Survival kit of the 17th Century Highlander 

One thing that many people don't realize thanks to Hollywood portrayals is that Highlanders almost always wore a jacket. I used to run a website on the clothing and equipment of 16th and 17th century Highlanders, and the single most difficult piece of clothing to find information on was their shirts. Why? Because they were almost never seen. The few contemporary art works that survive only show a coat. Written sources always talk about their coats, but never shirts. And that makes sense considering that up until recently (past 60 or 70 years) the shirt was considered underwear. It looks great in Rob Roy and Outlander, but realistically, Highlanders didn't go around just wearing shirts. In your video where you slept out, I see you were wearing a jacket, and as you quickly found out, it's because trying to keep your entire body warm with just the plaid isn't very easy. But, add a jacket that keeps your top warm, and now you only have to keep your bottom half warm. Archeological finds of bodies in bogs have shown Highland men wearing 2 or 3 shirts with the ones closest to the body almost in tatters to stay warm and to protect their jacket (the bacteria that leads to body odor attacks natural fabrics over time). The jacket itself was very heavy, something akin to a heavy weight tweed. Remember, the Highlands were relatively poor, you couldn't afford lots of different clothing for different seasons. Sleeping out in a cold Highland winter meant you'd better be well protected. Man...all of this makes me wish I still had my website.

I grew up in the late 70s and then the 80s, loving everything technological. This stayed the way for me, pretty much, forever... until recently... I just turned 50 and more more, I am fed up(& miserable) with things like social media, everyone addicted to screens etc... Then there's mental health issues like depression and anxiety. I've always loved nature but neglected this aspect of my life. Last month, i was feeling so awful with stress etc, that i was COMPELLED to 'go bush'.... As was to be expected, it was VERY cathartic! In my late 20s i was very into bush-craft and survival but didn't go camping or hiking much at all.... Now, i feel like everyone should probably always hike, at the very least, as a way to BALANCE out our very FAST, hectic, screen-addicted lives! I think this channel was recommended to me because i uploaded that^ little hiking/solo camping adventure i mentioned - NOW I'M BINGE-WATCHING every episode from Fandabi Dozi!!! LOving it! ← ↑ Comment for algorithm + 👍 'd #OldManPaxus Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Add a silver coin to that sporran, iron is fine to keep away the fay-folk, but you need silver to scare away demons and the un-dead.

It's so freaking adorable how he jumps down from the tree! 😂 I find it endearingly silly. 😊

My Granddad came to Canada from Scotland. But he never told me any story's about his homeland. Your video's are of great interest to me.

Your addition of brief footnotes allows the dialogue to be much easier followed and also adds to a well covered topic without the topic being overdone.

I love the Scottish highlands. When I was a kid we used to go to Nairn every whit week and I loved the drive up through all that amazing scenery and have been lucky enough to see a golden eagle when we were going to Wick and John o groats.

Nice! Just recently found this in my feed. Happy to see some Scottish history coming to lite. I'm a history buff, and this info helps with understanding more of our family history, culture, and daily lives of our ancestors. Keep it up!

I've been intrigued by Highlanders since 20 years ago when I came across it. I'm watching outlander now and I'm interested all over again.

So instructional ... these videos should be taught in Canadian Schools as part of out history!

Nice info for us Americans who have Scotch-Irish blood.

Thanks for saying about the quartz as I've not found flint to be common in Stirlinhshire.

There used to be a brother that made knives on Barra but we're all getting old so maybe no more but I've had a Skian of his for 30 years it still holds an edge :)

My wife’s family is from the north west of Ireland a place called Donegal which is very much like the highlands in Scotland. I haven’t been to the Highlands but I’ve been to the lowlands Edinburgh Glasgow the Clyde etc. and my own family were from the borders in what is called Cambria now. One of the things I found out from bitter disappointment and experience is that carrying anything that needs to be dry around in a cloth bag doesn’t work very well because if you’re out and a good soaking missed everything gets wet. Somethings at my wife’s aunt told me which was surprising to me was Terry sings like food and such in a bag made of canvas or waxed cloth or oil cloth and it will keep it dry. Lesson learned. Great video by the way.

Scandi knives, especially Finnish ones are the best wilderness knives I have had experience with. Absolutely recommended! And, thank for the vids - great stuff!

Glad I found this. I’ve always been interested in seeing how we’ve grown as a people, and maybe relearn some of the things we’ve forgotten.

