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Geocache gear - What do I need?


dan415

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OK. I have been doing this for about 6 months now and I've accumulated a fair amount of gear that I have in my "Official" Geocache backpack.

 

My inventory is a hydration pack, extra logs for caches, snack items, my GPS, my iPhone, a headlamp, a flashlight, a black light flashlight, CITO trash bags, assorted swag, my multi tool, a small knife, bungee cords, pens, pencils, and assorted small tools.

 

Any ideas on other tools or gear I should consider?

 

Thanks.

 

Dan415

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And a metal detector can come in useful occasionally. Get a small handheld wand type. Bison in a bush? I sneer at your feeble attempt to hide!

Yep. On the rare chance I go with CJ for that kinda hide, a hand held Garrett comes along.

She says it's cheating, but doesn't think twice about bringing it for ammo cans in snow. :laughing:

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Since this is the getting started forum, the first thing I tell beginners is always wear heavy jeans. I don't care if it's 102 degrees outside. Unless you know you're not going to stray from a parking lot, wear jeans. Long sleeve t-shirts are a bonus as well if you can tolerate them in the heat.

Funny, the first thing I tell 'em (if they're gonna do any kind of hiking) is get rid of the jeans.

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Since this is the getting started forum, the first thing I tell beginners is always wear heavy jeans. I don't care if it's 102 degrees outside. Unless you know you're not going to stray from a parking lot, wear jeans. Long sleeve t-shirts are a bonus as well if you can tolerate them in the heat.

Funny, the first thing I tell 'em (if they're gonna do any kind of hiking) is get rid of the jeans.

Agree, hiking pants are so much more comfortable for hiking. They don't provide much protection from thistles and other thorny stuff though.

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Wet wipes.

 

And a metal detector can come in useful occasionally. Get a small handheld wand type. Bison in a bush? I sneer at your feeble attempt to hide!

I haven't gotten into the habit of taking my metal detector with me on Geocache trips, but there are definitely times when it would have come in handy.

 

One of the later of my first, oh, about 30 finds was a micro hidden "by" a sign. I literally looked everywhere on two trips totaling over an hour. The sign's legs each had a kind of H shape made of wood.

 

Someone else found it after my first 2 visits; and when I came back, there it was partially buried at the base of the sign, with just a small wire handle sticking out of the ground. Turns out that it was totally buried the first two times I was there. The previous finder had scraped around the ground until it popped out, then was nice enough not to totally bury it when they put it back.

 

I don't know if the owner had intended to bury the thing. It was loose dirt next to the sign (not surprising). They probably just meant to leave it in the hollow of a leg's H, but wind or something had completely buried the thing - I hope. A metal detector, or someone who doesn't mind scraping around the ground!, would have found it earlier.

 

It was after that one that I decided to limit my search time so that the game would remain fun, instead of frustrating.

Edited by MountainWoods
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:rolleyes: If of age, how about a 'Cold Beer' after a hard day of Caching.

 

Now if out in the forest a small stove to make a cup of Hot Chocolate or maybe a fine special meal.

 

The biggest and best thing thing you will need especially on those days of several DNF's is a 'Sense of Humor' :laughing: . Fine a way to laugh about those 'DNF's'. So put that Humor on the top of your list and remember it's only a Game.

 

Have fun..........

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I don't know what "assorted small tools" includes, so I will recommend three additions to the list, in order of usefulness:

 

  1. Tweezers
  2. Telescoping mirror
  3. Mechanic's flexible pick-up tool (claws on end)

 

+1 and especially the mirror....I like the 3" round one best. About 70% of the caches out there are micro's and I've used the mirror on 90% of our micro finds....really saves your back and knees.

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