It gives us great pleasure to introduce to you the Ray Mears Leaf Cutter Rucksack, the first ever pack to have been designed and tested by Ray Mears himself:
The Ray Mears Leaf Cutter Rucksack
Manufactured in small numbers right here in Great Britain, the Leaf Cutter Rucksack offers 58 litres of packing volume in its main compartment despite weighing in at just 1.8 kg.
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The first ever autobiography by Ray Mears, entitled My Outdoor Life, is now available to pre-order. Each copy sold through Woodlore will come individually signed by Ray Mears himself – a service that is not available through any other stockists.
Please click here to pre-order your copy today
*All orders will be dispatched following the book’s release date of 12th September 2013.
Your jacket is often your first line of defence against the elements, so it’s important to choose one that isn’t going to let you down. Woodlore stock a wide range of premium outdoor jackets – here are just three of our favourites:
1. Swazi/Ray Mears Tahr XP Anorak
First in line is the legendary Swazi Tahr XP Anorak – an unmistakable piece of outdoor gear that has become Ray Mears’ firm favourite over the years. Originally designed for use by the farm workers of New Zealand (a people who see more than their fair share of rain), news soon spread of its unrivalled wet-weather performance and the anorak was quickly adopted by bushcraft enthusiasts and outdoor professionals around the world. With its extra-long cut, world-renowned hood design and highly breathable AEGIS fabric, the Tahr XP is the cream of the crop when it comes to staying dry.
For anyone interested in buying a set of Ice Bear Japanese Waterstones, the following video guides from Ray Mears may prove to be very useful. They’re especially helpful if you are not already familiar with the different techniques involved in using these larger benchstones.
The Ice Bear Japanese Waterstone Sharpening Set
Each video shows Ray using the comprehensive Ice Bear Sharpening Set (which includes both 800 and 2,000 grit stones, a clamp and nagura stone), as well as an additional 1,200 Grit Waterstone.
First up is the Ray Mears guide on how to sharpen your bushcraft knife:
Second is a guide for owners of Gransfors Axes:
Click here to view the full range of Sharpening Tools at Woodlore
The following article was written by Aspirant Instructor Rob Bashford about a recent coast to coast journey he undertook across the top of Scotland:
The plan was simple. To cross the Northern Highlands of Scotland on foot from West coast to East coast, a distance of some 65 miles.
Packing for a trip is an art and my girlfriend and I were striving to achieve the right balance between light pack weight, safety and comfort. This means thinking hard about what items are really essential and those which can be considered a luxury. On this note, we opted to carry bivi bags and a tarp, rather than a tent. As someone who has spent a lot of time under tarps in the woods, I know they are a fantastic way to sleep out and I was keen to experiment with pitching my new Hilleberg tarp in the open terrain of the Scottish Highlands.
The Hilleberg Tarp in use in Scotland
The first of the Woodlore UK courses took place over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Here is some feedback from client Stuart Mason after he attended the Woodlore Introduction to Bushcraft course:
I got back today from my Introduction to Bushcraft course, taught by Keith and Mark.
I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the course, how much I learned, and home much stuff I thought I know that I unlearned! The pace and content of the course was ideal, and I have nothing but praise for the skills, patience and friendliness of both Keith and Mark.
Client shelters on the Introduction to Bushcraft course
In terms of expectations, the washing facilities were rather tough – but then I guess you don’t yet have the mastery over the weather!! Ice cold water (with ice crystals!) in a bowl.
The packing list was very useful, and I came more prepared than required, which is far more preferable to the alternative. So, I’ll be looking at the other courses available, and will now be trying to persuade a few friends to try it too.
Stuart Mason
With the promise of a light dusting of snow in the air, the Woodlore Team gathered in the beautiful woodlands of East Sussex. Hundreds of miles away from the Arctic camp that we occupied just a week or so before, the English weather seemed determined to remind us that it could put on its own show and provide the sort of challenging conditions ideal for trimming our skills, ready for Woodlore’s 30th Anniversary season.
