luiIf you’re reading this post, there’s 99.9% of chance that you are an Outdoor Adventure enthusiast, am I right?
Also, you probably already have your own Hammock to hang out there, don’t ya? (If you don’t, please, check these cool hammocks out and get your first one before your next adventure!)
Now imagine yourself, hanging your hammock in a wild and quiet place, relaxing and enjoying the sounds of nature. Something like this:
So, you’re there and you have all day to contemplate and lay in your hammock. Apart from enjoying the view, what else do you do? Bingo! You read a book!
What could be more appropriate than reading a book on how to get the most out of your outdoor adventures?
Whether you’re already an Outdoor Expert or you’re only in the beginning of your Nature discovery journey, I can assure you that you’ll find on this list at least one book that will take you to the next level of your outdoor explorations.
So check this list of 11 Outdoor Adventure Books You Need to Read if you’re planning on going Into the Wild!
1. Into the Wild
This is not a manual nor a guidebook, but definitely Into the Wild is the ultimate expression of what getting Into the Wild without much preparation, proper gear and knowledge means. This book is the real story of “Alexander Supertramp”, or Christopher Johnson McCandless, which inspired the movie under the same name. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild. It’s an inspiration of courage and detachment, but he also teaches us many lessons of what not to do once you’re into the wild.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
2. Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival
This #1 Amazon Best Seller is a must read for those who are starting to explore their inner outdoor adventurer. The author, survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, covers everything you need in order to survive and not get caught by unannounced situations. Yes, Nature does not ring a bell when an animal is coming for your unprotected food or a storm is passing by and your tent is not armed properly. From knots, to manufacturing tools and supplies, food collection, cooking and protection from the elements and trapping, learn skills that will help you to get really into the wild without getting in trouble. This is an intermediate level book that covers the essentials of bushcraft, thus recommended to those who have little to some experience in the nature. If you already have some experience on the bushcraft, you can check the Advanced Expert Guide from the same author.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
3. The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals―and Other Forgotten Skills (Natural Navigation)
This book is an incredible guide on how to read Nature’s signs and use this information in your favor. To help you understand nature as he does, Tristan Gooley shares more than 850 tips for forecasting, tracking, and more. Whether you’re walking in the country or city, along a coastline, or by night, this is the ultimate resource on what the land, sun, moon, stars, plants, animals, and clouds can reveal—if you only know how to look! Totally recommended in addition to other guides that will teach you how to use tools properly.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
4. The Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual
A great manual of how to survive in Nature that teaches you 272 wilderness skills. The highest advantage of this manual compared to others, is the great quality of illustrations that are in color and well explained. The second plus of this manual is that the author, Tim MacWelch, examines how native people around the world survived in the nature and translates this knowledge into modern understanding. He even gives tips on using what’s in your pocket to improvise. Definitely one of my favs.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
5. Survival Hacks: Over 200 Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival
If in the previous manuals you had a couple of tips on using what’s in your pocket to survive, this book may be considered the ultimate MacGyver’s manual. It gives us over 200 ways to use everyday items for wilderness (and trust me, some of them could be very helpful in your everyday life too!). Illustrations and explanations are simple, but they surely give you a great range of ideas to improvise when you get caught in an unexpected situation.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
6. The Great Outdoors: A User’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Heading into the Wild (and How to Get Back in One Piece)
This guide is definitely the one for a beginner to take with him when going into the wild. Not only it has a PVC cover, making it waterproof and durable, this Guide gives great basic survival information organized in topics, as well as many tips on how to enjoy your outdoor adventure even without being a risk taker. A must read for beginners and cautious minds that want to go a little further and explore Nature still being safe.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
7. The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide, Second Edition: Tools and Techniques to Hit the Trail
Andrew Skurka, the author, is an accomplished adventure athlete, speaker, guide and writer. In this book, he shares what he knows about hiking gear. It will make your life a lot easier, trust me. Sometimes it’s less expensive to buy a gear that costs more than the others, because of its quality and it will save you a lot of pain and headache too. Be smart and learn the easy way by reading his book and following the author’s tips!
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
8. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods
Are you aware of the power of the plants? They can heal, but can also kill. If you read Into the Wild, or watched the movie, you know what happened to Alexander Supertramp after he ate a poisonous plant – and you certainly don’t want that happening to you. This is the book he had with him, but a simple confusion on the pattern of a certain leaf, costed him his life. Do I need to say how important it is to have this book at hand if you’re in the wilderness and need to eat wild plants for any reason?
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover available.
9.Bushcraft First Aid: A Field Guide to Wilderness Emergency Care
Out in the woods or on top of a mountain, there’s no calling 9-1-1. Bushcraft First Aid teaches you how to be your own first responder. This book will help hikers and backpackers deal with a variety of emergency situations, from cuts and burns to broken bones and head injuries. You’ll also learn what to pack and how to make bandages, dressings, and slings at a moment’s notice. As bushcraft experts, Canterbury and Hunt explain how to use plants as medicine to treat various conditions. Bushcraft First Aid provides the lifesaving information you need to keep yourself and your fellow hikers safe on the trail.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
10. Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties: The Classic Guide to Building Wilderness Shelters
Even if you have a tent, sometimes an extra shelter is needed in order to keep you and your supplies dry and protected. This hands-on guide written by one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America contains a wealth of practical instruction and advice on how to build everything from a bark teepee and a tree-top house to a log cabin and a sod house. All you need to know is how to handle an axe (which is also covered in the book). Knowing how to build a shelter definitely can help you make the most of your outdoor adventure.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
11. Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips For Extremely Lightweight Camping
If you like hiking or backpacking, this book is for you. There’s nothing more unpleasant for a backpacker/hiker than walking long distances with a heavy or uncomfortable backpack, carrying stuff that you are not sure if you’ll actually need. If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, well, you don’t wanna know, trust me. Instead, get this book, save money on buying the right gear at first and save your shoulders, back and feet a lot of pain.
Buy it on Amazon, hardcover and kindle version available.
Now that you have all the information you need to become a professional Outdoor Explorer, tell me, what’s your next adventure and what are you bringing with you beyond you hammock?
Enjoy your Outdoor Adventures!
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