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The Bothy Bag Guide UK: Emergency Shelter, Group Warmth & Real Outdoor Uses
When people head outdoors in the UK, most preparation tends to look fairly similar. A waterproof jacket goes in the bag, boots that can handle mud and uneven ground, and maybe a map and compass if navigation is taken seriously. It is a sensible setup and, most of the time, it works well enough. But there is one item that rarely makes it onto that list, even though it is used regularly in hill walking groups, cadet training, and paddlesports: the bothy bag.
May 157 min read
May Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights
May offers warmer nights and later sunsets, creating beautiful opportunities to explore the night sky. This month features a spectacular meteor shower, impressive planetary alignments, and the chance to enjoy the rich star fields of spring. Find a cozy spot, let your eyes adjust, and take in the wonders above!
May 83 min read
How to Get Your Kids Off Screens and Into the Outdoors (Without the Arguments)
It is easy to see how it happens. A quick bit of screen time after school turns into an hour, then a routine, and before long it feels like the default way your kids relax, learn, and spend their free time. There is no dramatic moment where the outdoors disappears, it just quietly fades into the background.
Apr 205 min read
Spring Walks in the UK: How to Make the Most of Longer Days
Spring is a magical time in the UK. As the days grow longer and the weather becomes milder, there’s no better opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy a refreshing walk. Whether you are a family looking for a weekend adventure, a bushcraft enthusiast seeking to reconnect with nature, or a UKSN member exploring your local area, spring walking offers something for everyone.
Apr 133 min read
April Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights
April brings longer evenings and milder nights - perfect conditions for stargazing. This month features an exciting meteor shower, brilliant planetary views, and the return of some stunning spring constellations. Grab a warm drink, find a dark sky spot, and enjoy the celestial show!
Apr 32 min read
March Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights
As we enter March, the days begin to lengthen, offering more opportunities to catch some spectacular sights in the night sky. Whether you’re new to stargazing or a seasoned pro, this month brings a variety of celestial events to enjoy—just find a clear, dark spot and look up!
Mar 92 min read
UKSN Social Camps Are Back in 2026 – Book Tickets Now!
Step away from screens, schedules, and the everyday routine at UKSN social camps - our weekend events at Rough Close Scout Camp, Coventry, are all about connection, camaraderie, and enjoying the outdoors. Whether it’s sharing a story around the campfire, exploring woodland trails at your own pace, testing your B.O.B, or simply relaxing in nature, the weekends are yours to shape.
Feb 62 min read
February Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights
February may be a short month, but it still offers plenty of spectacular sights in the night sky. As winter continues, the long nights provide excellent conditions for stargazing—just wrap up warm and find a dark spot away from city lights!
Feb 43 min read
January Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights
January offers some of the best stargazing opportunities of the year, with crisp, clear skies and long nights. Here are a few celestial highlights to look for this month:
Jan 52 min read
UKSN Founders: 3D Printer Project - Help Us Build UKSN Gear In-House
Today we’re launching the UKSN Founders: 3D Printer Project, a focused push to bring the design and production of UKSN gear in-house. This means more control, faster development, and the ability to create practical, field-ready equipment built specifically for our community.
UKSN
Apr 293 min read
The Ultimate UKSN Project LoRa / Meshtastic Buyer's Guide *Updated*
As we all know, staying connected and informed can be crucial. This is why the UKSN launched its Project LoRa initiative, offering a robust communication solution tailored for its members. This guide aims to delve into Meshtastic / Project LoRa, detailing the components, applications, and recommended setups to empower UKSN members in optimising their communication capabilities.
UKSN
Apr 2816 min read
The Emergency Biscuit Structural Integrity Guide
In a survival situation, morale is everything. Few things maintain morale like a hot drink and a decent biscuit. But what many overlook is the very real risk associated with improper biscuit dunking.
Glyn Smith
Apr 12 min read
UKSN Social Camps Are Back in 2026 – Book Tickets Now!
Step away from screens, schedules, and the everyday routine at UKSN social camps - our weekend events at Rough Close Scout Camp, Coventry, are all about connection, camaraderie, and enjoying the outdoors. Whether it’s sharing a story around the campfire, exploring woodland trails at your own pace, testing your B.O.B, or simply relaxing in nature, the weekends are yours to shape.
UKSN
Feb 62 min read
How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Storms: A Guide to Staying Safe and Warm
Winter storms in the UK can bring freezing temperatures, snow, and power outages, making preparation essential for keeping your family safe!
UKSN
Jan 84 min read
Goodbye 2025… Hello Adventure! A Huge Happy New Year from UKSN
As the final hours of the year tick away, we wanted to take a moment to say a massive thank you to every single UKSN member. Whether you joined us this year or have been part of the community for a long time, you have helped make UKSN what it is today.
UKSN
Dec 31, 20252 min read
Unlock the Best Amazon Black Friday Deals: Smart Shopping Tips Every Prepper, Bushcrafter, Camper & Adventurer Should Know
At UKSN, we know that every penny saved can be put towards better kit, emergency gear, or that next big adventure. So, here’s how to make the most of Amazon Black Friday and find the best deals without getting caught up in the chaos.
UKSN
Nov 17, 20257 min read
How UKSN Members Can Save Big: Insider Tips to Stretch Your Outdoor Budget Further
Let’s face it, the great outdoors can be priceless, but the gear we use to explore it often isn’t. Whether you’re kitting out for a weekend camp, upgrading your bushcraft tools, or stocking up on supplies for self-sufficiency, costs can quickly add up. The good news? Being part of UKSN doesn’t just connect you with an incredible community of like-minded adventurers – it also unlocks a treasure chest of money-saving opportunities.
