - smoke during the day, flames at night. As for gaffer or duct tape, I do carry it in a small repair kit which contains duct tape, zip ties and a sewing kit on backpacking trips but tend not to carry this for just a day hike. I hope this helps. All the best, Paul.
Hi Paul, Would you comment on the use of the so called "survival blankets" ( made of mylar?) as a quick means of making a relector for your campfire. Have heard if you display one in front of your fire or even behind yourself as you sit at the fire, they will make you quiet warm. Thanks for the excellent video.
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us Paul. Very helpful and informative as always.
Noel
Yggdrasil Hey Noel, my absolute pleasure. Glad you found it engaging. Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback. All the best, Paul
hey paul I have been taking a snugpack bivi and a fleece sleeping bag liner on day hikes as emergency shelter for some time it's came in handy a couple of times !! when things have not worked out as planned and have had friends with nothing a fleece sleeping bag liner and a bivi is only 800g and worth its weight in gold at a push
A headover is probably the best bit of kit that the mob gave me. A very underrated bit of kit.
It seems like an awful lot to pack for a day hike on a fine summer's day, but you are right to be ready for anything. Over here in Ontario, Canada I would include a bottle of Deep Woods (DEET) insect repellent, because otherwise it could be quite miserable depending on the time of year.
Thoughtful video. I'd be curious about the final weight of the pack when all the gear, water, and food is stuffed back in. Seems a bit excessive, but as a 'general' approach, I like the range of ideas presented.
Thanks Paul good info do you have a ruck list for the tropics ? If so do you have a video on what you would pack ?
Nice little check list with good reasoning
Clinton K Thanks bud.
Can recommend an umbrella too. Always in my pack (providing its not windy)
An umbrella 😂
@@daveyscorer1 ?
Just getting started in bushcraft myself and trying to build skills and equipment. Your channel and presenting style are outstanding. Keep up the good work!
Lovely day . No freezing rain .
This is a great video. I'm saving it to my Library as a reference to share.
I leave 3/4 of this stuff at home. If I'm out for the day in a strange area we're talking about a max of 4 hours out and 4 hours back. That's 8 miles max of walking and generally less. I take a GPS with me. When I reach my put in point I mark that spot on my GPS, then remove the batteries and put the GPS away. When I reach the point where I'm going to return I put the battery back in and check where I am relative to how I want to return. Water, snacks, head lamp, long poncho for rain gear, knife, extra socks and liner (nothing worse than blisters), small first aid kit with mole skin and tape, two sets of spare AA batteries, two Bic lighters, wool pullover and sock cap, compass, cell phone and map.
Hi Paul,
It doesn't really age, your information is as relevant to the newcomer as it was then, yes there may be a few technical advances, bls' for us soloist, I keep looking back at your old stuff just to keep the grey matter in place during these unknown times, keep your family and friends safe in these troubled times.
Nige.
excellent video, Paul! a no nonsense list of "must haves", just in time for spring hiking! thanks!
Primal Edge Thanks! It's a great time of year to be out hiking. All the best, Paul
Hi Paul, thank you for yet another interesting and useful video. I do actually carry a very similar kit on a day out but I also always carry a small home made cook kit with a meths burner, it weighs next to nothing and is easier to use if its wet weather. I am also going to buy a small hammock that has a zip running the whole length so it can be used as a kit hammock or a hammock chair and its big enough to sleep in if need be. I thought it would be a really useful piece of kit, and its only about £15 from I think they are called UK Hammocks but I'm not 100% sure on that.
Thanks again Paul and all the very best
Regards
Simon
Hey Simon, yes carrying a small stove is a good idea - something I'm more likely to do in the hills. A Jetboil or Optimus Crux with a metal mug would be my weapon of choice but I also appreciate the simplicity and ease of use provided by a meths burner. Let me know how you get on with the hammock. Warm regards, Paul
That's a great point Paul, You are right! You have made me think again about this.
pyt2music Good stuff. I think it's always worth going back to first principles and examining your assumptions/starting points in the light of your experience and the experience of others. It's an exercise I undertake regularly in many areas of my life. All the best, Paul
Great, common sense video, thank you. The music only distracts from the sound track, and I found it irritating. The information was absolutely spot on, thanks again.
