Bushcraft kit list for beginners: all under £100

The most important thing to know is that skills matter far more than kit. A cheap knife in practised hands does more than an expensive one that stays in its box. Buy the basics, then spend your time learning to use them.

The core kit and rough prices

These are typical UK prices for basic, decent versions of each item. They are approximate and will vary between shops and over time. You do not need any particular brand.

Why each item earns its place

• Knife. Your main tool for carving, feather sticks and food prep. A fixed blade is stronger and safer for this work than a small folder. A Scandi grind (a single flat bevel on each side, running right to the edge) is the easiest to sharpen.
• Folding saw. Cuts wood to length far more safely and easily than a knife or an axe. It takes over the jobs that tempt beginners into risky knife use.
• Ferro rod. Throws hot sparks for lighting fires, even when wet. It lasts for thousands of strikes. Carry matches or a lighter as well.
• Tarp. A 3 m by 3 m tarp can be pitched as a lean-to, an A-frame and more. It keeps rain off you, your fire wood and your kit.
• Cord. For ridgelines, guy lines and a hundred other jobs. Any strong 3 to 4 mm cord will do.
• Pegs. For pegging out the tarp. Metal pegs survive hard winter ground better than plastic.
• Head torch. Winter days are short. A head torch keeps your hands free for packing up after dark. Red light keeps your night vision.
• Sharpener. A sharp knife is a safe knife. A few strokes on a small stone each trip keeps the edge working.
• First aid kit. Small cuts are the most common bushcraft injury. Add a large dressing, tape and any personal medication.

Things you probably already own

Before buying anything else, check the cupboard. Most of this you will have.

• Warm layers. Wool or fleece, not cotton. In winter, a hat and gloves matter more than any gadget.
• A waterproof jacket. It does not need to be expensive.
• Sturdy footwear. Walking boots or wellies for muddy winter woods.
• A rucksack. An old school bag is fine for day trips.
• A water bottle. Single-wall metal bottles can go near a fire to heat water, but plastic ones cannot.
• A foam sit mat or a folded bin bag. Sitting on cold, wet ground drains heat fast.
• Snacks and a flask. A hot drink in a flask makes a winter session much more pleasant.
• A bin bag. For taking all your litter home.

What to skip for now

Some kit looks exciting but is not needed at the start.

• An axe or large chopper. Heavy and easy to injure yourself with. Learn knife and saw work first.
• A large "survival" knife. Big blades are clumsy for carving and harder to justify carrying.
• Survival kits in a tin. Mostly low-quality bits. Better to build your own.
• Expensive hammock systems. Lovely, but a tarp teaches you more for less money.
• Fancy fire gadgets. A ferro rod and good technique beat almost all of them.

Skills to learn with this kit

Your £100 of kit unlocks a lot of practice. Work through these in order:

1. Safe knife handling. Keep a clear safe space around you, cut away from your body, and sheathe the knife every time you put it down.
2. Sharpening. Learn to keep your edge working before you need it.
3. A feather stick. Our guide on how to make a feather stick is a good first project.
4. Tarp knots. Learn a bowline, a trucker's hitch and a taut-line hitch. See our tarp shelter knots guide.
5. Pitching a tarp. Try it in the garden before you try it in the rain.
6. Lighting a fire with permission. Then putting it out completely and leaving no trace.

For parents and Scout or Cub leaders, this kit list works well as a shared group kit. One tarp, a couple of saws and a few knives can serve a small group, as long as an adult controls the blades.

UK knife law in plain English

This is a short summary, not legal advice. Check the GOV.UK page on buying and carrying knives for the full rules.

• You can carry a folding pocketknife in public without a reason if its cutting edge is 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less and it does not lock.
• Fixed blades and lock knives need a good reason to be carried in public. A bushcraft session on land where you have the landowner's permission can be one, but a court decides if you are ever charged.
• On the way there and back, keep the knife sheathed and packed away inside your bag, out of easy reach. Do not wear it on your belt in town, on public transport or in a car park.
• It is illegal to sell most knives to anyone under 18. A parent or leader should buy and look after knives for young people.
• Some knives are banned outright, such as flick knives and butterfly knives. A normal bushcraft knife is not one of them.

Scout and Cub groups usually have their own rules on knives and who can use them, so ask your leader before bringing one.

Common mistakes

• Buying kit before learning skills. The tools are cheap. Time spent practising is what makes you good.
• Choosing a knife that is too big. Long blades are harder to control for fine work.
• Skipping the saw. Without one, people batter wood with their knife and end up with blunt edges or cuts.
• Wearing cotton in winter. Wet jeans and cotton hoodies stay cold. Wool and fleece keep you warmer.
• Forgetting a light. In November it can be dark by half past four.
• Carrying a knife carelessly. Pack fixed blades away until you reach the place where you have permission to use them.
• No first aid kit. Even a tiny one is better than none.