Great ideas . It's so easy to get sucked into the" got to have this , got to have that mindset". This series showing it's not always the case . Take care Neil 👍
Always refreshing to look at your videos not merchandising the high end titanium bull... I use a lot of armed forces surplus, Dutch, German, US and UK. Never failed me and it is pretty much bomb proof.
"Better buy expensive once and cry once". I use the Pathfinder Canteen set. Everything is there. The wide mouth of the canteen fits great to my MSR Mini works water filter. It filter bacteria and filters chemicals. All those are great that you saved money. But, did you really saved money? Eventually, you will outgrow your gears and you'll need to upgrade. The item price will double when you are ready to upgrade. By putting the canteen stove upside down and by putting the fish mouth spreader, you have a wood stove with a windscreen. I replaced the single handle cup by a butterfly handle Jilmo Lander 800ml cup. With the Water canteen bottle, you could boil the water at night6; use it as a hot water bag and the morning you have sterilized water for your coffee. Can you do all that with one piece of gear? P.S. leave the plastic home. Plastics are polluting our forests.
Neil, really enjoyed this series so far. Outstanding the way you’ve taken this all back to basics but with a respectful nod to the more pricey alternatives. Plenty of food for thought.
Love the series and the channel. I’ve got a grayl bottle. It was on sale for $63 when I got it. No it’s not a cheap piece, but it is the best water purifier, not just filter. Here where I live in the states, agricultural runoff is in all the streams and lakes. The grayl gets rid of all of it where as the sawyers don’t. I felt for me and my family I would rather pay a little more (sawyers are $14 here) and know my water is the best I can get. My dad used the treatment chemicals in the military and he has kidney damage, almost needs dialysis. Just sharing my experience, please don’t think of my comments as criticism. Really enjoy your videos, especially the diy ones. Stay safe, merry Christmas.
Also,I wide mouthed collapsible plastic bottle is handy for next to the sleeping bag,for in the evening…for us gentlemen,just in case…saves wasting the built up heat in your sleeping bag…😉 Good vid.
On a budget is one thing unless you're the type who has to have the latest kit because it costs more...Like many carp anglers become tackle tarts. But, does a camo toilet roll bag make your toilet roll work any better? Does a camo bait bucket hold your bait better than a plain bucket? I prefer to think of it as being sensible and NOT giving all your money to someone else to make them a lot richer than you. If it's battle field ready it ticks the box. If it might be battle field ready but costs ten times as much it does not tick the box. Unless I want to make someone else richer and myself poorer. Back in the day we used to carry a couple of ladies stockings to filter water, fine enough mesh to filter out most of the debris and dries quick. Or a piece of muslin cloth but that dries more slowly. No fancy bushcraft kit in those days and a bit of fine debris here and there wasn't gonna kill ya. Boil it and you're good to go, and a good excused for a coffee break. Somewhere like the Dales with those very steep hills a good supply of Kendal mint cake was a must. Don't scoff it at home though because you will get fat...climbing those hills though you'd burn it off as extra energy. These days for that or long hikes those cyclists energy tablets are a good alternative, vits and minerals and extra energy there. Can be a bit pricey for a tube but half a tablet in a water bottle gives you a bit more go than just the water when you need it. Although I still like the mint cake....just make sure you brush your teeth well. I like the see through bottle because sometimes water bottles can get a bit slimey inside and a bit of green stuff can appear...if you don't keep 'em clean and dry when not in use. And you cannot see inside the shoulder of the metal ones. Those cyclists tablets will go off if left in there too long as well...very nasty. Hot weather a bottle with a little salted water always helped replace salt lost while you're sweating like a blacksmith.. Now you get tablets for that as well..or powders I guess. A stove for a mini fire? Think like a Hobo. Thinking of my favourite trangia basically it's a tin with no bottom with holes at the bottom for air flow, and 3 little clips to stand your pot or kettle on so you don't cut off the air flow. So a tin with holes at the bottom and a few cut outs or holes at the top should do the same job with a little fire in it, cost? Nothing worth worrying about. And of course in the woods you never run out of fuel. Just don't get caught because in Britannia these days you can't do anything much, like light a campfire...or breathe too much.. I like cheap but functional because it keeps my dosh in MY pocket..Instead of paying for someone else's top of the range BMW. And it doesn't need replacing for years and years either. Because bush crafting/wild camping has become popular companies see profit in it because some people will be kit tarts. If it costs more it has to be better, and it looks fancy. And it shows you can "afford" it. These people if they went to a naturist camp would still wear their rolex.. and probably have a monogrammed towel as well... Bush crafting for naturists...? Now there's an idea. Think of the profit in see through waterproof/windproof clothing..etc.
If you're just starting out, use Smartwater bottles with the Sawyer Mini that screws on to the cap. If you like bushcrafting, you can level up to more traditional gear later.
Yes the British Army water bottle like you said really strong and robust. Even if you throw it at a tree it won't break. The cost of them I found was between £5-£10 second hand / used. I have mine bought used still as good. You can build a BCB kit as you go along, the British Army water bottle, the crusader mug, a lid from an old aluminium mess tin, and a crusader stove. To put this BCB kit in I used an old basha draw string bag to fit it all in. You can buy a BCB pouch for about £8 on Ebay. My little basha bag cost me £3.50. I've gone down the BCB kit route which the British Army put together. Think it will cost about £25 quid second hand. Brand new it's up to £50. The MK 2 stove is bigger than the MK 1. 👍🏻 🇬🇧 🙂 Enjoyed the video👍🏻🔥🏕🌲.
A most excellent review of options for the beginner and progressing learner alike. It also shows the range of options that we usually end up accumulating as our skills develop and our changing adventures might demand. Nicely logically and concisely presented.
All good advice for the beginner onward. I have a few different kits and they all work. I paid £18 for my bushbox stove, worth every penny from Lixada. But I mostly use the trangia and 3 cheap tent pegs for a stand for my pot.
