#AskPaulKirtley

#AskPaulKirtley episodes:

• 11.30.2023

  #AskPaulKirtley 87 – Upgrading from Small Forest Axes, Lifespan of Bahco Laplanders and Dual-use Line for Repairs and Fishing

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about why my podcasts play too fast, some thread for fixing gear and for use as fishing line, the expected lifespan of a Bahco Laplander saw and when to upgrade from a...

  
• 11.18.2023

  #AskPaulKirtley 86 – The Place For Machetes, Parangs and Larger Knives, Ferro Rod Material Choices, Alternative Knots to Square Lashings

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer your questions about collaborations with other bushcrafters, the place for larger knives, machetes and parangs, alternative knots to square lashings and what are the best materials to look for in a firesteel or...

  
• 11.25.2021

  #AskPaulKirtley 85 – Water Purification Systems for Journeys; Magnetic Declination and Compass Choice

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about water purification for self-propelled journeys such as back-packing and bike-packing. I also answer a question about an often misunderstood or ignored area of navigation related to magnetic variation and the necessary...

  
• 11.12.2021

  #AskPaulKirtley 84 – Forest Access, Wet Clothing and Kit, Tarps Lines At Head Height

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about forest access and fire rules, how to deal with the issue of kit and clothing getting wet, and suggestions for setting up tarp lines at head height, along with some thoughts...

  
• 09.19.2021

  #AskPaulKirtley 83 – My Go-To Bivvy Bag, How To Gain Backpacking Fitness, Caring For Leather Boots

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions on getting fit for backpacking, keeping leather boots in good condition when out for a while, and which is my go-to bivvy bag.

  
• 08.05.2021

  #AskPaulKirtley 82 – The Changes In My Bushcraft Philosophy, Rubbish Firesteels, and Book Writing

  Answers to questions about whether I will ever write a book, why some ferro rods or firesteels don't work very well, and whether my bushcraft philosophy has changed over the years...

  
• 10.22.2020

  #AskPaulKirtley 81 – Covid Effects On Bushcraft, Dealing With Increased Littering, Office To Outdoors Career Transitions, Bushcraft Memory

  Answers to questions about the effects of Covid/lockdowns on the bushcraft industry, office to outdoor career transitions, how to remember bushcraft and survival uses of plants, and how to promote good outdoor ethics, including leave-no-trace, to people outside of the...

  
• 01.03.2019

  #AskPaulKirtley 80 – Inspiration In Wild Places, Carrying A Lock Knife, Canoeing Bags, Wild Berry ID

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer questions on what’s inspirational about wild places, carrying a lock knife for bushcraft, why use two bags for canoeing and a bit of tree and plant ID on some berries in Quebec.

  
• 11.12.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 79 – Sharpening Stones, Boreal Cutting Tools, Quilts vs Bags, A Small Rant Plus An Important Announcement

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about axe stones and keeping them in shape, using a parang in the boreal, quilts vs sleeping bags. demographics of bushcraft course participants, when to use the finer side of a sharpening...

  
• 09.30.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 78 – Fire Safety, Use Of Cottongrass, Shoe Placement While Bivvying

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about campfire safety risk assessment, use of cottongrass and what to do with your shoes while bivvying...

  
• 08.05.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 77 – Moving From Survival To Bushcraft; Liner Entanglement; Fishing Kit

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer your questions about expanding from survival skills to broader bushcraft skills, sleeping bag liners and entanglement, fishing as part of a bushcraft repertoire... Watch #AskPaulKirtley The video above is ad-free. If you particularly enjoy...

  
• 07.20.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 76 – Inner Bark Tinder Bundles; Reducing Campfire Smoke; First Aid Training For Kids

  I answer questions about how to use the inner bark of sweet chestnut, Castanea sativa, for tinder bundles, ideas for minimising smoke from fires, first aid for young people, and some thoughts on every day carry (EDC) items…

  
• 07.15.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 75 – When To Start Teaching Bushcraft; Washing Pots With Very Limited Water; Testing Water Filters

  In this episode I answer questions about how you know when it’s the right time to start teaching bushcraft, considerations for washing up after cooking when you only have limited drinking water and how to test how clean and pure...

