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Available at Amazon.com Primitive Camping & Bushcraft by Chris Speir
A Step-by-Step Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Great Outdoors
Do you dream of camping away from the hustle and bustle of busy campgrounds, enjoying nature in solitude? Maybe you’re already exploring this idea. Either way, Primitive Camping & Bushcraft is well worth reading.
The book title captured my imagination. After all, who doesn’t—as the subtitle states—want to survive and thrive in the Great Outdoors? You can safely and confidently using natural resources and minimal gear.
Chris Speir’s book Primitive Camping & Bushcraft is an excellent place to start for those new to primitive camping and a step-by-step refresher for more experienced adventurers who yearn to get back to the basics.
Overview
Speir packs a lot of hard-earned knowledge into the 251-page book and presents it logically, covering all the fundamentals. Large, clear, colour images illustrate the text, providing clear and easy-to-understand explanations of each topic. I consider myself an experienced bushcraft and primitive camper. Still, I gleaned many tips and tricks from this book; nuggets of information that will make my time in the woods more enjoyable.
The book starts with a primer on primitive camping. Speir discusses how this form of camping differs from what you might be used to and how it relates to bushcraft and survival. Next, he leads the reader through the knowledge and skills you should know before you go.
Details
Six main chapters cover the details of primitive camping. Sections on Gear, Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, and Cooking encompass everything you need to know and pack to be comfortable in the wilderness. I appreciated that Speir focuses on the essential gear throughout the book, acknowledging that it’s easy to get bogged down with fancy camping gadgets.
This book will steer you in the right direction. Speir’s writing focuses on the features of quality gear and not the brand. Occasionally, he mentions a brand name, but only because he’s had success with the product. Mainly, products are discussed for their function. For example, he details knives, talking about the differences in full tang versus partial tang knives, the basics of knife steel, and the type of grind. He includes photos and illustrations of his knives but doesn’t tell us the brand. I like that. It’s packed with though-providing information and allows readers to make informed choices on their loadout.
Chapters
Each chapter includes subsections that explore each topic in depth. The gear chapter includes details on backpacks, cutting tools, cordage, shelter, fire-starting, water and more. In the shelter section, we learn about site selection, clothing, tents, tarps, hammocks, and natural shelters. You get the idea. After reading and understanding each chapter, I am confident that most people can head to the woods and enjoy primitive camping.
In the shelter section, he discusses tents, tarps, hammocks and natural shelters, their pros and cons, and how to rig them for comfort. Water is critical to both camping and survival, and Speir tackles this subject, covering filtering versus purifying using several methods.
A campfire is more than just a creature comfort. It provides heat for cooking, warmth on cool nights, and a psychological boost for campers. As he does throughout the book, Speir covers the subject of fire in great detail. The section on primitive friction fires is particularly well done, with multiple close-up photos of the steps and written tips for success with this difficult skill.
Food can make or break the enjoyment of any camping trip. In the sections on food and cooking, Speir shows us his method of eating well during an adventure. He demonstrates DIY dehydration, procuring food in the wild, and primitive methods of boiling water and cooking food.
Summary
Skills and Techniques Covered in the Book:
- What to know before you go
- Gear – what you should bring and why
- Site selection – dangers to look for, available firewood and water resources
- Shelter – clothing, fabricated shelters, including A-frames and diamond fly, and hammocks and tents
- Water – dangers of camping near water, collecting water, purifying and filtering water
- Fire – how to create a fire kit, collect materials and then start a fire
- Food – includes what to bring, what to eat and how to prepare it
- Cooking – how to cook food over a campfire, use a commercial stove, or make your own
Conclusion
The book contains much more information than I can highlight in this short blog post, but rest assured that this tome of outdoor knowledge packs more into its pages than you’d get from 100 hours of YouTube videos. And the best part is it’s all at your fingertips for quick and easy reference.
In Primitive Camping and Bushcraft, author and outdoor survival expert Chris Speir provides readers with all the information they need to participate in the most exciting, adventurous type of camping safely and with confidence. In primitive camping, campers do without the standard resources one can find at a more traditional campsite, making do with whatever they bring in.
Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned adventurer, Primitive Camping & Bushcraft by Chris Speir is a worthwhile addition to your outdoor reading library. You can find Chris Speir at speiroutdoors.com and on social media @speiroutdoors.
Happy primitive camping, friends. I’ll see you in the woods.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Speir founded Speir Outdoors, the hugely popular online community devoted to primitive camping and survival. Speir has spent his entire life camping, hunting and fishing. In that time, he has mastered the art of survival in the wilderness with minimal resources and established Speir Outdoors to teach those skills to others. Speir is also a professional wildlife photographer. He lives in southern Mississippi.
What an awesome review! Thank you very much for your honesty!
You’re welcome, Chris! I was a pleasure to read and review. It’s a well-written and illustrated book on camping and bushcraft; a resource for anyone wanting to learn more. Good luck and safe adventures.