Being a veteran of the US military i LOVE the US canteen cup and i think my stand was $6 from rothco (spelling might be off) the stand also nests on the botton of the cup when turned over. The cup is also the perfect size for a proper cup of coffee or strong black tea. I have also gotten into carving or bringing chop sticks to eat with, hard wood sticks work best, because i like to be lazy
U.S. veteran here as well. Rothco makes mostly very good kit...But I've found that there's little to no interchangeability between U.S. Govt Issue and Rothco. The USGI canteen cup STOVE doesn't properly fit/nest over the Rothco canteen CUP - the Rothco gear is just slightly too large. The Rothco stove will fit over the GI cup though. I'm partially disabled so I have to make each $ count. You don't need expensive status symbol kit. I do just fine with U.S. and UK military surplus and carefully selected kit off Amazon. Sometimes it takes a little "window shopping"... I recently found U.S. G.I. aviator's 1 pint (half quart) canteen/flask - for $3 each from an online surplus store. Amazon wants $12. I find they are easier to carry, and the Sawyer Mini is a perfect fit (I was advised that was on purpose). And I use my stainless canteen cup everyday !
@@baronedipiemonte3990 i kept my canteen cup lmao its the only coffee cup big enough for a propper cup of coffee and i only mentioned that brand name because it fit my cup and was cheap. didnt know about the size issue ty for enlightening me
My first thought when people go into raptures about the weights savings of Titanium kit over Stainless Steel is "If you need to save the few ounces in the differing weights of these things, are you fit enough to be going outside in the first place?" I mean even if you replace your stove, water bottle, cup and spoon from Stainless to Titanium, the weight savings must only be a Kilo or two, at the most. That's a couple of litres of water. You could probably then save the few quid on the Stainless Steel kit, to spend on better boots and the would be something that would enhance your days out, far better than the lighter kit.
8/22/2022 Being that I live in the USA, and being a big follower of Dave Canterbury and his channel, I can say this; Anything, and I mean anything from "Self Reliance Outfitters" has been researched, and tested by Dave himself, before it is sold in his store. OH, yes, his stuff is not cheap. As a matter of fact, it is high end, both in price and quality. I have several of his products. Even so, his stuff is not for the beginner, trying to decide if he/she really wants to get into bush craft. I am a big advocate of buy what you can afford, save up to get that occasional higher dollar item , and reuse and repurpose things you already have. You do have to remember this; the lower the cost the lower the quality, usually. Also, avoid the premium stores like REI, they cater to the wealthy week enders. I learned this the hard way when I bought a cup for $15 and then found an almost identical one at a US store called Walmart for $5. I've never been back to REI. There are many sources on line for gear. What is available outside the USA is something Neil will know more about. Campmor,e and Sportsman's Guide are good ones. Great info Neil, keep up the good work. '-)
Almost all my life I've used my US military surplus canteen,cup an stove x2. Bought for $10 ea. in 83' an love my Grayl, totally worth the money to me. Especially the more I research the water quality in the US
Thank you so much for this series Neil, I am a very keen hiker,wild camper, bushcrafter, but being on universal credit I have only £223 per month for all my needs and to me £30 is a fortune
Loving this budget series, some solid advice there Neil. I’ve gone down the titanium route with certain bits of gear but often come back to my good old Crusader mug & bottle. As per your videos, with some smart choices you can be comfortable in the woods without needing to spend a fortune. Thanks Neil.
Great information as always mate, I totally agree about the vargo titanium stove, crap and expensive. The Chinese stainless bushpot from eBay is a great buy but needs a little modification, only £12 , I did a video a while ago on it. Have a great Christmas mate. PS I'm a big fan of the Sawyer filter, add some clear pipes and a large water bag for an excellent drip camp filter.
hi,,,,,,you are right,,,,,i have used the 58 patern water bottle ever since leaving the army in 1978,,,with the mug on top and a bcb s/steel mug on the bottom,,,,,with the good old hexi burner with the bcb mug stand ,on top,,,,,it does the job and cost little money ,,,and takes me back to the good old days,,,,,,thank you for the vid ,,,,
Here's a tip for you which I told many people about yet somehow it never caught on... Spirulina fabric is a synthetic sheet which filters at .2 micron. It is used to filter out spirulina. It's essentially weight-less. I never bothered weighing it but I reckon a square metre doesn't weight more than 5g-10g. It really is basically weightless. Ironically, most professional filters don't actually filter at absolute .2 micron (absolute being the important word here). Obviously it's just one layer but if you buy a big enough sheet you can fold it several times over to create a decent filter which actually filters down to most bacteria size level and at a serious condition (assuming you can't boil) it is actually far superior to most actual filters out there at almost zero weight, almost zero space and not that much money all things considered. You can carry it in your pocket and you wouldn't even know it's there. It also dries out in minutes. I used to carry some pre filter fabric that was meant to do what a milbank bag does as a first layers, then the spirulina fabric and then the bottle I collect in. Obviously, if you have the Grayl or if you boil as well that would be preferable because more is always better but in theory you can achieve the same level of filtration using a 5g spirulina fabric as you can with a sawyer filter.
I know nothing so may be quite wrong, but after a quick search and look at several brands, the hole size seems to be 25 - 40 microns (micrometres) which is an order of magnitude too big to filter out bacteria. It would make an excellent pre-filter, of course.
Lapel Mic would be great.Not just you Neil, but any presenter.Some of us have some degree of hearing loss,and I find I have to rewind 10 sec. and hold the phone closer. Otherwise great videos always.🎄
I am glad it's not just me trying to use cheap stuff. I found a serving stainless platter, very light and I used it as a frying pan and also fire bowl to have an open but contained fire. My favourite system to filter water is the Water-to-go bottle, very easy, portable and the only bottle I need when travelling to other Countries. Take it empty through airport security, fill it afterwards in the rest room.
