Three favorite items

I was tagged by the weekend woodsman to share my three favorite items so after some careful consideration, I narrowed it down.  For me, my favorite items are the ones that I get the most use out of and offer great versatility wherever I am. 

First item is perhaps the most simple, Canteen Cup.  I like it the more I use it and keep finding things to use it for.  It's a metal cup/bowl so you can melt snow, boil water, cook your soup/oatmeal etc., make your coffee/tea, you can bake with it when covered with a lid or foil, collect water, cover it tight with foil and make charcloth in the field,  many more uses are out there.  Feel free to share unique ideas you've tried as well.  I like carrying a canteen so this folds up and carries without notice for me.  Great addition to your kit if you don't already have one or another metal cup of some kind.

Next up is my Wetterlings Large Hunter's Axe.  This is just a good axe to have.  Fits my needs in my region perfect.  I don't need a boy's axe size where I am as the winters just aren't that bad.  This axe handles my woodchore needs perfectly and carries easy.  This is a high quality tool that is very well made.  The steel is great and holds an edge for a long time.  I chose this over a knife as my favorite because it is as sharp as a knife and a sharp axe can substitute as a knife much better than a knife can substitute as an axe.  So this cutting tool is more versatile.  Atleast to me in my hands it is.  The poll makes a great hammer as well in the field.  So it gets the nod as my favorite cutting tool.

Next up is an item that I really appreciate.  It's not something that is on every journey but certainly has a place in my heart for what it brings, my canoe.  If you haven't tried a canoe I would highly recommend doing so.  I have my most enjoyable outings in it.  There's just something to a view from the water.  Whether it's a sunrise, sunset, reflection of some beautiful scenery.  It makes for effortless travel.  You can cover serious distance in a hurry without expending much energy.  Taking you farther into the wilderness and away from civilization.  You can take items you like to use but don't like to carry on your back.  The canoe also makes a great lean-to shelter.  You can tip it at a 45 degree angle and use a tarp and you have a nice weather/wind proof shelter made pretty much anywhere you find yourself.  You don't have to find the perfect tree or even cut poles.  It's a very good shelter once you get the setup down.  Another benefit to canoe travel is how close you can get to wildlife.  Hiking you scare away a lot of animals.  Canoeing you can get pretty close and most of the time animals aren't alarmed when seeing you from the water.  I have some close encounters I will never forget from the canoe.  All in all it's just the most peaceful and relaxing way to take in the outdoors and highly recommend trying it out if haven't had the chance.

 I'm tagging The Trying Woodsman and SurviaLogic and Wood Trekker next for their three favorite items.