Hi Paul! very informative video!
How many times i forgot packing gloves and a spoon...
May i add some points i find interesting?
- Hooded clothing rob a lot of space in your sack, wool cap and a shemagh are enough for me
- Same thing for waterproofs. i carry a large poncho that if stranded can offer cover for the night as a tarp.
- Baby wipes. 'Cause you really can't hike with a sore ass.
- Also i prefer multi-purpouse items. so the last three items i can cover with a couple of large trash bags.
Hi there and thanks for your comments. All the best, Paul
I was just wondering what your jacket was, mine recently bit the dust and I have some spare change for a nice new one and yours looks the business!
Shropshire Paranormal Investigations It's a Swazi Tahr Jacket. www.swazi.co.nz/shop/wet-weather-gear/tahr-anorak/
Very valuable information on what to pack for a day hike in the woods. Great video and extremely useful too. Cheers.
You said day hike right ? That's a lot of stuff for a day hike, I go hiking with matches, compass and my knife. Maybe water but water is in abundance and is heavy to carry.
Great video. I always take with me my response pack when in my local woods for a couple of hours. In it I have brew kit water bottle first aid,fire kit and knife I can also attach a poncho or waterproofs to it. Did a video of it a while back. If I was going somewhere further i would pack similar kit to you.
Steves Outdoors Adventures Northeast Sounds like a well-thought out system. Warm regards, Paul
Paul Kirtley Thanks.
You kept pulling stuff out of your pack and I was thinking his pack doesn't look that big. Good job.
+gerald santos :-) Well there are a few packing tricks, which are helpful, such as this: frontierbushcraft.com/2012/03/13/folding-your-outdoor-jacket-a-neat-trick/ ATB, Paul
Brilliant video 👍 been carrying much of the gear for years, but this certainly made me reconsider a few things..... I'll certainly be adding an ultralight tarp and the necessary cordage....with a couple of trekking poles you could make all sorts of configurations of shelter.
Thanks....and all the best....
Excellent advice, very nice. I almost never have the luxury of only packing for myself.. i have to consider at least 2 other people; As others always forget to bring the necessities.
forty5degrees Thanks for your feedback on this. I hope it helps serve as a useful framework (for the two others, perhaps?) Warm regards, Paul
Been putting a 24 hour wildcamp pack together picked up some good tips thanks m8 Chris
Chris down in the woods Thanks for your feedback Chris. Glad this was useful. ATB, Paul
What would you add for an overnight bag ? Thank you, its a great video.
Well made video with solid info, but in my opinion that's a lot of stuff to carry for a 5 hour day hike, even if one accounts for a possible overnight survival scenario. One can have/ make a well equipped 72 hour survival kit that's that weighs only a couple of pounds and is a little smaller in size than that rolled up fleece hoodie. Add an extra insulating layer and you're good to go. It just seems like the amount of gear in that pack set up would be for a 3 day hike minus the food. Great all around outdoors kit you have there.
bradleystrand81 Thanks for your comments. Indeed there are lighter-weight options. But the important thing is that people have thought about what they take and why (including the possibility of being out overnight when they don't plan to). On the theme of putting together a comprehensive yet compact kit, you might be interested in my article here: paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bushcraft-survival-kit/ All the best, Paul
Thanks for the link. I liked that article. Your set up there nearly mimics my own kit. I have a few differences that suite my own needs. I always keep up a compact, disposable poncho and Mylar space blanket in mine due to the fact I live in a potentially cold environment most of the year. I also substitute a "life straw" water filter in place of purification tabs. the straw has an unlimited shelf life and no prep time to use it. Plus a container isn't needed to hold water to process it. You can sip right from the source if need be. Thanks again for the link :-)
Great video. I really like the emphasis on hypothermia and staying dry. Looking forward to more.
Randy Chadwick Hey Randy, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you liked the emphasis. Warm regards, Paul.