Cracking video Neil, must admit I go between the osprey bottle/crusader mug and the pathfinder s/s bottle and mug, both brilliant, with sawyer mini, brown millbank bag sorted, with my metal plate, I take one of them metal handle grips, that clamp onto the edge, trangia do them for afew quid, then I can use the plate to fry with, really enjoying this video series, good health and safe travels, cheers craig 🌿
Some really great ideas Neil, I’m not a great fan of Ti especially for a cooking pot/frying pan as I find everything sticks whereas you can build up some non stick seasoning in a stainless steel item.
love this vid, respect your approach, I would invite people to take the basic requirements as you have done here and trawl the charity shops. Caddys for cooking, even larger bushpots made from old steel breadbins and cutlery can be gained for pennies, they will even have decent water bottles at times for 50p, I have seen 2-3 season sleeping bags and even some backpacks for a few quid. Recently I went to a larger charity shop here in Aberdeen that sold pure wool 'dog blankets' for £1 each...a good wash for all the gear and I would be happy to use it...Even when we have done this stuff for years, vids like this remind us of basics and avoiding spending lots of sheckels on the name...ATB. God Bless. CC
To be fair the pricepoint and quality of TBS stuff is sensational. They are seriously well thought out and will last a very long time. Their stainless steel canteen cup cook set is a brilliant take on the military system and at £30 it’s a great investment. Really wouldn’t pay more for other makes less well made or thought out.
I was looking at their kit yesterday and the TBS Wilderness Salamander Cook Kit looks sensational. I've got various bits that go together in a similar kit but that all nests together so well and i think you would end up spending nearly that much for far worse quality trying to put one together yourself Edit, i think it was the woodburner with the billy that i liked the most but depends on your use
Spot on fella. Love my homemade alcohol stove. They make great presents and I'm a poor sewer but a small pouch and a stove has always been well received. I never provide the fuel though... old squaddie humour 😂😂. ATB Cheers Sel
Have to say regarding the water filters. You won’t really beat a Milbank bag and for getting the lumps out,then bring it to a rolling boil. Trouble with all these water ‘purifiers’, is that you don’t know when it stops purification. Stay well.
There are some good cheap 500, 750, and 1lt stainless bottles around. Lifestraw make a kit with 2 lids, one will fit the narrow neck bottles, and 1lt either plastic or stainless version drink straight from the bottle. Titanium, can be cheap. Tomoshoo make a good one that nests with a 1lt Nalgene. Add a Trangia and a Nescafe 3 in one..its lightest brew quik easy boom done If you go Nalgene/Dutch/ Australian/US A GI style you can get cheap Alloy cups to. Ok on a stove and drops a bit of weight. Water bladders can be a cheap option. As for water purification tabs...occasionally sure. Longterm..if you do this every weekend...they can have longterm effects on kidneys. Soldiers who served Vietnam or Somalia that used them longterm have had kidney isdues, fatal in the end.
I am an employed guy in my 30s with no wife or kids so i have disposable income. Walking is a cheap hobby so i don't mind splurging on some expensive kit when it really is a better item. Having said that, my alcohol stove is a small drink can capilary stove that i made for nothing. Lighter than even the lightest titanium stoves and just as efficient as the trangia in my experience. If you stomped on it, it would crumple but i think i can avoid that haha, it would still work in that case, just not as well. On long walks i am often taking just a plastic water bottle since it is so light. Food wise, 2 minute mi gorang ramen and an egg is just as nice as most dehydrated meals and weighs less ans is 1/5th the price. The orange lentils are dirt cheap and cook quick, add a few spices and an onion, its a good meal. Actually most people don't realise that for 1 or 2 days out, you can eat most of the same stuff you would at home
would it work with one of those infinity coffee filter too clear out sediment you think? I use a diy hobo stove with a diy alcohol stove, together with a trangia coffee pot I got for free togheter some simple stuff from home. Far from the best setup, but very cheap. fuel I use is either wood, alcohol or buddy-burner. I carry food in a aluminum food box with hinges. that also dubbles as a place to eat out of. Thank for the video.
I can’t believe how expensive things are in the UK compared to Canada. I love my Stanley cooking set Thats all I use . It’s amazing for only $25 Canadian. On line. Thanks. 👍🇨🇦
Afternoon Neil. Good video this one mate far too many people chasing the latest and greatest in expensive gear. They spend a fortune on the gear then get scared to use it cos it cost too much. I've been using the pathfinder steel canteen and cup for years along with a trangia does me just fine for most things. Sometimes I take a cheap frying pan for bacon in a morning. Just curious did you ever get round to starting your bushcraft courses. All the best mate. Chris
Not a budget item but cheaper than the grayle I have come up with an idea. Life straw has a kit that gives you a filter straw for a kleen canteen. Filter+ stainless. Best of both worlds.
I cannot find the nalgene canteen any longer…the grayl is up to $99 on Amazon….you can make a lid cheaply enough with some aluminum sheeting….everything is getting high priced….even the ole inexpensive stuff that we used to say was a budget buy…thanks Neil for the great video…I was subbed and came to figure out why I wasn’t seeing your videos in notifications and I had been unsubbed…doh! 🤦🏼♀️…God bless you and yours!
I made a cooking pot from a old coffe can with lid and wire bal a old Tupper wear that I had lost the lid for my cup cut down to fit in side and the spgyver stove 2.0 life the fancy feast you showed but liter and made from a old soda can so that cup stove pot all for time and a little picture wire vertly free
Not sure about the UK but in the US those nalgene oasis bottles are hard to find. For the last year out of stock to the point I think they are disconnected by the company. I did want one and was looking. Finally handled one and personally I like my USGI canteen better. If you look around they are about the same price anyways.
Very well put together Neil. Great advice too. Quick question for you. What are your thoughts on cooking with albumin mess tins and kettles. Just recently I’ve been questioned when using my meds tins and ally crusader cup. I’ve always thought they’d be fine as long as they don’t over heat. I’d be really keen to hear your thoughts. Thank you very much and Merry Christmas. All the best. Paul.
How would you rate the PF one vs your usual USGI canteen cup? What I like about the PF is the locking handle that gives another leg for stability. I usually don't love butterfly handles but you seem to prefer the USGI so I was wondering why.
I guess it's what I am used to. The PF cup is a great piece of gear, but my preference is the usgi cup. If the handles are locked together it still gives stability when boiling water in the fire fire
Hello. I'm in the U.S. that oasis Nalgene canteen. I've been looking for those online, for months now. And can not find them ANYWHERE! Do you guys have any shortage on them over there? Over here, you just can not find them. Completely unavailable.
