Videos

I Found Nessmuk's Favorite Headlamp! (It's Genius)

George Washington Sears, better known as Nessmuk, was one of the most influential outdoorsmen of the 19th century—and when it came to portable lighting, he had very strong opinions.
In this episode of Following Nessmuk, I take a close look at the Ferguson Lamp, an early head-mounted lamp that Nessmuk spoke very highly of, saying there was “none better.”
I’ll show you how this fascinating 1880s headlamp works, how the headstrap arrangement is worn, and how the lamp can also be mounted to a canoe and used as a traditional jack light.
I even had a tinsmith reproduce the jack-light attachment so we could see how this forgotten system would have worked in actual use.
Then we take the Ferguson Lamp out after dark.
You’ll see:
- How the lamp is lit
- How the flame is adjusted
- How to prevent it from smoking
- How much light it actually produces
- How the head-mounted setup works in real conditions
- How the same lamp could be adapted for use on a canoe
For something designed more than a century before modern LED headlamps, the Ferguson Lamp is an incredibly clever piece of outdoor equipment.
This is one of the most interesting pieces of Nessmuk-era gear I’ve recreated so far, and another example of just how advanced some 19th-century camping equipment really was.
If you enjoy historical camping, traditional bushcraft, antique outdoor gear, Nessmuk, George Washington Sears, and forgotten wilderness technology, be sure to subscribe to WayPoint Survival for more episodes in the Following Nessmuk series.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Nessmuk #Bushcraft #HistoricalCamping

George Washington Sears, better known as Nessmuk, was one of the most influential outdoorsmen of the 19th century—and when it came to portable lighting, he had very strong opinions.
In this episode of Following Nessmuk, I take a close look at the Ferguson Lamp, an early head-mounted lamp that Nessmuk spoke very highly of, saying there was “none better.”
I’ll show you how this fascinating 1880s headlamp works, how the headstrap arrangement is worn, and how the lamp can also be mounted to a canoe and used as a traditional jack light.
I even had a tinsmith reproduce the jack-light attachment so we could see how this forgotten system would have worked in actual use.
Then we take the Ferguson Lamp out after dark.
You’ll see:
- How the lamp is lit
- How the flame is adjusted
- How to prevent it from smoking
- How much light it actually produces
- How the head-mounted setup works in real conditions
- How the same lamp could be adapted for use on a canoe
For something designed more than a century before modern LED headlamps, the Ferguson Lamp is an incredibly clever piece of outdoor equipment.
This is one of the most interesting pieces of Nessmuk-era gear I’ve recreated so far, and another example of just how advanced some 19th-century camping equipment really was.
If you enjoy historical camping, traditional bushcraft, antique outdoor gear, Nessmuk, George Washington Sears, and forgotten wilderness technology, be sure to subscribe to WayPoint Survival for more episodes in the Following Nessmuk series.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Nessmuk #Bushcraft #HistoricalCamping

I Found Nessmuk's Favorite Headlamp! (It's Genius)

Thanks to BRUNT for sponsoring this video! Get $10 off your first purchase at https://brunt.yt.link/PTbzUt1 using code WAYPOINT10.

What did a traditional camping setup look like nearly 150 years ago? In this episode of Following Nessmuk, we recreate the fascinating blanket roll used by legendary outdoorsman George Washington Sears — better known as Nessmuk.
Nessmuk was practicing lightweight camping long before “ultralight” became a modern outdoor movement. His blanket roll was remarkably simple, but it contained some very important pieces of his wilderness equipment.
In this video, we'll take a close look at the items associated with Nessmuk's blanket roll, including:
• His wool blanket-bag, made by folding a blanket in half and sewing the long side while leaving both ends open
• His famous double-bit hatchet
• A revolver
• His long gum coat, which provided protection from wet weather and wrapped around the outfit to form the roll
The gum coat is especially interesting because Nessmuk mentions it several times in his Forest and Stream writings from his first cruise in the Nessmuk, his small green-painted canoe.
Rather than carrying unnecessary equipment, Sears carefully selected gear that was lightweight, practical and capable of performing multiple jobs. It was all part of his famous philosophy of “smoothing it” rather than “roughing it.”
So could this simple 19th-century blanket roll still teach us something about traditional camping today?
Join me as we reconstruct Nessmuk's blanket roll, examine what he carried, and continue building out the remarkable lightweight camping outfit of George Washington Sears.
If you enjoy traditional camping, classic camping, bushcraft, historical camping gear, 19th-century outdoor equipment and the history of lightweight camping, subscribe to WayPoint Survival and follow the complete Following Nessmuk series.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Nessmuk #TraditionalCamping #Bushcraft #CampingHistory #WayPointSurvival

Is This the Ultimate Traditional Camping Setup? Nessmuk’s Blanket Roll!

