Bushcraft vs. Camping: Difference you need to learn in 2023
For some people, bushcraft and camping are the same. This article will explore the difference between bushcraft campsites and traditional camping to clarify what each offers. We’ll also look at the benefits of both bushcraft camping and traditional campsite camping so that you can decide which type of outdoor experience best suits your needs.
So, What is the difference between bushcraft and camping? Well, in short, it’s a matter of mindset. The main difference between bushcraft and camping is that Bushcraft is the art of survival in the wilderness. It is all about survival and self-sufficiency with specialized skills such as making fires, using tools, and building shelters in the wild using natural resources while Camping is all about having fun, spending time outside, enjoying nature, and sleeping in the tent.
You’ll find below all the details about bushcraft vs. camping with some unique information that outdoor enthusiasts require.
? Bushcraft Camping
It is a term that covers many different outdoor skills such as hunting, cooking, navigation, and shelter building. Camping can be thought of as a vacation spot where you stay in an RV or tent for more than one night. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of bushcraft and Camping.
Since bushcraft campsites are more primitive than traditional campsites, they don’t offer many amenities like electricity or running water. However, this lack of luxury does make them a little easier to find if you’re looking for an adventure! The goal with these types of trips is “roughing it” – enjoying nature.
Although it is very different from traditional Camping in many ways, instead of walking outside your tent and grabbing something to eat or drink, you will need to pack everything into your bag before heading out.
It’s also necessary for people that go on a bushcraft adventure to learn specific survival skills in case anything goes wrong. This can be helpful if someone finds themselves lost without proper gear and the other items they packed aren’t enough to help them survive.
“SAS Survival Handbook” is highly recommended to learn the essential surviving skills for the outdoor journey in the wilderness.
While on the other hand, Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get away from everyday life for a while; there’s something about bushcraft that appeals to many people. Instead of just sitting around your tent during the day, you can participate in other activities such as fishing or hunting if you’re interested in learning more about these skills.
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Depending on the type of trip you want to go on, you must know your options before making any decisions. It can be helpful if you consider things like weather and what gear is needed for each adventure so that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
? Skills You should learn before going for Bushcraft Camping
Bushcraft camping requires many skills to survive in the wild. Some of these are discussed below:
Hunting:
Practicing hunting bushcraft camping can provide an excellent opportunity for protein-rich food because many animals are better dietary sources than plants.
There’s no need to worry about sacrificing time or energy when you’re out there on your own. You need to spend both of these resources well during the process of catching any animal that might end up dinner tonight!
A popular method is sending the prey or using traps like deadfalls, which help you hunt your favorite protein. You can use the best skinning knives to remove the hide from the animal after you hunt them down.
Ignite the fire:
The most dangerous aspect of Camping is fire. It’s easy for mishaps to happen in an uncontrolled environment with open flames, but if proper precautions are taken, this skill can save your life when out there in the wilderness setting.
It’s also crucial for survival because you should know how to ignite a fire with rocks or wood by striking them together, so sparks fly out from their contact – this way, your warmth will last longer.
Foraging:
Another important skill in bushcraft is foraging for food and water, which can be done in many different ways, depending on the area being traveled through.
This can include harvesting fruit from wild trees found around a site, digging up roots and tubers that were left behind by animals and are edible causing no harm to your body, and old storage containers that were found throughout the site.
Fishing:
Fishing is a great way to get food in the wild, but it takes some know-how. If you know how to fish correctly, then your next camping trip will be well-stocked with fresh-caught protein! Some people use fishing rods made out of branches instead of metal hooks and lines because they don’t have any other means to catch their prey.
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If you are a great outdoor enthusiast, you must first create an appropriate pole-type lure (fly) so that when something does take notice, it’ll stay hooked up without being pulled underwater, then catch the fish and enjoy eating a delicious meal at the campsite.
Navigation Equipment/knowledge:
As you know, navigation is one of the most important aspects of surviving in the wild since many dangers can befall you without moving around and seeing where you are going. Both Navigation methods, including relative and true navigation, help locate the landmark and keep you safe.
All you need is basic knowledge of latitude, longitude, time zones, and seasons/astronomy. When venturing out on a trip, it is important to have several navigational tools on hand to choose the right equipment for the conditions being faced.
Shelter Building:
The shelter is a fundamental part of bushcraft. Without it, you are vulnerable to the elements such as wind and rain that can make things challenging to survive in an unforgiving wilderness where temperatures change quickly with little warning. There is no one-size-fits-all type of protection from these weather conditions.
Still, there are many different types available depending on your needs, from lean-tos utilizing tarps as roofs with only minimal protection against rain/snowfall.
This goes all the way up into more advanced techniques such as cutting down trees then bending them over inside an existing enclosure like a cabin style sheltering made out of logs cooked over hot coals then covered using leaves, etc. making it both warmer at night time but also providing additional support.
Bushcraft Camping sites don’t have any amenities such as tables, garbage cans, fire pits, or even designated spots where people are expected to camp. Instead, there are vast open areas where people set up anywhere they choose.
Tools Making:
The skill of making traditional bushcraft tools grows with practice and time, but some general guidelines can help speed up this process by providing helpful hints handed down throughout history.
One of these tools is the fire drill which consists of two sticks lashed together, with one being stationary while the other spins rapidly on top, creating friction between them and sparks that can set tinder ablaze. Using this tool and various forms of fuel allow you to fire in any weather condition, although it requires patience to learn.