Could anyone give me an idea of the fuel consumption of the spirit burner style stove say how much fuel to boil 0.5l of water. I know weather conditions may effect consumption but a rough idea would be great thanks.
Do the oasis and puritabs have a strong chlorine taste ? I've been paying more for lifesystemes chlorine dioxide as there is a much less taste of chlorine in them.
Great video and tips. The Canterbury stuff is far overhyped and overrated, the kit costs about 130 £ in my country. Many good brands are low priced but very good. But no titanium for me anymore, I got a TOAKS pot and its really crap, no way to get rid of the metal smell and taste, Im really disappointed.
As I believe you've said your self, keep an eye on Aldi's centre aile, I picked up a lixada style wood burner stove for about 12-14euros, this year. I have a stainless steel plate which I sometimes fry on and an enamelled pot and lid with a home made bale from a charity shop ( couple of quid), big enough to take a rabbit if necessary, and stores plenty of kit inside. Also Aldi are selling Merino wool t-shirt and long John's just before Christmas (you mentioned clothing on a previous video). As usual good sensible advice with no ulterior motive.👍
I'm sorry to say the sawyer or life straw as they call them are not 100%. In fact you could get sick of beaver illnes if you don't boil the water after filtering. I don't care about particles in the water but bactiria and virusses you should look out for. The sawyer filter issn't safe. And the mini sawyer is lesser safe because the filter in the mini is tiny. There is a fluf of cotton wool on top then a bit of active charcoal and another fluf of cotton wool at the bottom. What i do is make my own water filter. I'll buy a 7,00 Euro water filter at the hardwere store and put that in to a tube and put some chinees cottonwool (dry verry fast) on top and on the bottom of the filter. If its all done and dusted you can poor some distilled water threu the filter until it comes out clear. And after i filter my drinking water i boil it for 10 minutes. But when it boils i let it simmer. It just needs to be arround 90 degrees Celcius. This is super safe, easy to clean and super cheap to make and also super easy to make. I liked the video and all the great tips you give. Dog bowl is awesome, i have one myself. But always test if its real stainless steel with a magnet. Greetings,, Kitty.
I've got great gear and my kit , is So Much cheaper. EBAY is great and much , much cheaper.. You can get going for a bargain. Just be careful to read reviews of the kit carefully before order🙃
Forgot to say the one thing you should spend more on is tools. Cheap knives, hatchets, saws etc will let you down. False economy as you'll end up spending more than the cost of a good one. A Slinky saw may not be "cheap" exactly, but they are worth every penny. Are you bush crafting or wild camping..or glamping? To me it's about roughing it, which does not mean you have to be uncomfortable or freezing cold...or spend a fortune either. It shouldn't be about taking gadgets with you except a reliable way to communicate with the outside world in case you break an ankle or something,which can happen to the best of us.. Or get yourself lost maybe. It's about having what you need not what you want. Back to basics if you like, otherwise what's the point? Letting those instincts we lost resurface to some degree, moving quietly, being aware of your surroundings, leaving no sign you were ever there. Sitting quietly somewhere and listening, observing, blending into your surroundings. You know you have it right when wildlife starts coming closer, while fishing I've had little Weasels take sprats from my hand. Even putting a front paw on the toe of my boot. Grass snakes cross right in front of me. Mind you I have had a rat or two try nicking a bag of boilies from under the bedchair, we are fishing not wild camping and if you're there for 3 or 4 days or more you need the bedchair. A fox that nicked a some cooked chicken from right behind us, he ran off with it when we did notice him...I was looking forward to me chicken..Back in the day when they were plentiful I've had bank voles take bread from me. And chew through me basket to get at it during the night, when we used fishing baskets. You can do the same in the woods if you sit quietly and wait, doesn't always happen but when it does there's nothing else like it. You have to move as little as possible of course. But you can hear and see things you don't usually notice. These days the wildlife isn't what it used to be in many places. Oh and if you do have some chicken..wasps love the stuff to feed their grubs with. Plenty of protein for them. So try to avoid wasps nests near your camp....They'll strip a piece of chicken 'til there's none left.
I only have one or two small titanium items and I find they impart a metallic taste to my food! not impressed and more than happy to still to good old stainless....
Great ideas . It's so easy to get sucked into the" got to have this , got to have that mindset". This series showing it's not always the case . Take care Neil 👍
Love this series Neil. “On a budget” translates to, “use your brain to overcome obstacles instead of throwing money at the problem”.
Keep ‘em coming!
Well put and spot on 👍
Always refreshing to look at your videos not merchandising the high end titanium bull... I use a lot of armed forces surplus, Dutch, German, US and UK. Never failed me and it is pretty much bomb proof.
Great video. Military mart do an aluminium mug for £2:50. I use a colander for a stove with two tent pegs as pot support
Charity shops are a great place to find cheap, stainless steel pots.
"Better buy expensive once and cry once". I use the Pathfinder Canteen set. Everything is there. The wide mouth of the canteen fits great to my MSR Mini works water filter. It filter bacteria and filters chemicals. All those are great that you saved money. But, did you really saved money? Eventually, you will outgrow your gears and you'll need to upgrade. The item price will double when you are ready to upgrade. By putting the canteen stove upside down and by putting the fish mouth spreader, you have a wood stove with a windscreen. I replaced the single handle cup by a butterfly handle Jilmo Lander 800ml cup. With the Water canteen bottle, you could boil the water at night6; use it as a hot water bag and the morning you have sterilized water for your coffee. Can you do all that with one piece of gear? P.S. leave the plastic home. Plastics are polluting our forests.
Neil, really enjoyed this series so far. Outstanding the way you’ve taken this all back to basics but with a respectful nod to the more pricey alternatives. Plenty of food for thought.
Love the series and the channel. I’ve got a grayl bottle. It was on sale for $63 when I got it. No it’s not a cheap piece, but it is the best water purifier, not just filter. Here where I live in the states, agricultural runoff is in all the streams and lakes. The grayl gets rid of all of it where as the sawyers don’t. I felt for me and my family I would rather pay a little more (sawyers are $14 here) and know my water is the best I can get. My dad used the treatment chemicals in the military and he has kidney damage, almost needs dialysis. Just sharing my experience, please don’t think of my comments as criticism. Really enjoy your videos, especially the diy ones. Stay safe, merry Christmas.
