I am 52 years old and a disabled Marine and I've had good times and hard times nonetheless a true mark of a mans abilities is using what you have and improving on it. God bless you Sir and I definitely will look forward to future posts like this..

My tip is to put matches head down, that way damp fingers wont make them wet, learned that the hard way after dunking through the ice, being that cold fine motor skills are gone so picking just one match is nearly superhuman feat, managed to get half of the matches damp before one worked. also I dunk stack of cotton makeup pads in molten candlewax, let them soak and squee them out forming waterproof firestarters that can be started with a ferrocerium rod if you "fluff it up" first.

Thrift stores can produce amazing finds, even better than the dollar store because most of that stuff is cheap. The thrift stores often have items discarded by family members when someone passes away, old school stuff, made like it isn't made anymore. I've acquired incredible wool clothing, old pots and pans, all kinds of stuff. I have to say that basket fire grill is GENIUS!

The silica gel in that tube would be best left in there as it absorbs moisture and would help keep everything dry.

The shopping basket can also be put in a stream with some rocks in it to keep things like milk , beer ,bottled water amongst other things nice and cool in the summer months

Me and my son we have started bushcrafting onna budget and I cannot tell you how much we have bonded by doing this and learning together, thank you so much for the help you have given us. It means the world to us!!!

Get a piece of string or paracord, tie a couple of knots on top of one another. When you gather the matches together have the knot on the bottom with the lose string coming up through the matches. Little pull on the string would free the tightly packed matches. Stretch a length of racing bike inner tube over the length of the tube; say 700x23. Would give you far more inner tube.

Its great to have shiny new gear but the ability to diy your own gear is a good skill to practice and keep.

Fantastic video Nick. I more or less started the same way. Perhaps instead of electrical tape, try duct tape as it is flammable, thus another form of tinder, plus most dollar stores have it bright colors. I drilled a series of small holes on one side of the pot lids for venting pressure and straining tea leaves when pouring. Cheers.

I did something similar years ago, to keep from getting a pressure cooker issue, I drilled 5 drain holes in the lid. It helped a lot.

I wax the matchsticks with old melted candle stubs and halfords will give you old inner tubing for nothing

Brilliant stuff Nick, so important to get the RECYCLE message through and protect the environment. So refreshing to see an instructor of your caliber and pedigree using everyday items and converting them to your needs rather than running out and buying expensive "trendy" equipment, this is real !!!

Instead of buying tissues or cotton wool you can collect the fluff out of your dryer filter... It's free and it works just as good

I really especially enjoyed this video, since I am a huge fan of upcycling and DIY stuff, plus know how it is having to deal with low budget (what leads just to more ideas and creativity). As much as I enjoy to get my hands on tools, I am more old school and prefer exactly those kind of things. And your ideas are a great inspiration because I am just breeding over some projects I may start over the next years with kids of low income families. A vague thought right now, but like those seeds you start to plant. They grow and develop. It is just so obvious how nature is balm for the soul and I think, creating such things will be a lot of fun for the kids. So, thank you very much!

This reminds me of my childhood right here. Improvising with things we found to have camp fires and prepare for "adventures". These videos are also very calming I love the chilled vibe of the channel. Thanks for all the free lessons that you give us. I plan on making a little fixed camp in my garden this year and will try this

Excellent ideas 👍 My old 35mm film canisters are also great for storing matches and tinder,I use non safety matches as they can be struck on many surfaces - heads dipped in candle wax for waterproofing,and packed out with cotton wool lightly impregnated with Vaseline for tinder.Bicycle inner tube stretched over the film canister can be cut for tinder or rubber bands.you could also put a mini ferro rod in with the matches.Cost = pennies 👍

Stumbled on your videos yesterday. Can't get enough. Seriously the best bushcraft channel on youtube, and the nicest most humble guy to top it all off.

Bicycle tube rubber is also good for making your own washer for Sawyer type water filters. con: being thin, it does not work with all squeese bottles like the Sawyer2 silicone ones. pro: done right with a small hole, this thin washer does not fall out like common hose washers or the kind that Sawyer uses.

