I like to review kit that worked well and kit that didn’t work so well when I go on the lengthier excursions. I also mentally make a list on what I didn’t use so that I don’t include it next time. This latter aspect never works because I still take the items ‘just in case’ (does this ring a bell with anyone?). Hopefully, by listing them, I won’t take any unnecessary kit next time. So here’s the list of what worked, what kit didn’t and what wasn’t used.
What worked well:
Fangst – Although I didn’t use this on the Shadowhawk course, I used it on the Bushmoot. It was great for putting in those small items, which was needed on a daily basis in and around the camp such as toothbrush, spoon, hand gel etc. It kept the items off the floor and away from the dirt, sand and mud. I found it particularly useful at the end of the evening when emptying pockets, much like a bed side table.
Hammock karabiners – It was the first time I’d used this system. Not only can you interchange 
hammocks quickly, but you can unclip the hammock, roll it up and leave more space under the tarp during the day without retying the knots. Also the karabiner acts as a drip ring. The tape tied to the tree was soaking wet on the Shadowhawk course but the tape looped into the hammock (and subsequently the hammock itself) was bone dry.
Blow pipe – No, not the one that shoots darts but a blow pipe that blows air onto a fire. On the spur of the moment I packed a spare, small, hollow, fibre-glass tent pole. I got the idea from a picture of Wayland (name) on BCUK. It proved invaluable for blowing on embers to re-ignite the fire without crawling about the ground and getting lungfuls of smoke.
Shemagh – I’ve not used this recently but on both excursions, during cold evenings, I wrapped it around my head and even slept in it (in preference to the fleece hat). It proved very effective, although it looks a little military.
Trangia pot grip – I took this out from my civilian Trangia set up. It proved invaluable when taking billys off the hot fire. This will form a permanent feature in the SA Trangia set up from now on.
Hand gel – Although I believe that we can be too clean sometimes, the antiseptic hand gel is just the job to clean hands after ‘shovel patrol’.
Vitamin ‘C’ – I’ll expand on this on a future post, but lack of fruit and veg can have detrimental effects on long term excursions where the fare is mostly ‘boil-in-the-bag’.
Tortilla wraps – Stuff anything in them. Great.
What didn’t work well:
Surf shoes – Not sure I’ll be taking these again, at least in the summer. They became sweaty, which really defeated the object of letting the feet breathe. Sandals might have been better for relaxing around the camp.
DD Travel hammock – I’ll do a full review on this, but I prefer the ordinary camping version as opposed to the in-built mossy net version. The net pulled the sides of the hammock up so I couldn’t see out. I felt too enclosed and claustrophobic.
Primus turbo lighter – I’m getting increasingly fed up with this temperamental beast. Sometimes it is fine – other times it just refuses to work. The plastic collar has split as well. Time for the bin.
What wasn’t used:
Separate mossy net – I didn’t need this at all as there were no mossy’s.
Mossy spray – As above.
Poncho – I might have used this if the weather was torrential but as it was I didn’t use it at all.
Folding trowel – Spade and toilets were provided. In fact I’ve not used this item yet, even in my local woods. A digging stick is sufficient.
Spare trousers – Even though it rained on both excursions, it wasn’t enough to warrant a change of clothes.
Fleece hat – I used the shemagh instead. I’ll ditch the fleece hat for summer use.
Crusader cup – I didn’t use this because of the ‘2 persons sharing brews’ set up we had on the Bushmoot and the supplied hot water on the Shadowhawk course. I would normally use this for brews – so it will probably come next time.
Mini Granfors axe.
Opinel – Come on Pablo – You’ve got to ditch this soon! You’ve hardly used it!
Inevitably, when kit goes out, more kit comes in! These are a few ideas I picked up from others and now forms a wish list:
Wish list:
Mini hammock – much like the Fangst idea, the mini net hammock hangs either above the main hammock or is strung underneath it to provide storage space.
Cling-film – This might form part of my FAK. It’s great for holding on poultices and provides additional support for injuries.
Baking soda (Bicarbonate of soda) – The American Bushman’s idea for cleaning water containers. Great idea.
Saddle soap – Leather has suffered in the recent downpours with it ending up stiff and unpliable. This should resolve it.
Mini Glow ring light – Who got lost and couldn’t find his hammock then? Yep… hands up, it was me. Embarrassingly, I’ve done this twice now when it’s been pitch black. I know I’m not the only one! This little gem has a 10 year life span (allegedly) and has a low level coloured glow to hang on a tarp line. Where’s my piggy bank?
New primus lighter – The new version has got to be better.
That’s all for now. Thanks for the visit.
Pablo.
Tags: kit
Welcome.