Also,I wide mouthed collapsible plastic bottle is handy for next to the sleeping bag,for in the evening…for us gentlemen,just in case…saves wasting the built up heat in your sleeping bag…😉
Good vid.
Can't get enough of these budget bushcraft video's mate....
Very innovative and some very smart ideas Neil, thanks for sharing.
On a budget is one thing unless you're the type who has to have the latest kit because it costs more...Like many carp anglers become tackle tarts. But, does a camo toilet roll bag make your toilet roll work any better? Does a camo bait bucket hold your bait better than a plain bucket?
I prefer to think of it as being sensible and NOT giving all your money to someone else to make them a lot richer than you.
If it's battle field ready it ticks the box. If it might be battle field ready but costs ten times as much it does not tick the box. Unless I want to make someone else richer and myself poorer.
Back in the day we used to carry a couple of ladies stockings to filter water, fine enough mesh to filter out most of the debris and dries quick. Or a piece of muslin cloth but that dries more slowly. No fancy bushcraft kit in those days and a bit of fine debris here and there wasn't gonna kill ya. Boil it and you're good to go, and a good excused for a coffee break.
Somewhere like the Dales with those very steep hills a good supply of Kendal mint cake was a must. Don't scoff it at home though because you will get fat...climbing those hills though you'd burn it off as extra energy. These days for that or long hikes those cyclists energy tablets are a good alternative, vits and minerals and extra energy there. Can be a bit pricey for a tube but half a tablet in a water bottle gives you a bit more go than just the water when you need it. Although I still like the mint cake....just make sure you brush your teeth well.
I like the see through bottle because sometimes water bottles can get a bit slimey inside and a bit of green stuff can appear...if you don't keep 'em clean and dry when not in use. And you cannot see inside the shoulder of the metal ones. Those cyclists tablets will go off if left in there too long as well...very nasty. Hot weather a bottle with a little salted water always helped replace salt lost while you're sweating like a blacksmith.. Now you get tablets for that as well..or powders I guess.
A stove for a mini fire? Think like a Hobo. Thinking of my favourite trangia basically it's a tin with no bottom with holes at the bottom for air flow, and 3 little clips to stand your pot or kettle on so you don't cut off the air flow. So a tin with holes at the bottom and a few cut outs or holes at the top should do the same job with a little fire in it, cost? Nothing worth worrying about. And of course in the woods you never run out of fuel. Just don't get caught because in Britannia these days you can't do anything much, like light a campfire...or breathe too much..
I like cheap but functional because it keeps my dosh in MY pocket..Instead of paying for someone else's top of the range BMW.
And it doesn't need replacing for years and years either.
Because bush crafting/wild camping has become popular companies see profit in it because some people will be kit tarts. If it costs more it has to be better, and it looks fancy. And it shows you can "afford" it. These people if they went to a naturist camp would still wear their rolex.. and probably have a monogrammed towel as well...
Bush crafting for naturists...? Now there's an idea. Think of the profit in see through waterproof/windproof clothing..etc.
If you're just starting out, use Smartwater bottles with the Sawyer Mini that screws on to the cap. If you like bushcrafting, you can level up to more traditional gear later.
Yes the British Army water bottle like you said really strong and robust. Even if you throw it at a tree it won't break. The cost of them I found was between £5-£10 second hand / used. I have mine bought used still as good.
You can build a BCB kit as you go along, the British Army water bottle, the crusader mug, a lid from an old aluminium mess tin, and a crusader stove. To put this BCB kit in I used an old basha draw string bag to fit it all in. You can buy a BCB pouch for about £8 on Ebay. My little basha bag cost me £3.50.
I've gone down the BCB kit route which the British Army put together. Think it will cost about £25 quid second hand. Brand new it's up to £50. The MK 2 stove is bigger than the MK 1. 👍🏻 🇬🇧 🙂
Enjoyed the video👍🏻🔥🏕🌲.
A most excellent review of options for the beginner and progressing learner alike. It also shows the range of options that we usually end up accumulating as our skills develop and our changing adventures might demand. Nicely logically and concisely presented.
oh, and titanium is just hype. i have all the gear and find myself coming back to my crusader-mug all the time.
All good advice for the beginner onward. I have a few different kits and they all work. I paid £18 for my bushbox stove, worth every penny from Lixada. But I mostly use the trangia and 3 cheap tent pegs for a stand for my pot.
Thanks for that; it is great to see the well thought out alternatives to the must have top of the range, top price gear. Stay safe. ATB. Nigel
Being a veteran of the US military i LOVE the US canteen cup and i think my stand was $6 from rothco (spelling might be off) the stand also nests on the botton of the cup when turned over. The cup is also the perfect size for a proper cup of coffee or strong black tea. I have also gotten into carving or bringing chop sticks to eat with, hard wood sticks work best, because i like to be lazy
U.S. veteran here as well. Rothco makes mostly very good kit...But I've found that there's little to no interchangeability between U.S. Govt Issue and Rothco. The USGI canteen cup STOVE doesn't properly fit/nest over the Rothco canteen CUP - the Rothco gear is just slightly too large. The Rothco stove will fit over the GI cup though. I'm partially disabled so I have to make each $ count. You don't need expensive status symbol kit. I do just fine with U.S. and UK military surplus and carefully selected kit off Amazon. Sometimes it takes a little "window shopping"... I recently found U.S. G.I. aviator's 1 pint (half quart) canteen/flask - for $3 each from an online surplus store. Amazon wants $12. I find they are easier to carry, and the Sawyer Mini is a perfect fit (I was advised that was on purpose). And I use my stainless canteen cup everyday !
@@baronedipiemonte3990 i kept my canteen cup lmao its the only coffee cup big enough for a propper cup of coffee and i only mentioned that brand name because it fit my cup and was cheap. didnt know about the size issue ty for enlightening me
@@baronedipiemonte3990 also if you remember who made our ponchos please tell me i loved that thing. the blanket i kept too
From the USA. Just found you. Great video.
