Bushcraft relies on a core set of tools that are versatile, durable, and suited for survival, woodworking, shelter-building, and food preparation in wilderness settings. Here’s some Bushcraft Tools to consider for your kit.
- Knives
- Saws
- Shovels & Trowels
- Shears & Scissors
- Axes & Hatchets
- Hammers
Knives
A belt knife is needed for most daily tasks. Find one you like and carry it.
- Purpose: The cornerstone of bushcraft, knives are used for carving, cutting, food prep, fire-starting (with a ferro rod), shelter-building, and crafting tools (e.g., stakes, traps).
- Key Features:
- Blade Type: Fixed-blade knives are preferred for durability (e.g., full-tang Mora or Bushcraft Black). Blade length is typically 4-6 inches for versatility.
- Material: High-carbon steel (holds an edge, easy to sharpen) or stainless steel (corrosion-resistant).
- Uses: Batoning (splitting wood), feather sticks for fire, carving notches for traps or shelters, processing game.
- Care: Keep sharp with a whetstone or sharpening system; oil the blade to prevent rust.
- Example Tasks: Crafting a bow drill, preparing tinder, or skinning game.
A Multi-Tool and a Belt Knife is a good combination.
Just make sure you always have a knife!
Mike
Saws
A very important tool for fire wood processing. Also very helpful in the building of other tools & camp accessories.
- Purpose: Saws excel at cutting wood for shelters, firewood, or crafting, offering precision and efficiency over axes for certain tasks.
- Key Features:
- Types: Folding saws (e.g., Silky Gomboy) or bow saws are common. Folding saws are lightweight and portable.
- Blade: Aggressive teeth for green or dry wood; replaceable blades for longevity.
- Uses: Cutting logs for shelters, harvesting firewood, or creating flat surfaces for crafting.
- Advantages: Safer and less physically demanding than axes for cross-cutting; ideal for smaller-diameter wood.
- Example Tasks: Cutting poles for a lean-to or sectioning logs for a fire.
I carry a small folding saw & keep a full size carpenter’s saw in the vehicle!
Mike
Shovels & Trowels
Building fire pits or latrines, a small shovel will get it done! This is my Glock Entrenching Tool, it’s O.K., there might be better available but for now this is an important part of my kit.
- Purpose: Less common in bushcraft but useful for digging fire pits, latrines, or shelters (e.g., snow caves or earth shelters).
- Key Features:
- Types: Folding shovels or compact entrenching tools for portability.
- Material: Steel blade with a sturdy handle (often collapsible for backpacking).
- Uses: Digging Dakota fire holes, creating drainage around shelters, or burying waste.
- Limitations: Heavy for ultralight bushcraft; often replaced by a trowel for minimalist kits.
- Example Tasks: Preparing a fire pit or digging a trench for runoff.
Folding Shovel and a Garden Trowel for my Kit!
Mike
Shears & Scissors
- Purpose: Shears are uncommon in traditional bushcraft but useful for precise cutting of materials like cordage, cloth, or plants. Also great for processing Small Game!
- Key Features:
- Types: Heavy-duty scissors or pruning shears for harvesting plants or crafting.
- Uses: Cutting paracord, trimming bark for cordage, or harvesting edible plants.
- Limitations: Often replaced by a knife for simplicity unless specialized tasks (e.g., foraging) are prioritized.
- Example Tasks: Preparing natural cordage or trimming materials for basket weaving.
My Favourites!
- Medical Shears
- Pruning Shears
- Poultry Scissors
Pruning Shears are my most common choice!
Mike
Axes & Hatchets
You will wear yourself out using an axe if you’re not used to it but if you just need to cut down a few small saplings these will do the job well.
- Purpose: Axes and hatchets are used for chopping, splitting, and shaping wood, essential for processing larger timber or building shelters.
- Key Features:
- Axes: Longer handles (20-36 inches) for two-handed use, better for felling trees or splitting logs (e.g., Gränsfors Bruk Small Forest Axe).
- Hatchets: Shorter handles (12-18 inches), one-handed, portable for light chopping or carving (e.g., Estwing Camper’s Axe).
- Head Design: Convex for splitting, straight for carving; high-carbon steel for durability.
- Uses: Felling small trees, splitting firewood, rough-shaping wood for tools or shelters.
- Care: Sharpen regularly, protect the head from rust, and ensure a secure handle (wood or composite).
- Example Tasks: Building a log shelter or splitting kindling.
Don’t forget your “Axe Stone”, you’ll need it!
Mike
Hammers
Get yourself a couple good hammers! Too heavy for hiking but for car camping they work!
- Purpose: Rarely a standalone tool in bushcraft, hammers are often improvised (e.g., using an axe head or a rock) or integrated into multi-tools.
- Key Features:
- Types: Small camp hammers or the back of a hatchet/axe head.
- Uses: Driving stakes for shelters, pounding tent pegs, or shaping wood/metal.
- Limitations: Not always carried due to weight; multi-tools or axe heads suffice for most tasks.
- Example Tasks: Setting up a tarp shelter or driving wooden pegs.
Hammers are handy. Whatever it be, pounding tarp stakes, making shelters, digging firepits etc., having a hammer or two really helps! Harbor Freight (USA) or Princess Auto (Canada) is a good place to look for cheap effective hammers.
Hammers are too heavy, they stay in the vehicle!
Mike
Let your imagination run wild, there are many other useful tools that can be used in bushcrafting such as, awls, drills, augers etc. Also, don’t forget about homesteading type tools like, rakes, garden forks, bigger hammers, bigger shovels etc. If you know how to use it then give it a try!
You decide the tools you’ll use!
Mike