Today I experimented with kit lists and packing. This is prior to a “dress rehearsal” expedition to the woods to try out all the kit at once.

Just in time, my Aqua bladder arrived through the post and my new Petzl Tikka XP head torch (with coloured filters). A couple more “toys” to play with, but I think very necessary items. I laid out all the kit in the garden and was actually surprised how much there was. I’m planning to go on a dress rehearsal walk and set up a bushcraft camp. Obviously I’m not skilled enough to build shelters yet and I’m not going to rely solely on an open fire for cooking, so the Trangia and basha are going with me.

The first area to zoom into is the utility area (sorry about the photos – a bit bright today).

Two small pouches – an emergency survival kit on the right (containing normal survival items – I’ll write about that another day) and a utility pouch with water proof container (containing matches and string); paracord; bungees; Tikka XP torch; tent pegs and journal.

This area (above) is the more traditional bushcraft kit. This goes on my belt or in the canvass shoulder bag. The possibles pouch (shown on the leather belt) contains basic brew kit; first aid kit; Swiss Army knife; toilet paper and tinder. The mora clipper now goes around my neck as it’s more comfortable than on the belt. The gloves, crook knife, saw, kuksa, binos (and camera) goes in the canvass shoulder bag (as does 1 ltr of water). The hand axe goes in the main bag. To the right of the canvass bag is the basha and cordage which also goes in the main bag.

The main rucksack area (above) consists of a 55 ltr rucksack (sleeping bag is tied on the bottom of the rucksack); the sleep mat will be placed on the outside of the rucksack. Inside the sack are spare clothes (enough for two days) in a large plastic bag; trangia fuel bottle; Swedish Army Trangia; hammock and at the bottom of the picture a ration bag (enough for two days). Just out of picture is the 2.5 ltr Aqua bladder. By the way, on the left of the picture is a small 15 ltr day sack.

And here’s the end result of the main rucksack when everything is packed up.

All I have to do now is put on the belt and slip on the shoulder bag. I organised the interior so that the weightier items were closer to my back and about half way up my back. The hammock is in the right pouch, the basha is in the left. A bivvi bag is in the bottom compartment above the sleeping bag. The rucksack, albeit quite cheap, is completely adjustable and has two aluminium struts and a padded hip support. This make the whole thing quite comfortable even when fully loaded. Still with everything loaded and including the canvass bag, the total weight is 28 pounds. Now I think that’s a bit excessive, but it is for a proposed 2-3 days with everything in. And I mean everything. Obviously on a normal excursion I wouldn’t take both bivvi bag and hammock for example. For just a day trip, I probably wouldn’t take along the trangia and rations. The idea now is to improve my knowledge and skills so that I can get this weight down and take less kit.

For now, it’s off I go on my dress rehearsal…fully loaded!! But you’ll have to read about the result in a day or two’s time.