+larkspeed Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I'm just curious what types of things you guys carry for tradables I took my 6 year old daughter out with me today and together we found 5 caches. One of these was my first cache bigger than a micro, in it other than the log book was a sticker for kids, since I had nothing with me to put in it's place much to my daughters dismay I left the sticker there. This got me to thinking just what types of things people carry with them in case they find a cache with tradables in it Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I only trade for personal signature items left by other geocachers, so that probably affects the trade items I carry with me. Mostly, I carry foreign coins (given to me by friends who travel abroad, or bought in bulk from a local coin shop), for the occasional urban/suburban geocache. But when I go on a "geocaching hike", I also take a few other things, including new AA batteries, decorative pencils, and a few other random things given to me by friends who know I can put them to good use. Quote Link to comment
+Panther&Pine Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 We trade for signature items for the most part, but will trade for other stuff. Generally we leave random clean items that appear without my input, children's toys, pathtags, and other bits and pieces I pick up. Once I get a handle on my coin collection I'll probably start leaving coins, after all how many farthings does one need. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Having abandoned "toys"... we usually drop in foreign coins, not taking much of anything out. Buy them online by the bagful. Never know what you'll get, mostly aluminum coins from third-world -- but some very interesting and old coins mixed in. Our last purchase included many WWI era European coins seemingly from the estate of a "doughboy". They are usually unsorted, so you are liable to come up with some true collectibles. That last batch contained a '43 U.S. (steel) cent and three U.S. 90%-silver coins. Quote Link to comment
+Pork King Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Recently, I found some St. Anthony (Patron St. of lost/missing articles) coins that I have been trading with Quote Link to comment
+larkspeed Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 ok thanks although I don't know what a signature item is I'm very new to all this having only found 8 Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 ok thanks although I don't know what a signature item is From http://www.geocaching.com/about/glossary.aspx "Signature Item - An item unique to a specific geocacher that is left behind in caches to signify that they visited that cache. These often include personal geocoins, tokens, pins, craft items or calling cards." The forums include a few threads where people discuss signature items, including this one: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=320051 Quote Link to comment
+larkspeed Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks I did actually find that info after I posted I'm slowly getting to grips with all the terminology Quote Link to comment
+L0ne.R Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 What would be cute is if you can think up a small signature item that your 6 year old can help create. Perhaps a business card with your child's drawing. I made this one up using a business card generator on this site: Quote Link to comment
+larkspeed Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 I have looked at business cards, i'll probably get some card stock and print my own since my printer can take it I was also thinking of getting my daughter to make up a few loom band bracelets that she can put in as tradables Quote Link to comment
+uxorious Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I have looked at business cards, i'll probably get some card stock and print my own since my printer can take it I was also thinking of getting my daughter to make up a few loom band bracelets that she can put in as tradables If you do the business cards, get a laminator and laminate them. In most caches a business card unprotected soon turns to mush. Quote Link to comment
+L0ne.R Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I have looked at business cards, i'll probably get some card stock and print my own since my printer can take it I was also thinking of getting my daughter to make up a few loom band bracelets that she can put in as tradables I really like it when the swag includes an info card or a label that says it was made by the cache owner or someone on the team. Example: Quote Link to comment
+L0ne.R Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I have looked at business cards, i'll probably get some card stock and print my own since my printer can take it I was also thinking of getting my daughter to make up a few loom band bracelets that she can put in as tradables If you do the business cards, get a laminator and laminate them. In most caches a business card unprotected soon turns to mush. +1 If you use an ink-jet printer to print your own, inkjet may smear if it gets wet. And laminating it looks cool. I got a Scotch laminator at a department store for about $35 a few years ago. Quote Link to comment
+alaninwales Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I've not long started caching and I've bought some personalised wooden discs from www.ukgeocachers.co.uk ... At £4.99 for 20, I think they're a bargain! Quote Link to comment
+PlantAKiss Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 I am a "rockhead" and so I bag small mineral specimens or fossils along with a label ID as to species and location. Much better than 3/4 of a Pokemon card and one broken earring like I found in one of my caches this past weekend. (I don't understand how someone can leave something like that.) I've also put Civil War bullets with info on the location found in caches and they get taken pretty quickly. I just refilled 2 of my caches with Magic Towels, mosquito wipes, vintage laundry pins, old milk bottle caps, and a hackey sack ball. I try to leave items that would appeal to an adult, not just kids. While SWAG isn't my objective, I'd trade for something interesting. I once got a keychain with a little brass dolphin on it. I LOVED that dolphin. Then I lost my keys and with it went the dolphin. I'm still sad. I do have a personal card with pictures of something from Nature and a description of what it is on the back (but most of the time I forget to leave it). I'm all for eddicatin' people on our great and powerful Earth. :-) Quote Link to comment
Chellejm Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 My older 2 children (8&11) are into making loom bands so we often take those with us Quote Link to comment
+zenna1991 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Hey, I have been caching for a year, and I have been making loom bands for 6 months and i'm thinking of using them as my 'signature' piece for a little while, as I have made a lot! Do you guys think they'll trade well? Ideas, thoughts, comments welcome please Quote Link to comment
