These simple tools are indispensable for foraging.

 

The RSVP Collapsible Market Basket as my primary collection container. It's important to use a basket when collecting mushrooms in particular because it helps to prevent damage from crushing or banging into brush. It can hold a ton of mushrooms, and is light, sturdy and stores well.

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Fiskars Pruning Shears are something I always bring with me in the woods. They are powerful enough to cut through the thickest rose and barberry tangles, and sharp enough to snip fungi cleanly.

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It's much easier to harvest cluster mushrooms like oysters and chicken of the woods with a knife, and this Folding Mushroom knife does the trick with a bonus brush that is very handy for cleaning dirty from fragile species.

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Sometimes you hike for miles and don't see much, and sometimes you stumble into a patch of 100 lbs of chanterelles. I always carry large Reusable Tote Bags so I'm prepared. If I strike a big flush, I empty my basket into the totes and stash them by memorable landmarks so I can keep moving, then collect them on my hike out.