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Essential Bushcraft
Ray Mears is well known to millions of television viewers through his acclaimed series Tracks, Ray Mears World of Survival and Ray Mears Extreme Survival. Now he has adapted the bestselling BUSHCRAFT to create a handy portable compendium of vital skills and wisdom from around the world. Packed with essential wilderness techniques, this book is an invaluable companion on any expedition.
240 pages, Paperback, Sewn Binding
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 15, 2012
The person you would most want to be standing next to you if in a life threatening situation miles from civilisation!
All of his books,and DVD's, are remarkable in that it is unlikely that there is anyone who has such an interest and acquired knowledge than Ray in the subject of living and surviving in the most adverse circumstances.
Yes, some of his books allied to TV series are a bit ' coffee table ' possibly a trade off for the financing of his activities and for future expeditions. However he does know what he is talking about and actually does do everything depicted or written about in his films or books, unlike a certain other, ' survival expert '
Full of very practical information it's a must for anyone interested in the subject.
All of his books,and DVD's, are remarkable in that it is unlikely that there is anyone who has such an interest and acquired knowledge than Ray in the subject of living and surviving in the most adverse circumstances.
Yes, some of his books allied to TV series are a bit ' coffee table ' possibly a trade off for the financing of his activities and for future expeditions. However he does know what he is talking about and actually does do everything depicted or written about in his films or books, unlike a certain other, ' survival expert '
Full of very practical information it's a must for anyone interested in the subject.
April 12, 2020
Such a great resource. There's so much in here, covering a wide variety of topics. This will probably be the only time I read it cover to cover, because it's so long and so dense, but I'm pretty sure I'll be dipping in to it a lot on the future.
There's a few issues in the text, but nothing too serious. It just looks like it wasn't proofread very thoroughly.
The biggest strength of this book is also it's biggest problem, in that it covers such a broad range of skills. There's content that you'll never use if you never go to the tropics, or the Arctic, but on the other hand it's interesting to hear it.
It could almost be two books, one that covers a broad description of bushcraft through the world and another that outlines practical skills for bushcraft in the UK.
There's a few issues in the text, but nothing too serious. It just looks like it wasn't proofread very thoroughly.
The biggest strength of this book is also it's biggest problem, in that it covers such a broad range of skills. There's content that you'll never use if you never go to the tropics, or the Arctic, but on the other hand it's interesting to hear it.
It could almost be two books, one that covers a broad description of bushcraft through the world and another that outlines practical skills for bushcraft in the UK.
November 2, 2020
Practical guide, all you need to know and nothing you don't. May survival handbooks contain bibles on how to survive the apocalypse. Companion to a Bushcraft Leadership course, cheap to buy on ebay and just the job. I can now tie various knots like a cub scout, put up a tarp, cut wood safely, find wild food, build a shelter and avoid starting a bush-fire. However, I'm still trying to start a fire by the friction method.
June 2, 2020
The level of detail and clear photographs in this book sets near the top of the bushcraft/self-reliance genre. Mears provides thorough worldly examples to support the tactics. The only striking issue is a focus on some minor elements (mushrooms) more than others (shelters).
April 27, 2019
What a lovely guide for surviving in the wilderness. The best i've encountered so far.
November 26, 2020
Survival tips and insights from the man who teaches survival techniques to armed forces across the globe. I would almost certainly have perished on many a school run and grocery shop without it.
November 6, 2022
If you're into bushcraft or camping wild outdoors this book is a must have.
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April 25, 2023Classic
July 11, 2012
I bought this book a year or two ago now. I have read other outdoor bushcraft/survival books as I work in the outdoor industry and have a great interest in being able and comfortable when I am out and about in the mountains and forests. I really have to take my hat off to Mr. Mears he gave use a small portable guide that can be read for all the environments on the planet. This is a huge plus as most of the other books that I have read are either very general or written with detail but too specific for the European and North American climates or jungles(the military books love to talk jungle). This one covers ALL the environments from arctic to tropics both sides of the equator. It covers water, shelters, fire, gear, cordage, cutting tools all the usual but also safety, food and simple medical.
I could not recommend this book enough. I now always tell my clients that this is the book that can bring them from novice or intermediate camper/outdoors enthusiast up to "very able". All they got to do is read it and apply patient practice in the field or at home. And for the more experienced? Well, they usually already have read this book and that is not a lie.
I could not recommend this book enough. I now always tell my clients that this is the book that can bring them from novice or intermediate camper/outdoors enthusiast up to "very able". All they got to do is read it and apply patient practice in the field or at home. And for the more experienced? Well, they usually already have read this book and that is not a lie.
December 17, 2011
I quite enjoyed Essential Bushcraft; it's an easy read, lots of good photos and diagrams, well-organised and fairly comprehensively covers the core topics. I emphasise "core topics" because it does focus on several important aspects of bushcraft, namely: Cutting tools, Water, Fire, Shelter and Cordage - the latter relating to the making and tying of cord and rope. The latter part of the book, pages 171 through 231 include information on preparing to hit the trail, crossing rivers, catching fish and foraging for food. There is some important and interesting information in here but these felt rather lightly covered. As usual with such books the section on edible plants is mostly irrelevant outside the author's primary geographic area of interest - so you'd be better off skipping this and getting a book written locally such as A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand.
February 11, 2011
A must-have for anybody who is interested in the outdoors. Ray Mears has collected a lifetime of wilderness knowledge and made it available for anyone to pick up and carry with them. This book will get you started along a path towards becoming really comfortable in the wild places.
April 9, 2016
My favourite Bushcraft book of them all
April 23, 2019
Took me a while to get through this one for various reasons but looking forward to putting the theory into practice in the future. Loved the bit on fire building and shelter making although some of it wasn't relevant as I can't see myself going to such remote locations anytime soon but it was good to know, none the less.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews