The 4 Main Bushcraft Tools You Should Own

There is no way around it, when you are out in the Bush, you are SOL if you don’t have the right set of Bushcraft tools to help you thrive.

Some people have the skills necessary to walk into the bush with nothing but the clothes on their back and are able to survive. But make no mistake, these are absolute experts of the field and chances are you aren’t at that level yet. There is nothing wrong with that, these skills take years and years to develop. In the meantime, let’s go over this bushcraft tools list and discover what you should bring with you out into the bush.

Introduction to Bushcraft Tools

Today, the thrill of the wilderness and getting out of the city has made more and more people get into the world of bushcraft!

The first thing people learn when getting into this hobby? You NEED the right bushcraft tools!

Bushcraft tools in one form or another have been around since the Stone Age era when the survival of humans depended solely on these tools. These bushcraft tools were created out of sticks, bones, stones, and other such things found in nature. By using these tools, people were able to create shelter, spears, arrows, fire, etc.

The simplicity and efficiency of these bushcraft tools are remarkable. They can be put to use for carrying out basic survival tasks when out in the wild or even at home messing around in your backyard.

For a proper bushcraft camp experience, you must have the right set of tools to move ahead in full swing. But what kind must you pack in your bushcraft pack?

4 Survival Tools That You Must Pack In Your Survival Kit

Following is a list of bushcraft tools that can be enough to ensure your survival out there in the bush. These items will help you to make the best use of your bushcraft skills in the wild.

Bushcraft Axe

A bushcraft axe can also be referred to as a hatchet, and it can be considered one of the most important pieces of equipment for a survivalist. It is a must-have tool for a serious bushcrafter. Whether it be a full-sized axe or the best backpacking hatchet, it can come in handy in a variety of situations and prove to be very useful.

It is one of the most primitive tools used for chopping trees and is crafted with a sturdy wood handle. The blade of this tool is shaped in a way that requires a lesser amount of effort for chopping or cutting.

By using this tool, you can manage to carry out even heavier jobs that a knife might not be able to perform. A hatchet is specifically designed for chopping wood adequately and quickly. A small-sized axe of high quality can complete multiple bushcraft activities with efficiency.

An axe can be used for performing the following activities:

• Felling of trees
• Digging
• Chopping of wood
• Hammering poles, posts, or stakes
• Butchering large hunted animals
• Cutting notches to make a stable wood structure

You can rely upon an axe for creating a steady shelter, cutting firewood blocks, to even digging up the ground. However, when you pick an axe, make sure that it is steady, sharp, and has no rough edges. So, don’t forget to bring your best bushcraft axe.

Folding Saw

A bushcraft folding saw is another bladed tool that is used in the making of shelters or preparation of firewood. This essential tool can cut wood with minimal effort and aid in building shelter, ladders, equipment, and bushcraft furniture.

A conventional saw has a tough and sharp blade with toothed edges. Also, it has a convenient handle designed specifically for the back and forth action required for cutting the materials. However, a folding saw is a more compact and efficient tool that you must have.

The design of a folding saw is advanced and makes it easy to carry it anywhere without much hassle. The sharp serrated edges fold up inside the handle and make it safe to carry. This tool can come in handy for cutting poles and short trees.

A folding saw is light in weight when compared to big knives and is equally effective. If you can find one with a great grip on the handle, it makes the grip even stronger and steadier and leads to a better experience. You can also get your saw adjusted or customized as per your requirements.

Though there are alternatives that can be used instead, a folding saw can be quite a fitting choice for a bushcraft camp and should be included in your bushcraft essentials list.

Survival Knife

A survival knife is another important tool to complement your Bushcraft gear list. While an axe and saw are also bladed tools used for cutting or chopping purposes, a survival knife is still essential. This is a highly durable and razor-sharp tool that is unbeatable in its purpose. Even a good cheap bushcraft knife can come in handy; it doesn’t have to be expensive.

You can easily cut branches, chop blocks or notches, and carve using this tool. These are available with blades that are toothed or serrated to thin and razor-sharp ones. Also, the handles can vary from a sturdy, easy-grip to folding ones.

This knife often comes in handy in emergencies when you are in the wilderness. Some kind of survival knife is always used even for military purposes or extreme survival conditions. Also, they can serve a variety of purposes.

Some of the common uses of a survival knife are:

• Cutting branches
• Slicing wood/food
• Carving wood
• Skinning of animals
• Starting a fire
• Digging
• Hunting
• Building shelter
• First aid and self-defence

If you are carrying one of your best bushcraft knives into the bush, you are sure to succeed.

Multi-Tool

A Multi-tool is a great choice of bushcraft gear, especially because it is compact and highly durable. The best survival multi-tools have multiple items instilled in one single unit with a foldable and compact structure. This item allows you to carry out multiple operations without having to fiddle with multiple individual tools.

This all-in-one tool can be a little expensive due to its multi-utility feature but can be a great choice. Moreover, its compact size makes it all the more convenient to carry in a pocket or a backpack safely.

Some of the most commonly featured items in a multi-tool are:

• Screwdrivers
• Wire cutters
• Sharp knife
• Bottle opener
• Serrated blade
• Ferro rod
• Flashlight

The above list clearly states how handy a multi-tool can come while camping. Operating multiple tools here is hassle-free.

This tool is very well suited for bushcraft/camping purposes and situations of extreme survival. It can come in handy in emergencies and prove to be very useful. Adding this tool to your toolkit eliminates the need for individual tools without compromising on efficiency.

What Are These Bushcraft Tools Used For?

When you are out into the wilderness, you have limited material options like stone, wood, and sticks that surround you. Among these, the most used material is wood. Cooking, shelter, or creating the base of tools, everything requires wood as a base material. So, while you majorly make use of wood, what kind of things will you be doing with it?

Common bushcraft activities with your tools:

Shaping

Creating lumber is done by shaping wood. You will need lumber for basic activities such as shelter building around your camp.

Splitting

In the wild, you aren’t likely to find perfect pieces of wood lying all around you. You will need tools like a bushcraft axe to split and chop the wood to be able to make use of it.

Cutting

Cutting or chopping is another likely action that you might be required to do for various purposes. From building an adept structure for shelter, poles, etc., you will need a tool that allows you to cut with ease.

Boring

Boring is a process that might come in handy in some bushcraft camp situations. It will require the right tools; otherwise, the results might not turn out the way you would hope.

All these basic activities are likely to come in handy when you are preparing your bushcraft shelter and equipment. To perform these properly, you will require the right set of tools to execute your job efficiently. But which tools will need?

How to Store Your Survival Tools

Now that you know the right set of tools, you must know how to store them well. At home or in your garage, you might have fixed spots for your tools, which makes it easier to find them in case of emergencies.

In a DIY bushcraft camp too, any situation might require urgent attention and might even pose a risk to your life. So, it is important you know where all your bushcraft tools are located. This will help with fetching them quickly.

You can either make racks, hanging spaces, or store them in a haversack. Also, you can coat the handles using linseed oil and use mineral oil for the heads to keep them in great shape. This will make sure that your tools stay effective and have a fine grip at any given time.

Final Takeaways

Your bushcraft toolkit is ready, and you are all equipped for your DIY bushcraft adventure. Though today we live in a civilized society with unlimited services at hand, it is always good to be ready for the worst. Life is unpredictable, and learning survival skills can never go to waste.

With the knowledge and skills to use the right bushcraft tools at the right time, you can manage to survive any situation efficiently.