I love hearing a bushcrafter talk about the wisdom of carrying a lighter, and a spoon from the kitchen 👌🙏

“Carry a lighter. I don’t care if you can rub your eyelids together”. Love it.

Thank you for service and sharing your wealth of knowledge also for just being a great guy. As I’m a disabled guy, you have inspired me to get out there and start living life again (even though it’s now winter in New Zealand 🇳🇿). I sincerely thank you. Pauly D.

There's a coffee shop near where I live. Gives me the same feeling. Walk in, sit down, order cake and coffee, listen to the cool jazz and my cortisol levels - to use your own term, Nick, recalibrate. But we also have some good outdoor places near where I live. This year I intend to make use of them.

Cheers Nick happy fathers day my friend. great vid, just bought a bag and bivvy bag, been after one for years. ATVB TO ALL. Scott Somerset

‘Rubbing your eyelids together’ … that made me laugh so hard, my wife could hear me from the kitchen! Great video. SO useful!

No crap straight talking video with sound advice. Just subscribed to this channel. I like bushcraft simplified. You just achieved that. We need more videos like this to encourage people to take up getting outdoors as a hobby.

I bought a US military mess kit with fork, knife, and spoon for $10 in an antique store. Antique stores are a great place to find durable cheap gear.

Excellent vid ,add a Swedish mess kit and Ur glamping

Forces uniform and kit is fantastic, I bought a lot of my stuff from them. The fact they repair the distressed range equipment before sale is great too! Good for the environment

For summer super 😜✌️🍀🔥… but for hard winter you need stuff until - 30 grad Celsius ..

You really can't get better than military surplus gear! Loved the video, and thanks for the extra tips, and for sharing, Sir!

I said to my wife this morning: "Right, I'm gonna start fishing for a bunch of basics gear for me, and recommendations for my Scouts" By lunchtime this gem's dropped. Excellent resource, again. Cheers

Hey Nic. I'm from Germany. I'm 55 Years old. I just wanted to let you know that your video's are realy great., So mutch Information in a short while. Keep on going. Thx Sandor

This is exactly it. You can spend thousands of pounds for the best equipment, get down the woods solo on a damp rainy night & say, sod it, it’s not for me. This way it’s cheap enough to have many enjoyable nights & if needs be, years of use of gear that will probably last just as long, if not longer than your £300 rucksack that you won’t want to get dirty or wet having spent a fortune on it. Great video, thank you.

Good to see someone who knows what they are on about , passing on their knowledge , keep up the great vids my Friend , Strength , Honour and Respect to you .

Dang, there’s good wisdom. Love the lighter editorial. I’d add a few more budget items. Basic first aid kit. Small roll of cordage. Small sharpening stone. A magnesium ferro rod can be had cheep. Compass, mirror and whistle. Need not break the bank. Some not do cheap items I’d add quickly when money allows: small axe, life straw and hammock. Probably the most expensive part of the kit. Something I’d add to the back pack discussion. I don’t insist on sternum straps. Buy a pack with one or mod the pack you got. Something I’m making for the outside of my pack is a roll. 20-22” wide, 28-30” long. Ideally, waterproof on at least one side, comfy material on other and something insulative in between. On the trail, it’s a temp ground covering seat. In camp it’s a bench pad, ground seat or partial bed roll (neck to thighs).

talking about spoons, you can get a set of 6 sundae/latte spoons for less than a fiver, far cheaper than the 'long MRE ration pack' 'must have' 'tactical' 'special forces' spoons that cost a fortune for one. there is one un-named seller that obviously has bought a sh$tload of dessert spoons and laser etched a logo on them and then charge a fortune per spoon 😁✊ I bought the 'tactical' spoon before i realised, Doh! 😅 Keep up the great work boss ✊😎

Spot on Nick. The best advice about kit on you tube. I have my issue army back pack it is still as good as new 30 years down the road. Never spend lots of money when starting a hobby..

I've been recommending the Osprey bottles to people for ages, so much cheaper than a Nalgene bottle! I've seen them with the plastic drinking cup for as little as £5 (Adventure1 in Glasgow or Military Mart, both online as well). If you don't mind buying used ebay is obviously a great option too, I got my Osprey bottle, Crusader cup, pouch, hexi burner and a Wildo fold-a-cup in a bundle for £20 delivered which was an absolute bargain.

