Functional Fabric

A Field Reference and Foraging Tool

Foraging is an art that's all but lost in today's modern society, but it can make a huge difference in your life. A foraging tool like this bandana is meant to give a person power over their situation, leading to purpose, and the ability to self-aid and self-rescue.

The Foraging Bandana was designed in cooperation with some of the finest foraging instructors. It lists the 12 most common plants/fungus of North America, including their common and scientific names. The field uses of all 12 plants/fungus are listed using part indicator icons on each plant illustration. The bandana also includes the ”5 Steps of Identifying Edible Plants” by Samuel Thayer and ”Rules and Ethics of Foraging” by Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen. 

We designed this bandana to act as a learning primer, field aid, and emergency reference. For neophytes, this bandana serves as a fun, stepping-stone educational tool. For more experienced foragers, this bandana should encourage impromptu foraging, help in sharing the passion of foraging with others, demonstrate alignment with the foraging lifestyle, and help promote awareness of continued education in this field.

We worked with experts, Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen and Dr. Nicole Apelian to choose plants based on the following criteria:

• Abundance in USA

• Ease of Identification

• Few or no poisonous look-alikes

• Ability to represent on a bandana

• Ease to process into its usable form  

Hands (paws, hooves, or otherwise) down, this is the most legitimate tracking bandana.

Accurate identification and interpretation of animal behavior via track and sign is an outdoor skill that has been all but lost by the average person, even to the most experienced outdoors-folks. Learning even the basics of tracking will yield a more enriching awareness in nature as well as a practical tool when your life may depend on it.

It should be acknowledged that this is not the first tracking bandana ever made, but hands (paws, hooves, or otherwise) down, it’s the most legitimate! It contains the most accurate tracks available, shown to scale, and includes default gaits for each animal.

We partnered with tracking experts to help guide us and choose the list of animals based on certain criteria that would allow you to have the most success with this bandana. We requested animals:

• Found across the majority of North America
• Most abundantly found in the wild
• That may indicate water nearby
• That are easy food sources
• Most useful for side-by-side comparison

We also included false eyespots. These are a form of mimicry adapted by various insects, birds, fish, and reptiles, as well as by some human cultures. The bandana can be folded so the “eyes” face outward and can be worn on the back of the head to serve the same purpose, or worn on the front while napping.

A Field Reference and Foraging Tool

Foraging is an art that's all but lost in today's modern society, but it can make a huge difference in your life. The Foraging Neck Gaiter is Made in the USA and provides neck and face coverage during any season, while on the trail, river, or while foraging.

A spin-off of the original Foraging Bandana, the Foraging Neck Gaiter was designed for those who want a field-reference tool that also provides quick and efficient protection from the elements.

The imagery on this neck gaiter was designed in cooperation with some of the finest foraging instructors. It lists the 12 most common plants/fungus of North America, including their common and scientific names. The field uses of all 12 plants/fungi are listed using part indicator icons on each plant illustration. The neck gaiter also includes the ”5 Steps of Identifying Edible Plants” by Samuel Thayer and ”Rules and Ethics of Foraging” by Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen. No matter your skill level, it should serve as a fun, educational tool and impromptu foraging!

We designed this print to act as a learning primer, field aid, and emergency reference for all levels of foragers. 

We worked with experts, Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen and Dr. Nicole Apelian to choose plants based on the following criteria:

• Abundance in USA

• Ease of Identification

• Few or no poisonous look-alikes

• Ability to represent on a bandana

• Ease to process into its usable form

Hands (paws, hooves, or otherwise) down, this is the most legitimate multi-use tracking tool.

Accurate identification and interpretation of animal behavior via track and sign is an outdoor skill that has been all but lost by the average person, even to the most experienced outdoors-folks. Learning even the basics of tracking will yield a more enriching awareness in nature as well as a practical tool when your life may depend on it.

We decided to take our incredible Tracking Bandana design and put it on a USA Made neck gaiter. Not only does it contain the most accurate tracks available, shown to scale, The Tracking Neck Gaiter also provides coverage during any season, on any river or trail.

We partnered with tracking experts to help guide us and choose the list of animals based on certain criteria that would allow you to have the most success with this bandana. We requested animals:

• Found across the majority of North America
• Most abundantly found in the wild
• That may indicate water nearby
• That are easy food sources
• Most useful for side-by-side comparison

We also included false eyespots. These are a form of mimicry adapted by various insects, birds, fish, and reptiles, as well as by some human cultures. The gaiter can be worn so the “eyes” face outward and seen on the back of the head or on the front while napping.

Can clip corners together, stake down, or string up, and fits in a back pocket, stowed in a haversack, or clipped on a backpack.

And has all the other cool features of our ever-popular Foraging Bandana

USES

• Dry sitting/kneeling pad
• Clean work surface
• Kindling/Firewood bundle carrier
• Foraging Pouch
• Meditation Mat
• Hobo Bindle
• Signaling Device

SPECS

• Made from our actual Foraging Bandana
• Water-resistant 10 oz waxed Army Duck cotton canvas
• Heavy duty brass grommets in each corner
• Herringbone grosgrain ribbon along border
• 21" x 21"
• Cut, sewn, and grommeted in the USA

Can clip corners together, stake down, or string up, and fits in a back pocket, stowed in a haversack, or clipped on a backpack.

And has all the other cool features of our ever-popular Tracking Bandana

USES

• Dry sitting/kneeling pad
• Clean work surface
• Kindling/Firewood bundle carrier
• Foraging Pouch
• Meditation Mat
• Hobo Bindle
• Signaling Device

SPECS

• Made from our actual Tracking Bandana
• Water-resistant 10 oz waxed Army Duck cotton canvas
• Heavy duty brass grommets in each corner
• Herringbone grosgrain ribbon along border
• 21" x 21"
• Cut, sewn, and grommeted in the USA