The Problem With Bushcrafters 

I don't know what others think but to me bushcraft is about finding peace and gaining sanity in a world that has neither.

I am a subscriber of Corporal Corner, Coalcracker Bushcraft, and Grey Bearded Green Beret and I enjoy their videos.

I think the Bushcrafters he mentions are phenomenal. Sean Kelly promotes practicing these skills all of the time. He is not unrealistic and speaks on perseverance. You cannot get much more real than these guys. They've honed their skills and speak on your go to stuff realistically and really well. Bow drill demonstrations are great and no one ever said it was going to be easy. If you have a lazy mindset and you are expecting instant gratification then Bushcrafting at their level or any level is not for you.

Just because I own every wrench , socket , and screwdriver known to man does not make me a mechanic. Its up to us to use the tools we have and practice , practice, practice. They are all extraordinary teachers and well respected but its still falls on us to use what we learn effectively. Great show

Makes total sense. Sean always says “Bic lighter. First time, every time.” These guys aren’t lost on the fact that in a SHTF situation, they won’t be making a bow drill. They keep 3 lighters on ‘em all the time. They simply enjoy the field and the craft. However, I don’t recall any of them explicitly saying “don’t go out un-practiced and put yourself in dangerous situations thinking you can do these things first try”. I’m sure they think it goes without saying and that their audience is intelligent enough to know better. That being said kids these days have unrealistic expectations when it comes to learning anything new. Through the process of learning new things, I’m sure many of us have become quite intimate with the important of practice and setting too high of expectations. My sons will watch me do something (sometimes something for the first time). When I make it look easy, they think they can do it on the first try and become frustrated when they fail. They’re witnessing someone at level 50 try something for the first time but weren’t around to witness me fail miserably a thousand times when I was practicing at level 1. Something else I’ve had to teach my boys is how skills translate to other skills. If you’ve gas welded (with filler rods) a lot, it won’t take much to learn to MIG or TIG weld. If you’ve built small engines a lot, it won’t take much to work on a car. If you write code for a living, it’s not hard to write viruses, design a game, or build a simple robot. The more skills you learn, the more rapid you can gain other skills because of how they overlap.

I remember when we just called it camping 😉 I made my first flint and steel fire in 1967, when I was 8 years old. Now, 55 years later, it’s still my preferred method. I know there are folks who think, when the time comes, they’ll just bug out to the mountains and live off the land…. But I tell you, if you aren’t already living “Aux Aliments du Pays”, you will probably not last two months. There is a difference between bushcraft and survival. And I think there are people who think one will substitute for the other….which it won’t. This is a good discussion and it needs to keep going.

1.)Disinfecting water, not purifying. 2.) Shawn Kelly @Corporals Corner, is arguably, one of the best in the field, along with Dave Canterbury, Dan Wowak, & Josh Enyart. Yes, Shawn Kelly really does live videos of making a bow drill set, and does it live at the Pathfinder School, and creating an ember. No cut scenes. Shawn has stated numerous times, practice makes better. He’s never mislead his viewers into thinking that rubbing (2) sticks together will guarantee an ember. He’s authentic as it gets & also a senior instructor at the Pathfinder School, former Marine, and a sincere guy, bringing content to RU-vid every friggin’ week. 3.) Bic Lighter should always be ones choice, 1st time, every time. Other methods are learned to exhaust options when necessary. 4.) The men you mentioned, often refer to the term “woodcraft”, rather than bushcraft. They have always expressed a sincere desire to educate those willing to learn. I could submit a list a mile long with “Bushcrafters”, that don’t know Di@k $hit about fundamentals or 10 C’s of survivability. A boat load of followers in the industry. All they do is attempt to re-create what is trending, dog in the woods, B roll nonsense and frankly don’t have a clue.

Buschcraft is meant to be fun, relaxing and a comfortable way to improve one’s skill set. Survival is another animal and all the people you mentioned understand and teach both very well. Try the Pathfinder Advanced survival class, you’ll see..

I don't know Sean or Josh, but I know Dan. I've been to his school. In fact, I'll be there this weekend. One of the things I like about Dan is that he's not married to just the traditional way to do things. I took his Modern Bushcraft course last year, and not only did he and his team do some traditional stuff, but they also did modern things like teach Dyneema rope splicing, etc. The way I look at bushcraft is that it's just another tool for my toolbox. It gives me options should the need arise. A bow drill will never be my primary method for starting a fire, but it sure is nice to know that I can do it if push comes to shove.

