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I was thinking of getting a bushcraft book and id like to know what you guys recomend, i don't know if this is the right forum to post this and if it isn't sorry. So far ive looked around and seen a few most are Ray Mears i see he has quite alot. Can anyone recomend what they think its the best bushcraft book or one of the best. I'm a beginner and i dont know much at all really so is there any beginner/intermediate books that you would recomend?
Thanks alot everyone :) cya around.
ChrisKavanaugh
14-05-2005, 20:45
It doesn't take long to collect a bushcraft library big enough to build a brush shelter with. Ray Mears is good, and being UK based you will get information you can use now. There are many classics, though with some outdated information or kit materials are marvelous reads later on. There are also many older books with information that is wrong and potentially life threatening, especially first aid. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 different authors to figure something out. One may have a superior illustration of a bowdrill while the other has some small trick that makes a skill easier. You have to be carefull of 'fossilised' information in the literature. When I see somebody waxing eloquently about producing gallons of water from solar stills or reprinting a infamous and incorrect deadfall trap illustration ( Will E. Coyote himself could jump up and down on this contraption and it wouldn't budge) the rest becomes suspect- even telling me N points north. Some skills require entire books to properly master. Basic navigation can be covered in a few pages and get you out there and home again. Detailed navigation like the classic Orienterring text is like listening to opera vs somebody whistling. Go with Mears, and,practise ;)
Roving Rich
14-05-2005, 20:52
Hi Shanec, Rays books are a very good place to start, further reading i'd recomend Kelpharts Woodcraft and camping (or Camping and woodcraft ? the other is by Nessmuk, both are good) any of Mors Kochanskis stuff, and some of Tom Browne Jnr's, tho some will disagree. There is also alot of military and survival manuals, but i'm not so keen on these.
From then on it gets alot more specialised, books on mushrooms, axes, tack and signs of animals and all manor of craft books.
I don't know if your planning on coming to the BCUK meetup at the end of the month, but we are asking people to bring their books, so we can all have a browse at each others and see which we like.
If you look in the "resource" section there is a sub forum on books and media that should contian all the information you are looking for.
or, just follow this link....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=16
Enjoy
Rich
Ok, thanks for that, i've done a first aid course so i should be fine when it comes to that and i do intend to get quite a few books but id like a newish book that covers most of the basics for my first book. I see Ray Mears has quite a few books out, is there any you would recomend?
Thanks again
Hi Shanec, Rays books are a very good place to start, further reading i'd recomend Kelpharts Woodcraft and camping (or Camping and woodcraft ? the other is by Nessmuk, both are good) any of Mors Kochanskis stuff, and some of Tom Browne Jnr's, tho some will disagree. There is also alot of military and survival manuals, but i'm not so keen on these.
From then on it gets alot more specialised, books on mushrooms, axes, tack and signs of animals and all manor of craft books.
I don't know if your planning on coming to the BCUK meetup at the end of the month, but we are asking people to bring their books, so we can all have a browse at each others and see which we like.
If you look in the "resource" section there is a sub forum on books and media that should contian all the information you are looking for.
or, just follow this link....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=16
Enjoy
Rich
You repplied as i was writing my last post, thanks for that link i tried a search and looked about abit i couldnt find much but im problery just not searching right :p. I am planning of coming to the meetup if possible, its close to me but i cant drive so i dont know if i can get there plus i got no equipement and cant camp over so i duno if its possible, but hopefully i will come :)
innocent bystander
14-05-2005, 21:25
I'm definately in the kochanski / mears camp here. Nessmuk is enjoyable, but is like learning from a parable. I think for a first couple of books it's better to have plenty of good diagrams and things. Kochanski is definately better at that. At least i think so.......
