We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a most adventurous New Year!
I was challenged to identify 12 items available for $30 or less that Bushcrafters of every skill level can use. So, here are my 12 items. Sorry this came too late for a gift giving experience; bookmark it for next year.
- Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier When you need pliers a knife just won’t cut it. That’s when a multitool comes into play. This one has great quality at an affordable price, put one in your truck. If you want one to just stash in a belt bag or rucksack here is one that is less than 3” when closed. It will slide in anywhere. I know that they will not handle the big rugged tasks but geeze at $30 just get four of them; or maybe invest in a tire iron for lug nut removal.
- Ferrocerium rods I like the 6” rods, and there are many with great striking properties. The rods made by Light-My-Fire throw a large number of sparks but are a bit thinner and shorter. If you are just starting, these will make your efforts more successful more easily.
- Gatorade Powder I’ll admit that I’m not very good at drinking enough water. And since I start my day with coffee and hang out in the desert or at altitude, I’m constantly in a state of dehydration. I need to consume more fluids and electrolytes. I use Gatorade powder on just about every trip I take. Having the flavor and a bit of sugar makes it much easier to maintain a good fluid level. Being dry I can control how strong I make the solution. I’m usually going for liquid, so it’s relatively weak. But after a hike in the desert sun I will make it stronger to give e a shot of electrolytes. Strong mixes also encourage me to drink more water.
- Compass Even when you are using a GPS it’s important to have and use a compass. My wife purchased a beautiful hand made little brass compass for me that I carry everywhere. But a Silva, Brunton, or Sunnto will serve you well. By the way, manufacturing quality does matter. There are many cheaply manufactured compasses that might just let you down when you need it most. Let’s face it, most of us don’t keep track of the condition of our compass on a day to day basis. It has to work reliably after sitting on the shelf, or riding in your pack, for weeks or months. Also, that phone app is only good as long as the battery lasts. I use it, but never rely on it.
- Ready to eat meals I’ve never eaten a military MRE, the Army was still serving ‘C’ and ‘K’ rations when I did my time (and yes, they really came with cigarettes). However now a days there are many ready to eat just boil the bag meals. I really like these Jodpur Lentils, for those of us who can’t digest dairy products they are convenient and tasty. Poured over rice, which you can also get ready-to-eat, they make a quick meal that can be prepared in the dark after a long day of adventuring. Just be careful not all Tasty Bite offerings are Dairy Free. There are other brands that I like such as Annie Chung’s and the range is even broader if you don’t have my dietary restrictions.
- Gloves It’s very important for me to use gloves on camping trips. My hands are not covered in tough skin impervious to the pokes and tears of fire wood collection and preparation. So I use Mechanix Wear gloves to protect them. You can get the civilized version or a woodsy version. I use the M-Pact for breaking up firewood and handling hot items around the fire. And winter weight gloves in a larger size pair with glove liners in silk or wool for working in the cold.
- Socks Socks are super important. Good ones will keep your feet warm and dry. For the winter I like expedition weight socks like these from Minus 33. And in the summer lightweight polyester versions are great. If you have sweaty feet like I do then cotton socks will keep your feet too wet stick to wool or polyester.
- Buff or scarf This past year my wife convinced me to try out a Buff neck warmer, and I was impressed. In the fall I took a trip into the Ochoco’s and the temperature in the morning was 12F. I wore the Buff all day and all night. During the day It kept heat from escaping around my neck and during the night I could also cover my ears. It was very comfortable and never got in the way like a scarf will. I’ve never tried a cotton Shemagh but they are all the rage so perhaps there is something to them. Maybe I’ll try one out for summer desert wandering.
- Bathing kit One of humanities most significant accomplishments is discovering the importance of personal hygiene. With the spread of disease from all corners of the earth to your local woods, staying clean in the woods will be important far beyond your adventure experience. Wash your hands frequently. Wash your body daily. Baby wipes—or a Combat wipes—can serve that purpose but nothing beats soap and water for refreshing yourself and your attitude. On my longest trek into the woods I only bathed in cold stream water with only soaproot for suds. Now I’m a big proponent of soapy warm showers. But since the waste water will drain into the sand you need to be careful to use a biodegradable soap and keep that soap out of lakes and streams. I like Kirk’s, you can work up a lather with it, so I use it all the time. My dear wife loves these little sheets no wet bars to deal with. To go with the soap, you need a towel. I use cotton bath towels at home and they are great, but in the woods a microfiber towel will dry much faster.
- First aid kit replenishment When was the last time you looked into your first aid kit? They don’t last forever, packaging degrades allowing creepy-crawlies to get in, chemical antibiotics lose their effectiveness, and you use things; so here are a few items to freshen up the kit a bit. First Band-aids, always need those. I prefer the industrial strength with cut-them-off adhesive type. Then some antibiotic cream to keep bacteria at bay; I think polysporin is the state of the art. And check your QuickClot for those axe-idents. One frequently omitted item is the tick-key. Ticks are more than just a nuisance. Many Bushcraft and primitive living enthusiasts of my generation have been infected with Lyme Disease, a few have died from it; this is no joke. Keep this tool handy and check yourself often. They are so small and light that you may even want a couple to stash in various places in your gear. I carry one in my first aid kit and another on a loop in my rucksack.
- Light source There are many great light sources available today. They range from solar powered Luci lights to headlamps to real bright area lights.
- Heavy duty trash bags and disposable gloves This is the saddest item on the list. Over the past decade I’ve seen the deposition rate of trash dumped on public lands notably increase. For a time, the rate declined but lately it has just gone through the roof. I don’t know where this is coming from, but it really has to stop. Have a trash bag to collect everything that you wish to discard and bring more to collect the things that everyone else is leaving behind. I’ve included disposable gloves on this list as you are going to find things that you DO NOT want to pick up. Use them and them pitch them into the bag before sealing.
There you have it; twelve ways to spend your Christmas cash in $30 increments to support your future adventures. I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and enjoy a happy and profitable New Year.