? Traditional Campsite Camping
When we talk about bushcraft vs. camping, then traditional campsites are more like home than bushcraft camping. You can expect to find electricity, water, showers, and even WiFi at the most popular sites. In your downtime, you’ll be able to enjoy these comforts as well as store-bought food instead of having to cook everything yourself over an open flame. It’s still important to remember to leave a campsite cleaner than when you arrived though.
This way of camping, often referred to as “rough camping,” is a traditional style of backcountry camping that typically requires hikers on multi-day trips to carry all gear from the trailhead into the campsite and pack it out at the conclusion of their stay. Traditional Campsite Camping is a simple, zero-impact way for outdoor adventurers to enjoy some time in nature with minimal environmental impact or gear requirements.
Although some people might disagree, there is no official definition of what properly constitutes “traditional wilderness camping,” so this camping style can vary significantly from person to person.
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On many standard managed campsites or designated backcountry sites, someone will usually come around at night and check your permit (if you have one), distribute bear-resistant garbage containers, collect fees, and enforce rules about noise levels and fire restrictions if necessary. Therefore these spots tend to have a very different atmosphere than a traditional campsite, which is generally much more relaxed.
In addition to being less regulated, traditional Camping also tends to be significantly cheaper because it doesn’t usually require as many specialized pieces of outdoor equipment as other styles of backcountry camping. This can be an attractive choice for those looking to spend less money on their trip and have the time and energy to pack up all their gear themselves after they’ve finished their stay.
However, this style of Camping isn’t necessarily appropriate on all terrains. In some cases, traditional campers might prefer to set up somewhere with trees nearby because there may be no other material around to construct a windscreen or shelter. Or, as with any camping trip, you might want to plan and bring more items than just those listed above, just in case.
? Things need to learn before going to Campsite Camping
Although Camping is a great way to spend the summer, whether that’s because you enjoy being in nature or to get away from your busy routine for a few days, however, Camping requires specific skills if you are going to have a comfortable experience.
Many people don’t know how to be prepared when they go outdoors for an extended period of time, and this can make it difficult for them. It’s important that you read up on some tips before heading out into the wild so that you’ll feel confident in your new adventure.
What To Do Before You Go Camping?
If you want to ensure having fun while camping, certain things need to be done. Whether it’s preparing food or packing clothes or water bottles, many things need to be taken care of before you head out.
That’s why it is essential to spend time planning for your trip so that you won’t forget any essentials. A checklist helps a lot when it comes to packing, and depending on the length of your journey; you may want to make multiple checklists so that nothing slips through the cracks.
Food Preparation Tips
It’s essential to have some food with you during Camping because you never know how long you’ll need to stay out before returning home. However, this means that you’ll have more work preparing food since most campsites don’t have kitchens or grills. Make sure that all of the food items within your cooler are airtight and that the cooler is full of ice at all times.
If you plan on cooking food, then it’s a good idea to bring a propane stove so that you can have a more extensive selection. Remember to pack pots and pans if you’ll be using a furnace to have everything available for your dishes.
Packing Your Gear
Your gear is just as important as the food that you take with you. Items such as tents, tarps, camp chairs, knives, and other tools need to be packed into the car or truck before going Camping.
It’s also ideal if light items are stored in the trunk since they will sit closer to the ground than luggage stowed on top of a vehicle. This will keep your gear safe during travel, and it will be easier to find what you need.
Camping is meant to be an enjoyable experience, but it can also be complicated if you aren’t prepared with the right skills. With the above tips in mind, you should have a much better time when camping this year.
What is the best place to set up camp overnight for sleeping?
Some people prefer to sleep near trees or bushes so that they can hang food away from animals that might try to get to it. Others prefer the open spaces so that they can enjoy beautiful night skies, or simply because they don’t want to feel confined in a small area.
The most important thing is that the location where you choose to sleep is suitable for pitching a tent and will not endanger you in any way; there should be enough space and flat ground so that your tent won’t be flooded during heavy rains or washed away by unexpected rivers/streams.
There shouldn’t be any obstacles like large rocks or trees on the ground beneath your sleeping pad, so keep that in mind when choosing a place.
What are the rules for pitching Campsite camps?
The rules of pitching camp vary widely depending on which trail you’re traveling on (and often change seasonally), and it’s often difficult for hikers to keep track of them while enjoying their experience in the great outdoors.
Some trails offer a Wilderness Permit that allows visitors to camp overnight in specific areas; this is usually regulated by local/federal management agencies and can help protect fragile natural resources. You may need to check out the rules for your area before proceeding with Campsite camping.
✔️ Bushcraft vs Camping – Which adventure to plan?
The type of Camping you plan should dictate the skills and tools required. Campsite campers should focus on a few basic skills as explained above as your goal is typically short-term living outdoors. You may not need to know what plants can be eaten or how to build an emergency shelter from natural materials. While those who want to pursue bushcrafting need more advanced knowledge that includes fire making, shelter building, and navigation.
Now looking at bushcraft vs camping, they are both great activities, but each has its own pros and cons. Bushcraft involves a lot more planning and preparation and it’s very difficult to get into if you are not prepared. On the other hand, camping is very easy. You just show up and enjoy the outdoors. Overall, in my opinion, bushcraft is much better than traditional camping as it increases your survival skills.
So which kind of camper are you? Your choice will help determine what gear is essential for your kit or if it’s time to update your gear or purchase things.
If you are planning for a bushcraft adventure, check our articles to learn what to wear for bushcraft, essential tools to carry in the wilderness, and the places where you cannot practice bushcraft.