A great video, thankyou for sharing Neil.
Cheers Neil…always good 👍🍻
I should also say I’ve taken a number of your ideas (often lower cost) on board.. you’ve always ‘walked the walk’ and hopefully you’ll keep it going
I must say I love this series Neil. Please keep them coming.
I am on a budget and that was what I was looking for. Thanks pal you've saved me some right brass subbed
My first thought when people go into raptures about the weights savings of Titanium kit over Stainless Steel is "If you need to save the few ounces in the differing weights of these things, are you fit enough to be going outside in the first place?" I mean even if you replace your stove, water bottle, cup and spoon from Stainless to Titanium, the weight savings must only be a Kilo or two, at the most. That's a couple of litres of water. You could probably then save the few quid on the Stainless Steel kit, to spend on better boots and the would be something that would enhance your days out, far better than the lighter kit.
8/22/2022
Being that I live in the USA, and being a big follower of Dave Canterbury and his channel, I can say this; Anything, and I mean anything from "Self Reliance Outfitters" has been researched, and tested by Dave himself, before it is sold in his store. OH, yes, his stuff is not cheap. As a matter of fact, it is high end, both in price and quality.
I have several of his products. Even so, his stuff is not for the beginner, trying to decide if he/she really wants to get into bush craft.
I am a big advocate of buy what you can afford, save up to get that occasional higher dollar item , and reuse and repurpose things you already have. You do have to remember this; the lower the cost the lower the quality, usually. Also, avoid the premium stores like REI, they cater to the wealthy week enders. I learned this the hard way when I bought a cup for $15 and then found an almost identical one at a US store called Walmart for $5. I've never been back to REI.
There are many sources on line for gear. What is available outside the USA is something Neil will know more about. Campmor,e and Sportsman's Guide are good ones.
Great info Neil, keep up the good work. '-)
Almost all my life I've used my US military surplus canteen,cup an stove x2. Bought for $10 ea. in 83' an love my Grayl, totally worth the money to me. Especially the more I research the water quality in the US
I wish I had watched this years ago, would have saved a small fortune! Great ideas pal
Thank you so much for this series Neil, I am a very keen hiker,wild camper, bushcrafter, but being on universal credit I have only £223 per month for all my needs and to me £30 is a fortune
Really special, those tools are very necessary for adventure in the jungle, thanks to this useful guide .... 😊👍
Budget - YAY! Nice video and long needed antidote to the gear fixation eveyone has now!
Loving this budget series, some solid advice there Neil. I’ve gone down the titanium route with certain bits of gear but often come back to my good old Crusader mug & bottle. As per your videos, with some smart choices you can be comfortable in the woods without needing to spend a fortune. Thanks Neil.
Hi Neil,
It's great just to get some reaffirmation that being out there is the important bit and not the gucci kit !
Steve
very nice vid on the subject thanks...
Cheers Mate! Thanks so much for the great information.
Excellent, thank you.
Great information as always mate, I totally agree about the vargo titanium stove, crap and expensive.
The Chinese stainless bushpot from eBay is a great buy but needs a little modification, only £12 , I did a video a while ago on it.
Have a great Christmas mate.
PS I'm a big fan of the Sawyer filter, add some clear pipes and a large water bag for an excellent drip camp filter.
oh is that a four-dog-stove pot? nice, so i am NOT the only one.
Good advice. Thanks
hi,,,,,,you are right,,,,,i have used the 58 patern water bottle ever since leaving the army in 1978,,,with the mug on top and a bcb s/steel mug on the bottom,,,,,with the good old hexi burner with the bcb mug stand ,on top,,,,,it does the job and cost little money ,,,and takes me back to the good old days,,,,,,thank you for the vid ,,,,
Here's a tip for you which I told many people about yet somehow it never caught on...
Spirulina fabric is a synthetic sheet which filters at .2 micron. It is used to filter out spirulina.
It's essentially weight-less. I never bothered weighing it but I reckon a square metre doesn't weight more than 5g-10g. It really is basically weightless.
Ironically, most professional filters don't actually filter at absolute .2 micron (absolute being the important word here).
Obviously it's just one layer but if you buy a big enough sheet you can fold it several times over to create a decent filter which actually filters down to most bacteria size level and at a serious condition (assuming you can't boil) it is actually far superior to most actual filters out there at almost zero weight, almost zero space and not that much money all things considered. You can carry it in your pocket and you wouldn't even know it's there. It also dries out in minutes.
I used to carry some pre filter fabric that was meant to do what a milbank bag does as a first layers, then the spirulina fabric and then the bottle I collect in. Obviously, if you have the Grayl or if you boil as well that would be preferable because more is always better but in theory you can achieve the same level of filtration using a 5g spirulina fabric as you can with a sawyer filter.
I know nothing so may be quite wrong, but after a quick search and look at several brands, the hole size seems to be 25 - 40 microns (micrometres) which is an order of magnitude too big to filter out bacteria. It would make an excellent pre-filter, of course.
Lapel Mic would be great.Not just you Neil, but any presenter.Some of us have some degree of hearing loss,and I find I have to rewind 10 sec. and hold the phone closer. Otherwise great videos always.🎄
I am glad it's not just me trying to use cheap stuff. I found a serving stainless platter, very light and I used it as a frying pan and also fire bowl to have an open but contained fire. My favourite system to filter water is the Water-to-go bottle, very easy, portable and the only bottle I need when travelling to other Countries. Take it empty through airport security, fill it afterwards in the rest room.
Good top tips for saving 💸🤙
I have a Sawyer in my kit and a US army canteen but nothing to cook in... I'll keep looking for something suitable. Amazing video :D
Brilliant thanks
Love watching and listening to your channel Neil... Cheers...!
Cracking video Neil, must admit I go between the osprey bottle/crusader mug and the pathfinder s/s bottle and mug, both brilliant, with sawyer mini, brown millbank bag sorted, with my metal plate, I take one of them metal handle grips, that clamp onto the edge, trangia do them for afew quid, then I can use the plate to fry with, really enjoying this video series, good health and safe travels, cheers craig 🌿
Good info n ideas 🇺🇸👍
the GI mess kit I use that more often than not (doesn't make sense to carry extra pots for short camping trip)
Very good video! Enjoyed the explanation and the simplicity of the gear, well done
Spot on Neil.