UKSN
Oct 20, 20256 min read
How to Prepare for an Internet Outage: Essential Tips for Staying Connected in an Offline World
From communication and entertainment to banking and shopping, the internet plays a crucial role in almost every aspect of daily life.
UKSN
Oct 20, 20256 min read
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RECOMMENDED GEAR
UKSN Recommended Camping Gadgets Under £50 for Camping, Bushcraft & Outdoor Adventures
Discover UKSN’s Best Camping Gadgets Under £50, featuring practical, affordable outdoor gear for camping, bushcraft, EDC, and emergency preparedness.
The Best Portable Power Stations & Solar Generators for Camping, Emergencies & Off-Grid Living
Discover UKSN’s recommended portable power stations and solar generators, featuring the best EcoFlow and Anker SOLIX models for camping, overlanding, emergencies, off-grid living, and backup power.
NEWS, OFFERS, & GUIDES
LifeSaver Lifeline: Portable Water Filtration for Preppers and Bushcrafters
LifeSaver has just released the Lifeline, a new portable water filtration system designed for outdoor enthusiasts, bushcrafters, and preppers. It provides a lightweight, versatile way to turn rivers, streams, or collected rainwater into safe drinking water without the bulk of a traditional filter bottle.
UKSN
Mar 22 min read
Another Outdoor Retailer Enters Administration: Alpkit and What This Means for the UK Outdoor Scene
The UK outdoor retail world has taken another knock. This time, it’s Alpkit, a brand many people genuinely care about, that has entered administration.
UKSN
Jan 303 min read
LifeSaver Jerrycan Graphene:Ultra – A New Era in Portable Water Purification
When it comes to clean drinking water, the stakes are high. Whether you’re wild camping, travelling through remote areas, or preparing for emergencies, you need a system you can trust. LifeSaver have just raised the bar with the Jerrycan Graphene:Ultra – the first portable water purifier to combine proven ultrafiltration with revolutionary graphene-enhanced technology.
UKSN
Aug 11, 20255 min read
LATEST UKSN NEWS
This Is Why Buying From the UKSN Store Actually Changes the Community (More Than You Think)
When most people buy outdoor kit online, they are usually just looking for the cheapest option that turns up quickly and does the job. Nothing wrong with that. But the UKSN store works a bit differently, and that difference is the whole point.
Every purchase from the UKSN store feeds directly back into the community. Not into adverts, not into shareholders, and not into layers of corporate overhead, but into actual UKSN projects, member resources, events, and new in-house ca
UKSN
5 hours ago3 min read
UKSN Founders Wall: Recognising the People Building the Community
UKSN has always been about one thing above everything else: the people behind it.
Every idea, every project, every improvement, and every step forward exists because of the members who choose to support, contribute, and get involved.
UKSN
5 days ago2 min read
UKSN Out of Office Notice (21st May to 1st June 2026)
Some of the UKSN team are heading off on a well deserved holiday from 21st May to 1st June. It’s a chance for them to take a proper break, recharge, and get ready for what’s coming next - including the social camp (19th June) and further upcoming UKSN plans.
UKSN
May 191 min read
PREPPING
Asteroid 2024 YR4: The Viral ‘1 in 32 Chance’ Scare That Has Everyone Talking Again - Should We Be Worried About 2032?
Every few months social media does what it does best, takes an old headline, polishes it up, adds a few dramatic captions, and suddenly the world is apparently on the brink again.
This time it is the turn of asteroid 2024 YR4, a space rock that briefly made headlines after early orbital estimates suggested a small but notable chance of Earth impact in 2032, including figures that were loosely interpreted online as “1 in 32”.
UKSN
May 204 min read
Tap Into Survival: Why NFC Tags Are the Most Underrated EDC Upgrade You Can Carry
Most people in the preparedness and EDC space tend to focus on physical gear, but often overlook the lighter, more efficient tools that quietly make everyday life easier. Introducing NFC tags. These are small, low-cost devices that can quietly change the way you interact with information in both everyday life and genuine emergency situations.
UKSN
May 135 min read
What to Do If You Break Down on the Motorway: Lessons from 5 Hours Stuck on the Hard Shoulder
There is a very specific kind of moment that only makes sense once you have lived it. One minute you are travelling normally, the car doing what it is supposed to do, the journey feeling routine and uneventful, and then suddenly everything changes without ceremony or warning.
UKSN
May 119 min read
BUSHCRAFT
Free UKSN Field Log System - Track and Log Your Outdoor Adventures
Most people head out, enjoy the fresh air, maybe learn something new… and then forget half of it a week later. That is exactly why we created the UKSN Field Log System, and it is available completely FREE to all UKSN members.
UKSN
Mar 302 min read
5 Bushcraft Books Every UKSN Member Should Read
If you love being outdoors, whether it’s camping, adventuring, learning traditional skills or simply dreaming of mastering life in the wild, then books are some of your best tools. They help build confidence, deepen understanding, and spark creativity in ways that pure hands‑on practice sometimes can’t.
UKSN
Mar 233 min read
How to Turn Snow into Drinkable Water: A Survival Skill Every UKSN Member Should Know
When the cold grips the UK and the landscape turns into a winter wonderland, snow is more than just a pretty scene or a reason to go sledging. For outdoor enthusiasts, bushcrafters, campers, and members of the UKSN community, snow can be an important resource if you know how to make it safe to drink.
UKSN
Dec 19, 20252 min read
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DISCLOSURE
At UKSN, our mission is to provide valuable information and resources for our community, helping you stay prepared and informed. To support this mission and keep our content accessible, we use affiliate links throughout our website.
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