  
• 07.03.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 74 – Featherstick Wood Recommendations; Remedying Chipped Axes; Washing Down Sleeping Bags

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer questions about featherstick material recommendations, remedying chipped axe edges, washing down sleeping bags and hydrophbic down...

  
• 05.29.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 73 – Fire Hardening of Spears; Hunting in Bushcraft; Tarps (Again)

  I talk about tarps (yes again), fire hardening of spears and the potential for making them more brittle, froth in water after it has been through a Millbank bag or Brown bag, and my views on hunting within bushcraft…

  
• 05.05.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 72 – Big Birch Bark Sheets; Deer Carcass Inspection; The Importance Of Tree ID In Bushcraft

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer your questions about obtaining big sheets of birch bark, the benefit of identifying trees in bushcraft, bow drill polishing, deer carcass inspection and my favourite made items..

  
• 04.22.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 71 – Roycraft Packframes; Sharpening & Oiling Knives; Bow Drill Moisture Content

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer listener questions about Roycraft packframes in bushcraft, how often you should sharpen your knife, oiling knives and bow drill woods moisture content.

  
• 04.10.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 70 – Real Survival With No Food; Banking Fires Overnight; CAT Tourniquets For First Aid

  In this episode I answer questions on real survival with no food, the best areas for kayaking and wild camping in the UK, banking fires overnight, Combat Application Tourniquets (CAT) in first aid kits and Bow-drilling standing up...

  
• 03.31.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 69 – Surplus vs Non-Surplus Gear; Backpack Variables; Mediterranean Bushcraft; Cleaning Stainless Bottles.

  I answer questions about Mediterranean bushcraft, water purification and desalination on a coastal creek trip, cleaning stainless steel water bottles and several inter-related questions on backpacking, backpacks and military surplus gear...

  
• 03.22.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 68 – Eureka moments with the Hadza? Ticks on the increase. Tarp knots for limited hand mobility. Striking matches with your teeth.

  Did I have any 'eureka moments' with the Hadza, and do I still use any skills I learned from them? What to do about ticks being on the increase? Tarp knot recommendations for people with limited hand mobility. Striking matches...

  
• 03.18.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 67 – Too Many Layers? Bushcraft For Young People. Fires In Deserts.

  I answer questions about too many layers, whether Bushcraft is an appropriate hobby for a 12-year-old, ideas for teaching simple bushcraft and camping skills to young people indoors during the winter, fires in deserts when you only have twigs, and...

  
• 03.13.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 66: How To Reach The Northern Forest, Generating Interest In Bushcraft, Multi-Purpose Bivvy Bags

  In this episode, I answer questions about how to get to the Northern Forest, how to combat loneliness on wilderness trips, how to get people interested in bushcraft, the many purposes of a bivvy bag and share some thoughts on...

  
• 02.23.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 65: Tips For Fires Under Tarps, More Bushcraft On TV, Typha Fibre Extraction

  In this episode, I answer questions on tips for having fires under tarps, will there or should there be more bushcraft on TV, what might the causes be of getting pumped forearms when making feathersticks, is there a best time...

  
• 02.16.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 64: My Best Bushcraft Moments of 2017, Introducing Kids To Canoe Camping, Bow Drill Material Selection, Match Storage

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I talk about my best bushcraft moment of 2017, some advice on introducing kids to canoe camping in Scotland, bow drill material selection troubleshooting, up-to-date alternatives to film canisters for match storage, some considerations for...

  
• 02.12.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 63: Water, Withies, Camp Routines, Compass Bubbles, Fire Saws & Edible Ant Larvae

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer questions about water purification protocols in areas where water is mostly clean to drink, how to use withies to create a tripod with canoe paddles, useful daily camp routines for personal admin and...

  
• 02.02.2018

  #AskPaulKirtley 62: Fires On Rock, Group Morale, Dangers of Wood Smoke and The Differences Between Traditional Scouting and Modern Bushcraft

  The appropriateness of having campfires on rock, what to do when group morale is low, a recommended magnifying glass for lighting tinders, the dangers of exposure to woodsmoke from campfires and the differences between traditional Scouting and modern bushcraft...

