If you have an interest in spending more time in the outdoors and gaining a new hobby to enjoy, then you may want to consider Foraging as something to take up.
If you think this could be interesting to you then you should consider which tools you may need to make the most of your time foraging and which are the best on offer.
Within this article we will go over some of tools you should keep an eye out for and some good example of a what a reliable foraging tool looks like.
Want to expand your foraging knowledge? Then why not check out our beginners guide to foraging?
Top 5 Foraging Tools
5. Best Pruners
4. Best Weeding Knife
3. Best Foldable Shovel
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2. Best Gardening Gloves
1. Best Foldable Knife
Buyer’s Guide: Foraging Tools
Pruners
One of the most common and useful tools for foraging would be some pruners. This tool would be a great addition to any foragers collection and will make the foraging experience much more efficient.
Pruners are very useful for snipping twigs, roots, thick plant stems, and some of the smaller branches that you will encounter out foraging. If you did not have pruners with you, then the task of removing these items would be much trickier.
You should make sure to look for pruners that are heavy-duty and ergonomic, as you will be using them a lot and you will want to make sure they last a long time and don’t cause you any hand strain if possible.
Weeding Knife
Another tool that is very useful in everyday foraging is a weeding knife. You will commonly find yourself pulling up weeds and roots of plants and this tool can be helpful for this.
A thick, heavy knife, such as a weeding knife, can easily cut through roots and allow you to unseat rocks or stones that may be covering a potential find.
It is important that you find a weeding knife that is durable and made to last and that also has a nice weight and feels good in the hand, as you may use it for extended periods of time when foraging.
Foldable Shovel
It probably goes without saying that a shovel will be extremely useful when out foraging. Digging up roots, rocks, plants, and breaking up compacted soil are things that a shovel can help a lot with.
If you are trying to fit as many tools as possible into your backpack or rucksack, then you may want to consider a foldable shovel. This will save you space and allow you to carry more overall.
It is beneficial to ensure you look for a foldable shovel that is advertised as durable and has a good grip so your hands do not slip whilst using it.
Gardening Gloves
Foraging can result in small scratches, bruises, and discomfort on your hands from working with sharp objects, digging in the dirt, and using tools for extended periods of time.
One way to alleviate some of these discomforts is to invest in some good quality gardening gloves that will allow you to protect your hands from wear and tear when out foraging.
A good pair of gloves will be made of a tough material that still allows you dexterity in your hands and having rubber fingertips for gripping things can be useful.
Compact or Foldable Knife
As you are out foraging, you may come across something like tree bark that you might want to remove from a branch or log. This will be a difficult, almost impossible, task without an appropriate tool.
Something such as a folding knife could prove very effective towards debarking and wont take up much room in your pack at all. A knife can also come in handy for cutting through light rope that you may use to tie a knot.
When considering which knife to buy you should look out for one that is sharp, durable, and has an ergonomic grip.
Is cleaning and maintenance important?
As you will want to make the most of your tools you use for foraging, you will want to make sure they work at their best for as long as possible – something that will save you money in the long run.
If you weren’t to take care of your equipment then you might find that if fails to perform it’s duty as well as it once did and may even break.
Foraging will take it’s toll on your equipment if you do not maintain it as you are working with dirt and in damp environments. So if you want to keep costs low for your foraging then you should clean and maintain your tools as often as you can.
Will I need to replace my equipment often?
As long as you keep on top of any required maintenance and clean your tools often, you shouldn’t be replacing your equipment very often at all.
Obviously there may be unforeseen circumstances, say you drop a heavy rock on your folding knife accidentally and the blade breaks from the handle, but as long as you are careful you can keep these to a minimum.
It would be beneficial also to make sure that you are buying tools that are heavy-duty and reliable so that they don’t break on you like some cheaper tools might.
Read our guide to coastal foraging here!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, there are many tools that can assist you in making the most out of your time spent foraging and help to increase efficiency.
Whether you need a knife for debarking, a shovel for digging, or a pair of gloves to give comfort and protection, there are plenty of amazing options available to you.
Hopefully this article has been helpful in showing you which tools you might need and what to look out for when considering one for purchase.
