My complete wilderness equipment list - find out which items I own and use

Find out in this list which equipment items for bushcraft, survival, and camping I am convinced of. These items I use regularly.

from Martin Gebhardt | Gear | no comment yet | reading time 7 Min

Updated on 23 February 2025 50.758 views 99% found this guide helpful

👉 The key facts from this guide

My equipment list includes various categories such as fire equipment, tools, sleeping equipment, transportation equipment, cooking equipment, water and food, clothing, electronics, and various other items.
Some of my most important items are the Light My Fire Flint Fire Starter, the Morakniv Classic 2 knife, the Fiskars Universal axe, the Trek MT900 hiking tent for one person, and the Anker Powerbank with 20,000 mAh.
The equipment is individually tailored to my needs and can vary depending on the activity, for example, whether I am working in the forest or sleeping in the forest for several days.
My equipment is regularly used and has been chosen for its reliability and efficiency.
My list also includes recommendations for beginners who want to create their own equipment list.
The equipment is suitable for both summer and winter conditions and also includes special equipment for car camping.
At the end, you will find equipment for groups, families, and seminars.

Are you wondering what I have in my backpack right now?

What equipment do I still have in my closet that I use over and over again?

Here is my list of equipment.

I regularly use the items listed below.

And I use them regularly because I am convinced of their effectiveness.

Why can you find my list here?

Since the Survival Kompass Magazine exists, readers have been writing to me again and again, asking which equipment I use on my trips.

I have tested a lot of equipment, but not every piece of equipment makes it into my backpack. Some items I have sold again, or they are not worth mentioning.

Not sure what to put on your equipment list?

Well, here are some helpful recommendations to make it more manageable.

For starters, you don't need such a long list like mine.

One more thing: My equipment list is individually tailored to me. So it may well be that you say that some equipment item is not suitable for you at all.

That's perfectly fine, as needs and experiences can vary.

My equipment list for working differs significantly from an equipment list for sleeping 4 days in the woods.

Sometimes I go into the forest to build something, like a wooden bench. On other days, I sleep in the forest for 4 days and my equipment changes fundamentally accordingly.

And now have fun browsing.

Equipment for Fire

Lighting a fire is important and I also love cooking in the woods. Currently, my favorite tool for starting a fire is the Light My Fire Flint Fire Starter. As a hobo stove enthusiast, I have been enjoying the FlexFire Premium by Wika for years. When circumstances don't allow for a hobo stove, I use the Primus Essential Trail Stove.

The Sir Vivor Professional Outdoor Firesteel XL

Fire Starter

Hobos

My lunch on the Wika FlexFire Premium Hobo with the Primus Litech aluminum frying pan

Cooker

Tools for Working

A good woodsman is nothing without his knife. I have tested several and my favorite to use is my Morakniv Classic with a carbon steel blade.

If I need a more stable knife, then my Casström Woodsman sits on my belt.

These three pieces of equipment accompany me on my travels

Knife

Axe, Hatchet, Saw, Spade

For smaller jobs, I usually have the Fiskars Universal Axe with me. For rough work, I use my grandpa's forest axe. And when I need to roughly carve a spoon, I use the Fiskars hatchet. If I'm on the road for several days, I pack the Hultafors Trekking Axe HULTAN - a reliable universal axe. When it comes to saws, I can never decide which one to use, as both the Silky and Coghlans are great.

Miscellaneous

Knives and axes must remain sharp, which is why you will also find sharpening stones here. At home, I use the large sharpening stone with a 400 and 1000 grit. In the field, I always have the Fallkniven DC4 with me.

I always have the Fallkniven DC4 sharpening stone in my luggage

Sleeping Equipment

My sleeping gear is suitable for both summer and winter.

Trekking tent Trek MT900 1 person (All seasons)
Ultralight groundsheet for the one-person tent MT900 1P (All seasons)
Unigear tarp (All seasons)
Self-sewn tarp (instructions here)
British Arctic sleeping bag (for winter, used, 35 €)
High Peak sleeping bag TR 300, extra wide, 3–4 seasons (summer)
Mil-Tec mummy sleeping bag fleece (winter)
Trekking air mattress MT500 Air XL 195 × 60 cm 1 person (All seasons)
Trekking foam mat MT500 (as a base in winter)
Inflatable camping pillow Air Basic blue (All seasons)
NatureFun ultra-light hammock with mosquito net (All seasons)
Haven Tent XL (read here my review)
Mil-Tec disaster relief blanket

I like the Trekkingzelt-Trek-MT900-1-Person from Decathlon, especially when I have to pay attention to weight

Transport Equipment

Cooking Equipment

Since I love cooking outdoors, I have accumulated quite a bit of gear. I always bring my Tatonka mug and Tatonka bowl with me.