Listening to this dude talk is like listening to a guy that’s mad he had to bring his vehicle into a shop for work he couldn’t do, then got mad he had to pay full price for the labor when he went to pick it up. All the while saying he coulda done it for less if he had the time but he’s just too busy to be bothered. If it wasn’t for These guys mentioned and the niche they’ve carved into RU-vid - channels like yours with 30k subs wouldn’t exist. That’s not a knock on your specific skill set either im Sure you’re great at whatever you do. However it’s obvious they do it better. Kinda sad to watch a guy use others in his field as clickbait throwing them half baked props while low key dogging on them…

Hey Stoker…really respect you and appreciate all you do…I can tell you Shawn Kelly is the real deal….I was blessed to be able to attend the Self Reliance Outfitter Basic Training class and it was awesome…nothing glamorous about it at all, in fact it was just the opposite…I learned to push myself way beyond my comfort zone…learned to live and navigate in the woods for 72 hrs. Was wet most of the time. I took a lot of the skills I learned from Shawn to that experience and it helped me a ton….! HE is the real deal!!! Promise!

I don't know Shawn Kelly personally but I've been a subscriber to his channel since the beginning alot of his recent videos are shorter then before because he use to show every single detail and explain everything. And he's pretty good at interacting with his subscribers. He responds back every time I messege him and he's even taken some of my suggestions/ideas and applied them to his videos the following week which was really cool of him. He's the real deal!

Honestly I'd be happy to find any of those guys you mentioned out in the woods. They'd keep me alive, safe, warm, fed, and out of harm's way. Their survival skills will always be helpful regardless if they're out in the woods or not, as are yours. Knowledge is power as we know. Learn from everyone and keep what works for you. 👍

All that to basically say, "Hey people you have to practice, it's not as easy as they make it look."

IMO Sean and Josh and Canterbury know their stuff beyond the Bushcraft scene and I also have regards for Coalcracker..They do what they can as this is a business also however they show us for free to the point I can go out and do allot of the techniques they show for free here on RU-vid and I couldn't afford.. so I love them all honestly and respect what they teach us.. but I know there is more to it and Josh is showing it in his channel by giving you theory which is great when accompanied by hands on. May the force be with them all lol.. RU-vid gives them what they need and they do the same for us..

You're missing the point of those specific bushcraft channels. They are teaching techniques to fall back upon when other methods fail or are not available. And as for the process being "fast or easy", they condense the footage down because no one wants to watch a video of a guy working a bow drill for 45 minutes straight to get that ember. Most people are smart enough to get that and aren't fooled by the jump cut from start to finish.

One bushcraft skill I would recommend learning for SHTF is flint and steel. The reason is that you never have to resupply in town (unlike butane lighters, matches, etc). I can char material in the woods. I can find sparking rocks. And a thick piece of carbon steel will last my lifetime. I also recommend the old school tinder box over modern firestarters. It works better IMO, and again I can resupply in nature.

Sean has a great channel it's not all about bushcraft or survival he has skills and passes them on I watch his videos every Sunday alot of what I have learned from his channel is use your brain to think outside the box when it comes to shelter building you could learn alot from watching these guys if you watch with an open mind

I’ve started a fire with 3 strikes of the ferro rod and totally failed a few times starting the fire an hour later with a lighter. I’ve spent about 10 hours to date trying a Dow drill and came very close but not yet started a fire. I can build a shelter but I have 32 years of experience in the building trades and recognize the experience that Shawn has in his craftsmanship. If you do something for 1000 hours you’ll be decent at it. 8000 hours and you should be good at it. Time invested in a skill multiplied by your focus and ability determines the quality of your skill at anything. On another note I don’t care if they’re demonstrating their skills in their backyard. They all have skills I want and will earn eventually.

This is my take on it. It's good to see different options and lost skills. But at the end of the day, survival comes down to one thing. Calories in versus calories out. It's nice to see all the different shelters but the easiest one to throw up is the best. The mountain men and Trappers used to take mules with supplies on them in the woods. Not a backpack. You can not live long-term out of a pack. I see what is good and fast. Your main goal is to better your circumstances. Whether that is self rescue or find a group. Most people think they can survive the apocalypse by heading out in the woods. I live in West Georgia. During the Depression the whitetail deer and turkeys were hunted to Extinction here. They had to reintroduce them back into the wild. And that's when we had Farms. So you do the math.

Trained and a trainer with Shawn and Dan. The both know their craft. They both have there own style and have earned their place.👊

Yeah... Bad idea... You don't tug on superman's cape, You don't spit into the wind, You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger And you don't mess around with CC....

Those who can, Do. Those who cannot, Troll. I know what I'm doing when I'm out and about, but I am always pleased and grateful to be taught something I didn't know how to do, or to be shown a better way to do something I can do. Watching this, I didn't learn a thing that would be even moderately useful anywhere (except for a sewing circle, or ladies lunch club).

Bushcrafting is not done miles into the woods....coalcracker says it in a few videos "bushcrafters are not backpackers, We go maybe 100 to 200 yards into the woods." Similar to camping. Now the survival skill aspect, these are skills you can utilize IF you find yourself in a LIFE OR DEATH situation...... it also makes camping trips with the family tons more fun. For exampl, My 6 year old daughter knows how to use a ferro rod to start a fire, make feather sticks and setup a tarp shelter.

Sounds like you are jealous you don’t have the skills they have?