The Woodlore field team at the annual training week
Training week is a very important fixture in the team calendar and provides an opportunity for us all to refresh friendships, brush-up on skills and come together in the environment that we are so passionate about. This year our focus was on renewing the team’s first aid qualifications and so, under the instruction and guidance of Jamie Cooke, Woodlore’s outdoor staff reminded themselves of the essential nature of this essential wilderness skill. The application of realistic scenarios ensured that the adrenaline kept pumping and Jamie’s humour and outstanding teaching ability made sure that what was learned held fast in the memories of the participants. Anybody attending one of Woodlore’s medical courses will be able to vouch for the unique ability of this kind of training to make things stick!
Woodlore field team practising their buschraft skills at training week
In amongst the fast-paced learning provided by Jamie, the team had other essential tasks. New course sites had to be readied, changes made to camp and the skills of the woodsman honed, ready to ensure the highest standards for the coming year. In amongst the blizzards, cold, rain and occasional sunshine, the team atmosphere was one of excitement and good humour, boosted by great food and better company. At the end of the day, the fireside beckoned and stories were shared as we all reminded ourselves why we love our job so much. Ready for this years’ exciting courses, we look forward to welcoming you into our family.
Woodlore’s communal camp fire during training week
Last week Woodlore ran it’s annual training week, which included our usual first aid training from Jamie Cooke at Solo Medical Training Limited.
On Aspirant Instructor Sarah Day’s return home, the first aid training she had recieved left her feeling reflective. Here are her thoughts:
It’s not often that the whole team gets together; we often go a whole season without seeing certain people – apart from chance meetings at the beginning and end of courses.
One of the best aspects, both of our annual training weeks and of the end of season get-together, is that we can all share our stories of the season, and what we’ve been up to over the winter. As an inevitable and very helpful part of our regular first aid training, we often exchange stories of first aid incidents we’ve dealt with, (or even been the victim of!). It’s natural to try and analyse an incident afterwards, whether it was real or a training scenario, and think about what you might do differently another time. I often think about two incidents I was involved in several years ago.
First aid scenario during the Woodlore staff training week
Here at Woodlore HQ, we’ve asked the members of our full-time team to pick their favourite courses and kit from our range, to find out just what it is that makes them so good. Woodlore’s director Steve Gurney picked his 5.11 Tactical HRT Advance Boots:
Steve starts a snowy winter’s day in his 5.11 boots
I purchased my 5.11 boots back in October 2008 after Ray recommended them to me. Ray mentioned that they were great to wear when travelling and I really liked the look of them. I am pleased to say that this same pair is still going strong today.
The 5.11 Tactical HRT Advance Boots were instantly comfortable and the UK sizing was fine. I find them so versatile that I wear them throughout the year in the UK; they manage to keep my feet cool in the summer, due to the vent holes, but also warm and dry in the winter, even in the snow.
5.11 state that these boots are designed to be lightweight and responsive, and I definitely agree with this. When I put these boots on in the mornings, they help give me that “ready for the day ahead” feeling and they are great for general day-to-day use and are not too bulky or clumsy for driving. The durable side zipper is also worth a mention as it really makes putting the boots on or taking them off very easy and quick; there is no need to touch the laces at all.
In summary, a very durable, comfortable and versatile boot, and I expect to wear mine for many years to come!
– Steve Gurney
The 5.11 Tactical HRT Advance Boot
The following post was kindly written by Woodlore Senior Course Assistant Wayne Egerton:
Woodlore Team Member Wayne Egerton
“I’m having a girlie night in tonight with some friends.” Barely had my wife finished uttering these words and my rucksack was being stuffed and hoisted onto my shoulder. I knew just the spot… a seaside location about an hour’s walk away, and usually deserted.
The weather was clear, cold (2-3 degrees) and not a breath of wind. The joy of walking on one’s own is you see and hear more; wildlife not scared away by the idle banter of a pair. A woodpecker, wren, robin and not to mention a surprised fox, and that was only on the way there.
Tarp up and fire going, just big enough to keep warm and have a brew. As light faded, the tide retreated and it was just the oyster catchers, the curlew and the chill. I’m sure a fox visited in the night, but my hat was still on my head when I woke.
Home for the night
The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 