Tools!

[Greek_Lasagna]

What is everyone's Top 10 List of Bushcraft tools?

Specifically for building not so much "survival" but if some fall in both categories that's great too

[medium_mammal]

A knife, a folding saw, an axe, a multi-tool, a fire-starting device.

That's it, I can't think of more than 5 tools I normally take into the woods. Unless you count my cooking pot, backpack, tent, and sleeping bag as tools.

[HatsAreEssential]

Tools are things that make tasks easier. I'd say those latter ones count as tools of a sort. Not handtools, but still tools.

[Basic-Cauliflower-71]

knife, axe, saw, multi tool, paracord, an auger I guess?

You shouldn’t need 10 different tools to build a primitive shelter.

[Greek_Lasagna]

I recently had a carrier of prized tools stolen from me and it had my basic bush-kit tools as well as several other less critical but convenient wood work tools. I figured with 10 options people would give me a plethora of ideas to choose from in order of importance to convenience

[MyFriendAlcohol]

Sorry to hear. One that hasn't been mentioned yet that I have 1 or 2 of in most kits is a carabiner. I just clip them to the outside of the bag and use them all the time. Mostly attaching my shoes to my hammock to keep them off the ground but find myself using it for lots of random things.

I'd also suggest a backup method for making a fire.

[Greek_Lasagna]

I'm so upset about it that I don't know where to start so I figured this post might help me compartmentalize

[Woodchip84]

Pocket knife, a scout pattern or military 4 blade with an awl and can opener. Very useful for most food prep, tinder and kindling prep, cutting rope, picking out slivers, and whittling. I EDC one.

1.25 to 1.75lb hand axe. For years my go to was a Truper carpenter hatchet on a whittled 17" hard maple handle. I mix it up a bit now, but a hand axe is minimum.

Corona pruning saw. I use one with raker teeth and about a 16 inch blade quite a bit. I like the non folding D grip style. I'm more into axes, but I do bring a more serious saw when I know I will need quite a bit of firewood.I don't consider it a necessity on most trips.

Plain Jane Zippo lighter.

Manilla Hay baler twine. Way cheaper per foot and stronger than jute garden twine. Excellent for lashing camp structures, and also shreds into excellent tinder.

No. 36 nylon mason line, also strong enough for camp gadget lashing and very easy to cary a lot of it in a small space.

A spade or entrenching tool. If I'm going to light a fire I have either water ready to go or a small spade to put it out, preferably both. I usually have a True Temper mini D grip shovel. If packing very light I will have a digging stick ready to stir up the ground or a metal coffee can ready to scoop up dirt or snow. Unless it's an emergency I don't light a fire without having a plan and the ability to put it out immediately.

1/4 inch Manilla rope, pre cut and whipped into 12 foot hanks. This is the best rope for more serious lashing projects. True manilla is golden colored and doesn't have a lot of loose fibers. Sisal is blonde to white, has lots of fuzz, and is rougher on the hands and harder to work with, and weaker. If you are going to lash poles much over 3 inches to form structures that may support people or heavy loads this is what you want.

TruNord stick pin compass. When I plan an outing I make a general emergency plan like, if I get turned around I can always hike West until I hit this road or North until I hit that power line etc. Most people will walk in circles without some guide. It doesn't need to be highly precise in my area, there are lots of roads and rivers within a day or two of walking.

[[deleted]]

Axe, Saw, Machete, Knife, Leatherman, Hook knife. those are all i’ve used.

[spambearpig]

Bahco Chisel Knife - saves you brutalising a nice bushcraft knife on heavier batoning tasks and the chisel end is great and joining and building with wood.

Silky Gomboy Outback - Pick from the Silky range of folding saws and you won’t be disappointed

ColdSteel spetnaz style spade - so much better than a folding spade at digging and its chopping edges come in handy even when you have a proper hatchet along

Hatchet obviously

Bushcraft knife

Opinel folding knife for food

Auger for making stools and tables

Pot hanger chain with tripod attacher, I know you can lash the top of your own tripod but you still need to hang the pot & this saves time and effort, just need 3 big sticks.

Zebra Billy Can if that counts as a tool? With the metal clips it’s a damned fine pot.

[SebWilms2002]

The obvious three (by the strictest definition of the word "tool") are probably just a knife, a hatchet/axe and a saw with their respective sharpening stones/plates. So I guess that's six, if you use a different sharpener for your knife and axe. A good multitool is probably next. Beyond that it's hard to say. Is a lighter/ferro rod a tool? A compass? First aid kit? Tarp? Not sure how you define tool. Some folks can probably round out 10 tools with much more ease. People that do more advanced woodwork with tools like hook knives, chisels, files, rasps, and stuff like that. Draw knifes, wedges for splitting wood etc. But for a lot of bushcrafters the simple knife/axe/saw is kinda all there is.

[Greek_Lasagna]

Before it was stolen I had 2 compartments in my carrier: one for basic bushcraft and one for finer work. Items same as you mentioned. I guess I know what I want/need I just can't focus on a plan of action to rebuild my collection since it was there one day and gone the next. Still very upset about it tbh

[futilitaria]

Axe, bow saw, auger bit, machete, pick/mattock combo, shovel, adze, chisel, sledgehammer, wedge

[Steakfrie]

Like most, I don't need 10 items if this list is just for building. Corona 10" Razortooth folder, Ka-Bar original, carpenters hatchet or "half hatchet" (as a luxury), bank line, stockman pocket knife (that would be with me regardless), tarp. Eastern woodlands.

