If you are interested in winter camping, particularly travelling in the boreal forest in winter, here are my five top equipment selections. This is as well as shelter, sleeping equipment and cooking apparatus.

Axe: Whether or not you are fuelling a wood-burning stove or making a long-log fire, the ability to use an axe to process dead, standing timber into firewood is critical. A good axe is an indispensable tool, more significant than a knife in this environment. If you've got your attire, an axe and a means of making fire, then you can survive. An axe nevertheless , is a hazardous tool. More so in an environment where you will be wearing gloves, standing on soft snow and quite probably wearing snowshoes or skis on your feet. The boreal forest in winter is not an environment for a beginner to come to grips with an axe. It is miles better to learn how to use your axe confidently and safely in the less complicated, hotter summer months then scrupulously transfer your skills to a winter environment, bearing in mind the additional difficulties and associated risk indications.

Saw: As well as an axe, a full-sized buck-saw or bow-saw makes the job of processing firewood both safer and more efficient. The mixing of axe and saw makes an exceedingly dynamic combination. For tiny roles each member of the group can also carry a fixed-blade knife and a folding saw on their person.

Snow Shovel: A much under-rated tool of the north is a snow-shovel. There are many times when the facility to move snow swiftly and effectively is desirable. A good quality snow shovel makes a big difference. Moving powdered or grainy snow requires more of a sweeping motion than a digging action. An extendable handle helps achieve this motion while avoiding back strain. A D-shaped handle enables you to grip it even when wearing mittens. When working in confined spaces like hollowing-out a quinzee, the handle can be reduced to its minimum length. A metal blade that’s shaped to cut into hard snow will make relatively simple work or carving away compressed snow when hollowing-out a shelter. Ultimately, customise your trowel by adding hockey-tape to the metal shaft to reduce the conductive heat loss from your hands when utilizing the trowel.

Ice Auger: This piece of clobber, while somewhat awkward and a potential pain to pack with the remainder of your kit, makes cutting through ice on lakes and streams a relative breeze. Far easier to use than an ice-chisel and an entire world away from cutting a bowl in the ice with your axe, this tool lets you cut clean cylindrical holes directly down thru the ice. Formed somewhat like a cork-screw, there are two razor-sharp blades at the head of the gizmo that cut into the ice. The screw then draws the ice out of the hole as it descends. It can be a tiny stiff to get through the bottom surface of the ice and once damaged thru, the hole quickly fills with water. You then have got to use the auger to flush the hole a couple of times to clear it of ice. While a full-sized auger is ungainly, there are smaller versions with folding handles that are relatively lightweight, certainly transportable enough to carry on a toboggan.

Brush: To finish is an everyday piece of equipment that makes a significant difference. A little stiff-bristled brush is helpful for removing snow from clothing and equipment. The removal of snow is significant because otherwise as you enter the cosy environment of a heated tent or cabin, the snow starts to melt and moisture is introduced to your clothing, boots, etc , as well as the warm, dry space itself. Much better to brush all of the snow off your boots, including the soles, before you hang them up to dry than to have them dripping on you and your kit in the tent. A wooden-handled potato-scrubbing brush can be bought for slightly less than a buck. It’s just a little bigger than a nail brush and I keep it in a pocket of my jacket.

Paul Kirtley is owner and chief instructor of Frontier Bushcraft, a leading bushcraft training provider. He also writes a highly-regarded bushcraft blog.

If you are interested in winter camping, particularly travelling in the boreal forest in winter, here are my five top equipment selections. This is as well as shelter, sleeping equipment and cooking apparatus.

Axe: Whether or not you are fuelling a wood-burning stove or making a long-log fire, the ability to use an axe to process dead, standing timber into firewood is critical. A good axe is an indispensable tool, more significant than a knife in this environment. If you've got your attire, an axe and a means of making fire, then you can survive. An axe nevertheless , is a hazardous tool. More so in an environment where you will be wearing gloves, standing on soft snow and quite probably wearing snowshoes or skis on your feet. The boreal forest in winter is not an environment for a beginner to come to grips with an axe. It is miles better to learn how to use your axe confidently and safely in the less complicated, hotter summer months then scrupulously transfer your skills to a winter environment, bearing in mind the additional difficulties and associated risk indications.

Saw: As well as an axe, a full-sized buck-saw or bow-saw makes the job of processing firewood both safer and more efficient. The mixing of axe and saw makes an exceedingly dynamic combination. For tiny roles each member of the group can also carry a fixed-blade knife and a folding saw on their person.

Snow Shovel: A much under-rated tool of the north is a snow-shovel. There are many times when the facility to move snow swiftly and effectively is desirable. A good quality snow shovel makes a big difference. Moving powdered or grainy snow requires more of a sweeping motion than a digging action. An extendable handle helps achieve this motion while avoiding back strain. A D-shaped handle enables you to grip it even when wearing mittens. When working in confined spaces like hollowing-out a quinzee, the handle can be reduced to its minimum length. A metal blade that’s shaped to cut into hard snow will make relatively simple work or carving away compressed snow when hollowing-out a shelter. Ultimately, customise your trowel by adding hockey-tape to the metal shaft to reduce the conductive heat loss from your hands when utilizing the trowel.

Ice Auger: This piece of clobber, while somewhat awkward and a potential pain to pack with the remainder of your kit, makes cutting through ice on lakes and streams a relative breeze. Far easier to use than an ice-chisel and an entire world away from cutting a bowl in the ice with your axe, this tool lets you cut clean cylindrical holes directly down thru the ice. Formed somewhat like a cork-screw, there are two razor-sharp blades at the head of the gizmo that cut into the ice. The screw then draws the ice out of the hole as it descends. It can be a tiny stiff to get through the bottom surface of the ice and once damaged thru, the hole quickly fills with water. You then have got to use the auger to flush the hole a couple of times to clear it of ice. While a full-sized auger is ungainly, there are smaller versions with folding handles that are relatively lightweight, certainly transportable enough to carry on a toboggan.

Brush: To finish is an everyday piece of equipment that makes a significant difference. A little stiff-bristled brush is helpful for removing snow from clothing and equipment. The removal of snow is significant because otherwise as you enter the cosy environment of a heated tent or cabin, the snow starts to melt and moisture is introduced to your clothing, boots, etc , as well as the warm, dry space itself. Much better to brush all of the snow off your boots, including the soles, before you hang them up to dry than to have them dripping on you and your kit in the tent. A wooden-handled potato-scrubbing brush can be bought for slightly less than a buck. It’s just a little bigger than a nail brush and I keep it in a pocket of my jacket.

Paul Kirtley is owner and chief instructor of Frontier Bushcraft, a leading bushcraft training provider. He also writes a highly-regarded bushcraft blog.