+consciousNOT Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 Hi all, I am getting started at geocaching and have already found a couple of easy ones. I see a few things that I might need like a trail bag, wasp spray, extra batteries, gloves, etc. Perhaps some of you veteran cachers can summarize your list starting with the type of bag you use and listing what you carry in it. Thanks in advance, John Link to comment
+Melrose Plant Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 My bag keeps getting heavier and heavier. Three things it includes are bug repellant, sunscreen, and a cache repair kit (towels for wiping out damp caches, extra pens/pencils, a pencil sharpener, extra ziplocks of various sizes, extra log books, that sort of thing). Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 I usually have a pack full of stuff from food to winter clothes. Maps & extra compasses. Cat hole kit and plastic bags to pack out paper waste. Water purification tablets. Lots of stuff because I usually go into the back country of Northern Colorado. Link to comment
+robert Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 This is a hot topic every now and then. These threads might help: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=57765 http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=58613 http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=53416 http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=64154 http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=7761 http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=7112 Good luck, and enjoy. Link to comment
+TeamK-9 Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 My bag usually contains a few ranom things. I usually have a mini first aid kit, my FRS radios, extra batteries, some surveyor's marking tape, a geocaching brochure or two, and a few other things, but just for emergencies, I also have some work rope, not climbing rope or a harness or anything. Just work rope, I usually leave it in the car, but if I know I might be near a cliff or something, I throw it in the bottom of the bag just in case, And if case of me possibly needing to get close to an edge or something I'll anchor the rope to a sizable tree and just use it as something to hold on to... Link to comment
+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 Two essentials, water and a gun Link to comment
+DustyJacket Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 Less and less, each time I repack my bag. In fact, even the bag is getting smaller. Link to comment
+briansnat Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 Here is my pack. Its a Mountainsmith Guide What it contains depends on where I'm going, distance, terrain, weather, etc... Some basics are: Extra batteries flashlight 1st aid kit, including moleskins and tick removing tool Platypus hydration system extra clothing appropriate for the season rain parka Leatherman tool compass hiking maps binoculars sunscreen Ultrapod camera tripod and digital camera Any required permits DEET and Permethrin based insect repellents fire starters and waterproof matches Mylar emergency blanket And for geocaching: A cache repair kit...ziplocs, extra logooks, pencils duct tape and maybe a Lock n Lock or Rubbermaid containers. GPS Bag of trade goodies. Since many, if not most caches, are walks under a half mile all one really needs are a small fanny pack with some trade goodies and maybe some insect spray. I prefer the longer hikes when possible, so that's when my pack comes along.w Link to comment
+consciousNOT Posted April 25, 2004 Author Share Posted April 25, 2004 Invaluable advice you guys, especially the old posts from Robert. See you in the woods!! Link to comment
+Lone Duck Posted April 25, 2004 Share Posted April 25, 2004 "Bag"? I have yet to go after any caches where I need to carry that much cargo. The GPS, PDA, compass, and water go either into pockets or on my belt. I'm a big believer in travelling light. Link to comment
+Quoddy Posted April 25, 2004 Share Posted April 25, 2004 (edited) A few things that I carry in my 2200 cu/in Camelback that weren't already mentioned: 1. 25' of fishing line (a MUST). 2. A small automotive-type of inspection mirror... usually used in conjuntion with my ASP light. 3. A 2' extention "grabber" http://www.camelbak.com/rec/media.cfm?media_id=44 Edited April 25, 2004 by Quoddy Link to comment
GeoFD Posted April 28, 2004 Share Posted April 28, 2004 FIRST OFF WATER FIRST AID FLASH LIGHT KNIFE TRADE ITEMS CACHE FIXIN STUFF CELL PHONE FRS COMPASS Link to comment
+Anne Bonney Posted April 28, 2004 Share Posted April 28, 2004 While I try to get away with not carrying much, caching with my dogs is like hauling two toddlers around! My essentials are: Platypus hydration pack (which always has in it): leather(wo)man flashlight trading items Travel Bugs map(s) gps batteries writing utensils spy camera water extra layer of clothing footbag sunglasses cell phone geocaching hat sunscreen bug repellent snacks The dogs' pack is much more well-rounded and food-oriented. The Jeep has it's own stash, too. I guess I don't ever travel lightly. I guess that's why I'm here at home and not stuck on some muddy mountain road or anything.... Anne Bonney; Evans, CO Link to comment