+WarNinjas Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 I'm just curious what types of things you guys carry for tradables I took my 6 year old daughter out with me today and together we found 5 caches. One of these was my first cache bigger than a micro, in it other than the log book was a sticker for kids, since I had nothing with me to put in it's place much to my daughters dismay I left the sticker there. This got me to thinking just what types of things people carry with them in case they find a cache with tradables in it You did it the right way and showed your daughter a great rule in caching! If it was one of the caches we owned I would have wanted your daughter to have the sticker. Who else would value it more then a new kid learning caching. Just don't make a habit of it and then take something to the next cache to drop off to show her the trade value. We traded a little when we first started out but now it is rare I would ever want anything I found in a cache. I usually take stuff to stock up caches as we have collected way to much swagg over the years. Once in a while I will find something I might want, like a butterfly or alien or something and I haven't taken a trade item with me. (this is rare less then once every 500 caches or something!) I might take it. To make up for the one random item we might take we load up other caches and our own for others to find. Here is a couple of pic from not to long ago I posted to a cache with some stuff we left and there are many more we don't take pic of and we never took anything from these caches. I would never take multiple items or anything but if the rare case came up that I actually wanted something and didn't have something to trade we more then make up for it in the long run. Even then I usually drop a $1 or change or something in the cache or go back to the car and grab my swagg bag. Quote Link to comment
+WarNinjas Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Hey, I have been caching for a year, and I have been making loom bands for 6 months and i'm thinking of using them as my 'signature' piece for a little while, as I have made a lot! Do you guys think they'll trade well? Ideas, thoughts, comments welcome please Im sure those would be really cool! Quote Link to comment
+Justin Of Terrytown Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) Since I am new to geocaching, I have only traded two times 1) the first time, I left an Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club doubloon. 2) the second time, I left an Irish Channel Marching Club koozie. I most likely will continue using the throws for my Irish clubs as trades. I am also thinking about buying some golf balls from the Angola Museum (museum for The Louisiana State Penitentiary) and the National World War 2 Museum to trade. Edited December 30, 2014 by Justin Of Terrytown Quote Link to comment
+FourFunKiwis Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 We do the loomband thing, and beaded key rings. They seem to be appreciated Quote Link to comment
+Justin Of Terrytown Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I bought a golf ball and five golf tees that say "Louisiana State Penitentiary" from the Angola Museum. I also bought three golf balls from the National World War 2 Museum. I am thinking about using at least one of the National World War 2 Museum golf balls when I go geocaching in Mississippi. My parents own a fishing camp in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi so I will be geocaching in Mississippi (I already found one in Mississippi). Quote Link to comment
Andronicus Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I often buy PEZ machine's in bulk off ebay. You can get them for cheep, and what kid doesn't want one of those. Also, recently, I have been buying novelty bottle openers off of ebay. Lots of adults think those a cool, and again, you can get them for cheep. Quote Link to comment
+thecaswellfamily Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 We recently picked up some fun, trinkety items from the local thrift store to use as SWAG... a small engraved copper platter, two small brass candle holders, a cute cream pitcher, for around $1.99 each. The kids are getting older and moving beyond plastic toys, we're hoping these inexpensive items go over well. We once found a real, metal-and-rhinestone tiara in an ammo can in the woods... that joyous find prompted an internet search where we bought 5 more to put out for others to find. Quote Link to comment
kabrmo Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) I used to work at Disney World, so I have a collection of Disney trading pins that I have started leaving in the caches since I rarely make it down to Disney. It's become a signature item for me, I suppose. Edited January 19, 2015 by kabrmo Quote Link to comment
+L0ne.R Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I used to work at Disney World, so I have a collection of Disney trading pins that I have started leaving in the caches since I rarely make it to Disney. It's become a signature item for me, I suppose. Disney pins are fun finds. I have a really nice Disney pin that I found in a cache years ago: Quote Link to comment
kabrmo Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Nice pin. What's it say on the back? Quote Link to comment
+L0ne.R Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Nice pin. What's it say on the back? It's stamped 2006 Quote Link to comment
kabrmo Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I hadn't seen that pin before, which is why I was curious. it looks authentic to me. Cool beans! Quote Link to comment
+GeoLog81 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Sometimes I trade coins (the real ones, not geocoins). When abroad, when I find foreign coins I exchange them for coins from my country. Otherwise, generally no trade, sometimes I throw glass balls or something like that to the caches which are screaming from emptiness... Quote Link to comment
+BookwormGoesGeo Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Well, what I leave behind changes from cache to cache. My favorite thing to leave is a book(wrapped in a thick Ziploc freezer bag, of course) with a customized bookmark. You can get books cheap from thrift stores and Target sells classics in their Dollar Spot - they're not the best quality, but they're probably good for a few reads. If a cache is too small to leave a book, I leave an author magnet with a small laminated card that includes a little bio and a link/QR code leading to public domain audiobooks by the author. If I run out of the more personalized stuff above, I leave behind some paracord trinkets I've made such as zipper pulls (my favorites look like dragonflies), monkey fists, lanyards, etc. I also carry around bags of goodies for when I find a designated kids cache. They include things like novelty sunglasses, gel pens, erasers, stickers, etc. No matter what, I try to vary what's in the cache. If it's full of swag geared towards children, I leave something geared towards adults. If it's full of swag geared towards adults, I leave something geared towards children. Quote Link to comment
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