I love this type of DIY gear video and it just shows you don't have to be a gear snob to have fun in the woods. I use a home made cat-tin stove and it is brilliant and cost me nothing.

Great video. Punch a hole in lid of your Billy can and pressure problem solved. Love the shopping basket pot stand. I like to scrounge for old BBQ grills and oven racks as they are ready-made for high heat and food contact - just cleaning them up first. Too big to pack about but great to leave at a base camp, worry-free. Looking forward to more DIY suggestions.

I use lots of old plastic medicine containers for all sorts. Salt n pepper shakers, fishing kit, fire lighting, coffee and creamer mixed etc.

I love the homemade bushcraft gear videos. Everyone seems to be doing 'gear reviews' these days and forgetting what bushcraft is about: Working with what you have to hand. I'm often asked what the difference between survival and bushcraft is: Survival is living with what you have to hand, bushcraft is thriving with what you have to hand ;- )

Great video but, you forgot to mention the most important thing about making your own kit and, that is the immense sense of satisfaction and achievement that comes when you have crafted something that works as youu want it to.

These are most definitely the best instructional videos I've ever come across. Simple and precise. Nick you're a great teacher and your enthusiasm is what makes them watchable. Definitely the go to for advice. Keep up the great work, you guys deserve many more subs.🤙🤙🤙

🤣...to the sound of my hysterical laughter, you've turned Julie into a bin surfer!. "I threw one of those tubes away yesterday" she declared, diving head first into the recycling, returning clutching this afternoon's project in her hand... Nice upload. Thumbs up! ...a minor PS, she was so keen, I did wonder whether to ask her if she'd ever woken up in a skip. On balance, I decided discretion was the better option...

Read a lot of the comments and agree 100%. Great ideas and great saving to boot. Also agree that it's your enthusiasm that draws people in to watch. Never miss your channel and watch each one several time. Keep up the great work and stay safe .

I always carry matches (in a waterproof container) when I'm out, in addition to a lighter and a ferro rod. For something as important as fire, I go with the rule of three, especially since none of this takes up much room in my pack. Great video, thanks for sharing!

Genius as always. Please keep em coming. RIP my Tea, Coffee & sugar kitchen set.

Use a small extendable tube for blowing on the fire. It can be made from an extendable back scratcher with the scratcher removed and the other end of the the tube removed. Keeps face out of the fire and the smoke.

You just made my Sunday better. Great Ideas. Once had a 'go to' camp where I took an old grill oven shelf and hid it away in bushes when not there. Laid it on top of a few stones around the fire when I needed it. Working my way through your back catalogue of vids. Loving watching. Thank You.

Bloody love this. Good old squaddie engineering. If its stupid and it works then it's not stupid, it's genius.

Great tips, this will be perfect for the family to be involved in making their own kit and spending time outside!

Another great video. So inspiring to get people outside and enjoy the fresh air. Also teaching people self reliance and you don't need deep pockets to enjoy this.

An absolute peach of a vid this is the stuff we all need to draw inspiration from up cycling the mundane into functional items to add to the outdoorsman’s tool box great stuff !!

Wonderful.This should be part of the school curriculum.I use to sneak a bit into PSE lessons.My boss turned a blind eye bless her.

Reminds me a lot of the kit I put together as a thirteen year old to start doing overnight camps. Back then, even army surplus gear seemed expensive! It also reminds me how much I miss 35mm film canisters for waterproof match containers. Cheers Nick.

Now, that was awesome. I love the basket 🧺 idea 💡 WHAT WE LEARN IS WHAT WE KNOW ? THANKS..NOW , ALL I NEED IS A CUP OF TEA 🍵

Great video Nick. Solid advice as usual and I always scout out the area I Camp to find items to recycle/upcycle and make the most out of what others have discarded. Keep up the great work 👍

Great video! I got some scrap leather the other day from a guy who makes motorbike saddles that I'm using for making pouches etc, just use an awl to punch holes in it and then use paracord to sow it together. It helps to melt the end of the cord and cut it so it has a sharp pointy end. Innertube also works great for securing Mora knives to the sheeth btw! God bless.

