Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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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: amzn.to/4x1l8bE

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

Condor Nessmuk Knife: amzn.to/46x3IJ2

Marbles Double Bit Hatchet: amzn.to/4yg8jLL

Moose Pattern Pocket Knife: amzn.to/3SymWLe

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

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#Nessmuk #Bushcraft #TraditionalCamping