Drop me in the middle of the wilderness and tell me I can only have one edged tool, I’ll probably grab the Wetterlings Bushcraft Axe. I call my Wetterlings Bushcraft Axe “the little axe that could” because this guy defies his size.

I’ve heard this axe referred to as a “rucksack axe” because you could slip it inside any pack and carry it at a fraction of the weight a full-sized axe would cost you. Small, light, nimble, but with a serious bite — read on to see why this is my favorite axe.

[Read more…] about Review: Wetterlings Bushcraft Axe (aka Outdoor Axe, Large Hunter’s Axe, Backcountry Axe, etc.)

When I was in South America a few decades ago, I noticed how the men there had no problem using a satchel and it made me a little jealous. I think I grew up with too much echoing around in my head. These days, I’m glad to see that satchels and messenger bags have found their way to American streets because, let’s be honest, it’s nice to have a book or a tablet along sometimes, not to mention all of our other EDC items.

When I sat down to decide what kind of satchel I’d like to carry, my mind shot straight to the bag that defined a rugged man’s satchel, that iconic canvas military bag with a sturdy leather strap, the bag that caught everyone’s eye when it showed up on the big screen back in 1981: the Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark bag:

You wanted one too the minute you saw it. And the whip. But let’s stick to the bag for now. In this article, I show how I made my leather-strapped satchel from a vintage military gas mask bag. I also include instructions for making a cotton-strapped bag for those who want to keep the bag as authentic as possible.

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Paracord is popping up everywhere. Once an obscure favorite of the ex-military and survival communities, now 550 cord has even found its way to craft store shelves — a sure sign that it has penetrated every stratum of society. And with popularity comes the buzz: “My brother knows a guy who used 550 cord to lift an engine!” or “I heard that black ops soldiers use this stuff to rappel out of helicopters!”

What are the facts? What’s fiction? And most of all, what are the practical ins and outs of paracord? In this article, we explore the most common questions and misconceptions about the most popular rope on the block — paracord.

[Read more…] about Paracord Info: Everything You Wanted to Know about Paracord

You can’t miss the Bahco Laplander reviews. They’re spread all over the bushcraft forums. That’s what I found a couple of years ago when I decided it was time to get a folding saw. So I dove into the reviews, read nothing but the highest praise imaginable for the Laplander, saw little to no mention about any other saw, and came to the logical conclusion that the Bahco would be the perfect saw for my upcoming hike. I grabbed one off of Amazon, and two days later put it to a 2×4. Here’s what I found …

[Read more…] about Review: Bahco Laplander – The Ultimate Folding Saw for Backpacking?

Not too long ago, I ran across an ad for a collapsible pocket bellows. “Huh. That’s interesting.” You see, some of my scouts have a gift for turning a decent fire lay into a smoking disaster. So from time to time, I find myself sticking my face in the fire trying to blow the flames back to life. In other words, a bellows could come in handy. I wasn’t thrilled by the cost, but it gave me an idea for a much lighter and cheaper version. An hour later, I had my own bellows, and it’s a winner. Here’s how to make it.

[Read more…] about An Ultralight Backpacking Bellows