Power Out, Jackery On. The NEW Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus V2 is here! Check it out at @Jackeryusa In this video, I take a close look at Jackery's latest expandable portable power station and put it to the test to see how it performs for home backup power, emergency preparedness, camping, off-grid use and more.

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The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus V2 packs a 2048Wh LiFePO4 battery with 2400W of continuous AC output and up to 4800W surge power. It can also be expanded with additional battery packs for up to 12kWh of storage, making this much more than just a small camping power station.

But specifications only tell part of the story. In this video, we'll take a look at the features, outputs, charging options, portability and real-world performance of the HomePower 2000 Plus V2 to find out whether this new Jackery is really worth considering.

Whether you're preparing for power outages, looking for emergency backup power for your home, building an off-grid power system, or simply want portable electricity for camping and outdoor adventures, this is one power station you're going to want to see in action.

FEATURES:
• 2048Wh LiFePO4 battery
• 2400W AC output
• 4800W surge output
• Expandable up to 12kWh
• 6000+ battery cycles
• Up to 800W solar input
• 140W USB-C output
• Multiple AC, USB and DC outputs
• Designed for home backup, emergencies and portable power

Watch as I put the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus V2 through its paces and see whether it deserves a place in your emergency preparedness setup!

If you enjoy practical survival skills, emergency preparedness, camping, bushcraft and gear testing, be sure to subscribe to WayPoint Survival.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus V2: Is This the Ultimate Home Backup Power Station?

Thanks to BRUNT for sponsoring this video! Get $10 off your first purchase at https://brunt.yt.link/0ImETwy using code WAYPOINT10.

What's inside a 19th century camping kit? In this third episode of Following Nessmuk, we take a detailed look at the complete lightweight camping outfit of George Washington Sears—better known by his pen name, Nessmuk.

Using the gear and supplies Nessmuk described in his famous 1884 book Woodcraft and accounts of his Adirondack canoe trips, I've brought together the individual pieces to recreate what his remarkably lightweight camping outfit may have looked like.

One of the highlights is Nessmuk's custom five-piece tinware cook set. My reproduction was handmade by tinsmith Josh Wilson and, is just as close to Nessmuk's description as we could make it!

We'll unpack the knapsack and examine the small bags and containers used for tea, sugar, pocket duffle and other necessities, along with his shelter cloth, spare clothing, food such as pork bacon and bread, and the ditty bag featured in the previous episode.

You'll also see some fascinating pieces of 19th century fishing equipment—including an antique trout lure stored inside a glass bottle and protected by a wooden carrying tube.

Nessmuk was practicing lightweight camping more than 140 years ago. His philosophy wasn't about “roughing it,” but rather “smoothing it”—carrying carefully selected equipment that made life in the woods more comfortable without burdening the traveler with unnecessary weight.

This reconstruction combines items Nessmuk documented in multiple writings rather than representing a single surviving inventory packed at one particular time. By bringing those references together, we can get a fascinating look at what a complete Nessmuk-style camping outfit could have looked like in the 1880s.

If you enjoy historical camping, traditional bushcraft, vintage outdoor gear and forgotten woodsman's skills, subscribe and follow along as we continue FOLLOWING NESSMUK!

Thanks for watching WayPoint Survival!

The other videos in the series:

1. The Nessmuk Trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9hvhiGrKSo&t=123s

2. His Hunting Pouch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zooDm8Wrhvw

Link to Logsdon and Company: https://www.logsdonandco.com/

Link to Nessmuk's Sporting Goods Store: https://www.nessmuksltd.com/

Woodcraft and Camping Book: https://amzn.to/4x1l8bE

Canoeing the Adirondacks with Nessmuk Book: https://amzn.to/4wVSTek

Condor Nessmuk Knife: https://amzn.to/46x3IJ2

Marbles Double Bit Hatchet: https://amzn.to/4yg8jLL

Moose Pattern Pocket Knife: https://amzn.to/3SymWLe

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Nessmuk #Bushcraft #VintageCamping

What's In A 19th Century Camping Kit? Nessmuk's Complete Kit!

What did legendary outdoorsman George Washington Sears, better known as “Nessmuk,” actually carry in his hunting pouch—and could his remarkably compact 19th-century woods kit still be considered an almost perfect bushcraft kit today?

In this episode of Following Nessmuk, I recreate the contents of the small chamois leather “ditty bag” and buckskin hunting pouch that Sears described in his own writings.

In this episode of Following Nessmuk, I recreate the remarkable collection of items Sears described carrying in his small buckskin bullet or hunting pouch—including the little chamois leather “ditty bag” he kept inside it.

Nessmuk left us an unusually detailed inventory. His ditty bag measured only about 4 × 6 inches and, fully loaded, which he said weighed just 2½ ounces! Yet inside he carried fishing hooks and lines, sewing and darning supplies, buttons, thread, yarn, sticking salve, shoemaker's wax, beeswax, sinkers and even a tiny file for sharpening fishhooks.

