My Hands-On Review: Barebones Living‘s Tough-As-Nails Outdoor Gear
As an avid outdoorsman and camper logging over 50 trips into the wilderness a year, having dependable gear I can count on is paramount for an enjoyable experience away from civilization. Cheap equipment has led to too many punctured air mattresses and snapped tent poles over the years. I‘m willing to pay more if it means performance I can trust every time.
I first discovered the Barebones Living brand after struggling to split logs with a flimsy department store hatchet on a hunting trip. My buddy pulled out his Barebones Survival Shovel, extended the handle and cleanly chopped the piles of firewood I was struggling with using the built-in axe edge. When I returned from the trip, I immediately ordered my own.
That was a decade ago after over 15 years of serious camping and bushcraft skills put to the test everywhere from the Amazon jungle to the Australian Outback. In the 10 years since being a Barebones convert, I‘ve purchased and rigorously tested axes, knives, grills and other Barebones gear that I now rely on for multi-day self-supported treks deep into the wilderness.
Every product stands out for the meticulous attention to detail – from materials chosen for optimal performance to ingenious multi-function conversions only possible with the brand‘s rugged build integrity. Barebones Living gear performsfar beyond cheaper equivalents that look pretty much the same on the surface. The difference reveals itself miles from civilization when tool failure quickly turns a fun weekend getaway into a battle for survival.
As friends and fellow adventurers know, I‘m relentless in putting any piece of gear through the ringer before ever providing a positive endorsement. In this Barebones Living review based on a decade of hands-on experience, I‘ll cover some of my favorites that have earned permanent spots in my go-bag.
Overview of the Barebones Living Ethos
Utah-based Barebones Living was founded in 2012 by fellow outdoorsman Robert Workman. Having grown frustrated by the lack of reliable, weather-resistant gear for ranching and exploration purposes, Workman set out to resurrect durable equipment reminiscent of 19th century blacksmith designs – but enhanced with modern innovations for portability and convenience expected today.
The brand‘s motto "Rediscover Self-Reliance" permeates across their expanding product catalog spanning six categories:
Knives & Tools – Fixed blade knives, axes, shovels, gardening implements
Lighting – Portable lanterns and area lights optimized for off-grid use with integrated batteries
Cookware & Grills – Cast iron skillets, dutch ovens, standalone grills tailored for open fire cooking
Bags & Storage – Waterproof, modular backpack systems and harvesting bags
Apparel & Accessories – Graphic t-shirts, leather gloves, hats and other accoutrements
NoBox Creations – Emerging inventions from new artisans needing manufacturing/distribution support
While not inexpensive with prices ranging from $25 up to $650 for complete cooking/fire pit setups, the interim 5 years have seen Barebones emerge as a favorite among serious outdoorsmen unwilling to compromise wilderness-grade construction for budget production savings.
As someone who‘s field tested tents in 60 mph winds and tried (unsuccessfully) destroying Barebones tools with trucks and tractors, I can verify claims of "buy it for life" durability aren‘t just marketing fluff. But don‘t just take my word for it…
Barebones Living Product Spotlight: Gear That‘s Saved My Hide
Here I highlight just a few of my favorite Barebones Living items that have proven indispensable on multi-day excursions needing to withstand brutal elements. While amateur campers stick to established trails and sites surrounded by tourists, I seek remote locations truly detached from society for weeks on end. My survival depends on gear that won‘t falter.
Barebones Survival Shovel
The shovel that made me a Barebones customer for life. Too often makers of "tactical" gear get caught up trying to make products seem more menacing than practical. Or they overdesign things to appear special forces ready – when 75% of promised features prove useless.
Not so with this workhorse tool. The military-grade carbon steel shovel head locks into an extensible handle ending in a pointed glass breaker. An included universal hex wrench stores inside the watertight handle for repairs. Useful additions like the firestarter notch in the shovel head prove Barebones actually understands what works in adverse field scenarios.