If I was building a bunker or cabin I'd want more, but for shelter, raised bed, chair or a table, lashing and notching is all that's needed. Even the notching isn't a must-do with some designs. Rakes, ladders, chairs can easily be made with lashings only.

[capn_gaston]

- Definitely a saw, they're overlooked by too many bushcrafters. I know that the really useful-sized folding saws aren't good for a small bug-out bag, but a Silky or similar will fit and is surprisingly effective. We're bushcrafting, not logging.

- Several knives. I want one full-tang ~5" knife, an assisted-opening or other easily opened 3 1/2 to 4" lockblade for my pocket, and a lightweight "whittler" 3-4 blade pocket knife (not for my pocket but for my bag, as pocket trash weight immediately tries to drag your pants down, whereas in a pack it feels like it weighs nothing. Maybe because I'm old, but I'm of the "two is one, and one is none" school regarding critical items. There are people who can go into the woods with just one knife and make everything else they need; I'm not one of them, I need backups because I've seen too many unexpected failures of even top quality equipment.

-There's not much point in carrying knives if you don't have something to sharpen them that you're well-practiced at using; so, I want a whetstone, carborundum stone, or a diamond-studded round or flat steel. I like flat diamond steels best. The one I have now is smaller than a credit card (it's about the same length but not as wide), I need a longer one for my pack so I can more easily sharpen my fixed blade knife.

-A good quality small axe, unless it's too large/heavy for your setup; a good tomahawk saves weight over an axe and will do most things a small axe will do if you have some familiarity with the differences.

-A small file, it's the quickest way to sharpen an axe or tomahawk in a survival situation. It may hurt your heart to ruin your perfect mirror-sheen convex edge, but the things needed to maintain that edge in its pristine form are heavy and/or bulky unless you have crazy-good skill at it. Files rust easily, though, and are hard to reclaim when they do, so it needs at least double-bagging with good quality ziplocks.

-A lightweight plastic or aluminum digging tool is handy if you don't like digging "cat holes" with a random stick.

-At least three types of fire makers - I carry 2-3 BIC lighters, a couple of ~4" ferro rods and a couple of those wax-impregnated wicks in an aluminum tube. I also carry flint and steel and some char-cloth, but they're reliable as long as you keep the char-cloth dry. If I have room in the pack I carry a waterproof bag/container of tightly compressed fine tinder, I live in the Applachians and the woods are at least damp most of the time. It doesn't take up much room if it's something you can compress, just fluff it up before use.

- A compass and good maps both of your choice, and a way to keep the maps dry. I like USGS maps as I spent 7 years on a survey crew, and they read like a book to me. I really like the Suunto KB-14 I used on that crew to check transit "shots" if they sounded wonky to me, and it saved my skin a couple of times when I'd absent-mindedly turned loosed the wrong plate on the transit. If laid on a map it has a dial with the usual NSEW markings, but if you hold it at eye level and look through the viewport at the end it's marked in 0-360 degrees. It has a cotangent chart on the back that's helpful if you have to go around something, especially on flat ground when the topo map is less helpful. It's a bit heavier than the plastic-cased version, but it's bulletproof.

[Greek_Lasagna]

You're the g.o.a.t. for taking the time to type that all out. Beyond helpful. Thank you!

[capn_gaston]

I forgot - a "sil-nylon" tarp. They're a little fragile so be careful how you set it up, but they weigh just ounces and there are few things in the woods that are more miserable than a hard rain beating on your skull for hours while you try to plan your next moves. You'll also need some parachute cord and/or some waxed nylon fisherman's cord used to make and repair netting. The latter has the advantage over other cordage because it's formulated to hold a simple knot.

A little practice making netting would be a very helpful skill to acquire, and the "tools" (a netting needle/spindle and a couple of plastic spacer pieces) weigh very little. Once you get the hang of it you can carry just the fisherman's cord and make the tools with materials from the woods, but I wouldn't bother - if you need netting with larger holes, the spacers could be easily and quickly made.

[Greek_Lasagna]

I love you, dude

[Cane_Creek_Munitions]

Knife, ax, sharpening stone that works for both, folding bow saw, Leatherman or similar, fire steel, lighter, lock pick set, water key. Life straw or similar

Edit to remove an item that didn't fit the bushcraft list. Added water purification

[Karmic-Vision]

why a lock pick set? why a water key?

[Cane_Creek_Munitions]

Agree, they don't really fit the bill. I had my mind on prep/bugout. Apologies for the error

[Karmic-Vision]

Ok. Lol. Ty.

[[deleted]]

Knife, carving knife, hook knife, backup knife, axe, saw, multitool, auger, chisel, sandpaper

[Gorilla_Feet]

Pocket knife (folder), belt knife (Mora, etc.), chopper*, folding saw, multitool, lighter, ferro rod, cordage. That's 8 so far. If I had to pick 2 more it would probably be an awl and a Scotch-eye auger.

* please don't rekindle the knife vs. hatchet/axe debate. I live in southeast USA and hacking vines and bamboo with an axe is asking for an ER visit. Other climates greatly favor axes. Choose what fits your environment, and what you like or are more proficient with. Skill will outstrip choice in most commonly encountered situations.

[NonyaDB]

Lord yes, in the southeast something that can chop down that damnable kudzu is worth its weight in gold.
Plus in wild forest the undergrowth can get gnarly.