He is a noted winter Bush traveller as well as a canoeist, and has publicized his methods and gear in print articles and internet sites.

He has used modern materials to re-create many items of traditional bush gear, such as prospector tents, portable wood-burning cook stoves, hand-hauled sleds of various kinds, wannigans, etc.

[4] In addition to having been a Boeing 777 Captain for a major Canadian airline, Hadfield is a Chief Pilot with the Mike Potter Aircraft Collection, in association with Vintage Wings of Canada, Gatineau, Quebec, and flies many Warbird types such as the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, Westland Lysander, and P-51 Mustang [5].

[10] His flying career has been the subject of mainstream aviation articles such as Aeroplane [7] His wife Robin Hadfield is an Air Race and Rally pilot,[11] and is (2024) President of the Ninety-Nines.

[12] Using helmet-cam as a primary source, Hadfield has produced over 50 flying videos featuring rare and historic aircraft such as the Spitfire, P-40 and Lysander.

The tips and tricks required to fly these unusual aircraft, some in airshow performances, are a recurring theme.

[9] Hadfield authored a "how-to" column in an outdoor magazine (Bushwhacker) from 1997-2001, which encouraged wilderness enthusiasts how to make and use old-fashioned camping gear for winter and summer.

[15] He is married to Robin Hadfield who in May 2022 was elected President of the Ninety-Nines, an international women's flying organization.