Chops/saws branches for shelter building? Check. Hammers tent stakes into rocky soil? Check. Digs a bear hang food storage hole? Check. Despite a decade of serious abuse, it appears ready for at least 40 more years of service thanks to the reinforced steel. Pricey at $120 but worth every penny.
Similar Product Comparison
| Product | Price | Weight | Length | Handle | Functions | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barebones Survival Shovel | $120 | 4 lbs | 23" collapsed 63" extended |
Steel, Telescoping | Shovel, Saw, Hammer, Hex Wrench, Fire Starter | ★★★★★ |
| Fiskars Survival Shovel | $50 | 3 lbs | 23.5" | Plastic, Fixed | Shovel, Hammer, Ruler, Saw | ★★★☆☆ |
| FiveJoy Military Shovel | $60 | 5 lbs | 19" collapsed 28" extended |
Steel, Telescoping | Shovel, Pickaxe, Saw, Bottle Opener | ★★★★☆ |
Barebones Waxed Canvas Field Harvesting Bag
In remote locations, foraging wild edibles can make a significant difference in calories and nutrition over processed camp food. But most bags lack the ruggedness to traverse overgrowth getting to hidden patches of abundance.
Built from 18 oz cotton canvas with a beeswax coating, this bag proved perfect for gathering wild leeks, fiddlehead ferns, huckleberries and other foraged fare without damage. The shoulder strap distributes heavy loads comfortably for the hike back to camp. While waxed canvas needs occasional reproofing to maintain water resistance, this remains a go-to for off-trail excursions in search of wild delicacies.
Alternative Product Comparison
| Product | Material | Water Resistant | Pockets | Strap | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barebones Harvesting Bag | 18oz Waxed Canvas | Weatherproof | 1 Exterior | Adjustable Shoulder Strap | ★★★★★ |
| Frost River Forager‘s Haversack | Oil-Tanned Leather | Weatherproof | 1 Exterior, 1 Interior | Removable Shoulder Strap | ★★★★☆ |
| Sandpiper of California Bugout | 1000D Cordura Nylon | Waterproof | 3 Exterior, 1 Interior | Fixed Shoulder Strap | ★★★☆☆ |
Barebones Folding Knife Collection
A good knife serves countless purposes beyond just processing wood. I‘ve field dressed wild boar, sliced leather and even performed emergency surgery on a friend using my Barebones knives without a single chip or break.
While I own larger fixed blades from the company, their folding options fit easily in a pocket or pack exterior for quick access to drain fish, strip herbs or open stubborn packages.
Favorites include:
Slim Pocket Knife – At 3 ounces I forget this tough drop point folder sits discreetly waiting to help me skin squirrels for a wilderness surf n turf dinner.
Bird & Trout – When fishing a secluded mountain lake not easily accessible for catch and release, the gut hook and additional tools help break down the catch efficiently.
Pruning Knife – With a contoured ergonomic handle and part serrated edge, this cuts living branches cleanly to liberally harvest wild berries without harming the producing plants.
Chef‘s Knife – My portable solution for chopping ramps or wild onions discovered on a remote trail without carrying a full kitchen knife roll into the backcountry.
While individual preferences vary, I appreciate how even the folding knives utilize premium steel and hardened, hand-finished wooden handles showing attention given to user needs working with food or game processing chores typical of extended outdoor stays.
Barebones Hudson Grill & Fire Pit
My previous grill lacked the adjustable heights and modular nature of this heavy duty cooking gear-hauler built to contain raging fires. And I foolishly believed my portable fire pit invincible until burning logs cracked the enamel coating right off.
Enter the Hudson Grill & Fire Pit – a 30" wide powder coated steel fire bowl encircled by a locking cargo rack to hang grills, pots/pans and accessories out of tearing reach of hungry bears. Hot-swap cooking grates allow charring steaks while lobster tails steam simultaneously. I‘ve roasted a suckling pig and 14 Cornish hens vertically on a spit thanks to the configurable setup.