Nice video Nick, it's good to see someone pushing people towards using and repurposing what they find, as opposed to buying some over priced item that does the job no better. Resourcefulness is without a doubt the most overlooked survival skill.atb mate.

BZ! Another gem of wisdom to be placed in the jewellery box of knowledge.

I had a similar kit when I was a lad. I used an old shoe polish tin and the matches were dipped in melted candlewax as a second line of defence from moisture.

Love the shopping basket pot stand, like all the best ideas, it's just so simple.

Love this video, i enjoy ppl sharing cheap diy things you can do as many of us are usually broke lol so thank you sir!❤😊

Nice. Just a suggestion. When you put the matches in the tube, you put them in with the heads up towards the opening. If you put them in heads down, when you remove them you won't get the striking head damp (from rain, sweat, etc.) You can also put the striking strip in the tube with the strike surface against the side of the tube without worrying about the matches self striking and it takes up almost no space at all.

I love budget friendly/self made gear videos.

Absolutely awesome video! I'm definitely going to be using these ideas for my garden setup, especially the basket. Genius. Love your channel and love your videos! Always excited when I'm notified you do a new video, keep up the awesome work mate 👍

Loved the video, especially the shopping basket. My home pot I made from an old tea caddy pot is still one of my favourites and has lasted over 10 years now.

Awesome video againg Nick, I found my self really inspired by your mind set and philosophy. Its be real pleasure to watch your videos, keep up the great work.

ANYTHING that can make fire is NEVER outdated.

Thanks for the video. I’m trying to get some gear put together at the moment. All still in progress. Also I use those plastic tubes for various storage uses, I even use them for tools such as jigsaw blades and ear plugs.

Absolutely love these cheap, budget ideas! I am certainly going to attempt these, keep up the good work!! Very educational

Very well done. Love the way you put things. Keep up the good work!

Total inspiration - respect ✊

Great content as usual. I particularly like DIY videos, and this one was really good. Making use of some things from home for bushcraft is the way they used to do it, back in my grandparents' time, without internet, amazon, ebay or specialty stores. From the haversack to the pan, from the knife to the mug... Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Greetings from 🇧🇷

I am definitely getting and making a shopping basket pot stand thanks for idea was well worth the watch

Seriously great job on this video. So good to see upcycling in bushcraft

A small hole or two in the billy can lid can help reduce the pressure. In Australia we have similar vitamin C tubes made in aluminium. Another great video Nick!

Love the idea for the cooking pot, thanks for the cost effective idea, you just saved me money for more kit 😊👍

Really good video, I made the shopping basket pot stand and tea/coffee/sugar canister Billy pots a few years ago with my scouts.we used recycled bike brake/gear cable to form the bail handle secured with the brass internal of electrical connector blocks.🙂

A proper video. It seems the majority of people on UKposts have forgotten or never understood what "Bushcraft" is really about. Any fool with a pocket full of money can buy the latest, expensive gear. There is much more satisfaction & sense of accomplishment when a person utilizes what is at hand & makes something themselves while keeping the few $ he may have in his pocket.

Like the waterproof match idea Nick. Will be getting my scouts to make some ready for their winter camp in January. Keep up the good work, loving all your videos.

I use those tubes for matches and spares like a needle & thread and cable ties. Really like the sugar pot as a camp pot.

Love the channel and currently working back through all your vids. Keep up the good work.

Love it all, ex Aus mil surv instructor. out bush/jungle we used an old cotton sleeve for a makeshift milbank bag. You can go one better then by alternate filling it with charcoal/river sand to treat/filter. In our basecamp we used the charcoal built filter. just leave hanging and refill after patrol.

More great info Nick. Keep up the great work 👊🇬🇧

Well done! Thanks nick

One of the best tips I ever encountered was squeezing dobs of toothpaste onto baking paper, covering them with baking soda (not baking POWDER!) and letting them dry. They become much smaller and you can pop them into a tiny pill container. They work like a dream!

