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Bushcraft Illustrated: A Visual Guide
“An appealing coffee table book.” —The Wall Street Journal
From Dave Canterbury—wilderness expert, New York Times bestselling author, and YouTube sensation—comes a fully illustrated guide to everything you need to know to hone your bushcraft, or wilderness survival skills, from types of shelter, to useful tools, to edible plants—and much more!
Before you venture into the wilderness, learn exactly what you need to bring and what you need to know with this ultimate outdoor reference guide, by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury. Filled with more than 300 illustrations, Bushcraft Illustrated showcases the necessary tools and skills for an awesome outdoor adventure, including such
Learn the different types and how to craft and pack your own.
Essential knot knowledge for outdoor survival.
How to start a fire with a variety of materials.
Tips for catching small game.
A catalog of edible plants to forage.
…And much more! With its many helpful illustrations and detailed, easy-to-follow instructions, this illustrated Bushcraft guide is a must-have for the seasoned outdoor lover and adventure novice alike!
From Dave Canterbury—wilderness expert, New York Times bestselling author, and YouTube sensation—comes a fully illustrated guide to everything you need to know to hone your bushcraft, or wilderness survival skills, from types of shelter, to useful tools, to edible plants—and much more!
Before you venture into the wilderness, learn exactly what you need to bring and what you need to know with this ultimate outdoor reference guide, by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury. Filled with more than 300 illustrations, Bushcraft Illustrated showcases the necessary tools and skills for an awesome outdoor adventure, including such
Learn the different types and how to craft and pack your own.
Essential knot knowledge for outdoor survival.
How to start a fire with a variety of materials.
Tips for catching small game.
A catalog of edible plants to forage.
…And much more! With its many helpful illustrations and detailed, easy-to-follow instructions, this illustrated Bushcraft guide is a must-have for the seasoned outdoor lover and adventure novice alike!
252 pages, Hardcover
Published May 7, 2019
559 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 15, 2022
This book tried to cover a bunch of topics, but did not go into depth on any. Many of the pictures are not useful and the corresponding descriptions are short and vague. A nice idea, but poorly executed.
May 20, 2019
I like this book but I'm also slightly disappointed by it and I'm going to nitpick it a bit, even though I ultimately will use it and think most people will find valuable.
On the one hand, it is well-organised and signposted, the writing is clear and succinct, and it is thorough in its approach; early on, we learn how to build several types of bag/satchel/backpack. There is an illustration of the tang-types of knife blades and types of axe head and how to start a fire. All solid bushcraft stuff.
But at the same time I couldn't help think that some of these illustrations were a little superfluous. Sometimes you'll get, say, a series of images of metal cookware. Why? Do all trail pro cook sets have to look like that? What is the function of these illustrations?
Moreover, was a six-box table necessary to illustrate how to open and close a hinged pocket knife? Why is a ceramic rod included - are they widely used?
Perhaps the book will be used by kids and so the detailed instructions for opening and closing a hinged blade were warranted; and perhaps there are many who use ceramic rods, or might like to. I must, and do, bow to his experience and knowledge; it must be me, not him.
I wonder too how useful it is to illustrate how to buck a log with an axe in a series of sometimes slightly confusing images when we can pull a video up in seconds showing us how it is done. The illustrated guide is an improvement from Canterbury's text-only (rightly) celebrated 'boxed set' of bushcraft books but there's still room for improvement (even if its churlish to criticise a book for not being a video).
It lives in a rarefied world of exclusive, hand-made tools and arcane practices (how many of us will build our own pack I don't know). But perhaps that's the point - and I'm missing it? It's old school, and there's a thread throughout its pages that conjures a sense of the purity, the sanctity and importance of authenticity of bushcraft.
It's very far removed from buying a Schrade 16" bowie from Amazon and using it to cumbersomely cut up the Amazon box it came in. And although I don't completely share its reverence for bushcraft in quite the same way, and I'm a bit less exclusive in my taste for tools and practices, it's a better book for its philosophy.
On the one hand, it is well-organised and signposted, the writing is clear and succinct, and it is thorough in its approach; early on, we learn how to build several types of bag/satchel/backpack. There is an illustration of the tang-types of knife blades and types of axe head and how to start a fire. All solid bushcraft stuff.
But at the same time I couldn't help think that some of these illustrations were a little superfluous. Sometimes you'll get, say, a series of images of metal cookware. Why? Do all trail pro cook sets have to look like that? What is the function of these illustrations?
Moreover, was a six-box table necessary to illustrate how to open and close a hinged pocket knife? Why is a ceramic rod included - are they widely used?
Perhaps the book will be used by kids and so the detailed instructions for opening and closing a hinged blade were warranted; and perhaps there are many who use ceramic rods, or might like to. I must, and do, bow to his experience and knowledge; it must be me, not him.
I wonder too how useful it is to illustrate how to buck a log with an axe in a series of sometimes slightly confusing images when we can pull a video up in seconds showing us how it is done. The illustrated guide is an improvement from Canterbury's text-only (rightly) celebrated 'boxed set' of bushcraft books but there's still room for improvement (even if its churlish to criticise a book for not being a video).
It lives in a rarefied world of exclusive, hand-made tools and arcane practices (how many of us will build our own pack I don't know). But perhaps that's the point - and I'm missing it? It's old school, and there's a thread throughout its pages that conjures a sense of the purity, the sanctity and importance of authenticity of bushcraft.