Regularly, I cook my meals in my Billy Can cooking pot.

Water and Food

Clothing

When it comes to clothing, I'm not very picky. In the winter, I only wear my Bushcraft anorak, a hunting sweater with fleece, my ripstop hunting pants, and a fleece underwear. Gloves, scarf, and wool hat are a must.

Jackets:

Pinewood® PRESTWICK Fleece Jacket (Autumn, Spring)
Self-sewn bushcraft anorak, like the Petromax Waldmack Loden Anorak or like here
Hunting Jacket / Rain Jacket 500 green

Sweater:

Hunting sweater 100 green and brown (winter)
Various cotton sweaters

Socks:

Merino wool socks black (Winter)
Wool socks to wear over

Base layer:

Pants:

Hunting pants Steppe 540 from Decathlon
Fjällräven Men's Long Pants Vidda Pro
Fleece underwear 100 green (winter)
Functional pants men - BL 100 black (winter)
Various cotton pants for summer (e.g. from C&A or from etsy)

Other:

Microfiber bath towel size XL 110 × 175 cm khaki (All seasons)
AWHA rain poncho for men and women waterproof and extra long (All seasons)
Hunting gloves mittens 100 wool brown (Winter)
Mil-Tec scarf Shemagh 110x110cm (All seasons)

I love my self-sewn bushcraft anorak more than anything

Shoes

My recommendation is the Dunlop S1 rubber boots for wet weather in the forest - they keep you very warm and are so comfortable that you can easily walk in them for 10 hours. Otherwise, for normal weather, I wear the Jack Wolfskin Vojo Hike 2.

Jack Wolfskin Men's Vojo Hike 2 Texapore Mid Trekking & Hiking Boots (All Seasons)
SAGUARO Unisex Barefoot Shoes (Summer)
Dunlop S1 Purofort Plus Safety Wellington Boots
Sorel Men's Winter Boots, 1964 PAC NYLON (Winter)
Toe Warmers (Winter)

Lamps

Here are a few recommendations for good camping lights and headlamps.

fenix cl26r pro led campingleuchte test review fokuslicht

Electronics

Without my power banks, I would be lost in the wilderness. My favorite one is the Anker Powerbank 20,000 mAh, and I charge it with the BigBlue 28W solar panel if necessary.

Anker Powerbank 10000mAh (for up to two days)
Anker Powerbank 20000mAh (for up to five days)
BigBlue 28W portable solar charger

My Anker power bank with 20,000 mAh is fully charged and my salvation to provide my smartphone with power

Miscellaneous

On some days, I have my binoculars Eschenbach Sektor F 8x25 with me. However, I always have my tick set and my first aid kit with me.

Equipment for wilderness seminars, groups, family camping, and car camping

Whether you're traveling with a large group of friends, your family, or alone, the right equipment can make the difference between an unforgettable adventure and an unhappy experience.

Cooking:

Diverse equipment:

Family tent:

Camping table with water canisters and food

Electricity:

So, did you find anything interesting that you will now get for yourself?

Or maybe you have a tip for me? Then write it here in the comments. I look forward to the exchange.

Author of the guide

Martin Gebhardt

Hey, I'm Martin. On my blog, you will learn the basics and numerous details about living in the wild. I think survival, bushcraft and the good life in nature are the keys to happiness. Find me here on Instagram or on YouTube. You can find more about my mission on the About Me page.

Since this is a gear guide, here ...

🤝8 reasons to trust my recommendation

Practical Experience: I have tested most of the products I recommend under extreme conditions myself.
Independence: As a wilderness mentor, I am not tied to any specific brands - this means my recommendations are unbiased.
Expertise: My many years of experience allow me to understand the intricacies and details of various products that a layperson might overlook.
Target group understanding: I understand the needs and challenges of outdoor enthusiasts, from beginners to seasoned experts.
Quality focus: I attach great importance to quality and longevity. These are characteristics that are crucial in the wild.
Clear communication: I try to explain the pros and cons of each product clearly and understandably so that you can make an informed decision.
Currentness: I always keep my guides up to date and adapt them to new findings or products.
Community Feedback: I work in wilderness schools, teach courses myself, attend courses and am active in various outdoor and survival communities and therefore integrate the feedback and experiences of others into my recommendations.

So when I introduce the best survival knives or flashlights, you can be sure that every recommendation is based on solid experience and extensive knowledge.

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