I know Shawn. Outstanding skills. Tremendous thought out into this videos. I can’t tell from your rent is your problem with them or is it with RU-vid ? These dudes are straight up the real deal.

I know all of these men and I don’t think any of them think this way. And most viewers I think don’t either. Most people know rubbing two sticks together isn’t an option, this sine entertainment. That’s why all of them constantly post classes and encourage training. As far as SHTF, I don’t think they or most of us think Bushcraft is the answer haha. Enjoyed the discussion for sure but I think I this was just more of an assumption and a great title/video to generate views.

I stopped watching Corporals Corner months ago because instead of just providing content, he was complaining about how many views he was or wasn't getting and basically demeaned his audience

A piece of outdoors advice once literally saved my life. It related to a compass and it was this: "Trust your compass rather than your instincts, because it is a precision piece of engineering, and you are a ****ing idiot." Truthful facts right there. Things like compasses, maps, tarps, firesteels are simple but have a bunch of technology put into them and do need skill to use. But I would trust them over the two sticks method or whatever any day of the week.

As a millennial that just found out about Bushcraft in the last couple of years I don't relate to the experiences you're concerned about. I don't recall any of these members of the bushcraft community ever misleading what the outdoors is like. If anything they've stressed how important knowledge and skills are for your safety. I don't equate bushcraft to strictly an act of emergency survival. From my experience it's been about taking the learning seriously so you can enjoy nature, appreciate history, and stay safe doing it.

Well said. I trained with Shawn he is a good dude. He will be one of the first to tell you use a lighter first time ever time. Which I'm sure anyone of us would do. I can't agree more if we are in a SHTF situation we won't be carving spoons but wondering if the radiation is going to get us. I like your straight up approach to your channel, thanks for that. Keep up the outstanding work!

Spot-on. Very few videos show the failures and the calluses you will get on your hands when attempting a hand drill fire.

I think one of the bigger problems is that the people watching these videos aren’t practicing walking for 6-8 hours straight wearing a 50lb pack. That’s a reality that people try to escape

I got to meet Donnie last October. Him and his buddy, took me back in the woods and showed me it is possible to do a bow drill fire . In ohios high humidity. He showed me the trick to do it. I still haven't found that yuca plant, That he used . It's not native here, not even in gmas flower bed. I asked someone when that class was going to be taught. He yelled over to Donnie and said teach him. I'm nobody. He took 30 minutes and showed me. He is a ok guy

I hear ya Top. These guys really put out some really good stuff. I’ve watched em for several years now and have learned a lot. Of course,the skills that they and you demonstrate are very useful AND fun. Making spoons and stuff can be a lot of fun to do around camp with the family. But all the skills that YAL present takes practice. I think most of us know that. Good one Top.

"Grey Bearded Grady" 🤣🤣🤣 Josh - he looks more like a 'Grady' to me as well.🤣🤣🤣 Thank you, to ALL OF YOU content providers for sharing your skills. It's up to the audience to go out and apply the info if they really want to learn the skills. Maybe the problem with Bushcrafters is just their audience.

I have been following Shawn for a very long time,and he is the real deal and them some...as far as using Bic lighters to start fires anyone with at least half a brain,should know that in sudden weather changes or the kind of climate you find yourself in,if it's pouring buckets of rain or your in a sudden snow storm,primitive fire building isn't the way to go..who gives a shit if a Bic lighter isn't primitive isn't getting warm and drying your shit out the main goal...if there's one thing I cannot stand is people pissing on other people's content and using what they do in their own to gain views..instead show your own bushcraft skills...

Love the Pathfinder School/instructors, have been to that school a few times. I wouldn't even consider them Bushcrafters really, they're true outdoorsman who can do it all (survival, navigation, Bushcraft, hunting, trapping, fishing etc.) And that's what Dave Canterbury wants to make out of people through that school, people who can do it all. New fan of the channel, good stuff!

I have several geocaches of "non-perishable" foods because I'm not counting on snares and fishing. Bic, ferro rod, and matches in each. I'm no survivalist, just wanna survive.

the entire bushcraft thing kicked off after ray mears did some television shows,and then youtube started paying content creators and social media was a way of income and fame,the industry also attracted product placements and ads for the latest greatest knife or whatever,i think its great that we can share knowledge with each other across time zones and distance,its how we made it out alive from the stone age,and now alot of streamers either quit because youtube doesnt pay small creators and large creators complain more and more because they dont want to get a regular job like the rest of us,to most people being in the forest its just a hobby and it mixes so many genres like hunting fishing trapping hikers bushcrafters preppers etc i think the social media goldrush is over and if you want to create content it should be because you enjoy it and not to earn money.

Well stoker youve gone and done it now i can see some friendly ribbing coming your way in a solo overnighter in the woods

One misconception too many people have, is that those intrepid Mountain Men and early explorers of the west, is that they actually had for the time, some of the best gear they could acquire. From steel knives, hawks and axes, to the best firearms they could get. As for fire making, it seems flint and steel was the name of the game for along time. I have read accounts of explorers with Flint lock rifles, pulling the load and using the flintlock itself to start a fire. I was also told once that to use man made fire starters, like the good old cotton ball and Vaseline was a crutch, but to me, its the easy way to start a fire when I need one in a hurry. I used to teach Wilderness Survival back in the 80's. I know things have changed, but the basic's haven't.

