Fieldcraft

Bags for Fieldcraft: From Haversacks to Bergen Beasts (and Everything in Between) Let’s talk about bags — the humble carriers of snacks, plasters, and the occasional life decision. Beginners often assume they need something enormous, covered in straps, and capable of hauling a small family across the Andes. In reality, your bag just needs to hold your lunch and not make you swear at it. You don’t need a tactical rucksack with more clips than sense. And not everyone’s luggage is made from sapient pearwood and capable of chasing them down a hillside or across dimensional plains, so your bag needs to be something you can actually carry. Here’s the simple, honest guide to choosing the right one. 🪶 The Haversack — The Classic Minimalist Option The humble haversack or bread bag A haversack is the outdoor equivalent of turning up with just your keys and wallet. It’s light, simple, and charmingly old‑school. Perfect for: short walks park rambles carrying a brew kit, a snack, and your first ai...

  Building a First Aid Kit for Fieldcraft: What You Actually Need (and What You Can Ignore) Example DIY first aid kits. Let’s talk about first aid kits — not the ones designed for Everest expeditions or zombie apocalypses, but the kind that fits in your coat pocket and quietly saves the day when your walk turns into a minor medical drama. You don’t need a tactical pouch with MOLLE webbing and 47 compartments. You don’t need a kit designed by ex‑military paramedics who assume you’ll be dealing with broken limbs — because while those can happen, that’s not first aid, that’s search and rescue, unless you haven't left the carpark.. You just need something simple, sensible, and suited to the kind of walking you actually do. 🧈 The Margarine Tub Tradition Scouts have been building their own first aid kits for as long as scouting has existed — often using margarine tubs, tobacco tins, or whatever small container was lying around. It’s a tradition rooted in practicality: use what you have...

  Footwear for Fieldcraft: What to Wear When You’re Not Climbing Everest A male rambler stands in a stream wearing thigh-high sequinned stiletto boots, while a female rambler in jeans and trainers watches from the bank with folded arms and a disapproving expression. A humorous parody of outdoor footwear choices. Let’s talk about shoes. Not the kind you wear to weddings, or the ones that live at the back of the cupboard and only come out when you need to look like you’ve got your life together. We’re talking about outdoor footwear — the stuff that keeps your feet happy when you’re walking through a park, a field, or a moor that’s trying to impersonate a swamp. If you’ve ever Googled “walking shoes,” you’ll know the internet is full of boots that look like they were designed for crossing lava. They have names like The Ridgehammer 9000 and claim to offer “aggressive traction,” which sounds less like a feature and more like a personality flaw. But here’s the truth: for most beginner f...

  Welcome to Fieldcraft Welcome, traveller. You’ve arrived at Fieldcraft — a small, slightly weather‑beaten outpost on the edge of the internet where the advice is practical, the humour is dry, and nobody is trying to sell you a jacket that claims to be “tested in Arctic conditions ” despite being modelled by a man who has clearly never been outside in drizzle. If you’re here for extreme survival tips , you may be disappointed. This isn’t the sort of place where we teach you how to build a shelter out of moss , optimism, and the bones of your enemies. Fieldcraft is for ordinary humans who want to feel a bit more comfortable outdoors, using the clothes they already own and the common sense they occasionally remember to bring with them. And yes — there’s a wellbeing angle too, though not the kind that requires yoga on a cliff edge at sunrise while drinking something green and unsettling. Modern life is loud, fast, and full of notifications that arrive with the urgency of a fire ala...

  Simple, practical advice for complete beginners — no shopping required Before we get started, let’s clear up one thing: You do NOT need a “Bear‑Skin Tactical Mega‑Survival Jacket” like the ones social media keeps trying to sell you. You know the ones — made from 350g ultra‑reinforced rhino‑hide polymer weave , 47 pockets, built‑in compass, claims it can stop a charging moose, and apparently designed by ex‑Navy‑SEAL‑astronaut‑mountain‑ninjas‑from‑Lancashire. Which, frankly, explains a lot. The adverts always make it look like you’re about to trek across a hostile jungle, rescue a diplomat, and overthrow a small fictional republic before breakfast. Fictional entertainment at its finest. Absolutely unnecessary for a walk in your local park. This guide is about using the clothes you already own — not gearing up like you’re preparing for a covert operation in a country that doesn’t even exist. Layering is one of the most useful outdoor skills you can learn, and it doesn’t require bu...

  Part 1 of a 4‑Part Preparation Plan for Your First Countryside Adventure Modern life keeps most of us indoors, sitting down, and rushing between tasks. So when you think about countryside walking, it’s easy to imagine you need special boots, technical clothing, or expensive kit before you can even begin. You don’t need anything like that at all. Week 1 is about proving that you already have everything you need to start.At this stage, it’s you , your everyday clothes , your normal shoes or trainers , and a simple desire to get outside more. This week helps you: Build confidence outdoors Wake up your fitness gently Learn how your everyday clothing behaves outside Start forming habits that will support you later No cost. No pressure. No special gear. 🌱 Why Week 1 Starts in the Park (or Anywhere You Can Walk) A local park is familiar, safe, and close to home — the perfect environment to begin without pressure or preparation. But if you don’t have a park nearby, don’t worry: If you d...

  A Pocket‑Sized Brew Kit and Stove Set Getting outdoors doesn’t have to mean carrying a big rucksack or buying expensive gear. Whether you’re walking the dog, heading up a fell, exploring a local woodland, or spending a day at the beach, a hot drink can make any outing better. The good news is: you don’t need specialist equipment to make one. This pocket‑sized brew kit is built around simple, inexpensive items and fits easily into a coat pocket. It’s waterproof, lightweight, and designed for anyone who wants a warm brew without carrying half a campsite. A Simple Box, Repurposed The kit starts with something most people already have lying around: a small cardboard, tin or plastic box. In this case, it was the box from a Shadowhawk torch which I found for £3 at a local surplus store. To make it weatherproof, everything inside is packed into a self‑sealing ziplock bag. That’s it — no fancy pouches, no military kit, no expensive organisers. Just reuse what you already have. Photo lab...