+dan415 Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 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 Quote Link to comment
+Panther&Pine Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 First aide kit, a map, real compass and if you hike where there are bears you might want bear spray. If you live near hunting, blaze orange is a good idea as well. Quote Link to comment
+Harry Dolphin Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Wow! I've only been doing this for ten years, but we have not done any extended hiking geocaches in quite a while. I bring: water, pen, GPSr, magnetic compass, camera, Palm Z22 to record our finds/TBs, pocket knife. And that's about it. Quote Link to comment
+msrubble Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I don't know what "assorted small tools" includes, so I will recommend three additions to the list, in order of usefulness: Tweezers Telescoping mirror Mechanic's flexible pick-up tool (claws on end) Quote Link to comment
+K13 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Water bottle GPSr Two or three pens Leatherman pocket tool hiking stick flashlight Anything else needed, I try to improvise in the field. Quote Link to comment
+wmpastor Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Gloves are often useful. Also cache containers to replace broken ones or to use as "throwdowns" if the cache seems to be missing. ... What, did I say a no-no? Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 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! Quote Link to comment
+joshuar9476 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment
+MountainWoods Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) 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 September 23, 2014 by MountainWoods Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 It was after that one that I decided to limit my search time so that the game would remain fun, instead of frustrating. Yes, so much this. I try to remind myself constantly to walk away before I get frustrated. Quote Link to comment
+MtnMutt-ProDuckShins Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 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' . 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.......... Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 I don't know what "assorted small tools" includes, so I will recommend three additions to the list, in order of usefulness: Tweezers Telescoping mirror 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. Quote Link to comment
+Chrysalides Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 +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. Or, alternatively : Quote Link to comment
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