Being able to build a fire without a lighter or matches has to be one of the most difficult tasks . Imagine you find yourself lost in the woods and all you have is a pocket knife. It's cold and damp and you need to keep warm. What are the chances of starting a fire in that situation ?

I think the label Bushcrafter (or survivalist or thru Hiker for that matter) isn't always helpful. Im sure Dave Canterbury said something similar years ago. We have a lot to learn from each other and getting stuck in a mindset isn't great. There's nothing wrong with wanting to lighten your backpack or having a few woodsy skills to make things go smoother on a hike. The only Bushcraft channels I tune out of are the show and tell expensive gear channels. It discourages beginners and having tried and true kit just isn't a thing with these people. You can buy all the expensive gear you want, you will always revert back to the tried and true once you have gotten your boots dirty a few times.

Finding decent bushcraft videos is getting more difficult lately. When you search the term "bushcraft," most of the videos that pop up in your feed aren't even bushcraft videos. The videos that pop up are from those east asians channels who build elaborate houses with pools and use half naked women for the thumbnails. Because they tag it as "bushcraft," that crap gets promoted by RU-vid.

You're correct 100%. BC is a hobby and for fun. Some of the skills are legit and used all the time and I do as a backpacker. Most of what the BC community pushes is simply not reality but more of a hobby practicing the old methods. Absolutely nothing wrong with it but it's not practical. By the way I know Dan and Josh and they are both awesome with skills and really great guys.

The funniest thing...the "big 3" in the US he mentioned are all students of Dave Canterbury but he didn't mention Dave lol

I knew all these skills before i was aware it was even called Bushcraft. I went through the Scouts and the Royal Rangers and spent every waking minute in the outdoors as a kid. Camping Hiking fishing hunting trapping boating you name it, i was doing it. i spent the majority of my youth on an island in south Florida called Peanut Island, long before they turned it into a tourist attraction. Survival skills were just part of living in Florida. Matches and lighters were useless, if you had a lighter in your pack for longer than a couple weeks it corroded so we all carried flint and steel or a ferro rod but we had the skills to make a bow drill or throw together a fire roll if needs be in a pinch. Even today in my fifties i still sit around outside and keep my skills honed... As for the guys, i am subscribed to all of them, i dont think get a false sense of security watching their material but i understand the work you have to put in to learn these skills and be proficient in them. But i do understand your point...

I have been watching those you mentioned and others and yourself. Many of them have made similar statements as you have said in their earlier videos. I have been watching them for years now and all of them said that "you have to get out and practice this craft. It is not going to happen over night" etc. I watch David West, who does a lot of fire starting videos in his back yard. I even watch south Asian bush craft videos for enjoyment. Of course if you are new to these "bushcrafters" and new to this content, yes I totally understand what you are saying. I guess the only way to address some of this is to have a disclaimer at the beginning of each video? But then you are taking up precious time away from the craft they are sharing for free in most cases. It is up to us viewers to educate and understand what we are watching and ask those questions and learn to question.

I find it amazing that he's complaining about the content of their channels, when they have up to 30 times or more subscribers than him. They also get 10 times more views on the videos up to 100 times. The stuff that he's complaining about doesn't happen in their videos and these people do this for a living or at least teach it for a living. What does he do? Complain and ride their Fame to get more views on videos

This is why I like Grunt Proof. He doesn't sugarcoat what buggout-out or escape-and-evade would entail. Rather he points out that it's not going to be as straightforward as bushcrafters would have us all believe.

Hello from Oklahoma! Good Video! All true! I'm 63 years young. Several young fellers in our deer camp talk about this "bushcraft" stuff. One evening we were going to grill some hamburgers over our campfire. They mentioned starting the fire with a bow drill. I said have at it. It was around 4p.m. super nice afternoon but windy. We were in a protected spot. They tried, even got close a few times. But at 7p.m. I said I sure am getting hungry. So I pulled my lighter out of my pocket and got the fire going. So, yes it's fun to play with, but be prepared. Those young men learned something, so did I. Thanks for all U do! 👍👍 God Bless!

As a life long outdoorsman, who is constantly learning new skills. The number one thing I have learned from all the men you have mentioned and more.. is to not put yourself into a bad situation, and if something does happen out of your control to adapt to the situation. Having the skills that everyone teaches is invaluable. Having the mindset to utilize those skills in the modern world is a Saftey net. A lot of what is taught these days is knowledge that has been learned long ago, and in our own way, we are honoring our ancestors. I believe in this day and age, many search for that connection, that yearning to explore, enjoy and treasure the outdoors. We all are lucky to share in that journey. Great video and I especially appreciate how you did not bash anyone. Speaks volumes about your character. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

I watch those dudes when I want to learn how to make a spoon from a twig , but I want to learn to stay alive first or that spoon don't mean shit.

