Ravenlore Bushcraft and Wilderness Skills. Travel

Travelling Light

First off I have to say I’m not an ultra lightweight camping fanatic, I just can’t enjoy the feel of plastic bags over traditional materials. For information on super light camping you will have to go to the likes of Ray Jardine who is one of the experts in that field.

I do cut the stuff I am carrying down to the essentials though, so that I can carry more camera equipment, and some of the tricks I’ve picked up could be useful if you are looking at reducing your own pack size.

Firstly I look at the essentials, shelter, water and food. If you were to walk into a camping shop you would be amazed at the quantity of gear they sell for these simple requirements and if you were to buy everything the salesman recommended you would need a team of Sherpas to move it all.

For shelter I usually use a tarp but if I’m travelling very light I can use a poncho which is pitched in much the same way but can also replace a waterproof jacket. A waterproof, breathable “bivi” bag to cover the sleeping bag is a worthwhile addition, especially under a poncho which is smaller than most tarps.

Some lightweight campers just use a light quilt, arguing that the insulation of a sleeping bag is compressed under the sleeper anyway. While this may have some merit and is certainly lighter, I find a good sleeping bag is more versatile and definitely much easier to use in a bivi bag.

Because of that compression on the bottom of a sleeping bag it is essential to have some additional insulation under you while you sleep. In some places this can be natural insulation like bracken but in keeping with the minimum impact approach some kind of sleeping mat is a better solution.

Air mats with foam cores have become popular in recent years but I still favour the old closed cell foam type of mat. It is usually lighter, can be cut to the size you require and does not spring a leak at the most inconvenient of moments. Wrapped around the inside of your bergen before packing, it takes up very little room and smoothes out the bag while also improving the water proofing and making it more comfortable.

For water I usually carry one or two litres in stainless steel bottles which I find tougher than aluminium for almost the same weight. With most bottles the water is the heaviest part anyway but many people prefer plastic bottles and the thin type that fizzy pop is sold in would be my choice if I was going really light.

I carry a Millbank bag rolled up inside a couple of nested cups and chemical treatment for water purification if boiling water is not convenient. When possible I collect water from streams or rainwater from my tarp depending on the situation.

Add to this my cooking set and my base equipment is packed, leaving plenty of room for my camera bag and tripod. Food will depend on location and length of trip but I often carry cous cous as my basic rations with something to give it flavour. You will no doubt have your own favourite light rations.

Hitting the Trail

Ravenlore is a site promoting Bushcraft and Wilderness skills as a way of working, living and enjoying the wilderness with minimal impact on it’s resources. Bushcraft should be practised in a responsible manner with consideration for the environment and other people who seek to enjoy the outdoors.


	Bushcraft skills complement many outdoor living pursuits such as walking, mountaineering, canoeing, hunting, fishing and in my case at least landscape photography. In fact I find the equipment suited to bushcraft often far exceeds the specification and usefulness of other high tech outdoor equipment.

Bushcraft and wilderness skills should always be practised with respect for the environment and other users of the outdoors. Leave no trace.