+sTeamTraen Posted April 28, 2004 Share Posted April 28, 2004 A plastic sheet for kneeling on can be useful, as I found out the other day when hunting under a tree stump (especially if you're wearing shorts in nettle season). Link to comment
+TRIOGEO Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 For the TRIOGEO family (wife, 4 yr old, and me) we take: Blackhawk Industries Cyclone (100 oz H2O x 2) 2400ci of storage (with side packs) Magellan meridian Gold Case for GPS (on shoulder strap) Cell phone Whistle (on shoulder strap) First aid kit Leatherman tool (on shoulder strap) Spare socks (for everyone) spare Shorts (for everyone) Spare t shirt (for everyone) Wipes Toilet paper Lighter Firestarter Signal mirror Compass Zip-lock bags Pens Cache pages Notebook Emergency blanket (large size - for shelter also) Flashlight (X2 – Streamlight Stinger and 2D flood) Chemlight sticks (keeps child amused at dusk) Cache items (for trade) Zip ties 50' of climbing rope Carabineers Large plastic trash bags (for trash and ponchos) Digital Camera Small binoculars FRS radios Spare batteries MRE's Snacks & light food Glock entrenching tool (camp shovel) Glock model 27 .40 S&W (in canteen pouch on belt) Leather gloves Seems like much, but packs all together in a nice little package that we can take anywhere. Living in South Florida, we sometimes see sudden and violent weather changes and having my family with me on all of our caches, I like being prepared! Besides, I have the light pack; the wife carries the child when needed! You can see the Cyclone at: http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product...chterms=cyclone Link to comment
+Nazgul Posted April 30, 2004 Share Posted April 30, 2004 Packed in my Mountainsmith "Tour" waist pack: - GPSr in one side pocket - Nalgeen or Gatorade bottle in the other pocket if I need water Front pocket - keys - REI mini aluminum whistle - Photon LED light - trade items and smaller TBs Main pocket - Canon S330 point-n-shoot - mini first aid kit with my own additions - 1oz tube sunscreen - sunscreen lip balm - 1oz bottle Tecnu - kleenex pocket pack - cache printouts - small ziplock bag (for camera or other items if raining/wet) - Larger TBs - Specialty items as needed: liter bottle of water, Surefire 9N, whatever. Small zip pocket inside main pocket - Silva Ranger compass with labels for pace and magnetic declination, and with pace beads attached - case with 4 spare AA alkaline batteries - mini notepad - mechanical pencil - plastic produce bag (for trash etc.) I have a ton of other outdoor gear and several backpacks to choose from if more is needed but I find that this pack covers 98% of my caching/hiking without resorting to a backpack. If I bring my mountain bike any bike-specific stuff and extra water is attached to the bike. I have some gear in the car/Jeep as well in case I need a hat, jacket, extra water, etc. I make small seasonal adjustments. For California winter I drop the suncreen and lip balm and may add gloves, a hat, rain pants, or whatever. I'll also make adjustments tro what I bring if my wife and the baby are joining me for a hike, of course. Besides the pack contents I always have on me: - wristwatch - Benchmade folding knife - Leatherman tool - wallet and change - pen - cellphone Link to comment
+BadAndy Posted May 1, 2004 Share Posted May 1, 2004 Being a gearhead, I have gone a bit overboard at times preparing for a cachehunt. Currently, my camelbak knockoff contains: 2 liter hydration bladder firstaid kit decon box with trade items cache repair kit 2 granola bars petzl headlamp innova led light compass frs/gmrs radios digital camera extra batteries spare loaded magazine decon box survival kit 3 cache in trash out canisters wireless Pocket pc leatherman on my belt: Sportrak Map .40 Smith the pocket PC is my latest toy (Blame that on Wavydave) It has come in handy logging caches online during a lunchbreak at the expresso shop. Link to comment
+YuccaPatrol Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 I carry a small nylon shaving kit bag with my specific geocaching goodies. For urban micros, I hop out of the car with my little bag in hand. For city parks, I put that bag in my man-purse along with my water, wallet, cellphone. For longer hikes, the bag gets tossed into my backpack along with whatever I need for the hike. My bag contains: sunscreen insect repellent Extra batteries compass pens/pencils trade items travel bugs I am carrying keychain LED flashlight whistle Leatherman several prepared micro caches of varying types: bison tube, film can, magnetic film can, magnetic nano-cache And of course, my GPS Link to comment
Keystone Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Closing duplicate topic. Link to comment
Recommended Posts