First time viewing this channel and I have to say that this is probably the best viewing experience from the Bush Crafting campaign. It was nice to hear someone compliment others in the same game. I do agree with most everything that you have said. Thank you for sharing this with us! Stay Safe!👍✌

I remember being in a "tough love" camp somewhere in Utah, as a teenager, and it took me a week to drill a fire, and we didn't even have to make cordage, as they were nice enough to give us a length of nylon. Carving your tools with rocks from a river bed certainly makes things more difficult though. We didn't eat if we didn't make a fire. Not eating for a week is hard. I honestly don't know if I could do all that again.

I watch and enjoy watching all of them and many more. I think most of the people watching their videos or reading their books understand that what these bushcrafters are presenting us with are ideas, and their cumulative knowledge. We all understand that skills take someone showing and/or explaining to us the techniques used to eventually master them. Many of the bushcrafters on RU-vid don’t stick to one skill set, or focus on what’s popular with the mainstream. Look at David Canterbury’s channel as an example. He has videos on a staggering collection or skills, covering too many different topics to even mention. I think what most of the people who subscribe to their channels get what they are searching for. Help with their technique on skills they are practicing, different takes, and ideas on how to do skills, and the passing on of knowledge. Their videos are like a collection of books from which we can choose a topic we’d like to learn more about. I take it for what it is, a generous offering of their wisdom to inspire us to learn, and improve.

You have to be willing to learn everything you can on how to survive. Put what you learn in the Military with what you learn from family like I did that grew up during The depression years I grew up learning how to grow food and Canning food hunting harvesting meat and raising meat I learned how to shoot from time I was a little kid and I also learned a lot of things in the military if you think you’re too old to learn anything then you’ve stop living because you never too old to learn something new. You are doing a great job top!

The problem I have with most is there is not enough in the high desert. I don't live in the woods where there is a large amount of wood, trees and water. I live with cactus, sage brush, and rattlesnakes. You run into a mountain lion, you shoot it, and eat the meat, no question. I like the desert because fewer people. Every body is heading to the hills.

I think we have the opposite problem. I think there are too many people teaching "survival skills" and selling "survival gear" which is mostly last ditch clutch gear. This gear and these techniques are not sustainable and will get a lot of people killed if SHTF. Bushcraft is about learning to be comfortable in the wilderness so it doesn't become a survival situation, even over an extended period of time.

End of the day, those that you mentioned, are teachers, and their skills are their bread and butter. Like you said, they are all VERY good at what they do-but, they are all instructors, and, at least in part, they are there to sell themselves. That doesnt take away from their skillsets in the least. In fact, they demonstrate how well they know their subject matter through their videos. When it comes down to it, HOW you learn the skills though, isnt as important as knowing them. I personally see bushcraft as a sort of chance to practice skills, and hone techniques. Its funny, I used to want to run a school, way back in the 90s, and me and a couple of Army buddies were looking at it-but there was no real interest in "survival schools" back then. I was taught basic stuff in the military, and used to teach cold weather survival stuff in the national guard (I used to be a mountaineer, and, somehow, that translated into me being the cold weather instructor). End of the day, in a REAL SHTF scenario-you are going to go with the simplest, easiest choice for whatever task is at hand. My army survival training instructor, when we were doing bow drill fires, flat out stated that, if it comes down to you having to make a fire with a bow drill-you are so far fucked, it really doesnt matter if you get a fire going or not, lol. And, reality is, he is right. If its down to me having to make fire with a shoe string and sticks-shit went sideways. For the record, I did get a successful fire with the bowdrill. However, I have not done one since, and that was in 1989...I always have a lighter AND matches on me though. Rather be prepared myself :)

Sean Kelly complaining about the algorithm in every video is annoying.

Like many on here, I grew up on a farm and know what hard work is. I'm now in my fifties and a honest days work would kill me. I can't do the things I used to and know that it probably takes all day to shoot a 30 minute video. The thing that I have taken away from the bushcraft videos is inspiration. What I'm talking about is this. I live in the suburbs now . I get out in my yard a tinker with things and after getting into the bushcraft mindset, it inspires me to look at problems with a can do mindset. Like, what is my mower won't start or growing bucket garden. It has helped me to look at problems and play with ideas of how to fix it at the minimal cost or by getting rid of junk that I don't or haven't used in years. I got into backyard cooking. I can remember growing up in the mountains of East Tennessee and we would hit the lake and build a fire and stay out coon hunting all night. Of course I was younger then also. I think this video was long over due and well said.

