Matsutake
Mushroom Foraging PackMatsutake is a pack designed for mushroom foraging in the Pacific Northwest. Despite the growing popularity of foraging as a hobby, there are no commercially available packs designed for it. Inspired by foragers’ DIY solutions and adjacent activities like harvesting, Matsutake replaces the bulky, awkward foraging basket with a detachable, 2-part pack, supporting botg gathering and a comfortable hike back out.
Duration5 Weeks
Spring 2025
Spring 2025
ToolsRhino 8
Pattern Making
Sewing
Pattern Making
Sewing
Team
Eli Kimchi
Natanya Schwimmer
Eli Kimchi
Natanya Schwimmer
What Is Foraging?
Mushroom foraging is the process of seeking out and gathering mushrooms for culinary, medicinal, or scientific purposes. The hobby has seen a surge in recent years, but despite this there are no specialized commercial packs available for it on the market.
InterviewMeet Nicco
Nicco is a professional chef, culinary teacher, and mushroom forager. He forages for enjoyment and cooking, but often gathers enough mushrooms to sell.
Inventory
What’s in His Bag?
Nicco uses a repurposed skiing bag and an accompanying basket for foraging.- basic hiking essentials
- lots of water
- food
- basic first aid
- walkie-talkies
- emergency beacon
- foraging knife/brush
Design Criteria
Concept Ideation Sketches
Paper Prototyping
Concept 1Modular Detachable
A bag that separates into a carrying container for gathering and attaches onto the back piece of the pack for hands-free hiking.
Nice for foraging, but off-balance and hard to securely attach and offers a similar experience to carrying a basket.
Modular Detachable
A bag that separates into a carrying container for gathering and attaches onto the back piece of the pack for hands-free hiking.Nice for foraging, but off-balance and hard to securely attach and offers a similar experience to carrying a basket.
Concept 2Clip-On Bags
Smaller bags clip on to a central bag to keep different mushrooms and foraged items separate.
We liked the separation, but difficult to access without fully taking off the bag. The smaller bags were also a bit too small.
Clip-On Bags
Smaller bags clip on to a central bag to keep different mushrooms and foraged items separate. We liked the separation, but difficult to access without fully taking off the bag. The smaller bags were also a bit too small.
Concept 3Shoulder Sling
A side back that can swing from front to back.
The most hands-free foraging option, while still spacious.
Shoulder Sling
A side back that can swing from front to back. The most hands-free foraging option, while still spacious.
Paper Prototyping
Patterning
Introducing
Matsutake
For the Hike and the Hunt
Matsutake is a dual-mode mushroom foraging pack.
The primary bag has ample room for hiking essentials, guides, and equipment.
A secondary harvesting bag clips on the front of the bag for hands-free gathering, or on the back for an easy hike out.