The color of your outdoor gear might not be the first thing on your mind when preparing for a wilderness expedition. Yet, as bushcraft expert Paul Kirtley argues in his video, Why Your Critical Bushcraft Items Should Be Orange, the hues of your tools can significantly impact your outdoor experience and safety.
A Natural Palette Isn’t Always Practical
Kirtley begins by acknowledging the aesthetic appeal of natural, earthy tones in bushcraft gear, which often come in muted greens and browns. While these colors may look great and feel more ‘authentic’ to some outdoor enthusiasts, they have a major downside: they are easy to lose in a wooded or natural environment. Whether it’s custom knives with brown leather sheaths or green tarps, such items blend easily with the foliage, making them hard to find if dropped or misplaced.
Seasons and Scenarios Matter
He notes that natural settings can change colors with the seasons, pointing out bracken browning and the dropping leaves of beech trees as examples. Therefore, he offers his students a choice between green or bright orange knives during courses. Kirtley argues that there’s a strong case for key pieces of equipment to be brightly colored, especially in environments where the stakes are high.
Tradition Versus Practicality
Kirtley observes that high-visibility colors are not new in the realm of essential gear. Items like Perry whistles, survival bags, and hunting hats have long been made in vivid colors like bright orange. Yet, he stresses that this principle should extend to other critical tools like knives. Even if you’re hunting, where camouflage is essential, Kirtley mentions that prey animals generally don’t see well in the orange spectrum. In contrast, predators like birds have excellent color vision.
Real-World Applications
In his teaching and travels, including recent trips to Canada, Australia, and Arizona, Kirtley has started opting for tools with bright sheaths or handles. Color choice is not just theoretical for him; he has successfully applied it to his outdoor expeditions. He even suggests adding bright lanyards to items like green laplander saws and black-handled ferro rods for fire-starting.
The Details Matter
Beyond just tools, Kirtley has extended the high-visibility approach to other functional items, such as bandanas. An orange bandana can serve multiple purposes, from wiping sweat to filtering water, and enhances visibility in emergencies.
Broadening the Scope
While Kirtley doesn’t endorse any particular brands, he has personally opted for orange Exotac covers for his Bic lighters and stresses that fire equipment is particularly important to keep visible.
See For Yourself…
Kirtley invites discussion and sharing of experiences around gear color choice, noting that he will explore the topic further in upcoming content.
Choosing gear with high-visibility colors like bright orange isn’t just a matter of personal preference; it’s a practical choice that could make a real difference in an outdoor or emergency situation. Paul Kirtley’s experience and insights serve as a valuable reminder of this often-overlooked aspect of wilderness preparedness.
Watch his video, which is embedded below. See for yourself, take a view and, if you want, join the discussion on his channel…
Who is Paul Kirtley?
Paul Kirtley Wikipedia listing
Kevin Callan’s Whisky Fireside Chat interview of Paul Kirtley