  
• 12.27.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley 61: Birch Polypore Strops, Favourite Wild Edibles, Axe Repairs

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about using birch polypore as a strop, the importance of reading the weather, which trees and plants to learn, what my favourite wild edibles are and running repairs on axes...

  
• 11.03.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 60 – Technology In The Way Of Outdoor Experiences, Knife Rust Prevention, Slug Invasions and Camp Set-Up Times

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer questions about computer time and technology getting in the way of outdoor experiences, bushcraft knife rust prevention, duvet jackets, water filtration combined with other methods, the time necessary to set up camp, what...

  
• 10.22.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 59 – Calculating Hiking Speed, Relevant First Aid, Eating Ribwort Plantain Seeds, Avoiding Midges

  I answer questions about camp seating if you can’t find a log nearby, the importance of first aid training and what to put into first aid kits, how to calculate how far you can hike plus keep track of your...

  
• 08.30.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 58 – Water Indicating Trees, Campfire Burn Out, Axe Re-hafting, Winter Hot-tent Set-ups, Chimney Effects, Bow Drill Ember Failure.

  In this episode of my #AskPaulKirtley question and answer sessions, I answer your questions on water-indicating trees, encouraging campfires to burn out completely, axe re-hafting in the field, ideal winter hot-tent set ups, potential chimney effects of fire reflectors and...

  
• 08.11.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 57 – Working On Bushcraft Skills & Knowledge At Home, Fitness For Wilderness Expeditions, Fire Plough In The Northern Temperate, Wild Teas Beyond Nettles

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about bad-tasting pine needle tea and toxic needled species of tree, working on bushcraft skills and knowledge indoors or at home, fire plough in the northern temperate zone, required fitness for my...

  
• 08.04.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 56 – Fire Reflectors, Sleep Rotation, Tarp Set-Ups & Kit Weight, Plants As Insect Repellents and Healing Agents

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about what plant can be used for a midge repellent, processing horse’s hoof fungus, tarp set-ups, kit weights and load outs, sleep rotation for fire watches, the efficacy of Platago major as...

  
• 06.30.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 55 – Longevity of Pathogenic Organisms, Magnifying Glass Specifications, Branches Dropping, Umbrellas, Resin Content in Bow-drills…

  In this episode, I answer questions about the longevity of pathogenic organisms in water containers, magnifying glass specifications for fire lighting, the dangers of branches dropping in woodland, umbrellas for bushcraft and camping, resin content in bow-drill materials, and shorts...

  
• 06.25.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 54 – Smoky Firewood, Hardened Hands, Evaporation For Water Purification, Iodine, Leatherworking and Bushcraft Philosophy

  In this episode of my Q&A show, I answer questions about surprisingly smoky firewood, clean clothes and hardened hands, water purification by evaporation, iodine for wounds and water, investing time in leatherworking skills, my philosophical starting point for bushcraft...

  
• 06.02.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 53 – LIVE at the 2017 Bushcraft Show

  This episode of #AskPaulKirtley was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2017 Bushcraft Show in Derbyshire, U.K. There was a wide range of questions from the audience, none of which were known to me before the session....

  
• 05.26.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 52: Reshaping Pocket Knives, Canoe Boots, Guyline Attachment Knots, Stomach Problems On Trips

  In this episode, I answer questions about changing boots on canoe trips, sharpening a knife with a secondary bevel, tidying up after harvesting dead, standing wood, knots for attaching guylines to tarps, billy can choices and handle clips, sickness and...

  
• 05.19.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 51 – Tarps & Canoes, Earning From Bushcraft Content, Dealing With Frowns, Veganism & Vegetarianism in Bushcraft

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer more of your questions, this time tackling using a tarp with a canoe, earning from bushcraft content, sleeping bag liners and avoiding sweat, dealing with frowns, strides for walking, vegetarianism and veganism within...

