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This page is about the kit I take out when I’m hiking, camping or practising bushcraft in the UK. My everyday carry and travel kit is on Bag & Contents, my home office on Home Office & Desk Setup, and the software I use on Software.

Although I used to spend a lot of time in the outdoors when I was younger, I’ve only recently started doing it again so I’m still working out the best “load out” for various activities. When I started putting this kit together in 2020 I had a few principles in mind…

1️⃣ Optimise for comfort#

Comfort is context-dependent: a giant sleeping bag & fancy pillow are comfy, but their bulk and weight are uncomfortable to carry. A lightweight frying pan makes for a more comfortable pack, but cooking in camp is harder and less comfortable. When making trade-offs about kit, this principle forces clarity on what personal comfort means to me.

My kit also needs to work for both bushcraft and long-distance hiking. With bushcraft, durability wins the day; with hiking, low weight/size matter more. Where a compromise works well, go for that – otherwise lean hard in one direction.

2️⃣ Double up#

Wherever possible, choose kit that can do more than one job – so long as it does both jobs well.

3️⃣ Don’t break the bank#

Outdoors equipment can be insanely expensive. And as with most things, that expense is sometimes very justified. I’m not averse to spending good money when it brings significant value in usefulness or longevity. If not, spend carefully. 💸

My spending rules…

1. Use what you already own until a replacement is valuable enough to justify the cost.
2. Field test everything thoroughly & don’t spend money until you’re confident in long-term usefulness. Then spend good money where quality matters, but go cheap where it doesn’t.

I have a lot of British military kit that I was issued (or ‘acquired’) years ago, and a lot of my day-to-day clothes & household things work in the outdoors. I started with this and only bought new stuff when

1. the limitations of my current kit were clear and,
2. I had a good idea of a much better replacement.

🪓 The Five C’s#

These are things which are necessary for survival but very difficult to recreate from natural resources. In order of difficulty-of-making-in-the-wild…

1. Cutting Tools 🔪 - Knives, saws and axes are almost impossible to make in the outdoors, but allow us to create all sorts of other tools.
2. Cover Elements ⛺ - Clothes, shelters, warm sleeping kit, waterproof material. These are very hard to create from natural resources (especially in the UK!)
3. Combustion Devices 🔥 - Fire is so crucial for warmth and cooking that we shouldn’t rely solely on nature to create it.
4. Containers 🍶 - Water containers, cooking pots, backpacks etc. All are essential but hard to make.
5. Cordage 🧵 - Rope, string, lashings etc.

To these, I’d add two more categories…

1. Compass & Co 🧭 - While it’s possible to navigate without a map & compass, it’s a hell of a lot harder and more dangerous.
2. Competence 🧠 - Knowledge & Experience are the ultimate pieces of outdoor equipment. A highly skilled woodsman can probably exist very comfortably with just his cutting tools.

While my most important bits of kit fit into these categories, my level of competence means I choose to carry a bunch of other stuff which a more skilled person might not need to be comfortable.

🎒 My Kit#

The list below is fairly comprehensive - you can think of it as my default cover-all-bases “load out”. I tweak it depending on where I’m going and what I intend to do.