It packs down small enough to fit in the bed of my Tacoma truck. While bigger and much pricier than former setups costing 1/4th as much, I‘ve used this grill almost every weekend at home in addition to taking it deep into the mountains for weeks of off-grid living.buf
At close to $650, only diehard outdoors cooks like me can likely justify the spend. But I can attest firsthand that it outperforms similar sized offerings from Solo Stove, Flame Genie and other specialty names – having tested many competitors. This grill fire pit combo earns its keep tenfold when your menu depends wholly on personally harvested food from wilderness terrain.
Specs Comparison
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Materials | Fuel Source | Configurations | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barebones Hudson Grill | 30" x 16" | 70 lbs | Powder Coated Steel | Wood/Charcoal | Adjustable Grilling Grate Height Locking Tool Rack Removable Legs |
$649 | ★★★★★ |
| Solo Stove Yukon + Grill Press | 27" x 16" | 47 lbs | Stainless Steel | Wood | Fixed Grill Height | $600 | ★★★★☆ |
| Flame Genie Deluxe Grill | 24" x 11" | 52 lbs | Heavy Duty Steel | Charcoal | Adjustable Grate | $499 | ★★★☆☆ |
Additional Barebones Gear Noteworthy For Wilderness Use
While already discussed products make my personal Mt. Rushmore of vital tools for self-supported multi-day trips far from supply lines, Barebones produces other best-in-class selections worth mentioning…
Ammo Can First Aid Kit – Redundant injury/illness protection with 100+ pieces of trauma gear sealed against moisture inside a retrofitted military-grade .50 caliber can. Should be standard issue for all off-road vehicle cabins.
Hot Tent Canvas Shelter – 4 season temporary structures combining portability of nylon tents with durability of prospector cabin hideouts. A must for longer duration base camping/hunting waypoints.
Swagtail EDC Pocket Knife – At a hair over 3 oz, it rides in my pocket providing cutting power akin to larger blades thanks to innovations like the finger ring and guthook adding chops beyond the main drop point.
Basecamp Cook Station – My home grill doesn‘t allow for the modular prep space of this portable kitchen maintaining stability across uneven terrain. griddle, smoker box and other addons integrate seamlessly without the need for aftermarket modifications.
While Barebones climbed to popularity first for knives and axes harkening back to traditional blacksmith methods, they‘ve proven skill at reimagining other camp goods for the modern era focusing on the realities of journeys away from society walking paths patrolled by park rangers.
As the brand expands, prices have crept up on certain goods although most selections remain reasonably affordable compared to bespoke custom outfitters. Their success allows for continuing the NoBox Creators program – providing startup funding and manufacturing access for emerging outdoors-focused makers needing a launchpad. Nice to support an organization thinking beyond just profits.
Key Takeaways From My Barebones Living Review
Before wrapping up this deep dive on Barebones after 10 years of hands-on product testing across their lineup, I‘ll recap key conclusions any interested shopper should know:
Target Customer – Barebones Living likely overkill for drive-up campers. Gear better optimized for multi-day remote treks without resupply access. Hunters, fishermen, foragers would appreciate capabilities most.
Materials Matter – From blade steel choices to fabric selections, small touches make big difference in product lifespan – especially under grueling conditions. Barebones does its homework.
Quality Over Quantity – You won‘t find as many niche offerings compared to massive retailers. But their 50+ products center around non-negotiable reliability over newfangled gimmicks.
Not Entry-Level – Strong value relative to performance, but overall pricing sits above discount brands. Invest here if failure risks wellbeing.
Philanthropic Bonuses – Company lives up to maker values, not just slick marketing. Nice added touch backing ethical organization doing more than maximizing profits.
While alternatives exist and I‘ll likely test emerging brands as they surface, Barebones earned my loyalty delivering dependable, field-ready gear decade after decade. When solo trekking to secret remote locations globally, my capabilities and enjoyment directly tie to the equipment‘s ability to withstand punishing use without fail.
Barebones Living operates in niche space for sure. But their purpose-built outdoor-ready implements stand in class of their own. My stories live on because their sturdy steel hasn‘t left me stranded – defining what peace of mind means when Livin‘ Barebones.