I learned many years ago to always wrap plenty of gorilla tape around my lighters, it's a great fire starter combination and it will never let you down. I also wrap it around my ferro rod too.

I love military surplus gear as so affordable compared to big name brands out there. Being a skint self employed chap i'd rather put up with size and weight of my Dutch M90 sleeping bag for 30 to 40 quid than a few hundred quid on a season four bag that packs into the size of a matchbox. I've always bought boots and other bits and bobs from places like military mart or Army Navy stores. Love your videos and great knowledge.

Been using surplus for a few years now, best gear I have ever owned. Great video.

Great tip about carrying a lighter. Back in the 80's, before this all became "bushcraft", there was a craze among the readers of Combat and Survival Magazine etc to do day trip brews and overnighters using one match to light a fire. The amount of folk I met that took "one" match (not a full box) and nothing else as back up did my head in. Beggars belief. A decent Bergen was a must as Lofty Wiseman's book weighed a ton. Going lightweight meant taking Eddie McGhee's book :-D Millbank bags weren't readily available back then but the cloth coin bags used by banks did the trick.

Just got my self a burgen to start with building it up bit by bit I'm an absolute beginner so watching your channel is a big help 👍

Hi Nick, hope you and your family are doing great. Keep the videos coming bud. Stay safe and be well brother. Strength and Honor... 👊 🤙 🍻

Excellent video nick in all honesty I have more or less the same kit except I have the 100ltr bergen (bomb proof) which takes all my kit comfortably my sleeping bag is the Arctic sleeping bag a bit heavy (2.5kg)but we'll worth it and my best buy was a 3x3 basha for £10 in my opinion you can't beat army surplus kit very informative video as always thanks for sharing

It was like tucking a list. Big Bergen bought. BA Arctic sleeping bag, both are utterly bombproof. I love the yoke thing to make the side panels into a smaller day bag. All I need now is a bivvy

Nick’s sense of humour always brightens our day! 😂😂👌

"...start fire by rubbing your eyelids together". Classic! :)

Finally got my hands on this bergen. Was keeping an eye for it for more than a year. They are not common in Poland.

Absolutely agree about a heavy bag! Sometimes the easiest way through a hedge/thicket is to take off the bag and push it through in front of you. Modern light-weight bags don't last long if you do that.

I’ve watched and enjoyed all your stuff, it’s become part of my Sunday 😀 keep up the good work.

Brilliant advice (although I will admit Im probably biased because I already own nearly everything you recommended. Even bought a Bahco saw by accident) Mora knives: Cant fault them. They are CNC made and have the best quality control in the world. Absolute best bang for your buck British Army Surplus gear: Its built so tough that even when its broken its worth patching up and fixing. Its that robust Spoons: Every time Im out and maybe having a posh coffee... I always keep my eye out for over-designed FREE plastic spoons (and hoover up the free sachets) Fire kit: My fire kit contains flint and steel, ferrocerium rod, tinder, BUT I will most likely use a BIC lighter because its fast, Im lazy, and fyi I dug out an old BIC once.. had gas a decade later. Tampons: You didnt mention them but I would note, they are the best, cheapest, waterproofed tinder for a fire kit. Cut off a thin slice, spark it, it goes up in flames instantly. Great video. I might even cave in to your obsession with Crusader Mugs and try one.

I love your video’s, just to thank and support you I have ordered some merchandise T-shirt, mug and sticker. Can’t to try them. Greatings Leon. Just keep the video’s coming. . .

Enjoyed your video Nick... I'll be looking at the website ! ATB

This video is fantastic, it is like QVC, but for dads, and way better!

Great video, I love surplus items. Built to last at sensible prices, you can’t go wrong 👍🏾😊

It's interesting when you got that moment in an outdoor career you go full circle and endorse kit you once loathed ;) I'm probably on my third revolution of this phenomenon now :D

Thanks so much for this info and the links! I'll defo be checking them out for the next phase of my gear purchases. Cheers, dude 😎

rly straight forward, like this, no strange special stuff

Yet another fantastic video with clear messages. Thanks again Nick

Spot on! Despite collecting all sorts of lovely kit over the many years of enjoying my time camping, canoeing, bushcrafting and hunting, the kit I return to time and again, is military surplus. Lots from UK issue equipment, but also some wonderful and unusual bits and bobs from overseas. All available from a wide variety of sellers and almost always at fantastic value for money prices. Of course, the side effect is developing a nasty case of the highly addictive 'Olive Drab' disease; usually incurable, but there are worse things!!

