At home with Bear Grylls: “I often cook with my machete”

Bear Grylls might have the most ludicrously masculine name and career ever, but his home life is more steady, slow-paced and, well, normal, than one might expect. Nary a camel carcass nor poisonous snake in sight (although he does reach for his machete on the daily), Grylls' off-duty time is punctuated by time spent outside, dog walks and a hell of a lot of protein.

Alongside wife Shara, his three boys and two dogs, Bear Grylls abandons his survivalist missions and adventurous escapades in favour of acoustic guitars, loose-fitting clothes with organic constructions, and even the odd bit of television amid the comfort of White Company sheets. Finding time one August afternoon, Grylls talks us through his daily life and the rhythms of his home, rather than the outside world in which we typically see him.

As we finish up our introductions and start chatting, Bear, sitting in the front seat of his Jeep as it winds through the Welsh mountains, expresses his interest in journalism, declaring, “You lot have probably got more brain cells than me, that's why you love it."

That's not true! Anyway, how's your day going? What are you up to?

I'm heading west, I'm going to the Brecon Beacons for an old SAS reunion with my old squadron. It'll be the first time we're all together in twenty-odd years. We're going to camp, climb a mountain, swim in a river… quite a lot of my life is “on brand”. I've managed to steer an existence, like you, doing things I love.

People who follow your career know a lot about what you do outside of your home, but what does your off-duty time look like?

When we're filming we're going a million miles an hour, but to be honest, back home things are slower. The first thing I do in the morning? I have a big glass of sea salt water. Then I try and keep my shoes off while I walk the dogs. Shoes off, shirts off, no matter the weather — I love the connection with nature first thing in the morning. Then I'll train for about half an hour. Outside, short and sharp.

You replace coffee with minerals, but what about breakfast?

I try to fast for about fourteen hours, so I'm having brunch. That's usually a good grass-fed rib eye and maybe four to six eggs. Then it's a smoothie, I have a great blender. That's a major essential. I have a Vitamix that's great, but I always take handheld blenders on my travels. Raw milk, frozen banana, Greek yoghurt, lots of honey and a couple of raw eggs. Like the best McDonald's milkshake but healthy and even more delicious.

Speaking of meal times, do you enjoy cooking?

I do most of the cooking at home. A good stainless steel frying pan is an absolute must. No crappy aluminium coating. Wooden chopping board. Then I often end up cooking and chopping with one of my machete knives. Razor sharp. Epic.

Now something you're less known for; what's your grooming routine like?

I buy industrial quantities of bath salts. The problem is though my boys will come home from school and shove all 20kg in one bath. I'm like “guys, no.” For moisturiser I use a natural oil, I like one with CBD in it usually, although my default is just organic beef tallow. My wife says it's like going to bed with a butcher. But you can buy unscented tallow, that way you avoid smelling like an abattoir…mostly.

A good book is necessary next to the bed. I can read like, two pages max at a time, but I like it before turning the lights off — there's no rush, you know. I'm reading a good one at the moment, Messy Spirituality, eighty pages, big print, really beautiful. My kind of book.

Clothing-wise… I'm assuming you lean towards the tactical?

Right now? I'm in the car, bare feet, bare chest, just a pair of towelling shorts. I try and get as much natural stuff around me as possible. I'm super wary of polyesters and nylons. We shouldn't be having any of that next to our balls, you know. Nature knows best. Hemp, cotton, towelling. I wear a lot of Jack Wolfskin stuff, I love it, even down to their colours. Natural constructions, loose cuts. I always wear that brand [when] filming, too.

The only clothing essential for me is a thick down jacket. Even right now, I'm in the mountains and it's scalding hot. But tonight, if it gets cold, if it gets wet, if someone twists their ankle — there's always room for a down jacket. It's saved the day so many times.

And how about accessories?

I hate to say it but we made a lot of our own gear that we still use. I do love my Luminox watch. I've had so many watches but this design is inspired by the ones the brand made for the Navy Seals, as well as being made from recycled plastic. They're simple, they don't need charging, and they're great. It's always with me on my adventures.

And once you're finished with said adventures, and you're looking to unwind at home, what do you turn to?

My eldest son plays the guitar really well, and I used to play when I was younger, so it's really fun playing together. He makes me feel good about it, even when my timing is really crap and my playing isn't very good, he elevates it because he's good. He even learns my favourite songs, old Beatles stuff.

I love just lying on the grass with the dogs too, that's a happy space for me. With Nanook and Sybil. All I ever wanted was a big manly guard dog, but I've ended up with a lap dog. People love to say: “Oh I wouldn’t have expected you to have her” and I go, “I know, I know but she just stole my heart…”

Unwinding before bed usually looks like watching an episode or two of a series we're into in bed. I'm not great at watching telly, but I like it in bed with Shara.

What's your sleeping situation like?

Shara loves really nice quality linen, and I tease her for making it so cosy but she tells me it's rubbish and I'm the one who actually loves it. She's probably right. There's something amazing about good bedding. So I “reluctantly” go with it. She loves The White Company bed sheets… but she hates that I sleep with the window open. I have to have a light duvet. I can't be too hot.

And, finally, because it would be remiss not to ask… if you could only take one thing into the wilderness with you, what would it be?

Definitely, definitely, my Brompton bike.

All items here were recommended by Bear Grylls. When a product wasn't available for purchase, we've provided an alternative.

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