MEN’S HEALTH 69
Pitch Perfect
04\ Lords and Ladies
These plants bear
superficial similarities
to both wild garlic and
common sorrel. The leaves
have backward-facing
lobes like sorrel, but are
rounded rather than
pointed and also tend to
grow much larger. They’re
found from January, with
bright red berries fruiting
from May to September.
The leaves and berries
are not deadly poisonous,
but will cause a burning
sensation on your lips and
tongue. Not pleasant.05\ Alexanders
Found around the coast
of England and Wales,
Alexanders are a great
winter and spring crop
that is best described
as a spicy, sweet and
aromatic version of
celery. Try experimenting
with infusions for wild
cocktails to bring out
its best qualities. One
note of caution, though:
Alexanders are part of
the carrot family, which
actually includes several
poisonous species.
Identify the good kind
by its lime-green flowers
and a pink-tinged sheath
at the base of the flower
buds and stems.06\ Hemlock Water
Dropwort
The most poisonous
plant in the UK and very
common, this is found
growing in or near streams
and damp path edges.
It closely resembles
flat-leaved parsley. All its
parts are highly toxic, with
the highest concentration
of poison in the roots.
Foragers should familiarise
themselves with it to avoid
mistaking the plant for
anything edible in the
same family, such as
Alexanders, hogweed
or water parsnip.08
Staying on the Grid
Some head to the wilds to get away from it all.
But if you’re a man who enjoys his creature comforts, there are ways to take it all with you01
Power Source
If the notion of going phone-free makes
you want to hitch-hike to the nearest Apple
Store, fear not. This weather-resistant,
21-watt solar-panel charger delivers the
fastest possible charging speed for two
devices under direct sunlight.
Anker PowerPort Solar £43 amazon.co.uk03
Screen Time
Why watch the latest Netflix drama on your
tablet when you can supersize your screen
to 100in against a rock face with this
cable-free Bluetooth projector? It has a
three-hour battery life, plus it’s the size of
a coffee cup for easy packing.
BenQ GV1 £329 benq.eu02
Memory Maker
True adventure can’t be captured on
a smartphone. That’s not a comment on
social media culture – it’s a statement of fact.
The latest GoPro operates with hands-free
voice control and has smart stabilisation
tech for smooth footage on any terrain.
GoPro Hero7 Black £380 gopro.com04
Chill Out
Finally, for an extra measure of R&R, pack
a portable 15L fridge in the back of your car.
This model is temperature-adjustable and
suitable for deep-freezing meat, as well as
chilling beer. Plus, it’s lightweight and plugs
into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Cheers.
Dometic CF16 £440 cooltechleisure.co.ukCan I Drink It?
Rain is generally safe
to drink, though it can be
contaminated by anything it
touches, whether plants or the roof
of your tent. So, invest in a filter bottle
like the LifeStraw Flex, which removes
bacteria, lead and pesticides. For
each product you buy, a child
in a developing community
receives clean drinking
water for a year