I use the same cat food can alcohol stove as you do. I’ve made several for my buddy’s. They love them. Thanks again.cheers 🇨🇦👍
Great vid mate. Good to see ideas for low cost kit. All the best Clive.
Neil , good video , thanks for sharing , God bless !
Some really great ideas Neil, I’m not a great fan of Ti especially for a cooking pot/frying pan as I find everything sticks whereas you can build up some non stick seasoning in a stainless steel item.
love this vid, respect your approach, I would invite people to take the basic requirements as you have done here and trawl the charity shops. Caddys for cooking, even larger bushpots made from old steel breadbins and cutlery can be gained for pennies, they will even have decent water bottles at times for 50p, I have seen 2-3 season sleeping bags and even some backpacks for a few quid. Recently I went to a larger charity shop here in Aberdeen that sold pure wool 'dog blankets' for £1 each...a good wash for all the gear and I would be happy to use it...Even when we have done this stuff for years, vids like this remind us of basics and avoiding spending lots of sheckels on the name...ATB. God Bless. CC
Thank you thank you.Bob
Good stuff, Neil. Looking forward to the next one.
To be fair the pricepoint and quality of TBS stuff is sensational. They are seriously well thought out and will last a very long time. Their stainless steel canteen cup cook set is a brilliant take on the military system and at £30 it’s a great investment. Really wouldn’t pay more for other makes less well made or thought out.
I was looking at their kit yesterday and the TBS Wilderness Salamander Cook Kit looks sensational.
I've got various bits that go together in a similar kit but that all nests together so well and i think you would end up spending nearly that much for far worse quality trying to put one together yourself
Edit, i think it was the woodburner with the billy that i liked the most but depends on your use
Thanks good vid.! Greetings from Holland
Spot on fella. Love my homemade alcohol stove. They make great presents and I'm a poor sewer but a small pouch and a stove has always been well received. I never provide the fuel though... old squaddie humour 😂😂. ATB Cheers Sel
Have to say regarding the water filters.
You won’t really beat a Milbank bag and for getting the lumps out,then bring it to a rolling boil.
Trouble with all these water ‘purifiers’, is that you don’t know when it stops purification.
Stay well.
I love this series, really looking foward to the tool issue.
There are some good cheap 500, 750, and 1lt stainless bottles around. Lifestraw make a kit with 2 lids, one will fit the narrow neck bottles, and 1lt either plastic or stainless version drink straight from the bottle.
Titanium, can be cheap. Tomoshoo make a good one that nests with a 1lt Nalgene. Add a Trangia and a Nescafe 3 in one..its lightest brew quik easy boom done
If you go Nalgene/Dutch/ Australian/US A GI style you can get cheap Alloy cups to. Ok on a stove and drops a bit of weight.
Water bladders can be a cheap option.
As for water purification tabs...occasionally sure. Longterm..if you do this every weekend...they can have longterm effects on kidneys. Soldiers who served Vietnam or Somalia that used them longterm have had kidney isdues, fatal in the end.
Great stuff! Merry Christmas Neil!
I am an employed guy in my 30s with no wife or kids so i have disposable income. Walking is a cheap hobby so i don't mind splurging on some expensive kit when it really is a better item.
Having said that, my alcohol stove is a small drink can capilary stove that i made for nothing. Lighter than even the lightest titanium stoves and just as efficient as the trangia in my experience. If you stomped on it, it would crumple but i think i can avoid that haha, it would still work in that case, just not as well.
On long walks i am often taking just a plastic water bottle since it is so light.
Food wise, 2 minute mi gorang ramen and an egg is just as nice as most dehydrated meals and weighs less ans is 1/5th the price.
The orange lentils are dirt cheap and cook quick, add a few spices and an onion, its a good meal.
Actually most people don't realise that for 1 or 2 days out, you can eat most of the same stuff you would at home
would it work with one of those infinity coffee filter too clear out sediment you think? I use a diy hobo stove with a diy alcohol stove, together with a trangia coffee pot I got for free togheter some simple stuff from home. Far from the best setup, but very cheap. fuel I use is either wood, alcohol or buddy-burner. I carry food in a aluminum food box with hinges. that also dubbles as a place to eat out of. Thank for the video.
Hi from Syracuse NY USA brother and I love my L handle canteen cup
I can’t believe how expensive things are in the UK compared to Canada. I love my Stanley cooking set Thats all I use . It’s amazing for only $25 Canadian. On line. Thanks. 👍🇨🇦
Afternoon Neil. Good video this one mate far too many people chasing the latest and greatest in expensive gear. They spend a fortune on the gear then get scared to use it cos it cost too much. I've been using the pathfinder steel canteen and cup for years along with a trangia does me just fine for most things. Sometimes I take a cheap frying pan for bacon in a morning. Just curious did you ever get round to starting your bushcraft courses. All the best mate. Chris
Not a budget item but cheaper than the grayle I have come up with an idea. Life straw has a kit that gives you a filter straw for a kleen canteen. Filter+ stainless. Best of both worlds.
I cannot find the nalgene canteen any longer…the grayl is up to $99 on Amazon….you can make a lid cheaply enough with some aluminum sheeting….everything is getting high priced….even the ole inexpensive stuff that we used to say was a budget buy…thanks Neil for the great video…I was subbed and came to figure out why I wasn’t seeing your videos in notifications and I had been unsubbed…doh! 🤦🏼♀️…God bless you and yours!
I made a cooking pot from a old coffe can with lid and wire bal a old Tupper wear that I had lost the lid for my cup cut down to fit in side and the spgyver stove 2.0 life the fancy feast you showed but liter and made from a old soda can so that cup stove pot all for time and a little picture wire vertly free
Do you know whether the Keith canteen fits inside the PF SS canteen cup?
Not sure about the UK but in the US those nalgene oasis bottles are hard to find. For the last year out of stock to the point I think they are disconnected by the company. I did want one and was looking. Finally handled one and personally I like my USGI canteen better. If you look around they are about the same price anyways.