But that wasn't all.

His hunting pouch also carried his fly medicine, pain killer, snelled hooks, waterproof match safe, compass, cordage, pieces of linen and scarlet flannel, copper tacks and what he called other “light duffle.” A sheath sewn to the back of the pouch kept his light hunting knife close at hand.

Sears wrote that he wore this little buckskin pouch “almost as constantly as my hat,” calling it about as handy a piece of woods-kit as he carried.

Using Nessmuk's own writings as my guide, I've tried to reproduce his instructions and contents as closely as possible using historically appropriate items.

For a man famous for traveling light, this little pouch reveals a lot about Nessmuk's approach to camping, fishing, hunting, repair and preparedness in the 19th-century wilderness.

If you enjoy traditional camping, historical outdoor gear, bushcraft, survival skills and recreating the equipment of legendary woodsmen, subscribe and follow along as we continue Following Nessmuk.

What item in Nessmuk's hunting pouch surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments!

Link to Nessmuk's Sporting Goods Store: https://www.nessmuksltd.com/

Woodcraft and Camping Book: https://amzn.to/4x1l8bE

Canoeing the Adirondacks with Nessmuk Book: https://amzn.to/4wVSTek

Condor Nessmuk Knife: https://amzn.to/46x3IJ2

Marbles Double Bit Hatchet: https://amzn.to/4yg8jLL

Moose Pattern Pocket Knife: https://amzn.to/3SymWLe

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Nessmuk #GeorgeWashingtonSears #TraditionalCamping #Bushcraft #CampingGear #HistoricalCamping #WayPointSurvival

Is This the Perfect Bushcraft Kit? Nessmuk’s Ditty Bag Revealed!

George Washington Sears, better known as “Nessmuk,” was one of America's most influential early outdoorsmen and camping writers. More than 140 years ago, he advocated traveling light, carrying carefully selected equipment and, as he famously put it, “smoothing it” rather than roughing it in the wilderness.

In this first episode of Following Nessmuk, we take a close look at three of the most famous pieces of equipment associated with his lightweight camping system — the tools now commonly known as the Nessmuk Trio.

The trio consists of a lightweight double-bit pocket axe, a thin-bladed sheath knife and a strong two-bladed pocket knife. Rather than carrying one large, heavy cutting tool, Nessmuk selected different lightweight tools for different jobs around camp.

In this video, we'll examine all three, including:

• Nessmuk's unusual double-bit pocket axe
• His distinctive thin-bladed hunting and camp knife
• The two-bladed folding pocket knife
• What each tool was intended to accomplish
• Why Nessmuk rejected the heavy knives and axes common in his day
• How these three tools fit his philosophy of lightweight wilderness travel
• Why the “Nessmuk Trio” continues to influence bushcrafters and traditional campers today

This is just the beginning.

Throughout the Following Nessmuk series, I'll be researching and recreating the clothing, tools, camping equipment, canoe gear and woodcraft techniques used by George Washington Sears during the late 19th century. Ultimately, the goal is to take this equipment into the wilderness and experience canoe camping in a manner much closer to the way Nessmuk actually did it.

If you enjoy traditional camping, bushcraft, historical outdoor equipment and forgotten wilderness skills, be sure to subscribe and follow along!

What do you think of the Nessmuk Trio? Would you carry these three tools into the woods today?

Woodcraft and Camping Book: https://amzn.to/4x1l8bE

Canoeing the Adirondacks with Nessmuk Book: https://amzn.to/4wVSTek

Condor Nessmuk Knife: https://amzn.to/46x3IJ2

Marbles Double Bit Hatchet: https://amzn.to/4yg8jLL

Moose Pattern Pocket Knife: https://amzn.to/3SymWLe

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Nessmuk #Bushcraft #TraditionalCamping

Nessmuk’s Useful Kit: The Only 3 Tools You Need in the Woods

Thanks to Tecovas for sponsoring this video! Visit https://tecovas.yt.link/HUgRlsA to get your new favorite pair of boots today!

How did hobos, farmers and working people protect a glass water bottle back in the 1930s?

In this video, I recreate a forgotten Depression-era glass water bottle carrier using the kind of simple, readily available materials that could have been found and repurposed at the time.

Using an old glass Clorox bottle, a large No. 10 tin can, burlap, copper wire and an old coat hanger, I'll show you how this ingenious carrier can be made with basic hand tools.

For a hobo traveling by freight train, a glass bottle presented an obvious problem. It needed protection from bumps and impacts while still being easy to carry from place to place and into the hobo jungle. Similar practical solutions also found a home around farms and other working environments where people learned to make useful equipment from materials they already had.

It's a great example of the old-fashioned philosophy of:

Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do—or do without!