Liking your attitude to preparedness, some of the ultra lighters look like they run a few too many risks while trying to cut down on the gear ,,favourited
Aus Trailianbushcraft Hi there. Thanks for your feedback. Please feel free to share with those you feel will benefit. Warm regards, Paul
Great review. Good advice especially the dry bag for inside the pack. Thanks.
Opal Preston Shirley Thanks, glad you found this useful. All the best, Paul
Paul you really are an excellent instructor and i love your presentation techniques. That is an extremely heavyweight daypack for a single day, do you often carry that much? Hope you're keeping well sir, all the best! Cheers, Jack
I think the greater you skill set, the less kit required. I carry a portion of this kit, and it has been reduced as I grow.
A good informative video Paul, thank you. On the subject of clothing, could I ask what are you ideas about Bufallo Shirts? I use one, ( I have the lightweight one in summer), when out in the woods and I tend not to bother with anything other than a lightweight waterproof for when I stop. I find them a cracking piece of kit and wondered whether you had considered them as an alternative to " standard layering"?
Just watched your video on clothing to wear in a woodland, so that answered my question thanks! :)
Hi Paul , great vid , very informative .... Just as a pointer and interest ! What pack an how many litre are you using as a day pack ????
Very good ideas, Thank you very much
Chip Newkirk Hey chip, I think you have some setting selected which prevents me from replying directly to your comments. The head torch I use is a SureFire Saint. This is the older model with an external battery back. You can also run it in the same configuration as the Minimus (i.e. with just a single CR123 battery internally). I like the fact you can use lithium batteries (they fry most Petzl torches) as well as being able to use either 2x AA or 3 x CR123 in the external battery pack. It seems the options now available are either the Minimus version or the AA version, both of this have the same output as my torch. The brightness is continuously variable from very low (great for reading) right up to full power (100 lumens). There are also some more powerful headtorches in the line up now, the Maximus and Maximus Vision: www.surefire.com/illumination/headlamps.html
Chip Newkirk Thanks Chip. Hope the info is useful to you. ATB, Paul
Hey Paul, thanks a lot for the video - very good information! Regarding your comment about lithium batteries in Petzl torches: I have used a Petzl Myo for several years now with lithium batteries and never had problems. I'm living in Norway and use the torch especially during winter time where we can have quite cold temperatures and the torch/batteries never failed me. I like the external battery pack because I can have it close to my body which helps to increase the battery life! Hope to see more of your excellent videos!
Hey Michael that's interesting feedback. Do you know if Petzl have changed the specification? I used to use a Myo XP and it specifically said in the documentation not to use lithium batteries. My elite on the other hand, came with a lithium battery....
Paul Kirtley
Hey Paul, I have to admit that I wasn't aware of that problem before you mentioned it. Luckily I kept the package of my Petzl Myo XP Belt: it says on the back that it's compatible with rechargeable batteries, but nothing about lithium batteries. So I searched the net and found that Petzl updated their headlamps in 2008 with a fuse in the battery pack that "solves" the problem they had with rechargeable batteries (candlepowerforums dot com/vb/showthread.php?219357-Petzl-MYO-RXP-comes-to-America&p=2876421&viewfull=1#post2876421). I bought mine in 2010 which means I have the updated version. In these last four years I only used it with Energizer lithium batteries and never had a problem. I saw on your blog that you use a Surefire headlamp - could you elaborate on it?
Cheers, Michael
Michael Puffer Ah, OK. My Myo XP pre-dated that fuse update. Thanks for digging up those details. The headlamp I use now is a Surefire 'Saint". This is basically the Minimus with an external battery pack. The lead runs into the compartment where a single CR123 fits (in Minimus configuration). The plug is the same size as a CR123 - quite neat. The battery pack which fits on the back of the headband can take 2xAA horizontally or 3x CR123 in a vertical configuration. Looking at Surefire's website, they don't seem to produce the battery pack any longer, possibly because they now have a more powerful headtorch at the top of the range (the Maximus). They still produce the Minimus version of what was called the Saint, which takes a single CR123. In my experience, though, this runs down pretty quickly. I only use it when weight is at an absolute premium. Otherwise I use the external battery pack (similar in size to the Myo XP battery pack I used to use). www.surefire.com/illumination/headlamps.html Hope this helps. ATB, Paul
What was your first big hike like? And which age did you start?