Wow, I really love this video and subject matter. Thanks! I was in scouts as kid and teenage and recently as age of 36 decided to try bushcraft. I completely understand this. People show for example a titanium stove in a woods during a winter and when they finish their trip it looks shiny as it was burning seasoned wood. While mine during summer time where the temperatures are the highest in 100 years is smoked completely dark. Wood needs between 1-2.5 year to dry in proper conditions. Also I see 3 day packs in very small bags, where people fit all their gear in all small compartments, everything planned to the details on how to fit it all into sucha bag. While when you camp you realized that eventually most of this stuff lands out of the bag while camping - and putting it all back inside takes a loooot of time if the bag is very small. It's better to oversize the bag and throw stuff fast, especially, because sometimes situation really dictates hurry, like dangerous weather hazards, which also makes it harder to pack yourself. Packing at home and during blizzard or storm with 80km per hour wind are too separate things. Also, prepping the camp, fire, fuel, food etc takes hours. Some say honestly you should start the camp at least 4 hours before the dawn. However, there is more to that, like, are you new to this or exercised many camps before, are you in good condition, are you overweight - because doing things on the ground or knees is different. I think this topic deserves more attention across... Also, I'm not a content maker but I'm doing photography, especially on horse competition. I see that youtubers are using m43 cameras with 1-2 lenses, and I know how much weight and size it takes to have camera with lenses, a pod etd with you, and it all weights too. Looking at the backpacks and how they are packed it clearly shows there is no more room for camera and its gear. So, something must be off. So, I agree that showcasing the nature and skills is good on its own, but this bushcraft trips and hiking very often is just a projection of a reality which is more like a show and its not grounded to the actual real life - this can be potentially dangerous at times if someone does not see this and is starting, because they will feel prepped for something they are not for.

big fan of all these guys you’ve mentioned. Have been subscribed to them since they have started. I’ll tell you there’s one channel I will not be subscribing to lol. I really do enjoy their content, relaxing and informative. I’ve also spent a good portion of my life in the bush, (the Canadian Rockies) So it’s great to see different perspectives and different skills in different areas. I’d much prefer a short video and to the point, I’m fine with trial and error on my own. I’ve also created my own content on RU-vid. I’m not that great at it but I do understand what’s going on. Using their pictures in your thumbnail it’s like riding off their coat tails. and then taking a shot at them with with a couple of your comments shows your true character. good luck with your channel.

Good points Stoker! The only danger I see is inexperienced viewers thinking they can watch some videos and then wander 3 miles in. 🤔 plenty of overconfident people had to be rescued from the state park near my home. Lost on 300 acres. There are some channels I enjoy for the entertainment value. They make a good show. But I haven't found any that have the conversations you have. You do stand apart! Your skills rock too! Thanks for all you do Sir! Enjoy the journey and stay STOKED

I’ve always been told…… If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

The guy in your videos from "Europe" is from the UK, his channel is @TA Outdoors. Brilliant channel. 👌

Jack of all trades master of none always better than a master of one .

I bet you’ve never even spent a night in the woods, you are basically Bear Grylls.

The channels you mention are also very clear that these skills are for fun, for conserving consumables, and for worst case scenarios. They all say things like, "in an emergency, just use a lighter. Make sure to carry one and make sure to carry ready-made tinder." Same thing for all of the other skills they teach. One other channel you might enjoy was actually recommended by Corporal's Corner, that channel being Ranger Survival and Field Craft. He is good at blending your school of thought with some bushcraft techniques, and he also make some videos geared specifically to military SERE.

I agree, in that if it takes you away from being tactical, practical, and risk survivability from 2 legged predators in an SHTF situation, then yes absolutly we must be careful to not get to extreme in this area of study and entertainment. It is fun and nothing wrong with learning how to be more comfortable on the land with less weight in your bag.

I am subscribed to many bush-craft channels and enjoy them. To me the purpose of teaching, learning and practising bush-craft skills is so that you have something to fall back on when in a shtf situation and all your favourite survival toys are not available for what ever reason. A bow-drill will never be my goto method for starting a fire but it will be a good thing to be skilled and practised in when your lighter and other means of fire starting are gone. Bushcraft is like an insurance policy. If you want to see someone give a more realistic demonstration of using a bow drill, in a sort of survival situation, taking a dozen attempts or so over around eight hours watch some of Les Stroud's early Survivourman series.

Kent Survival and Simon a bloke in the Woods make some of the most relaxing and British 'outdoor' videos. Chris Bamman though is the God of relaxation survival.

I heard at some point that Bushcraft is being in the wood’s because you want to be while survival is being in the woods because you have to be. Because you can’t get out. Bushcraft is a hobby to me and I love it🙂

I have to agree. A lot of people don’t really see what it takes to produce videos. I’ve done a couple and trying to record, on top of carrying a 60 lbs ruck and sometimes trying to bushwhack through dense brush while getting ate alive by mosquitoes, is not an easy feat. And I hope you’ll see me on that list soon enough. 🤙🏽