Thanks for your repplies, i like to know the good authors, but could you also post the good books, ones you recomend cus im guessing most of these authors have at least 2-3 books and id problery choose the least good outa them rather than the one wich would benifit me the most :p.
innocent bystander
14-05-2005, 23:03
I think this works as a link :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340829710/qid=1116107988/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i4_xgl/026-2978257-8001229
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1551051222/qid=1116108109/sr=8-7/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i7_xgl/026-9280201-1276412
I reckon these two are probably the best for first books. There certainly amongst the easiest and cheapest to get hold of !!
Justin Time
14-05-2005, 23:07
Kochanski's great, but very strongly based in the North Woods... which are not a great deal like Didcot, I know cos I used to live there ;) I'd go with the others and back Mears as a starter, either the Essential Bushcraft or the Outdoor Survival Handbook should be easy enough to get. The latest one, Bushcraft Survival, is a bit less of a how-to book. Once you've got those you will want the Kochanski to follow up with though since some of the skills stuff is very strong.
try to come for the day to the moot if you can't stay overnight, Wallingford's not at all far from Didcot, borrow a bike if there's no bus!
innocent bystander
14-05-2005, 23:20
strongly based in the North Woods... which are not a great deal like Didcot
:D The cynical would say that there ain't anywhere like Didcot. Thankfully ;)
Shanec, where abouts do you go round our part of the world ( i didn't even notice where you were from :) ) for bushyness related activities ?
rapidboy
14-05-2005, 23:36
I consider Mears first book to be his best but it's no longer available except second hand and they fetch silly money at the moment :( .
The two books mentioned above are good but I'd say Ray's is better due to the photographs rather than the drawings in the Kochanski book and the fact that it's UK orientated.
Where abouts do you go I should of mentioned this in my first post... I'm moving to Vermont in the US for 2 years or more in august to go to college and live with my grilfriend (at her parents house) i'm 19 on may 25th. Her house is in a tiny town/village and out in the woods, if anyone has been to a place like this in the us you will know how far away each house is from there neighbour and stuff, and also they own 18 acres of land most of wich is woodland and they have quite a big beaver pond too. So stuff for the uk is good aswell as some stuff for the us would be too.
I should of mentioned this in my first post... I'm moving to Vermont in the US for 2 years or more in august to go to college and live with my grilfriend (at her parents house) i'm 19 on may 25th. Her house is in a tiny town/village and out in the woods, if anyone has been to a place like this in the us you will know how far away each house is from there neighbour and stuff, and also they own 18 acres of land most of wich is woodland and they have quite a big beaver pond too. So stuff for the uk is good aswell as some stuff for the us would be too.
Innocent Bystander, at the moment i really dont have anywhere to go as youd know didcot has not much woods or anything its all turned into houses lol. I've only just got into Bushcraft altho ive always been into it but just never read up i just messed around in the woods (i moved from didcot to cornwall when i was younger there is alot of woods there but now im back) at the moment i just mess around in my garden, theres aload of nettles growing so i told everyone to leave them grow so i can make some cordage out of them and thats about it really.
Im a builder so sometimes i bring home some wood to try carve but i dont have a good knife its just some old thing i found wich aint very sharp either, so im planning on getting a knife and a book or 2 to start learning it proplery cus i really enjoy it. I also go down the fields and stuff sometimes walking my dogs and just find some things around and play about with it not really knowing what im doing.
I'm gona send you a pm now to ask you a couple of things if you don't mind.
Sorry this post is so long guys :p and thanks to all who have posted :)
i would go for mors kochanskis 'bushcraft' as a great all rounder!
ChrisKavanaugh
15-05-2005, 00:42
Shanec,Your moving to one of the prettiest states in the union. I would beg,borrow or steal a sleeping bag or get to that meetup if you have to walk. You'll learn more in a few days than any book can teach you. I'd hold off making any major purchases. You have to bring it over and the hysterics and histrionics that pass for security might make things unpleasant. As a student you will be watching your money as it is. Knives and axes are nearby at our friend Ragnars in New York and everything else is a click away online or the many outdoor shops there.