  
• 05.14.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 50 – Long Winter Evenings, Fire Safety, Stainless Pot Options, Dandelion Poisonous Lookalikes

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer questions about long winter evenings in camp, fire safety, when is safe to leave a fire, throwing coals into streams, billy cans vs other stainless pots, poisonous lookalikes to dandelions…

  
• 04.16.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 49 – Water Filters, Emergency Communications, Pignut Recipes & Being Useful On Canoe Trips

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about my preferred water filters, comms on solo canoe trips, how to make yourself useful on a trip when everyone else is more experienced, is hydrophobic down worth the premium and pignut...

  
• 02.11.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 48 – Bushcraft Instructing, Winter Wild Edibles, Uses Of Willow, Tool Sharpening and Bivvy Bag Use In The Open

  I answer questions about how to get into bushcraft instructing, what causes foam in streams, recommendations for winter wild edibles, uses of willow, braces or suspenders, tool sharpening at home and on the trail, and zipped bivvy bag use in...

  
• 01.24.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 47: Optimal Tinder Bundle Airflow, Tooth Problems, Keeping Kit Dry, Bushcraft Training Advice

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions on outfitting canoes, tooth problems on trips, finding wildlife while out wandering, saponins, chickweed and birch, blowing tinder bundles into flame (optimal positioning), keeping gear dry on hikes, bushcraft course advice, changing...

  
• 01.06.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 46: Bushcraft Events in 2017, Tinders For Flint & Steel, Shelter Roofs Holding Snow, Smocks vs Anoraks, Wild Camping (again)

  Bushcraft shows and events in 2017, tinders for flint and steel, shelter roof strong enough for snow, smocks vs anoraks with zips, woods for bushcraft activities in the UK, wild camping in North West England, being blinded by headlamps, foundational...

  
• 01.01.2017

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 45

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about bushcraft skills for a 9-year-old, leather belt kits over jackets, horse’s hoof fungus identification, tinder bundles and ember extenders, online bushcraft courses, bushcraft courses for Scout leaders, what makes a bushcraft...

  
• 12.17.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 44 – Choosing Companions For Trips, Food For Expeditions, Foraging For Calories, Hydration On Hikes, Tree and Plant ID Guides

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions about food for longer trips and expeditions, choosing expedition companions, foraging for calories, valuable lessons and learning from mistakes, tarp and bivvy for colder months, drinking while tramping in dry areas, tree...

  
• 11.18.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 43 – Traditional Crafts In Modern Outdoor Trips, Cheaper Full-Tang Knives, Places To Camp In The Woods

  In this episode I answer questions on integrating traditional crafts into modern outdoor trips, how to stop people leaving rubbish at campsites, washing, cooking and camping in bear country, outdoor clothing sizes and where to buy, how young is too...

  
• 11.13.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 42 – Weird Encounters At Night, Drugs Tests, Predators and Wild Edibles

  Weird encounters at night, drying clothes, drugs tests and foraging, bow drill notch details, predators and rewilding, carcinogenic campfires, learning more about wild edibles...

  
• 11.06.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 41 – Winter Bushcraft And Outdoor Life Questions

  In this episode I cover carbon monoxide and winter shelters, candles for quinzhees, snow shelter construction, toilets in cold weather, sweaty clothes, food for exhausting day hikes, wilderness ski touring and anoraks for cold weather…

  
• 10.09.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 40 – One Thing For Wilderness Survival, Learning Fungi, Time Management On Trips, Oak Bark For Tinder, Knots & Lashings

  In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I answer questions on how to learn more about fungi, the ONE thing that will see me survive in the wilds, time management on trips, badger latrines, processing oak bark for tinder, knots and lashings...

  
• 09.30.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 39 – Wilderness Water Sources & Water Purification

  In this episode I answer a bunch of questions about water. What are the advantages of Millbank bags? Can you use a bandanna to filter water? Do Steripens work? How do you deal with herbicides and pesticides...

  
• 09.23.2016

  #AskPaulKirtley Episode 38 – Carbon Steel Knives & Flint, Boots, 3-Season Sleeping Bags, How To Know When You Know Enough, Plus My Take On A Survival Scenario

  Questions about boots for bushcraft, 3-season sleeping bag choices, carbon steel knives and flint for sparks, how to avoid shredding your knuckles while using a firesteel, long distance hiking, lightweight gear and bushcraft, how do I know when do you...