About this podcast
Primitive Camping & Bushcraft is a weekly podcast hosted by Chris Speir, outdoorsman, author, and founder of the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft community. Each episode explores practical camping skills, bushcraft, gear that actually works, lessons learned from the field, stories from the campfire, and conversations inspired by thousands of outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're building your first fire or refining decades of experience, this podcast is about learning, sharing knowledge, and enjoying life outdoors.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 90 episodes
- How to Choose a Campsite: Look Up, Look Down, Look Around · 35 min · Episode 78A good-looking campsite isn’t always a good place to spend the night, and I learned that the hard way when rising river water flooded a camping trip with my boys. In this…
- Primitive Camping & Bushcraft: Less Gear, Better Campouts · 34 min · Episode 77I’m digging into primitive camping, bushcraft fire starting, hammock setups, and questions from our Facebook group, with a Mississippi cottonmouth encounter thrown in. We also…
- Batoning Wood: When It Makes Sense and When It Doesn't · 30 min · Episode 76Batoning wood is one of those bushcraft topics that quickly divides the camp, but the real question is not whether the technique is good or bad. Chris breaks down the different…
- What Is the Point of Bushcraft If Modern Gear Works Better? · 47 min · Episode 75Modern backpacking gear is lighter, stronger, and more comfortable than ever, so what is the real point of bushcraft anymore? In this episode, Chris breaks down the difference…
- The Backpack Debate: What 500 Comments Revealed · 37 min · Episode 74A simple Facebook post about a backpack sparked nearly 500 comments and revealed that the real discussion wasn't about gear at all. From ultralight hikers to military veterans…
- Would You Build a Raised Bed for Camping? · 27 min · Episode 73A simple photo of a raised bed sparked a surprisingly deep discussion inside the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Facebook Group. In this episode, Chris Speir explores the debate…
- Mosquito Control: What Actually Works? · 27 min · Episode 72Mosquitoes can turn a great camping trip into a miserable experience, and every outdoorsman seems to have a different opinion on how to deal with them. In this episode, Chris…
- From Gimmick to Essential: Campers Share Their Favorites · 26 min · Episode 71A simple question in the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Facebook group sparked a huge discussion: what piece of gear did you think was a gimmick until you actually tried it? In…
- Are Hiking Chairs Worth Carrying? The Group Weighs In · 31 min · Episode 70This week I dive into one of the biggest discussions happening inside the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Facebook group: are lightweight hiking chairs worth carrying or just extra…
- Primitive Camping by Kayak · 34 min · Episode 69Primitive Camping by Kayak looks at how traveling by water changes the way you plan routes, pack gear, and choose campsites. This episode breaks down why kayaks are practical…
- Shelter Done Right · 20 minShelter is the first fight you win in the woods, and this episode walks you through clothing, site selection, and five proven shelter builds using both natural material and a…
- Cold Nights Don’t Lie · 35 min · Episode 68I break down a cold night where my military grade sleeping bag couldn’t save me from a simple mistake in my sleep system. This episode shows exactly what went wrong, what the…
- Fundamental Friday: Camp Lighting Systems · 14 min · Episode 67This episode walks through the solar lanterns, crank lights, and backup power sources I actually use on the river and in the woods. You’ll hear the pros, the failures, and the…
- Solar, Inflatable, Rechargeable. The Camp Lights That Never Quit · 40 min · Episode 66This episode breaks down the lighting system I rely on after years of forgetting flashlights and stumbling through camp in the dark. I walk through the exact lanterns that earned…
- Trusting the Compass When the Woods Get Thick · 10 minA straight walk through real woods shows how far a simple baseplate compass can take you when your phone dies and the map is all you’ve got. This episode breaks down the gear…
- Topographic Maps and Compass Skills Most Campers Overlook · 35 min · Episode 65While hiking five miles out with no cell service, Chris lost his only map and had to rely completely on a pre-set compass bearing to find his way back to the truck. In this…
- From Ember to Blaze: Lessons from the Bow Drill · 28 min · Episode 64In this episode of the Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Podcast, Chris takes you from the smell of fair food and meeting listeners to the quiet focus of bow-drill fire craft…
- Is Your Fire Kit Missing These 5 Essential Bushcraft Tools? · 14 minIn this Fundamental Friday episode, Chris breaks down the Primitive Camping Fire Starter Kit piece by piece, showing how to use fatwood, ferro rods, char cloth, and fire plugs to…
- That time I forgot my light · 31 min · Episode 63A quiet evening hunt turns into a full blown adrenaline dump when Chris realizes he forgot his flashlight and something massive is growling in the dark. What starts as a gear…
- Burning More Than Wood: How to Keep Your Energy in the Wild · 35 min · Episode 62Chris dives into one of the most overlooked parts of primitive camping—fueling your body. He breaks down how to plan meals by calorie count, what foods actually keep you going in…