These ancient highlander survival videos are brilliant. Thanks for educating us.

Your videos are so very interesting and enlightening. I was surprised by my dna report which lists me as having more Scottish dna than anything else. My geneaology work has turned up many highlander ancestors so this means even more to me now! Thank you for sharing your expertise and knowledge.

Thank you for these videos! That flask should of course be filled with Oban! My Scottish family were Roman Catholic....detested and forced to emigrate to Cape Breton where we were able to cultivate and keep our Gaelic tongue and our old religion! Visiting the Hebrides today I can revel in the beauty of the land and language and attend a Mass! Vivat Scotia!

I purchased a handmade sgian dubh from a shop in Edinburgh while visiting Scotland in 2016. Nice piece of horn for the handle but it's not a frilly show piece and took a nice edge. If you're still looking, you should try finding John Barnett sword designer - weapon smith of Scotland

This is just great. Good for you. I am letting friends know about your videos. I have wondered about the camping gear of the Highlanders. I have slept out in the rain a few times sans tent or other gear when I was young and restless and on the road. It raises questions about how it was done when things were more basic. Keep dry lad. :)

Nice channel. Recently I've learned that in Scandinavia we used a multi purpose tool called vidje or vidjespenning which is a carabiner "lock" made from the root shoots of birch or salix caprea. I've tried making them and it requires some skill. People heavily dempended on them, and used them as cordage. They can hold up to 300 kilos and are super strong. They were used for transporting stuff, tying together all sorts of stuff, holding animals and also to tie the skis to the foot.

I love this video and the interesting facts about highland people such as the carrying the piece of iron, great video

Even I know just a bit about Scotland, your videos are interesting a lot. I like your tartans, but particularly, this one. Thanks a lot.

Hello ! I just subscribed today . I'm from Spartanburg County South Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains . As you can see , my surname is Scottish , and my mother's maiden name is Gowan , also Scottish . Her mother's maiden name is Splawn , Irish . There are many people of Scottish descent here in South Carolina . The southern end of the Appilachian Mountain range is essentially the Highlands of America . Within a short trip from here there are two cities that hold annual Highland Games , Asheville North Carolina , and Greenville South Carolina . South Carolina is also the place where many battles and skirmishes took place in the US Revolution . Some historians consider the Southern Campaign in the Carolinas is where the Patriots won the war against the British Military . Look up the battles of Cowpens and Kings Mountain to see when American forces , mostly of Scottish descent , defeated British Army and Loyalist troops leading to the surrender of General Cornwallis in Virginia . The Scottish influence on Southern Appilachian culture resulted on what is known as Hillbilly culture . The food , language , religion , music , politics , and attitudes of our Scottish ancestors became Hillbilly identity , even different to Southerners on the coast . Billy Ray Cyrus , the country music singer , made a series of documentaries about how the Appilachian people are descended from Celtic people . My favorite Hillbilly singer is Dwight Yoakam from Kentucky . He sings about mountain people and their lifestyle . So be Hillbilly Proud ! BTW , Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours .

Just found your highlander vids and have really enjoyed them not a lot of people doing this so this is like gold 👍

Very informative. Thank you and keep them coming.

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

What a totally fascinating video and very well done . Thank you once again and all the best .

This content is great! Finally some bushcraft stuff that's a little different. And seeing as I'm of Scottish heritage, this is really fantastic.

Pretty amazing information you are passing on. So very interesting. Thanks for this series. Take care.

Black knife, so called because most blades were made from the black veins of flint. Don't forget the birch bark in your fire tin. The fungus was also dried and used to keep blades finely honed. A small roll of sinew or tree root, for sewing; his was normally worked while at home into a fine thread by wetting, separating and winding around a small twig or stone. I still have those items ( the stones and bone needles in her pack), from my grand when she died. Best to you and yours.

A wonderful video, thanks for posting and thanks for bringing back to life these ancient skills for us to use today.

Very informative and great vids nice to see what went on back in the old days and what people needed

I was sad and wanted something to cheer me up. You hit the mark in the first 3 seconds, so thank you ❤️

Very informative video. Thanks for adding the Galic words and meanings.

very enjoyable . thanks for making these films

Second vid I have watched . Very pleasing to watch . Simple info that can be useful in understanding how people lived

Excellent informative video ..I'll be watching more of the series..watch your top knot!

Great, you are an authentic bushcrafter

super stoked for your new video!