paul what about winter packing .and your advice on winter clothing and hat to carry .thanks mate nice vidz atb
Paul Tindall I think I'll have to make a separate video on these subjects :-)
thanks paul
Loved your video & I'm a Berghaus Munro fan too & can't the way the shoulder straps cut into your arm pits, Your a big lad! I own nine old Roc's & an Atlas.
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for your comments.
Very good.
Maybe you could make a short clip about clothing for each season and explain the layering system.
Quite obvious for some people i'm sure, but for others i think it could be an interesting video.
Zeus Aviary That's a good idea. I will add it to my list. Thank you. All the best, Paul
I remember reading somewhere that it's a good idea to take something meat based as your extra food, beef jerky or something, as your body generates more heat digesting and breaking down those types of food.
Meat is generally thermogenic when breaking it down.
+Paul Kirtley But doesn't expending energy generate warmth? Maybe not so good in a survival situation, where calories are tight, but if you had a variety of foods, maybe eat your meat before bed to keep you warm? I'm an amateur by the way, I'm just putting an idea I heard about to someone more knowledgeable to see how true it is. :)
Very good review of some valuable concepts. Thanks.
+Anthony Chappell Thanks Anthony
I have been advised that good quality waterproofs are an essential. I'm on a budget at the moment and don't want to get cheap ones that create a sauna effect. Would it be worth carrying a large poncho till I purchase waterproofs ? Thanks. Great vid.
+Kris Douglas Hi Kris, thanks for your question. What's your budget for the time being? ATB, Paul
+Paul Kirtley hi Paul. I have been advised to avoid cheap ones and the goretex ones are out of my budget, as in they would cost me over £150
I really enjoyed this, I got some fantastic tips. You are also a great communicator.
The kit layout is perfect, I would only include just two more items, a silver space blanket for your pocket gear and a spare pair of socks in your dry bag.
I love that huge dry bag, they are extremely multiuse from anything from collecting water to making a insulated sleeping pad, Ie filling it up with leaves if you did need to spend the night on the cold floor.
keep up the good work...
05Rudey Thanks. Glad you appreciated this. Agree that the space blanket and socks would be a good addition. Thanks for the comments :-)
This is a very, very informative video. As I watched it I was flicking back and forward between this and Amazon to ensure that I have everything you have shown. Thankyou.
Another great video Paul! Thanks for taking the time to post. This is just the sort of video that I will keep referring back to when G.A.S (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) sets in and I need to keep things real and sensible. Cheers and all the best!
jediknightofthewoods Hello mate, thanks for your kind words about the video. G.A.S. - I like the acronym! All the best, Paul
Another quality and very sensible video :)
i might suggest adding 80 gram per person of polenta or similar and a few gram of salt and maybe even a tiny bit of grated hard cheese to the pack.
That will for very little weight and room extra per person cook a decent emergency meal, providing slow uptake carbs/energy and a bit of fat and protein from the cheese, (as long as you also have the water and metal cup/pot available of course).
I have a question regarding your water canteen. I see people with the type you have and being a beginner it confuses me. If you collect water from in the plastic canteen and sterilise in metal container then your plastic bottle is no longer sterile and you can't pour boiled water into it to take with you or cool down ? I opted for the stainless steel canteen and cup so I can stick the canteen in the fire and can cool and take with me. Can you please the rationale with the plastic canteen. I see many seasoned people with them and would be very interested as to the pros with that particular option your using. Many thanks and great video
+Kris Douglas I'll jump in and say I use my metal container to collect dirty water. That way the act of boiling in that container will sterilize it, and I put it in the plastic container to cool off and transport.
