“With advice on not just getting along, but truly reconnecting with the great outdoors, Dave Canterbury’s treasure trove of world-renowned wisdom and experience comes to life within these pages.” —Bustle
A New York Times Bestseller in Sports and Travel!
The ultimate resource for experiencing the backcountry!
Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. Based on the 5Cs of Survivability–cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages–this valuable guide offers only the most important survival skills to help you craft resources from your surroundings and truly experience the beauty and thrill of the wilderness. Inside, you’ll also discover detailed information on:
Choosing the right items for your kit.
Manufacturing needed tools and supplies.
Collecting and cooking food.
Protecting yourself from the elements.
With Canterbury’s guidance, you’ll not only prepare yourself for any climate and situation, you’ll also learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature in ways you’ve never imagined.
Camillo –
It gives you the base on how to start with bushcraft and survival
Amazon Customer –
Bushcraft 101 is a pleasant source of knowledge for many different expertise levels, the descriptions are well worded although as a beginner myself I prefer more diagrams than what was provided. There were so many useful points that someone could use no matter if they were primitive camping or stranded in the middle of a jungle. Some of the topics that were discussed ranged from tools, your pack and shelter, cooking and cleaning food, fires, ropes, and navigating terrain. There was continued useful information in the appendix sections which detailed ways to conserve your tools and resources, bush recipes, medicinal plants and wild berries, as well as a glossary for almost all of the terms used. The way Canterbury addresses the reader is not as if they are incompetent rather that they do have some knowledge but are not well versed in the survival skills discussed.
The book is written from the point of view of a teacher or mentor and has a very simplistic language during the explanations of the skills. As I went through the book I found the glossary to be extremely helpful since I am not well versed in outdoor pertinent terms. The index was also very helpful and would be helpful in the case of practicing the skills after reading the book. It has a thorough list of different sections that point you to where the information you are looking for is located. I also liked how the skills were separated by headers and the book was sectioned into two parts, this made it very easy to go back and find what I needed even without using the index. The separations and headings also gave a sense of organization throughout the book which I feel, makes me more secure when I imaging needing to find something in an emergency. The size of the book is perfect to store within my emergency backpack or any camping bags, the cover is also a little more firm than a regular paperback which leads me to think it could withstand more abuse.
One issue that I found when looking over skills is the diagrams are not very descriptive, the knots portion of the book only details the steps of certain knots instead of all knots. The book seems to be geared more towards an auditory learner versus a visual learner, although the verbiage is clear you would have a harder time learning the skills without seeing the step by step directions in some cases. It also does not appear that the author used any outside sources, these seemed to all be skills that the author practices frequently and has learned through experiences. I felt as if the tone of the book was very formal, with verbiage that would be used in a classroom or workshop. This tone throughout the book does take some time to read through due to the lecturing or monotone delivery as would be used in a classroom. As a person who often needs some sort of excitement in my reading choices, this was a harder read to get through only because it was strictly focused on teaching the skills outlined. Although this can also be a positive attribute when you are attempting to find a skill in a hurry when you are out in the field, fewer words to filter through to learn the skill you will need.
Personally, upon reading the book, I could not relate to any of the chapters due to my inexperience in the field. There were specific skills outlined within the book such as using a cast iron skillet and some of the fire lighting methods, which I was able to learn quickly and use for a camping trip that came shortly after beginning to read the book. However the more we practice these skills the easier it will be to remember them in the times a survival situation or emergency comes around. I have attempted some of the knots shown in the book and some of the fire-starting information was helpful as well. I found when I have used the information given that it was very helpful and rewarding to see that what skills I was learning were paying off. This made me enjoy the book more than when I had originally begun reading it.
Crosby –
I am an outdoorsman & amongst fellow outdoorsmen & woman I have met in my journeys, more than not have this book in their library. I know a lot of tricks from growing up on farms & being outdoors a lot, but this is a great companion. Thanks
Hawk –
Bushcraft 101 is well written by a man well versed in this field. It exudes with great information from personal experience. It’s easy to read and fits nicely into the backpack. Get it and bring it with you.
Happy shopper –
I considered myself coordinate outdoorsman until I read this book. There is so much to learn in this book has a lot of it in it great techniques for just about anything that you may encounter. I would definitely recommend this. I hope you enjoyed my review if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask thank you.
Camping stove wind shield –
Good book night it as a gift .
The book came in excellent condition.
It’s a good book for beginners to learn bush craft and off grid basic skills
buffalo1a –
Ok, here go we guys and gals by the numbers:
1) What this book is not: It is not an uberlight,super modern, techie gear,hiking/camping survival book. if that is what you are looking for skip it.
2) What the book is (imho): It is a rock solid foundation to get you into the outdoors and gain those skills that were never had or lost.
3) Biggest detriment (imho): lack of info on edible plants a “wilderness survival” guide should have had atleast a fewvarious pics and descriptions.
It’s funny someone mentioned the boyscout manual and after I read this book, I feel this is written in the style of a scout “handbook” of sorts.
The book is written from a basic “start here” view. ( zero experience, just starting out) If someone were just starting out I would recommend this book, why? Simple before you start out a person should grasp the basics of the outdoors, then as their experience grows they can add or delete gear based on their style, and their experience. We all find our own style to “smooth it” in the outdoors,this book aids in that path of self discovery.
This book is well written and organized based on many voices of the outdoors from the past. (Kephart,Wallace,Nessmuk,Baker,and Hillcourt to name a few but there are many more) While Dave did not reinvent the wheel, he mentions this in the dedication, but he did bring all this wealth of old knowledge back with his own ideas and thoughts.This is a great springboard in obtaining that “Doctorate in Woodsy Knowledge” While I agree with the author that there could have been more illustrations,but that does not detract from the book .(needed some edible plants,and trees and pics imho) I have already bought an extra copy to give to my grandson when we start our outdoor adventures.
I read this book, reread the book,and read it again so I could give you a non “fan boy review”.
I have tried to punch holes in it and while there are always little differences in opinion,I could not, this book is what it is, a solid 101 style book that anyone just starting out in the outdoors should get and read and keep reading. This is one of the few Books that I have suggested to friends just getting into the outdoors. I can’t say it enough this book is a rock solid foundation to get folks into the woods and back into touch with skills that modern people have lost. Buy this book.
and btw While I like and use the sawyer filter, I did not start with one and if I did not have it then other forms of water purification would be needed.
It is my opinion that one should be well versed in multiple ways of water purification,and survival knowledge to avoid the “all eggs in one basket”
situation, or “Oh no! my new,shiney, lightweight, doohickey is broke, now what?”
I hope this review helps.
Jon Schlarb –
Very informative lots of interesting comments. I bought this for the hygiene and foraging information.
Thijs –
Vele probleemoplossingen. In Engels geschreven.
Max –
Maybe too deep for the average woodsman but a great resource to expand your survival skills. Something to keep handy for the at home or post tracking times
Emily Letsinger –
My husband has learned so many things from this book.
RafaelO –
OK, I’m new to bushcrafting and this thing hits all the basics and it reminisces on old time tramping and wandering, he cites other authors and leaders of this genre. It’s 101! Do it, even if it’s just a bathroom read!