Clothes#

To keep me warm, dry and protected…

• Boots - I favour leather boots with chunky soles & simple construction. I use Sorbothane insoles with one of:
  • Berghaus brown leather ankle boots – My default. Great lateral ankle support without constraining linear movement. Only waterproof in muck under 3”.
  • Black Altberg Warriors – Amazing high-leg combat boots. Too hot in summer but toasty in winter, and waterproof in 9” of muck.
• Socks - Bridgedale Trekker woolen socks. I wear these every day so have a lot of them! Excellent design for long-distance walking and very hard-wearing. I sometimes combine them with cotton Bridgedale sock liners, especially for long distances on roads or hard ground.
• Underwear - My normal boxers (see Bag & Contents). Wicking and dry very quickly.
• Trousers - Fairly simple green hiking trousers: quick-drying, no-frills, very tough (for hiking trousers) with exactly the right number of pockets for me. One pair is usually enough.
• Base layer - Billy basic thin merino wool long-sleeved T-shirts. Fancy “technical” base layers are overrated. Wool is naturally wicking, antimicrobial and stays warm when damp. With a loose enough weave, thin wool T-shirts breathe well in the heat and are warm in the cold when covered with another layer. I only wear normal cotton T-shirts on short day-hikes.
• Mid/outer layer - Jack Pyke 100% Lambswool Crew Neck Knitted Jumper. Super warm as a mid layer when combined with a wool base layer and windproof outer. Robust, comfy and fire-retardant. Still works when damp. There’s a reason Europeans wore mostly wool for the last few thousand years. I love this jumper.
• Warmers jacket - Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket in dry bag. Super warm, packs down small and the synthetic down actually dries out. (I wear this daily in London).
• Outer layer - Berghaus Stormcloud waterproof. Versatile windproof/waterproof in combination with other layers. Simple, tough, fairly thin and very waterproof. (I wear this daily in London).
• Spare clothes - Spare socks, underwear and base layer in blue dry bag with blue luminous tag. It’s the only blue bag so is easy to identify when I’m around in camp.
• Shemagh - I use this as a towel, and to wrap around my pillow at night. It’s useful as a pre-filter for really mucky water and as a general cloth for all sorts of other things.
• “Combat” gloves - For working with wood etc. Leather palms good for handling hot pans.
• Woolly hat - actual wool, in drybag along with any other warm gloves/scarves if it’s cold. I often sleep in this.
• Camp shoes - Super ugly Vibram furoshiki shoes. I wear these around camp and for water crossings, and they’re tough enough I can walk in them for a while if I want to give my feet a change. Super lightweight.
• Ancient Berghaus Gaiters - rare that I take these because my trousers dry so fast.
• Military-issued waterproof trousers - rare that I take these because my normal trousers dry so fast.

Load Carrying#

I used to use a military-issued Karrimor SF Predator 45L pack, but it doesn’t have a hip belt and I felt silly wearing an MTP bag so I replaced it with a new pack in 2021…

• Karrimor SF Saber 45L - A great all-round mid-sized pack. It’s plenty big enough to carry everything I need for multi-day trips in a temperate environment. It’s quite heavy but is also indestructible, which I value more than weight. I tend to use it in one of three configurations:

  1. Without side pouches.
  2. With two “rocket pouches”, one on each side.
  3. With a military-issued camelback on one side and a MOLLE panel on the other, fitted with a Karrimor SF utility pouch and a large water bottle pouch – these hold my jetboil, mug, water filter and a few other bits.

  I’ve added a few bits to the bag itself…

  • Sniper tape on all the dangly straps and also round the top carry handle for a nicer grip.
  • A tiny karabiner on the right shoulder strap for attaching a map case, a short length of paracord and a bungee on the front for attaching wet kit.
  • A small beta light and whistle on some para cord attached to the inside lid pocket so I can see inside the bag at night or whistle in an emergency.

• Main dry bag - Large Ortlieb super tough canoe bag. This gives buoyancy to the pack if I’m in water and ensures everything in it is definitely dry… even if I pack it badly.

  • I often pull this out of my pack with everything in it and leave it at camp while I use the pack to collect stuff, knowing my kit will stay dry if it rains.
  • I can also lay it over a circle of rocks or sticks and make a sink, or (inside out) use it as a large water container.
  • It’s big enough that I can fit most of my stuff (including the empty pack) in it for river crossings etc.

• Small dry bags - All my other kit is organised in coloured dry bags which are labelled with what’s in them. Some of them have small luminous tags so I can tell them apart at night. These help with waterproofing, but their main purpose is organisation.

Medical, Emergency and Hygiene#

I’d probably carry more if I was way out in the wilderness, but I’m a strong believer that everyone should carry this as a minimum for any overnight trip…

