Top products from r/Rockhunters

As /u/lordnecro states, it really depends on where you are and what you're looking for. Looking for agates on the shores of the Great Lakes? A windbreaker with pockets will do ya! Chiselling material out of hard rock? A bit more equipment-intensive.

Proper outdoors gear is indispensible -- water, snacks, first aid, sunblock, bugspray, etc. Clothing-wise, I go with jeans, a lightweight hiking shirt with roll-able long sleeves, and a broad-brimmed Tilley hat. Square scarf to keep the sun and bugs off or to keep warm. Vest with lots of pockets is a plus/minus.

In terms of tools, I generally make do with a mid-sized Estwing rock hammer (in its kick-ass holster, obviously!), a gardening trowel, and a chisel or shovel depending on what sort of material I expect to be looking through. A gardening kneelboard is great for sitting on when the ground's muddy or rocky. I picked up a pair of rubberized gloves from Home Depot that have served me pretty well. A bucket is good for hauling gear in and medium sized specimens out. A ziplock bag, possibly cushioned with paper towels and kept in a shirt pocket, keeps small specimens together.

Miscellaneous: Magnifying glass/loupe, pocket knife, streak plate for field ID. Redline pocket flashlight. Blacklight or radiation detector if required for specific targets. And a hammock is critical for the mid-afternoon siesta!