INTRO
Free Living, Survival Apps & Gear Reviews
INTRO
Free Living, Survival Apps & Gear Reviews
Unencumbered Website
Unencumbered is a system for living with clarity — in the wild, in the world, and within yourself.
This site is your field guide: a collection of principles, tools, skills, and perspectives that simplify life and sharpen your awareness. Every page is designed to help you carry less, live more, and build a life rooted in strength instead of noise.
Unencumbered exists because most people are overloaded with information but under-equipped with real skills. Here, everything is practical. Everything has a purpose. The goal is not to impress you — it’s to equip you.
A philosophy built on clarity, capability, and independence.
Tools for real life — from the woods to the city.
No clutter. No trends. No “influencer” lifestyle. Just what works.
A framework built for people who want more freedom and less noise.
Gear Reviews
Gear Reviews are the hands-on extension of Unencumbered.
Every tool, pack, and piece of equipment we review has been used in real conditions — on the trail, in camp, on the road, and off the grid. No sponsorship noise, no marketing fluff. Just honest evaluations of what works and what doesn’t. Whether you’re building your first pocket kit or outfitting a full GTB system, these reviews help you choose with clarity instead of clutter.
Gear Reviews exist for one reason: too many people waste money on equipment that fails when it matters. We test the gear, break the gear, and refine the gear lists so you don’t have to.
Field-tested reviews — not studio guesses
Pocket, EDC, GTB, camping, survival, fishing, and hunting gear
Clear “use case” guidance: who it’s for, when it excels, and when it fails
Pack-building fundamentals for every skill level
Honest assessments with zero brand influence
Practical recommendations that save money, weight, and frustration
Kits, Bags and Packs
Kits, Bags, and Packs are how skills become usable in the real world.
This section focuses on building complete, functional systems — not individual items. Every kit is designed around purpose, environment, and movement, so what you carry supports what you’re actually doing.
The goal is simple: carry what you need, nothing you don’t, and know exactly why every piece is there.
These kits are layered and modular. Smaller kits stand on their own and integrate into larger ones, allowing you to scale up or down depending on the situation without rebuilding everything from scratch.
What This Section Covers -
Pocket Kits — minimal essentials carried daily
EDC Kits — practical tools for everyday problem-solving
GTB / Go-To-Bag Systems — ready kits for short-notice movement
Camping Packs — balanced systems for shelter, food, and recovery
Vehicle Kits — tools and supplies staged where you need them
Hiking Packs — efficient loadouts for terrain and distance
Fishing Kits — simple, portable, effective setups
Hunting Kits — purpose-built systems for field use
Dog Kits — gear that supports safety, movement, and care
How the Kits, Bags and Packs Are Assembled
Purpose first — every item earns its place
Layered systems — pocket to backpack to vehicle
Redundancy where it matters, simplicity everywhere else
Weight, reliability, and ease of use prioritized over options
Kits, Bags and Packs exist to support movement, not slow it down.
Field Manuals
Field Manuals are the practical knowledge foundation of Unencumbered.
They are designed as working references — built to be carried, revisited, and relied on in real situations. Each manual focuses on clarity, capability, and decision-making, helping you act with confidence instead of hesitation.
These manuals come from lived experience in the field, not theory. They prioritize what matters most, explain why it matters, and give you a clear framework for applying skills effectively.
Field Manuals are meant to simplify thinking, reduce uncertainty, and support independence — whether you’re learning something new or refining what you already know.
Field Manual Topics
Camping — systems, gear use, and practical setup for comfort and reliability
Bushcraft — primitive skills for fire, water, shelter, food, hygiene, and protection
Prospecting — finding gold, understanding geology, and processing material with simple tools
Hiking — terrain movement, pacing, safety, route planning, and load management
Knots — essential knots for shelter building, hauling, fishing, and field repairs
Knife Work — care, sharpening, safety, cooking, utility, and everyday use
Fishing — practical methods, simple setups, and effective techniques
Hunting — field skills, preparation, ethics, and functional approaches
Dog Training — awareness, safety, partnership, and real-world behavior
Gear & Packing — what to carry, how to pack, and how to build reliable systems
Field Manuals exist to help you build skill, confidence, and self-reliance — one capability at a time.