• Trauma kit - CAT and ECB. If you’re gonna be working with a knife or axe, you should carry a tourniquet and field dressing by default. They don’t weigh much and are literal lifesavers if you cut yourself in the wrong place. (I train all my outdoor buddies in basic first aid, including how to use these).
• IFAK - My personal first aid kit lives in a big strong plastic bag (which is useful itself). It usually contains:
  • Compeed stick - great for preventing “hot spots” turning into rubbing blisters.
  • Compeed - Magical anti-blister plasters.
  • Paracetamol & Ibuprofen - for general aches and pains.
  • Antihistamines - for hay fever and reducing the effects of other allergic reactions.
  • Solpadine - Fast-acting paracetamol, codeine and caffeine. Last resort because it dulls your brain, but is magic if you’re feeling really ill.
  • Imodium - Bowl blocker (I’m all out of Biscuits Brown).
  • Diorolyte - Rehydration powder.
  • Disposable gloves.
  • Alcohol wipes.
  • Sutures & steri strips - for closing wounds.
  • Various gauze (incl. iodine gauze) - dressing minor wounds.
  • Micropore tape - for attaching gauze 👆 among other things.
  • Plasters, various.
  • Small tweezers - for ticks, splinters etc.
• Zinc oxide tape - Doesn’t stretch so it’s great for taping feet & limbs. Mainly used for taping feet to prevent blisters but it’s super sticky so is useful for fixing kit too.
• Space blanket - Because exposure kills.
• Hand sanitiser - General use when cooking/eating. Also a good fire accelerant if needed.
• Simple Wash kit - All purpose liquid soap, toothbrush, small toothpaste, small sunscreen, small nail clippers. The soap can be used for washing hair, body, pots and clothes. I also keep a small scouring pad and rag in here for cleaning cookware.
• Baby wipes - Ideally biodegradable and tea tree (it helps repel insects a bit). Good for freshening up before bed and washing in the morning.
• Shit Kit - titanium trowel, “wet” biodegradable chemical-free tissues, lighter for burning tissues, hand sanitiser, a large heavy-duty ziplock bag with toilet roll. All in a little drawstring bag. 💩

Water and Food#

• Camelback - Bladders are great because they make it easy to stay hydrated while on the move, but they’re less practical than bottles when spending time in camp. When it’s hot or I know I’ll be moving fast, this lives in its case on the side of my Karrimor pack or “naked” in the bladder compartment of my Osprey pack. When detached, the case has built-in straps for wear on its own while my main pack is in camp. It can be turned inside out for easy cleaning.
• Grayl water filter - I always carry a Grayl Ultrapress because it doubles as a second water bottle (ideal for cooking & hot drinks, or if my camelback breaks). Having a quick-to-use filter encourages me to top up my other water containers whenever I pass a water source.
• TBS 1L metal water bottle and mug/billy (with lid) - The mug/billycan is great for cooking over a fire or twig stove and the wide-necked bottle is super easy to clean. I won’t usually carry this if I’m only using gas & boil-in-the-bag food.
• Large Jetboil Flash - Excellent for quick brews and boil-in-the-bag meals. Self-contained when packed including gas, burner, pot, stabiliser & pan adaptor. Big enough for two people to have a BITB meal & cuppa. The pot is modified with a snare wire handle so I can hang it over a fire to cook in a pinch. I use the cap on the bottom as a small bowl.
• “Ammo pouch” thermal mug - Keeps hot stuff hot for ages. Also works as a janky hot water bottle at night.
• Aeropress - I like nice coffee. This, plus a bag of nice coffee and a metal filter is a real luxury, but it’s also kinda bulky so I don’t always carry it.
• Twig Stove - OneTigris ROCUBOID Titanium Wood stove and a cheap foldable fire shield which I can also use as a base for the twig stove if it’s dry/grassy.
• Fire kit - Waterproof tin containing lighter, charcloth, tampon, firelighter, small bit of gorilla tape, emergency ferro rod and striker. Outside the tin I also have a lens for firelighting with the sun. I’ll only carry this if I’m likely to use the twig stove or light a fire.
• Frying pan – one of these two:
  • A cheap 6” camping frying pan with folding handle. This doubles as a plate, small sink or (upside down) chopping board. But it’s too thin to get an even heat and so it’s rubbish for cooking a decent fresh meal.
  • An old, heavy 6” frying pan which I used in my kitchen until the handle fell off. Much better for proper cooking, but also much heavier (even sans handle).
• A very lightweight no-frills titanium grill plate - I use this for cooking over a fire, but also as a clean surface for food prep.
• A section of very thin flexible chopping board cut to the exact size of the hydration pack pouch in my pack. Great for food prep, as a makeshift plate or generally as a clean surface to work on.
• Food in dry bag. Includes at least…
  • One emergency boil-in-the-bag even if I’m planning on eating fresh food
  • Spare gas for the jetboil.
  • Small salt & pepper shaker & tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce.
  • Small tub of coconut oil - good for cooking, preventing rust on blades, oiling moving parts, skin irritations etc (plus it blocks a small percentage of UV too).
• Titanium spork