Well I've listened to you twice. I really don't care if Sean Kelly is 100 meters off a road way. It's also clear to me you didn't watch to many of his videos. I also don't appreciate you telling me what I'm thinking. I watch corporals corner, Self reliance outfitters to learn about how to tie knots correctly. How to set up different types of shelters configuration. How to stay warm, build fires using what nature offers me, and yes in what could be an emergency situation. Their videos are instructional how too. But what underlines it all is get out there practice these fundamental skills and have fun with it. Turn off the phone. Challenge yourself. Do it with your friends. Sean Kelly did videos using inexpensive gear from Walmart. He explained that some people may not have a lot of money on top of the line gear. But you can still challenge yourself. If you're interested in spending more time outdoors. You can slowly switch out better gear over time. So I say this to you. Instead of trying to tell me what they are not. Or trying to tell me what I'm thinking. Why don't you call up selfreliance outfitters and the pathfinder school and find out for yourself just what they are. Then perhaps I would take what you say a bit more seriously. Until then have a nice day and be prepared. Or if you like like the coastguard says. Always ready.

You made a whole video of other peoples content. Instead us stealing everyone’s content you should come up with your own. Those guys are awesome so take note

This was in my recommendations and honestly I was gonna pass it by....ssssoooo very glad that I didn't!!! I understand wholeheartedly what you are saying...I'm a beginner at best just trying to learn more and different skills that could help me throughout life. Yes people only wanna see the glamor and not the sweat and pain that it takes to achieve these said skills. I watch all 3 of the ones you've mentioned and I try to learn anything and everything that I possibly can. Let's just say this, you have a new subscriber and I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY!!!!!!

People seem to confuse bushcraft with survival. While they do have crossovers they are not the same thing. You can be ether one or both, and some of the ideas you seemed to have talked about here are more survival based ideas. I do agree that some of the skills such as bow drill are overhyped and not practical for everyone. But the thing about bushcraft is that it is a mix of skills modern and primitive. Take it and make it your own. There are many ways for each and every craft and there are many other channels that do show these other methods.

Ranger survival and field craft , big up Andrew 🇺🇸👍🏻🔥🍻😎

I've learned a lot from those channels what interests us are what skills, are transferable to urban environment. Here in the Netherlands there's, not much scope for hiding in woods. Our town has seen riots and chemical leaks/industrial fires and parts falling off eaircraft near the airport close to us. Even crossbow are illegal here unless you can prove your in a club so carrying weapons for survival is a no go. For us its get to another location or bug in place. Trying to get gear here is way more expensive than America too. You've the luxury of sawyer filters at walmart for about $20 here can pay near 40 euro plus.

I'm new to your channel and got here via the bushcraft rout. I got to bushcraft by being an avid hiker, backpacker and bow hunter. I use some of what I've learned from the bushcraft community and have incorporated it into my outdoors activities. I realized early on that bushcraft wasn't about backpacking, it's more about setting up a camp and using different skill sets in doing so. I cherry pick from many sources and am constantly scouring around for more. I'm glad I found your channel and will glean from you what I can.

I'm new to these channels, and I follow all three and more. I enjoy learning from them and have begun practicing and crafting my own items and gear. Do I think it will be my saving grace when the SHTF? No, I live where society can implode, and I'll be fine. I'm learning to better enjoy my time in nature. When the fish aren't biting, I can practice my skills in camp. I loved being a scout as a boy and learning bushcraft has helped me to reconnect.

I think, like you alluded to, your problems with bushcrafters are actually problems people who consume bushcraft content. I think if you were to really watch, listen, and hear some of these guy's content you would understand how you are comparing apples to oranges. You start by acknowledging they are putting in the sweat equity to make this niche digestible on youtube. You then proceeded to shit on them for making it digestible. None of these guys have implied that any of their content, like making a bow drill, takes mere minutes or that it should be relied on for emergencies "Bic lighter first time every time" a direct quote of Shawn constantly. Most people don't want or have the time to watch an hr long video of a guy carving a project. Most want the fundamentals explained so they can take it to their back yard and attempt it. These guys take pride in showing the fundamentals and helping people grow interest and a knowledge base. Most of these guys formally teach bushcraft, survival, woodsman ship, wilderness first aid and all sorts of topics and use their RU-vid content to grow their brand and reach new people. I think anyone thinking or trying to use bushcraft skills in an emergency or shtf situation has misinterpreted what these guy's intent is. Most of these guys have at least a decade on RU-vid in their field and watching a couple minutes of their latest video and drawing conclusions is part of why it gets frustrating for them. Alot of your grievences are addressed in their content as disclaimers and side notes.

All of the Bushcrafters you mentioned are phenomenal, as well as others in Europe (Shayne of Eagle Ridge Survival among others) and I follow them on social media, but you are correct. We as bushcrafters need to make those changes. To show people the process of gathering materials, drying them out, sharpening a knife/axe……and especially showing failures. No matter how hard we try, sometimes that fire doesn’t start or our tarp tent/lean-to does not look perfect. It’s all part of the process that people need to be shown. And if we need to pull the plug due to safety concerns, that all needs to be seen.

Carving spoons is cubscout level skill. Carve me a fork or one of those pasta ladles...now that's next level Davy Crockett stuff right there! 😋 This is going to be a great series Bill.