I’ve only just discovered this channel and it’s amazing. The way you teach is spot on and it’s easy to understand.

Genius leaves clues. Great work Nick!

I used to work at a grocery store, a box of matches fell off the shelf once and ignited. They can still ignite without the striker. Great ideas using food canisters for a pot and a shopping basket for a pot stand!

Great video showing how real bushcraft is done using everyday items to survive.

Practicality and common sense. I agree, that's the best base for any endeavor

Thank you. Well done.🇨🇦

Awesome video Nick, thanks much for sharing!

Love the basket fire.

Mint tip for starters well done wish I watched this before I started out keep up the great work

Good info Nick! Thanks for sharing 🤠

Great video. Love the idea of DIY bushcraft gear and reusing/up cycling items. I've tried it myself a few times. Keep up the great videos.

Love the shopping basket grill idea. Thank you

Great job Nick!

Your mind is always going to be your best survival tool. Thinking in advance and giving you self any advantage you can will help . Slot of things can have multiple uses imagation is your only boundary. This video proves that.

Uno de los mejores videos que vi sobre el tema. Simple y directo.

Yours just became my new favorite UKposts bushcraft channel! Thanks for posting this video, & I especially appreciate the warning about using galvanized steel!

Love it mate!

Love the video, learnt something new, thanks all the best

Love it all Nick lod tricks and hacks that would have saved me tons of money. Please keep the home born products coming. It opens up bushcraft to all. Many thanks.

Love your input

Love it man.

Love the old school skills thanks hugs

One of the channels I look forward to every Sunday. Definitely more of a "light hearted" bushcraft channel. Not one of the look how awsome/good/tough I am channels. Still very informative and humble

love the video, brilliant....very much close to my own way of thinking, i really hate waste and truly believe that if something can be retasked, reused or recycled then it absolutely should be... one small addition to the billy can though for safety sake a small hole drilled or punched in the lid massively reduces the risk of it going pop...once again brilliant video.....

Absolutely great program Nick ! The ability to survive in the field is largely dependent on having a Fire, and Potable water - you can never have too many ways to make a fire, and safe water. My fire kit (contained in two empty med bottles) consists of Bottle 1) Lifeboat matches, Cigarette lighters- one wrapped in Gorilla tape -, Ferro rod, Magnifying glass, Regular matches. Bottle 2) Fire balls "cotton balls covered in Vaseline" . For Water I have 1) stainless US canteen cup, and stainless 17oz canteen bottle, 2) Sawyer filter, 3) Purification tablets. My first piece of kit for water was a large stainless pet feeding bowl for $1 U.S. at the Dollar Tree. Which now (at least mine) sells 110 lb Paracord in several colors on 25ft spools. Your shopping basket cooking / pot stand is great. You can get them in the states at office supply stores for $5 or less. Or if you see a discarded stove, one of the inside racks.

Shopping basket pot stand is a great idea. Really enjoy your films and always learn something. Keep up the good work and look forward to the next one!

Wow, that's outstanding.

Cheers Mate!

I'm a 15 cm ferro rod man myself, in a duct tape/cable tie holster I made, and half a hacksaw blade attached with paracord (And 2 lighters, 1 with food, 1 somewhere else) Also in this day and age, hand sanitiser is ubiquitous and also the best tinder when paired with the above IMO

I love that you're being candid about having to be really thrifty when you started. It makes perfect sense that thrift and Bushcraft can go hand in hand. Solving problems in the woods is really very like solving them living on a shoe string in the middle of no where. You demonstrate it well and take away the stigma by being so articulate and well put together! One constructive criticism idea: I think I'd leave the silica in my match tube to absorb moisture in the air that might weaken the matches over long storage. In my area it's humid 9 months of the year. I understand this is the case in much of the UK too. If you were concerned with it getting loose in the wild and causing harm to the environment. I've seen similar results by putting a few grains of dry white rice in with your gear. Thanks for another great video!

Brillant great idea for the basket

Brilliant ideas thanks.