Required Gear & Equipment Checklist

Gear Philosophy

At Minnesota Bushcraft and Survival, we don’t believe in carrying dead weight or relying on overpriced gimmicks. Every piece of equipment in your kit should serve at least two purposes and operate flawlessly when wet, cold, or covered in mud. Below is the master kit baseline for our field offerings.

1. Universal Baseline Kit. Full Kit Details will be Emailed

• Fixed-Blade Outdoor Knife: 4″ to 5″ full-tang carbon steel or high-grade stainless blade (Mora, Hudson Bay, or equivalent heavy-duty knife). No folding knives for primary wood processing.
• Ferrocerium Rod (Ferro Rod): 3/8″ or 1/2″ thick ferro rod with a dedicated 90-degree spine striker.
• Single-Wall Stainless Water Canteen: Uninsulated stainless steel bottle or canteen (allows direct water boiling over open coals).
• Sawyer Mini or Squeeze (plus related water bags): Water filtration system, REQUIRED during our Modern Immersion Classes.
• 550 Paracord: Minimum 100 feet of real 7-strand nylon paracord.
• Work Gloves: Heavy-duty leather or reinforced work gloves for shelter builds, axe work, and thermal protection around fires.
• Clothing Layers: Weather-appropriate wool or synthetic layers (avoid 100% cotton in spring, fall, and winter). Sturdy waterproof field boots.

2. Overnight & 30-Hour Immersion Additions

Required for Modern 2, Modern 3, Primitive 1, 2, & 3, and Winter Wilderness courses:

3. Winter Wilderness Survival Extra Gear

• Sub-Zero Footwear: Insulated winter boots rated for negative temperatures (Sorel, Baffin, or pack boots).
• Wool Outer Layers: Heavy wool pants, wool sweater/jacket, and backup wool socks (minimum 3 pairs).