More than 90 years later, this simple water carrier can still be made and used today.

If you enjoy forgotten outdoor skills, hobo history, Depression-era ingenuity, vintage camping equipment and practical DIY projects, be sure to subscribe to WayPoint Survival for more!

Please remember to LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE for more historical camping, survival, bushcraft and forgotten outdoor skills from WayPoint Survival.

I'm also excited to announce that I'll soon be offering a Modern Hobo Survival Course at the WayPoint Survival School, where we'll put these same skills into practice in the field.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#HoboHistory #1930s #ForgottenSkills #DIY #WayPointSurvival

A Forgotten 1930s Water Carrier You Can Still Make Today!

What can you make from an old bleach jug, a little duct tape and some string? As it turns out, a surprisingly tough one-gallon hobo water canteen!

In this video, I show you how to make a simple Hobo Jug Canteen, an ingenious piece of improvised gear shared with me by my friend Craig, who has spent decades living the hobo lifestyle.

Using little more than a cast-off gallon jug, duct tape, string, a lighter, a small nail and a Sharpie, we'll turn something most people would throw away into a lightweight and durable water carrier.

This is the kind of practical ingenuity that has always fascinated me about hobo life: use what you have, make what you need, and spend as little money as possible.

I'll take you through the entire build step by step, including how the cord carrier is laid out and attached so the jug can be carried much more easily around camp or while traveling.

If you enjoy forgotten outdoor skills, hobo history, survival projects, bushcraft and inexpensive DIY camping gear, be sure to subscribe to WayPoint Survival for more!

NOTE: If repurposing any chemical container for drinking water, research the container material and previous contents carefully and make sure it can be safely cleaned and reused for potable water. When in doubt, start with a new food-grade gallon jug and use the same carrier technique.

In this video you will learn about:

1. Hobo water-carrying ingenuity
2. DIY gallon water carrier
3. Improvised camping gear
4. Duct tape and cord construction
5. Recycled camping equipment
6. Cheap survival gear
7. Traditional hobo skills
8. Practical outdoor DIY projects

Please remember to LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE for more historical camping, survival, bushcraft and forgotten outdoor skills from WayPoint Survival.

I'm also excited to announce that I'll soon be offering a Modern Hobo Survival Course at the WayPoint Survival School, where we'll put these same skills into practice in the field.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#Hobo #HoboLife #DIY #Survival #Bushcraft

This Old Hobo Canteen Is Made From a Trashed Bottle!

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I spent the last 30 days making homemade hobo camping gear from simple, inexpensive materials. Now it's time to put ALL of it to the ultimate test — an overnight campout!

In this final episode of the 30 Day Hobo Challenge, I head into the woods carrying the gear I've made throughout the series and find out whether it can actually get me through the night.

My shelter is a tent made from a king-size cotton bed sheet that I waterproofed myself. My sleeping bag started life as an inexpensive packing blanket. My pack sack was made from a pillowcase and waterproofed, and the rest of my gear is carried in a traditional-style hobo bedroll.

And then there's the cook set!

For supper and breakfast, I cook with the frying pan I made from an old tin can. Coffee is brewed in my homemade tin-can coffee pot and enjoyed from another tin can fitted with a simple handle.

Over the last several episodes, you've watched me make this gear one piece at a time. But making homemade camping equipment on a workbench is one thing. Spending the night in the woods with it is something else entirely!

Will the bedsheet tent keep me sheltered?

Will the packing-blanket sleeping bag keep me comfortable?

Will the homemade pack sack and bedroll carry everything I need?

And can a cook set made from discarded tin cans really prepare my meals and morning coffee?

This is the episode the entire 30 Day Hobo Challenge has been building toward — THE HOBO CAMPOUT!

Thanks for following along with this series and joining me for the final test. If you've enjoyed the 30 Day Hobo Challenge, let me know in the comments which piece of homemade hobo gear was your favorite!

Please remember to LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE for more historical camping, survival, bushcraft and forgotten outdoor skills from WayPoint Survival.

I'm also excited to announce that I'll soon be offering a Modern Hobo Survival Course at the WayPoint Survival School, where we'll put these same skills into practice in the field.

Link for purchase of WayPoint Survival Phase 1 Digital Class:
https://waypointsurvival.com/digital-course/

Sign up for the free newsletter: www.waypointsurvival.com

For more information on classes, to check out the required gear list, or buy Merch go to: https://waypointsurvival.com/

To support our work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WayPointSurvival

Here's a link to my Teespring Merchandise: https://teespring.com/shop/WayPoint_Survival?tsmac=recently_viewed&tsmic=recently_viewed&pid=212&cid=5819https://amzn.to/4n0PKVX

#HoboChallenge #HoboCamping #HomemadeCampingGear

I Survived Overnight Using My Homemade Hobo Gear! | 30 Day Hobo Challenge!