Very well put together Neil. Great advice too. Quick question for you. What are your thoughts on cooking with albumin mess tins and kettles. Just recently I’ve been questioned when using my meds tins and ally crusader cup. I’ve always thought they’d be fine as long as they don’t over heat. I’d be really keen to hear your thoughts. Thank you very much and Merry Christmas. All the best. Paul.
How would you rate the PF one vs your usual USGI canteen cup? What I like about the PF is the locking handle that gives another leg for stability. I usually don't love butterfly handles but you seem to prefer the USGI so I was wondering why.
I guess it's what I am used to. The PF cup is a great piece of gear, but my preference is the usgi cup. If the handles are locked together it still gives stability when boiling water in the fire fire
Hi Neil, tried getting a Nalgene Oasis bottle but seems to be out of stock in the Uk. Shame really as you seem to rate them. 😀
Hello. I'm in the U.S. that oasis Nalgene canteen. I've been looking for those online, for months now. And can not find them ANYWHERE! Do you guys have any shortage on them over there? Over here, you just can not find them. Completely unavailable.
May I ask were this coat your wearing is from ?
Could anyone give me an idea of the fuel consumption of the spirit burner style stove say how much fuel to boil 0.5l of water. I know weather conditions may effect consumption but a rough idea would be great thanks.
Do the oasis and puritabs have a strong chlorine taste ? I've been paying more for lifesystemes chlorine dioxide as there is a much less taste of chlorine in them.
Why not just use a Melita coffee filter to get the sediment out of your water if you're going to treat it afterwards anyway?
I know itd a long shot but these nalgene oasis bottles retail now for £27 some retailers ate selling for £57
Jesus!!!! That's ridiculous
Volume is always low. Still love your videos
Great video and tips. The Canterbury stuff is far overhyped and overrated, the kit costs about 130 £ in my country.
Many good brands are low priced but very good.
But no titanium for me anymore, I got a TOAKS pot and its really crap, no way to get rid of the metal smell and taste, Im really disappointed.
As I believe you've said your self, keep an eye on Aldi's centre aile, I picked up a lixada style wood burner stove for about 12-14euros, this year. I have a stainless steel
plate which I sometimes fry on and an enamelled pot and lid with a home made bale from a charity shop ( couple of quid), big enough to take a rabbit if necessary, and stores plenty of kit inside. Also Aldi are selling Merino wool t-shirt and long John's just before Christmas (you mentioned clothing on a previous video). As usual good sensible advice with no ulterior motive.👍
I'm sorry to say the sawyer or life straw as they call them are not 100%. In fact you could get sick of beaver illnes if you don't boil the water after filtering. I don't care about particles in the water but bactiria and virusses you should look out for. The sawyer filter issn't safe. And the mini sawyer is lesser safe because the filter in the mini is tiny. There is a fluf of cotton wool on top then a bit of active charcoal and another fluf of cotton wool at the bottom. What i do is make my own water filter. I'll buy a 7,00 Euro water filter at the hardwere store and put that in to a tube and put some chinees cottonwool (dry verry fast) on top and on the bottom of the filter. If its all done and dusted you can poor some distilled water threu the filter until it comes out clear. And after i filter my drinking water i boil it for 10 minutes. But when it boils i let it simmer. It just needs to be arround 90 degrees Celcius. This is super safe, easy to clean and super cheap to make and also super easy to make.
I liked the video and all the great tips you give.
Dog bowl is awesome, i have one myself.
But always test if its real stainless steel with a magnet.
Greetings,, Kitty.
not all 'mineral water' bottles have the same thread as the Sawyer filter, all Coke and Pepsi fit as do most supermarket own brand 2 litre pop bottles
23:03
I use Bento tins🍷
Shame you never did the tool one.
I did!
I've got great gear and my kit , is So Much cheaper.
EBAY is great and much , much cheaper..
You can get going for a bargain.
Just be careful to read reviews of the kit carefully before order🙃
I like to drink rainwater from discarded crisp packets, like Ray Mears
Man i want a mors Pot so bad
Forgot to say the one thing you should spend more on is tools. Cheap knives, hatchets, saws etc will let you down. False economy as you'll end up spending more than the cost of a good one. A Slinky saw may not be "cheap" exactly, but they are worth every penny. Are you bush crafting or wild camping..or glamping? To me it's about roughing it, which does not mean you have to be uncomfortable or freezing cold...or spend a fortune either.
It shouldn't be about taking gadgets with you except a reliable way to communicate with the outside world in case you break an ankle or something,which can happen to the best of us.. Or get yourself lost maybe. It's about having what you need not what you want. Back to basics if you like, otherwise what's the point? Letting those instincts we lost resurface to some degree, moving quietly, being aware of your surroundings, leaving no sign you were ever there. Sitting quietly somewhere and listening, observing, blending into your surroundings. You know you have it right when wildlife starts coming closer, while fishing I've had little Weasels take sprats from my hand. Even putting a front paw on the toe of my boot.
Grass snakes cross right in front of me. Mind you I have had a rat or two try nicking a bag of boilies from under the bedchair, we are fishing not wild camping and if you're there for 3 or 4 days or more you need the bedchair. A fox that nicked a some cooked chicken from right behind us, he ran off with it when we did notice him...I was looking forward to me chicken..Back in the day when they were plentiful I've had bank voles take bread from me. And chew through me basket to get at it during the night, when we used fishing baskets.
You can do the same in the woods if you sit quietly and wait, doesn't always happen but when it does there's nothing else like it. You have to move as little as possible of course. But you can hear and see things you don't usually notice.
These days the wildlife isn't what it used to be in many places. Oh and if you do have some chicken..wasps love the stuff to feed their grubs with. Plenty of protein for them. So try to avoid wasps nests near your camp....They'll strip a piece of chicken 'til there's none left.
A1,
KISS.....keep it simple silly and Cheap.
But, if you don’t spend at least € 2500 on gear to live like a hobo......
Great video, although unfortunately I went to Amazon first. Dang!
I only have one or two small titanium items and I find they impart a metallic taste to my food! not impressed and more than happy to still to good old stainless....