Bro, it’s entertainment. Lol I don’t think many people are watching corporals corner to take notes necessarily. It’s just entertaining and fun. That’s it.

Great vid Bill and honest. In UK we had the likes of Lofty Wiseman and Hugh McManners long before Mr Grylls turned up. Ray Mears is a legend but the best learning I've had has been from Dave Watson. He taught me to own the knowledge and with that it has been many hours of practice, trial and error.

I watch most of these guys videos, may pick up something useful on occasion. Really stopped watching the "Corporal" who needs to get past that rank, because his videos have gotten to the point of being ridiculous. I look at some of these survival courses that are being taught and they give you a very specific list of things you need to bring (most of the items they expect you to purchase from them) and what you have to accomplish during their courses, like getting a fire with a bow drill. I was taught in the boy scouts to try to get a fire going with one match, never even tried to make a bow drill fire until maybe ten years ago, always have a Ferro rod and a lighter on me. I started going to the woods at a very young age, usually just out for a day. At thirteen, I decided to go out for a month, managed to stay out there most of that time. My gear was basically what ever I could scrounge at home, my boy scout backpack, an old hickory butcher knife that I still like to carry sometimes, a shower curtain, a blanket off my bed at home, kitchen matches, fishing tackle, a pot from my mother's kitchen, cotton clothesline and other miscellaneous items I could find. Did pretty well the first few days, but after having to abandon my camp because people came out looking for me, I got too far away from the food sources that I knew. Got to know what it was like to go hungry for three days.

I pick and choose the things I want to learn. I have a very hard time getting a fire to STAY burning...most of the time I need to pour a little cooking oil in my wood stove to keep it burning...it always burns up my tinder, but it is never hot or big enough to keep burning through the thicker materials until it comes to the quarter logs... I also look for ideas i can use here at my homestead. I live in 14 acres of woodland, so i have tried out many cooking stoves outside, from home build out of cans, to bricks, to store bought multi fuel cookers...but i even with the twig stoves I have problems keeping the flame going. Believe me I have tried to follow directions precisely, to no avail. I have learned to feather sticks, I have learned to make birds nests, and using dry grasses to start fire with! Starting a fire...no problem, keeping it going is a different story altogether...😱

You mentioned my top 3 favs on you tube. Some of these things Gramps taught me. Some I learned in scouts, and some in the Corps. These are real. You are on point concerning viewer attention span. Thanks for a great conversation. Stay safe and watch your six.

I did put a dislike on the video and here's why. It is apparent that you do not watch the channels that you're kind of bashing on. Corpus corner always tells you to use a lighter the first time every time. He also tells you that the lighter is only going to last for so long and you probably brush up on the other fire making skills just in case you need them. He never said it was easy and that's why he's got multiple videos on how to make a bow drill set using different materials and things like that. And as for Dan, he also doesn't say that it's easy and encourages you to go and master these skills yourself. If you've ever seen any of his videos you know that he signs off his videos by saying "stay in the woods". Not once did he say "stay in your living room and remember watching this video just in case you need these skills". I kind of get what you're saying about it's a great idea to get out and practice and how they make the skills look quick and easy, but that's all for the purposes of video editing and length. I mean how good would a video be if you sit and watch the guy carving on a stick for 30 minutes? I do agree with those two points that you made however, the other guys also make those two points as well.

In a real situation I'd pick those guys 999 times out if a 1000 over someone that does not have any stand alone content. Just because you have zero skills , you make content in bashing people. Sad.

Instantly subscribed. I love every one of the guys you mentioned and watch them all. You are right on the money and I want to share something a teacher once told me. I was having a conversation about mountain living with this old gentleman and asked if you could take any gun you wanted what would it be (this was a question during a buck skinner discussion) and he told me a scoped M14 and I looked at him funny. He then told me that the mountain men of old took the very best and most modern equipment and techniques they had available..... Let that sink in. Now if lasers weapons and hoverbikes were available, they would have taken those.

This video really opened up a can of worms! Just read the comments and retorts!

Yes,you never see them fail and that's how most of us learn ,try and try again Just once or even twice I would like to see how that sweat equity really works.thanks.

corporals corner responded to this video he took it the wrong way not the way you intended i guess some people cant take some criticism. criticism is vital to continue growing, we still support you stoker he says you dont have any standalone content which i think is BS i learned land nav by just watching your videos i know its not a stretch to say youre the best content creator on teaching land navigation keep it up stoker, fill that flask of tears of a commie 💪🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😉

Awesome! Your point is valid. For most who live travel in semi-rural semi- suburban areas these skills are useful fun but romantic.

Yes you nailed it , the viewer must have an understanding that the guys in the video are putting a product out that is limited in time restraints both by RU-vid and our inpatients. I practice bushcraft and I can get a bow drill fire but it may take me several atemps, and most of all my camping is done close to a road, LOL in Iowa you can't drive two miles without coming across the next road , but I still practice my skills. Like your show Stokermatic and I'm staying stoked.