Sleeping System#

• DD Superlight 3m x 3m tarp with 1mm jungle knot lines attached and a pre-attached ridgeline.
• A mix of pegs in a small bag:
  • 2-4 super heavy duty pegs, which I can bash in with a rock and are unlikely to break.
  • 6 x Small steel pegs
• DD 1.5m x 1.5m magic carpet – I use this mainly as a groundsheet but it doubles as a second shelter or windbreaker if needed.
• Snugpack SF bivvy bag.
• Nemo tensor sleeping mat, which is a bright yellow colour if I need to signal in an emergency.
• A cheap reflective padded picnic mat, cut down to the same size as my sleeping mat. This protects the mat from rocky ground and adds a little extra insulation. I can also use it to sit/kneel on, or signal in an emergency.
• Hikenture ultralight travel pillow. Because I spent too many years making do with drybags or webbing as a pillow. It packs down to nothing and makes a huge difference to my quality of sleep. I generally use a t-shirt to attach it to my roll mat. It has a bright orange side for signalling in an emergency.
• Sleeping bag in a Sea to Summit compressible drybag. Both bags are synthetic down so they kinda work in the wet. One of…
  • Snugpack Softie 3 lightweight bag (comfort: 5℃ | low: 0℃) – packs down small but isn’t warm enough for winter.
  • Snugpack Special Forces 2 bag (comfort: -7℃ | low: -12℃) – absolutely huge when packed but I’ve never been cold in it.
• Dry kit - Small drybag containing a set of merino wool long underwear and some arctic socks. This is only for sleeping, so I obsess over keeping it dry. If my normal clothes are damp I can do wet/dry routine and rely on a decent night’s sleep.

Other Kit#

• Belt knife - One of two fixed-blade knives, both with a scandi grind for easy sharpening and a 90° spine for striking ferro rods…
  • A beautiful TBS Bushcraft Knife – super versatile and an absolute joy to use, but something I’d hate to lose. Great for heavy work like batoning and finer work with the tip.
  • A cheap £15 Moura – way lighter but otherwise almost as good… and which I don’t mind losing or breaking!
• Ferro rod - A chunky ferro rod with a gorilla tape handle. Tape can be used for fixing stuff, or as tinder in a pinch.
• Axe - Beautiful Gränsfors Bruk Forest Axe, which is just long enough for heavier work and short enough to fit inside my pack. It’s also got a pronounced “beard” so you can choke up right behind the blade for finer work.
• Saw - Bahco Laplander. It’s small, compact and fits in a pocket. Very flexible stainless steel blade but with hardened teeth so it’s much more forgiving than a silky.
• Pocket knife - tiny non-locking Opinel for cooking, cutting string and whatnot.
• Cheap lighters x 3 scattered in pockets and pack.
• Hiking Poles - Indispensable for speed uphill & stability in rough ground. Doubles as a “tent pole” for my tarp when needed. I usually carry only one.
• UCO candle lantern with beeswax candle.
• Map case with attached beta light, compass & pace beads.
• Write In The Rain notepad and 2x small pencils (for practical note-taking).
• Head torch.
• “Bits bag” containing at least…
  • Cable ties
  • No 36 bank line in various lengths
  • Red Cyalume
  • Spare ziplock bags
  • Spare beta light
  • Spare batteries for head torch and beta lights.
  • Length of paracord tied in “jungle knots” with a toggle on the end - for extending the lines on my tarp or easily hanging other stuff.
  • Small moleskin notebook & pen (for journaling, reflection etc)
  • Small Berocca tube wrapped in 1.5m gorilla tape containing:
    • Sewing stuff: sailmakers needle, normal needles, various threads, small fabric patches.
    • Emergency stuff: snare wire, fishing line, tiny fishing hooks & weights.
• Battery pack & USB-C cable in ziplock bag.

Wishlist 🛒#

At the moment, I’m looking to add the following stuff…

• Titanium Grayl Outer cup
• Bushbox XL Titanium stove - to replace my smaller twig stove.
• Ultralight Chair - Helinox Chair Zero with these ball feet
• Nitecore Head lamp
• Montane hiking shorts
• Ultralight waterproof trousers
• Selection of lightweight drybags (maybe these?)