This is the home of Woodlife. You will find links to Pablos Woodlife (blog) the Woodlife Social Network (forum) and Woodlife Trails (courses) all on this page.
Good to see you checking up on the kit you use! I to do this after trips thanks to the advise from others onn BCUK. Very interesting to see you using the carabina clips with the DD Hammock, me and my friend got wet after using our new hammocks in the rain at the Bushmoot. The webbing of the hammock absorbed the rain and took it straight under our tarp and soaked our hammocks
we even had two sets of drop-lines coming off the webbing to try and divert the rain (because we knew there was rain coming) but that technique does not work in heavy rain! We’re trying a couple of carabina setups now.
As for the lighter I would recommend the “THE PB 207
POCKET MICRO TORCH” you can typically find around for £25 online. Before buying it (years ago) I heard of its reliability and that certain country’s special forces we’re issued this lighter so it got me tempted and it has served me well for many years.
The mini-glow ring sounds a good idea, I might look into that one, how much are they?
I recieved attacc.com’s catalog today and got tempted into a couple of items. One of them was the BushLite candle lamp kit. I need a camp/light solution, my friend has a very nice coleman petrol lamp and it does go very well length wize on the petrol but I want to try to avoid the hasle of a petrol lamp; maintenence, fragile, petrol etc. so I thought I’d shoot for this simple candle-lamp. I know its gona be a lot less light output but I love the idea of it being simple and more natural, a single protected flame to hang in camp
I got the kit thats on their site. Great reading your blog Pablo 
ps. Before the Bushmoot I remember seeing a DD-Hammock/carabina-mod somewhere online, I thought it was on your site somewhere but I cant seem to find it, was it on here that I originally saw it? Thanks for your time!
Good to see most of your kit working out for you.
You said you hardly used the opinel – why do you take it? Is it a spare blade or a cooking knife or just because they’re fun to play with!
The blow pipe can be made from a length of plastic tube with a short length of brass tube in the end, say 3″, to stop he plastic melting.
It rolls up small and can be hung round the neck if you need it to hand.
B&Q sell both.
HTH
Nightwalker:
The krabs work well IMHO. I used the same pic to advise someone on BCUK. You might have seen it there.
I’ll certainly look at the PB207. The glowring is £10 at Trek Direct
Sam:
I take the opinel in the hopes I can use it as it’s light and cheap. I can’t find a use that the other blades don’t already do.
Billy:
Thanks for the tip. How does the tube roll up? I can;t picture it in my mind.
Thanks all for the comments.
Pablo.
Billy:
Thanks for the tip. How does the tube roll up? I can;t picture it in my mind.
It is flexible plastic piping – like you use in aquariums and beer making – so it rolls round and round itself like rope.
My piece is about a metre long so I can use it while sitting near my hobo stove. I can hang it around my neck and it rolls up into the stove bag,
Something I’ve just thought of; I slightly flattened the end of the brass tube that goes in the fire. It seems to make the draught slightly more effective.
HTH
“I take the opinel in the hopes I can use it as it’s light and cheap. I can’t find a use that the other blades don’t already do.”
I carry an Opinel and a BCUK folder. The Opinel is safer, being lockable, but the BCUK is legal. The BCUK can be opened one handed but the narrow blade of the Openil is generally more useful on food related tasks. Both are good quality steel.
I haven’t got used to holding the BCUK with forefinger on the choil and it has closed on my fingers a couple of times; because there is a detent you feel it happening so I have suffered no damage as yet. It cannot happen with Opinel.
Nowadays I cycle camp, in the main, and weight is critical. I aim for 18 kilos including bags and two days food. One knife is enough unless you are Edward Scissorhands.
Nice write up Pablo, good to know i’m not the only one who does this!:
“I still take the items ‘just in case’ (does this ring a bell with anyone?)”
I have krabs that came on my hammock from the factory (bushkit pro pod).
However, they are directly through the hammock seam and not linked via tape through the seam hole… therefore when linked to the webbing it turns the krabs sideways, which doesn’t do as good a job of the drip string idea. At the Moot i had to tie drip strings on each side of the krab which sorted it out.. bit messy though
I might try replacing them with tape like you have though.
I did exactly the same with the shemagh and the pot grip, very versatile bits of kit them
I wish i bought some sandles with me in the end, but I couldn’t bring everything I wanted.. next time I’ll have a better idea of what to leave behind.
Have to write up my Moot experience on my blog soon.. just not had the time, been a busy boy!
Cheers
Carlo
Where could one find a cheap shemagh? I thought eBay might be a start but I thought they’d come cheaper than some of the prices I’ve seen.
Good stuff, nice to know what you need and what you don’t so you can pack as light as possible.