Great tips nick I've found myself down the army route it's the best stuff I've found of their and got some of the stuff in your video cheers dude

Best cheap purchase I made was the Dutch army Lowe Sting ruck... 50 nicker for a brand new pack. I use a civvy Lowe pack as a landscape photographer, which was 150 nicker! I've since gone on to buy quite a bit of Dutch kit in DPM, and I can say that it's all been in basically unused condition and top quality.

I used to go to a lot of military festivals and I got a sleeping bag that you have and bag for £25. £20 for the sleeping bag and £5 for the bag. Bargain right!?

What a wonderful, straight forward, practical and full of wisdom video. This is something I wish I saw long before I started spending my money on everything I dont need.

Good info, I tend to prefer military gear despite its bulk/weight because I find the durability and reliably is a worthwhile offset. I typically recommend to people to get the stuff they need/want and then find a pack to put it in so its not to small...or (arguably) worse, too big and give into the temptation to fill it out with uneeded crap and get an injury because now their pack is too heavy. The "hold off on gucci gear and just use stuff you already have till down the road" comment gave me a laugh too, cause its too practical to not say 🤣

Advice that stands the test of time. Your 'drop the mic' advice to use ( improvise) what you already have, before shelling out on a ( titanium) replacement the best and most relevant advice ever.

Took your advice on getting one of those sleeping bags and I can confirm that they are fantastic! Also been using Aromat which you also recommended some time ago. This is great and I use it often, especially when cooking scrambled egg. Great video and some more good advice. Take care James

Great video and handy tips ,, especially the Bergen,, always had a hankering for one,,not sure I ever want to blink again just incase I combust !!🔥👍

Best video I have seen in a long time. Most of my camping kit is ex.military. a bivvy bag is a must, especially when it comes to keeping warm and dry. Even if in a tent or hammock

Started out with gear very similar to this (still got it - use it for anyone who wants to tag along for a night out but who doesn't have their own kit). Originally I used a 58 pattern sack with the straps tied, then invested in a 90 pattern shortback (and I had an old blue nylon sleeping bag from the dark ages before I 'found' the bouncing bomb - game changer). I remember using an old kitchen sauce and frying pan, as well as kfs from the kitchen drawer. Before I had a basha I used the tarp I covered my motorbike up with (used to just pull up, fasten tarp over and sleep under it with the bike as the 'ridgeline' - this because my old A-frame tent turned into a t-bag one chilly, campfire-warmed night). Ah, memories. Replaced it all over the years with 'better' stuff but still use a basha (the dd 3x3 is excellent, though, and still gets used from time to time) and I still favour military surplus as it is robust and fairly cheap (although I'd prefer less camo, still, beggars and all that). Cheers, good advice for those starting out (and brought back memories). Thanks man.

Awesome share Nick, SOP. Keep up the great work mate. 🇦🇺🤝

Awesome! Love your videos!

Love to get hold of one of those 60 ltr Bergens but Im on the opposite side of the world 🇭🇲...Love this chanel Mate Cheers from Oz 👍

Nicely put Nick, good job.

Great video mate just having a catch up wow they’ve come on top skills .

Brilliant vid. Thanks for that

Excellent advice, every bit. I would add a water proof sack to line the ruck sack. I know the ruck has a liner but they get tiny tears snd holes so I get inner sack for extra protection and so I can use it around camp. Also about the spoon: the kids and I were digging a fire pit and found a stainless steel spoon and fork. That was over ten years ago and it’s still in my kit.

Thanks 👍

"Aha, we're filming. Right." So cute.

