Note: For the Autumn Woodsman, you won’t need a bathing suit or other warm weather clothing.

•  Broken in footwear. Must be good for walking.

•  Sandals or water shoes (can be old sneakers, but these dry slowly)

•  Knee-high waterproof boots (when the weather is cool)

•  Sleeping Bag: rated to 40 degrees for Summer Woodsman, rated to 20 degrees for Autumn Woodsman

•  Sleeping Pad (foam pad or Thermarest)

•  Tent – Be sure you set it up and stay in it a few times before arriving, and that it has noseeum netting

•  Long Pants

•  Underwear, T-Shirts, shorts, etc.

•  Bathing Suit

•  Other clothing that can get dirty and beat up.

•  Towel

•  Rain Gear

•  Hat with wide brim (for sun and rain protection)

•  Sun Glasses

•  Personal Toiletries, washcloth, biodegradable soap, etc.

•  Head Lamp or flashlight

•  Cup for Hot/Cold drinks (unbreakable, travel mug-style)

•  Plate, bowl, fork, spoon and net bag to hold them (similar to a laundry bag)

•  Water Bottle with wide mouth

•  Orienteering compass

•  Notebook and pen/pencil

•  Cook pot with a bail handle Will be used for cooking food and boiling water in the field, so don’t get one that’s too small (because it’s a pain to boil drinking water a thimble at a time). There are lots of options here.
          Option A: 2 quart stainless pails (the word ‘pail’ usually indicates that it has a bail handle). These are available from feed stores or Amazon, and are usually used for milking or for pets. They are less expensive than outdoor cook pots. A benefit to a pail over an outdoor cook pot is that they nest: small on the bottom, wide on top. This allows you to take several pots but only taking up the footprint of one. The other pots listed do not share this characteristic. This is important because you’ll be using your pot not only for cooking food, but also for purifying drinking water in the field (by boiling). Consider getting 2 or 3 of them.
•  2 quart pail.
Lids for these pails were a challenge to find for a number of years. These stainless 6″ pie plates fit them perfectly, and do double duty as a plate for eating food. They come in packages of 2.
•  Stainless 6″ Pie Plate.
•  Check out this short video on the Jack Mountain Pot System.
          Option B: Mors Pot. Note that multiple pots will not nest.
          Option C: 16 cm Zebra pot. Note that multiple pots will not nest.

Tool List

•  Sharp Knife, fixed blade (non-folding) – We recommend the Morakniv #106, as well as the Frosts Mora #2 Carbon Steel. There are many options here.

•  Match Case, waterproof – You should always have matches with you. These inexpensive match cases have increased their price 100% in recent years, but they are still only $2. Coghlan’s Match Case. There are lots of others that work just as well, including expensive milled aluminum, etc. Lighters also work, but you should always have something in your pocket to light a fire.

•  Axe with Sturdy Leather Sheath (no hatchets) – handle should not be shorter than 25″. Contact Pole And Paddle Canoe for old, high-quality axes