+sharpuslf hi there thanks for reply. A bit tricky carrying to your campsite if your not camping beside the water source ? Thanks. Just curious not challenging different options buddy :)
Kris Douglas
Yeah different people do different things for sure. I also carry a portable backpacking stove, so I could boil the water right at the source in about five-ten minutes, and then be on my way.
Pouring really hot water and then leaving it for a longer period of time will sterilize just as well as boiling water. It is just boiling water does it instantly and is easier to know for sure that the water item is sterile. I like being able to fold up my water storage when it is empty as opposed to lugging it around for the rest of the day.
Excellent tutorial!!!
+Aitor A Thank you. Glad it was useful. ATB, Paul
just question about the color of your clothes. if you hiking, wouldnt it be more beneficial to be wearing brighter colors like yellow, orange or red instead of green and camo? if you ever got hurt of fall somewhere, I dont think they would ever find you in a forest.
howzitboy Good point. I like to see wildlife, so I tend to dress in fairly mute/natural colours. In the mountains in winter, I wear a red jacket....
Thank you Paul for taking the time to make this video, it is really helpful to hear and see you talk about what and how you do things. Can you give us some details on your water proof jacket? I've seen you wear this before, Thanks. Jay.
pyt2music Hi Jay, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you appreciate this. It would be all too east just to publish a list of specific products as a blog post but I think the real value I can pass on is explaining the reasons why I choose particular items and the rationale that led me there. I'm glad you picked up on this. The "how" is as important as "what" :) In terms of this waterproof jacket, it is a Swazi Tahr jacket www.swazi.co.nz/shop/wet-weather-gear/tahr-anorak/ Hope this helps. Warm regards, Paul
Very practicle advice Thanks!
Another excellent video paul. All the best. Dan
ManOthewoods Thanks Dan!
I have recently started to watch your videos and I get really good tips and advices. What I wanted to ask you is if you have any experience of hiking in mediterenean areas (or mayde you already have a video on youtube that I have missed it ?). The needs are completely different, especially during the summer when you need lots of water. I would love to hear your tips
One thing you didn't mention was clothing. "Cotton Kills" was the rule always hammered into my head, so no T-shirts and no denim. Once it gets wet, it stays wet. Also, sport some decent footwear (no tennis shoes,flip flops, etc..). Obvious to most people watching this vid, I know, but just wanted to add to the basics. Cheers.
Good day pack info! But I have a question: How does a lost hiker pinpoint his own location on a map? I know how to orient a map, but not how to figure out exactly where I am. Thanks for your help.
It's not like with GPS, you can't just open the map and pinpoint your own position with the aid of a compass. It would be very difficult even if you were within sight of distinct topographical features or landmarks as you'd have to look at every grid square of the map until you found those features, unless you were next to a village or monument, or maybe at a road junction. The idea with map and compass is that you don't wait until you're lost, but starting from a known position on the map, you navigate step by step so you are constantly checking the map, using the compass to orientate, and registering the points mentally as you pass them, so you always know - at least more or less - where you are on the map. That's why hikers/walkers carry maps in cases outside their packs. If you're already lost, that means that you failed to navigate properly. You could however then use the compass to enable you walk a specific direction until you come to a linear feature on a map such as a road or river, but you couldn't use a compass to head towards a village or specific point, because you wouldn't know where you were starting from.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing another useful video and Blog.
You very briefly mentioned an app which can be downloaded on a mobile to aid emergency services locate you. Can you expand on that a little with some more info. Thanks
But what happens if you are injured in an area with no mobile or app coverage????????????
Very informative and educational. Thank you very much
As always Paul, you are the font of commonsense.
Thanks for sharing,
John
Common sense is where it's at! :-)
I'm going on a 13 mile loop hike today and this is my gear list:
35l backpack + Compacter bag liner
2 750ml water bottle
Sawyer squeeze
Rain poncho tarp shelter
Three layer clothing system
Balaclava, gloves, extra socks.
