Skip to main content

Helikon Bushcraft Satchel Loadout

This pack is a recent addition to my bushcraft gear and a highly anticipated one. I've been after one of these packs for a fair while after seeing countless YouTube videos on them and how well they perform. I decided to pick up the satchel in the coyote colour. There are plenty of reviews on this satchel already on the internet. A quick search on YouTube and you will see plenty of videos. In this blog post, I wont be reviewing the satchel, but I will be going over what I have decided to carry in it and the context behind the selected items. 

Helikon bushcraft satchel

The bushcraft satchel has a large 17 litre capacity. I won't be using the full capacity of the satchel, this would get too heavy. My aim is to keep the satchel nice and light with room to add additional items as and when needed. Another good reason for doing this is that I then have additional room for foraged edibles. I'd like the satchel to contain the five Cs of survival: cutting tools, combustion, cordage, container and cover elements.

Essentials

Small Trangia mess tin & Esbit alcohol stove

I decided to choose the Trangia small mess tin as my container of choice for this loadout. It's made is in Sweden and is well built. It's a lightweight aluminium and is a perfect combination with the Esbit alcohol stove. I chose the Esbit stove over the Trangia as I prefer the snuffing lid as it has a large handle. Of course this is a rather trivial point and the Trangia alcohol stove would be fine.

Leather work gloves

A pair of leather work gloves are a must for a bushcraft kit. They protect your hands which is important. They're nice and supple and a good fit. Not only are these suitable for when doing axe and knife work, they also work well for handling hot pots and pans by the fire. They're also easy to look after with some good leather conditioner as well.

Mora Classic No.2
Bacho Laplander folding saw 

A quality knife is essential for bushcraft. I've opted for a Mora Classic No.2 for this kit. It's well made and holds an edge well. I also particularly like the shape of the handle as it provides a nice grip, of course this is all down to personal preference. This knife will sit on the outside of the helikon bushcraft satchel, inside one of the end pockets. This part of the bag was designed to hold knives, saws and axes, so it's a nice snug fit. I also carry a Bacho Laplander folding saw in this same pouch. It's perfect for processing fire wood and is well made and durable.

Poncho, ground pegs and paracord

I decided  to carry a poncho in this kit. Not only does this work as a waterproof garment, it can also be used to create a simple shelter. It's nice and light and it doesn't take up too much room in the satchel. You could also swap this for a DD tarp depending on your intentions when out practicing bushcraft.  I've also added 50 feet of paracord for cordage. Perfect for shelter making and general use around camp.

Map and compass

Carrying a map and compass is essential when in the wilderness. If you're in the UK, an Ordnance Survey map is perfect for navigating in the wild. I always carry one when I'm out, even if I'm familiar with the area I am exploring. You never know what could happen in an emergency scenario. A compass is also a important piece of equipment to carry. A lensatic or baseplate compass provides accurate navigation however, even a simple compass like the Marbles brass pocket compass is also worth carrying for locating north.

Fire kit

A fire kit is a must for this loadout. I've gone into detail in a previous post about this fire kit. It's the same exact kit that I carry in my bushcraft pack and I swap it between the two kits. You can find a more detailed explanation of the contents in this post: Creating a Simple Fire Kit

A water container is also essential. I usually switch between several options. I usually like to carry a Hungarian army canteen. This is a nice size and shape, perfect for this particular kit loadout.

Non-Essential

In this section, I will discuss items that I deem as non-essential, this means that these items are in most cases "nice to have" when out in the wild.

Binoculars

When out practicing bushcraft, we are surrounded by wildlife. A pair of binoculars can bring us closer to nature and enhance the viewing experience of wild animals. 

Campark T-20 trail camera

A recent addition to my kit, I've decided to carry this small trail camera by Campark in my satchel. It takes up very little space in the satchel and it's quite lightweight. This is perfect for setting up, then returning to collect it a few hours later and checking the footage for wildlife. I also carry some extra SD cards and AA batteries for it as well inside the pack.

Torch, pen and pencil 

I always like carrying a torch, pen and pencil. These items come in handy a lot of the time. I'm always taking notes and drawing sketches when I'm out practicing bushcraft. It's quick and easy to jot down information in my notepad and then refer to it later on if needed. The torch is a ThruNite Archer. This is a super bright LED torch that's waterproof and durable. It's perfect for looking inside the satchel in the dark when it's hard to see the contents.

Overview

There are plenty of other items that you can carry in this satchel. The possibilities are endless and that's the beauty of this particular satchel. Depending on what your intent is when our bushcrafting, you can change items and cater the kit to the environment or task at hand. 


















Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Guide to Making Canvas Wax

  Canvas wax that has been applied, but needs melting in Making your own canvas wax is a great skill to learn. It's also cheaper than buying it from the shops as well. Firstly, you're going to need a few materials: Paraffin wax  Beeswax A mould A tin can A cooking container Leather work gloves Canvas wax fresh from the mould The ratio for creating the wax is 9 parts paraffin wax to 1 part beeswax. For example, if the mould I am using holds 100 grams, I am going to measure out 90 grams of paraffin wax and 10 grams of beeswax. Once you have created your blend of paraffin wax and beeswax, place the mix into the tin can. Once you have completed this step, you can take your cooking container and fill it up with water and place your tin can with the wax mixture inside. Now place the container on a heat source and bring the water to a rolling boil. This technique is called the double boiler and is safe way of melting your wax without setting it on fire. Once the water is at a boil, th
Post a Comment
Read more

Chinon Countryman 7x35 Binocular Review

The barrels are covered in a brown leatherette In the modern world, optics are now more affordable than ever before. There are plenty of manufacturers offering good quality binoculars at affordable prices. Of course there are high end brands that still produce the very best optical tools such as Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss. All of the current manufactures of binoculars offer a wide range of optics. When I first got into bushcraft, I wanted to find a binocular that well built, had a wide field of view and was affordable. I opted to buy from the second hand market and came across the Chinon Countryman 7x35 binocular. This particular model of binocular is special as it has a extra wide angle view of 11 degrees.  The objective lenses are coated When buying binoculars of this vintage, it's important to ensure that you purchase from a reputable seller. These Chinon binoculars probably date from the mid 70s. That's a long time of being moved about and the potential for binoculars to ha
Post a Comment
Read more

Morakniv Classic No.2 Review

Morakniv Classic No.2  Morakniv have been making knives for over 400 years. They're very popular with lots of bushcrafters around the world for various reasons. Mora knives are high quality for the price point. They're cheap and they're built to last. They're often recommended to beginners, but that doesn't mean that more experienced bushcrafters do not use these knives, they do. All Morakniv knives are made in Sweden. Birch handle  The Mora classic No.2 is a traditional Swedish carpenters and woodworkers knife. It is practically a "Puukko" style knife, which is popular across all the Nordic countries. The knife is balanced perfectly with a rat tail tang, which makes it perfect for delicate work that is often required in bushcraft. The birch handle is barrel shaped and comfortable in the hand. If you have big hands, you will not be disappointed with the handle of this knife.  The steel is European C100 steel. This is a high carbon steel with the heat treat
Post a Comment
Read more