Forager Alexis Nikole Nelson’s Favorite Gear

Compared with the fabric on a regular backpack, the basket weave on Nelson’s backpack by New Hampshire–based designer Corey Slater allows for more air circulation to help keep damp foraged finds, like mushrooms and seaweed, from becoming soggy. This backpack also has some custom details, like extra pockets and rainbow-dyed wood.

With a micro-mesh pocket on one side and illustrations of common plants and fungi of North America on the other, the Wazoo Gear Foraging Bandanet helps you not only ID your findings but store them as well. “I like wearing it around the back of my neck for sun protection,” said Nelson. “But then if I find something, I can just take it off and throw something in it.”

Nelson always has a Baggu bag with her on days when she’s just going for a walk in the neighborhood or biking around the city and doesn’t want to bring her wicker backpack with her. “These fold up into a tiny pouch that fits in my pocket, fanny pack, or purse and then, boom, I have an entire shopping bag if I happen across something I want to forage.”

Foragers use soil knives to harvest items that need to be dug up whole, such as spring beauty tubers. “A soil knife, or hori hori, wonderfully straddles the line between knife and shovel, because it has that little bit of curvature to the blade,” Nelson said. “The pointed blade just sinks right into the earth like butter.”

Nelson’s cyan and neon-orange Nalgene bottle is covered with stickers from music festivals and camping trips. It serves as “a memento to all the great times I’ve had outside,” she said. Once empty, the bottle is also very lightweight. The hard-plastic water bottle is also what Wirecutter recommends for camping.

Part of spending time outside means battling ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects. For this, Nelson swears by permethrin. Unlike regular bug spray, permethrin (which Wirecutter recommends in our bug repellent guide) treats your clothing and gear instead of going directly on your skin. Once dry, it offers protection for up to six washings.