Emergency bivy
Stakes and guylines
One trekking pole
Food for two-three days
Two lighters
Headlamp
Athletic tape
Ibuprofen
Toilet paper
Pocket knife
Compass
Phone
Battery pack
Map
great video as always Paul thanx for sharing , i away carry a similar kit when out walking as you never know. Its annoying when your out on more touristy routes like Ben Nevis for example and you see people with nothing not even a water bottle or a coat and i think what are you doing what if the weather suddenly changes.
+ba survival (basurvival) True. I see it time and time again in the mountains - particularly on the popular routes. Further afield, where there are more forests, you also need to be prepared. Hikers are lost, benighted or injured on a regular basis. Glad you are prepared to look after yourself the best you can. Warm regards, Paul
What's the name of the rucksack you're using in this video Paul?
Hi Paul,
I know that this is an older video but still very enjoyable and I like your selection of gear. there is just one other thing that I always carry in the bush, and that is a whistle. In fact if there is one think that my young children always had around their neck when we went camping it was a whistle. Even in the city, on family excursions the kids wore one. But in the bush, I personally believe it is essential.
As I have just discovered your material, I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Cheers
Cameron
Very good point! :) Always carry a whistle! Although in the majority of modern backpacks, they incorporate a whistle in the chest strap clip! Which is actually quite loud and a nice integrated design so you can't lose it!
Yep. If you are injured and conscious, maybe almost immobile (or lost), a whistle is vital. Mountains, bush, waterways...a very powerful (universal), signalling device, that requires almost zero effort to operate. I need to snap one onto my rucksack asap. Everyone should.
You pack a tarp, that won't keep you dry, 😂😂😂☕☕☕, yes the tarp thing is still going, we love you for it,
Stay safe Paul and your family,
Nige.
Hi Paul, where can I get a shirt and trousers like yours? I've been using military surplus stuff because it's cheap and reliable but I want to try and move away from the military look a bit because i'm planning on doing some backpacking trips that'll take me through more populated areas and I want to blend in a bit more.. Do you have any suggestions on affordable / common man stuff to wear that is also good for backpacking and the woods?
Hi Neil, the shirts I use are Swedish M59 shirts. They are very comfy and cost only around five pounds. The trousers I use are more expensive - Fjallraven - but are durable, fast drying and have good pockets. For you, the range of colours in which they are available will also be interesting. I hope this helps. ATB, Paul
Just discovered your channel loving it do far, I am also interested in who makes that rucksack you have there
Scott Higgins Hey Scott, thanks for your comment and welcome to my channel. The daypack in this video is a Berghaus Munro: store.berghaus.com/p/day-sacks/munro-day-sack/402280
Great vid. I have a £10 Nokia in my pack never used it.Charge lasts about a week on standby. Just for emergencies.
phil ogden Hi Phil, good to hear from you. Yes the old/retro Nokia phones are a great option. There's a few guys on my team at Frontier Bushcraft who normally use iPhones but due to the poor battery life of these and the fact you can't change the battery, use a Nokia while working outdoors. A pay-as-you-go phone for emergencies is a good idea too. All the best, Paul
Thats great, as long as your phone works in the remote area you might be in; if not and you've injured yourself in an area with no phone coverage, you could be in trouble. Always tell someone where you are going, leave a rough plan of your route, times you expect to be back etc; don't rely on a phone, and carry a whistle to lead rescuers to you.
@@PaulKirtley Paul; I am surprised, you seem to place very much reliance on mobile phones these days to get you out of trouble? But mention nothing about the importance of having a basic whistle in case of emergencies? Since I was walking, trekking, cycling everywhere as a kid of 17 (i'm now 63) I always carried a whistle in case anyone needed to find me if I was injured (the standard distress call of three blasts a minute etc)! This was standard outdoors stuff!, but you 'experts' don't seem to mention this these days and the reliance seems to be on mobile phones! Well if you were to come to Exmoor for example and you were injured you would find your phones wouldn't work in most places so you'd need some other form of alerting people!
Every time I'm out alone or with family I have a detailed route card. Phone 100% will not work everywhere. Even without the capacity to call. SMS can still sometimes sneak out. In conjunction with the route a simple 6 figure grid. Could help
All of us carry a whistle, torch and a bivvy 👍