Great video! Exactly what I wanted to know

I enjoy your take on Bushcraft. From Cali: USMC. 👍👍

Ah man this was inspirational. You should do a Lidl shop camping episode where you buy a tent and all the supplies in one go for probably under 30 green queens. Brilliant episode as always brother

Great info bro. Keep it up!!! 🤘

quality vid yet again

Great video summation of survival basics and bargains thankyou 🙏

Brilliant. EXACTLY what I went for in my budget kit with one exception. I went for the Dutch Army Bivvy at more cost, but hooped. Was that the British Army equivalent of the Defence 4..?..Good kit if not quite as good as the Carinthia version, but far far cheaper. Great video....top quality Royal 👌 hoofin.

Wise words 👍

Always good to compare thx

Top tips as always

Awesome video!

I have to agree the bergen is one of the best bits of kit I ever had but sadly had to hand it in , I was rolling on the floor with the starting a fire with your eyelids comment that was classic hahahaha.

Good advice, keep up the good content.

I always enjoy you, Royal.

I’ve paid for lighters but if you like walking or cycling just keep an eye open when you go around a city and sooner or later you’ll find a dropped one for free. Same for water bottles and work gloves. I find mostly bics, only one clipper ever so i’m not sure if the stoners just guard those better or there are like fifty times the bics sold. More than half of found lighters have fuel but even if they don’t you can take off the flame guard and any child guard, stick some appropriate tinder, like toilet paper, by the flint and give the wheel a good roll to ignite.

`I don`t care if you can start a fire by rubbing your eyelids together` actually spat my dinner out at that 😂😂

Absolutely 💯 on that 👏 yep, all that was just great advice. If it's good enough for HM forces it's more than adequate for you, if you knew what it gets put through, especially bergens. I have even had a meal or two that was edible, C rations Chicken Curry.

You can pick up the new British army modular sleeping bag (the 3 season one) for like 30 quid in like.new condition. Basically a direct Copy of the carinthia defence 4. Awesome sleeping bags.

Funny spoon definition!😅Funny but, on the other hand, a valuable lesson.... I'm not sure how to thoroughly translate what I always say, but let's give It a try: "the more complicated the world becomes, the more in love I am with the simple". Thanks for shiaring!

Good advice

Great video

Great vid.

Good tips, sir.

Informative and beneficial video

Another amazing video Nik! I love watching your stuff. You've really inspired me to want to get into the outdoors again. That said, I think I was a bit late to the party. They are all sold out of Bergens at Forces Uniform and Kit. Do you or anyone else in the community have advice on where I could buy something like this for a similar price?

Thanks good info. Cheers 😁

Legend 👍

Very nice once again. War and peace show is end of July. You should get all that kit for under £75 I got my Laplander saw there for £5 Bergen £5 sleeping bag £20 ad a softy jacket for a £10 bcb mug £2 water bottles £2. It's £20 to get in and petroleum in your car it's at paddock wood so you could save a lot. Boot fairs as well. Don't mind on line. but get out your see more find more. Keep up the work

Love this video, ever done a clothing vid like this? Would be great to see what is out there other than two tone £180 Swedish trousers.

Great video Sir. Old German army rubber poncho still does me well. The only thing I am getting annoyed with is heavy cover seem to have stopped making the steel lids for the BCB crusader cup? I want to get one for my mate who has the cup but not the lid, the plastic lids are crap.

Good advice, could have sworn I saw you at the Square and Compass the other week

Cracking vid

Nice sharing, sir (Nick)

Thank you.This is a great video very helpful. Could you cover clothing as well please,Am I good in jeans and a hoodie?

The Bergen is a nice ruck, however it does not have a sternum strap. Not a big deal for most, but it is for me. I'm sure one could be easily fabricated. Great tips.

I started off with mostly military kit and still use some of it. I like multi day camps though so lightening the load has been my thing for the last few years and military kit doesn't do well with this.

Great advise as always. A quick question - I have an old ex military bivi, it's gore-tex with a central zip from waist up to neck height covered by velcro flap so it can be closed right up. I use it with my hammock (like a cocoon) also with a tarp. I would like to try it without the tarp but have a concern regarding suffocation so am thinking about making a kind of rain proof vent at the top side (with a kind of flap to stop the rain getting in) - any thoughts regarding potential suffocation in a sealed bivi? (it's currently not completely sealed because of two very small holes (with rain flaps) for the hammock suspension.

Very very nice video 😍🌹