Bigfoot's Friend

A successful foraging journey into the wilderness requires more than just a keen eye for identifying edible treasures; you’re also going to need the right gear to ensure a safe and fruitful expedition.

From netted bags to GPS assistance, equipping yourself with the proper tools can enhance your foraging experience and increase your chances of a successful adventure. 

I’m going to share with you some of my favorite gear for foraging and how each item will play a crucial role in your quest for nature’s bounty!

• Netted Bags: A netted bag is a forager’s best friend. Having a netted bag as opposed to a plastic/cloth bag will allow sufficient airflow to keep harvested items fresh while preventing them from being crushed while you wander.
  
  Additionally, when you are foraging mushroom specifically, the spores from your harvested mushrooms will continue to fall through the net on the ground as you walk around which assists with sustaining natural mushroom growth! I like to use the Moonoom Foraging Bag (affiliate link) to safely store my forest finds without causing damage to the more delicate mushrooms and plants.
  
  If you are foraging berries specifically, I would suggest a foraging bucket like this one with a shoulder strap (affiliate link) to keep your berries from getting squished!

• Knives: A sharp and sturdy knife is an indispensable tool for foraging, whether for harvesting mushrooms, root vegetables, or preparing gathered edibles.
  
  Choose the Dulees Foraging Knife (affiliate link) with a comfortable grip and a blade suitable for various tasks, such as slicing through roots or trimming leaves. I prefer this one because it folds for safe keeping, comes with a case, and it has a keychain you can attach anywhere for easy access.
  
  Always keep your knife somewhere safe while you are hiking, if you slip or fall you’ll want to make sure your sharp knife is sheathed or closed and put away safely!
  
  My brother and his wife gifted the Jutom Foraging Kit (affiliate link) to me and my husband, it comes with a netted bag, a foraging brush, and a pocket knife that are amazing! I love how durable and cost effective this set is!

• Hydration Packs: Staying hydrated is crucial during outdoor foraging expeditions, especially in warmer climates or during extended trips.
  
  My husband and I hike by the half way rule: When you’re halfway through your water, you’re also halfway through your hike (or foraging expedition), which means its time to turn around and go back.
  
  Invest in the N Nevo Rhino Hydration Pack (affiliate link) which allows easy access to plenty of hydration while keeping your hands free for foraging!

• Small Shovels: Foraging often involves digging up edible roots, tubers, or mushrooms buried beneath the soil surface.
  
  A compact and lightweight trowel like the AceCamp Foldable Shovel (affiliate link) is a great tool for digging without damaging delicate plants or disturbing the surrounding environment.
  
  Always be respectful of the other flora and fauna around what you’re foraging, and don’t leave holes in the ground! 

• Foraging Guides: A comprehensive foraging guide is an invaluable resource for identifying edible plants, mushrooms, and other wild foods in their natural habitat.
  
  Choose one such as Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods (affiliate link)  or one specific to your region or area of interest, featuring detailed descriptions, color photographs, and safety tips to help you confidently identify and harvest wild edibles.
  
  Correctly identifying what you find in the forest is the most important part of foraging! Never eat something unless you are 100% positive on the identification.

• GPS Assistance: When you are navigating through unfamiliar terrain, keeping track of your current location can be challenging, especially when foraging in remote or densely forested areas.
  
  Equip yourself with a reliable GPS system like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 (affiliate link) or smartphone app like AllTrails that provides accurate navigation, mapping, and location tracking to ensure you can safely navigate to and from your foraging spots. 
  
  Additionally, I always suggest to tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you plan to return. My husband and I were once stuck in the mountains unprepared overnight (thankfully in our car) and to this day I wish we had informed somebody of our whereabouts – that’s a story for another day, but please learn something from my mistakes!

• Bug and Predator Protection: Foraging often will take you deep into heavily forested areas, along streams and rivers, and specifically to the available food sources in the forest. Bugs, bears, and many other natural predators are naturally drawn to areas where food and water is available, which is why insect repellant and bear spray are major essentials on this list!
  
  I always use Repel Tick Defense (affiliate link) because it protects against basic insects like ants and flies, but it also helps repel dangerous bugs like mosquitos and ticks.
  
  As far as bear spray goes, one of the most trusted brands by far is Sabre Frontiersman (affiliate link) which also comes with a holster to keep your bear spray handy. It’s important for each member of your foraging party to have their own can of bear spray – it’s always better to be safe than sorry. 

By investing in essential gear such as knives, hydration packs, foraging guides, and GPS assistance, you can enhance your foraging experience and enjoy successful expeditions into the wilderness with confidence! Remember to prioritize safety, respect the environment and those which inhabit it, and adhere to sustainable foraging practices to ensure foraging capabilities for humans and animals alike for years to come.

If you want to learn more about what types of forest edibles you can find, check out my other blog post on Wild Edible Discoveries For Hikers and Outdoor Enthusiasts!

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I would love to hear about what your favorite foraging gear is in the comments below!

Happy foraging!

-Jessica C.