Wow...love the channel, Great info and a great job. Thanks

Awesome intro coming down the tree! Love your videos, you have a great personality

Fun video. I like the mix of history and putting it into practice. Thanks.

another fast moving informative video....Loved it! thank you

Just found your channel in browsing RU-vid. I love the outdoors and bushcraft/camping activities and your channel has great tips and also good history lessons!

I enjoyed that, and your sleeping out vid. Everyone wants to be a bloody Viking or a Roman .... good on ya.

Great video! Thank you for sharing!

Good stuff, Tom! Thank-e.

*casually falls into frame out of a tree* I love these videos!

Great set of videos.... keep up the good work

I always wondered about what the essential gear of a wanderer was. In German, the polite way of saying GTFO is _pack your seven things._ That's oddly specific. It may be just a literary form based on superstition (2, 3, 7,12 and 13 have many connotations, especially 7 and 13), but I got the impression that it was probably referring to something real. My guess would be: knife watercontainer cloak firekit pot spoon (people actually carried their spoon along with a knife back in the middle ages) You might have noticed, I'm short of one item, to which I have no idea.

I'm now addicted to your channel x

I love your videos, great work my friend.

I really like your video this is the first time I seen it I like to learn about other ways to survive and how culture survived I will add this video to my collection

Wonderful video, the photography and sound quality is very well done. I really enjoy the way the highland history is explained and reenacted. Keep up the good work and your viewer base will grow.Cheers

Always interesting and informative.

what an entrance!

What an into! Love the channel

I wonder if there is a similar channel deal with the Irish ? These videos are great!

dude, it is 4:39 am, and I am loving these vids of yours. Thank you so much.

loving it Mr dozi

Awesome video as always!

Rather interesting! Thanks!

Great video Tom 👏 can't believe I've not found it until now. It's very interesting & informative 🙂 keep up the good work 👍 Take care & Stay safe my friend 🙂🙏👍

Very very cool. Really informative

Fantastic - re ally loved your vid. Love the Scotts !

Outstanding!

What an entrance!

Love your channel mate, really interesting how the highlanders survived lived & fought

Love this. Thanks.

good kit. the principle applies even if you are using modern stuff. very streamlined. i love it and will be making a survival belt of my own. you inspired me.

thumbs up right after you hit the ground. lol. awesome. I was in a Canadian highland army regiment and i love your channel man. keep it up, great videos. thank you. be healthy

LOVE your channel!

Like a few weeks ago I didn't know this kind of like RU-vid channel existed until I stumble upon you like on Friday and I actually am starting to get into your videos

The 5 C's of survivability, Highlander style....Nice!

Great Informative video!

Great videos, very interesting!

Thank you Very interesting 👍

You are definitely improving, well done, first rate. Subscribed. Regards, Keith.

I'm loving the plaid!

Awesome videos man, I’m in Dunoon and do a few bits and pieces outdoors....but great info and entertaining thanks 👍🏻

I love this content!

Haha that intro was great

REALLY GOOD STUFF!💚😎

amazing video and cool kit. (:

Enjoyed the details of the items. Would have liked to see you make your individual items before you carried modern materials. But interesting to see. Cheers.

Thank you

Love your videos. Please continue making them. Anything about Scotland.

Bye, thankyou, hope to see you again.

Thanks!

good job!

I stay in Scotland and I have never been taught this in primary school,secondary school or at a higher level.

great video.

enjoyable video,

I am sure they used a lot of sprouted barley and oats, mostly cold but soaked as that would keep them more mobile. The carbohydrates would be necessary to battle the elements. Protein would be where they got it. I wonder how they dried their meat, given the rain and mist

It's hilarious seeing what he automated captions process his accent as :). Also, great video!

Thanks

The more I view the better I Learn, and can add more later, but first need to add something I plan to hope for, In 2023 end of Sept/to first week of Oct by the 7th I'm with family friends are to tour Scotland,something I have always wanted to do hope you will be around cheers!

Great stuff and it looks very authentic and credible. Make a video about your bonnet and shirt and also how to carry fire - I've experimented with the fungus and it smolders for hours but what would be the safest way to carry it around without scorching holes in your kit? There is a hoof fungus called Phelinus igniarius meaning the igniter, maybe it is the best for this purpose. The whole issue of foot travel over long distances in winter would be a good subject for research but I'm not volunteering. Was it even an option?