It's very far removed from buying a Schrade 16" bowie from Amazon and using it to cumbersomely cut up the Amazon box it came in. And although I don't completely share its reverence for bushcraft in quite the same way, and I'm a bit less exclusive in my taste for tools and practices, it's a better book for its philosophy.
April 6, 2021
Basic illustrations without added value
I bought the illustrated version thinking illustrations would bring more useful visualisation of some technics, but 90% are just basic drawing not adding value to the description.
I bought the illustrated version thinking illustrations would bring more useful visualisation of some technics, but 90% are just basic drawing not adding value to the description.
January 12, 2026
I bought this book in an Alaskan bookstore. I thought it would be interesting to read, and I was correct. It's been a few years since I bought it, but I figured now would be a good time.
Bushcraft Illustrated: A Visual Guide is a book on survival skills and techniques written by Dave Canterbury. Canterbury lists all the essential equipment you need to survive in the wilderness. What you don't carry in with you, you can make from the material you find in the woods.
Along the way, Canterbury emphasizes caring for your tools and wielding those tools safely. All the advice has a little picture indicating what he means.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Bushcraft Illustrated: A Visual Guide is a book on survival skills and techniques written by Dave Canterbury. Canterbury lists all the essential equipment you need to survive in the wilderness. What you don't carry in with you, you can make from the material you find in the woods.
Along the way, Canterbury emphasizes caring for your tools and wielding those tools safely. All the advice has a little picture indicating what he means.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
March 12, 2020
Useful, but it really needed more (and better) illustrations, possibly including arrows in the folding instructions. Also there were some specific jargon words that were never fully explained; some could be understood from context, if much later (a "browse bag" is not for holding stuff you see and decide to keep for later, but to hold "browse", which is apparently leafy material, I think, used for padding?)
May 8, 2019
He's done it again.
Well, just as you'd expect from Dave, another informative and engaging read filled with detailed and relevant information. No random unnecessary trips down memory lane justify himself. Just pure, unadulterated Bushcraft knowledge. Thanks for another great book. #GoWild
Well, just as you'd expect from Dave, another informative and engaging read filled with detailed and relevant information. No random unnecessary trips down memory lane justify himself. Just pure, unadulterated Bushcraft knowledge. Thanks for another great book. #GoWild
September 5, 2020
While this book provides lovely basic diagrams that many other bushcraft and outdoor books would do well to include, it misses the mark fro me in that their is not enough good quality content paired with the diagrams.
Still on the lookout for a great camp craft book that pairs information with informative diagrams and pictures!
Still on the lookout for a great camp craft book that pairs information with informative diagrams and pictures!
September 11, 2024
Awesome!
I thought that I enjoyed the regular Bushcraft guides from Canterbury, but this visual guide is awesome! Laid out in a simple to read manor, this book uses a ton of illustrations to inform the reader on everything from pack style, knife points, animal signs, and plants. A must-have reference for those interested in Bushcraft and survival skills.
I thought that I enjoyed the regular Bushcraft guides from Canterbury, but this visual guide is awesome! Laid out in a simple to read manor, this book uses a ton of illustrations to inform the reader on everything from pack style, knife points, animal signs, and plants. A must-have reference for those interested in Bushcraft and survival skills.
December 12, 2019
Bushcraft Anthology
The content and various topics is great anthology of Canterbury's last four publications. Where this book really falls short is with the illustrations. They are crudly detailed, making difficult to decifer it's contents.
The content and various topics is great anthology of Canterbury's last four publications. Where this book really falls short is with the illustrations. They are crudly detailed, making difficult to decifer it's contents.
March 18, 2020
Well written and very easy to understand as a newby
Dave does a great job of covering many of the topics needed for Bushcraft. Easy to follow and understand. Wish titles for different items didn't wrap to next page
Dave does a great job of covering many of the topics needed for Bushcraft. Easy to follow and understand. Wish titles for different items didn't wrap to next page
November 2, 2020
Great book
I really enjoyed reading it and can't wait to learn more..it is a must read for kids and adults..great topics.
I really enjoyed reading it and can't wait to learn more..it is a must read for kids and adults..great topics.
January 27, 2021
I enjoyed this book, but it’s more of a companion to Dave’s other Bushcraft books. It’s light on how to details, but filled with some nice drawings of the subject.
February 23, 2022
Decent reference
November 3, 2025
Well thought out Bushcraft primer
Full of pictures which complement the text well. Information presented in concise clear ( easy to understand) segments. Well worth the read!!!
Full of pictures which complement the text well. Information presented in concise clear ( easy to understand) segments. Well worth the read!!!
January 20, 2021
Adding the softcover version to my collection. A bunch of this I learned as a kid, and it is in permanent memory, but some of it I have never practiced, and therefore may need a field reference. Good stuff.
May 25, 2023
I love the old school boy scout/ Army manual aesthetic and illustrations, especially the one for gutting a rabbit without a knife. The information is straightforward with no fluff. This is a bit of a downside in some parts however, where vital details seem omitted.
Format-wise, not ideal for the field, but great for studying on the crapper.
Format-wise, not ideal for the field, but great for studying on the crapper.
January 18, 2021
Good addition to your bookshelf and know-how if you are interested either in bushcraft or outdoor skills in general. I would probably suggest reading Centerburys series on Bushcraft as those books have way more in-depth information, however this can be sort of a synopsis or shorter version of those. Nice to have, good info, sometimes its better to have a book than rely on watch hours of youtube.
August 20, 2023
This book was a great gift from my girlfriend that I really enjoyed. The content present here is very well written and illustrated. There is an issue however, and it's that there's not enough information about bushcraft here to fully cover the bases of the craft.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews