+Hobo2 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 (edited) I just found something in a cache yesterday that I thought would be a great addition to my Geocaching backpack, so I thought I should share it with you. It is a small box of “Cutter” insect repellent… they come in individually wrapped packets of wipes. I have been trying to think of different items (because I’m a newbe) I may need with me while out in the field, and thought this was a good one. I have not seen the wipes before, but what a great idea. They will not freeze, or expand with the heat and leek, as I have had the spray do. They will also make putting insect repellent on the grandkids easier. I also would like some suggestions you may have that I haven’t thought of yet. My backpack contains: GPS unit Small 10x25 binoculars Insect repellent (wipes) Bear spray-(when needed) Small first-aid kit Small notepad & pen Camera Small flint & steel Extra fine steel wool-(good for starting fires). Pocket knife Small flashlight Extra batteries-(AA for flashlight & GPS) Trading items Replacement zip-lock baggies-(for the caches that need help) Edited May 14, 2007 by Hobo2 Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 String/Rope Emergency Blanket Emergency poncho Quote Link to comment
+ve1bvd Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Cell phone / FRS / hand-held VHF Quote Link to comment
+BBWolf+3Pigs Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Cell phone / FRS / hand-held VHF * 100' of parachute cord * Multi-tool * Sunscreen * Water purification tablets * extra set of socks/shirt (in colder/wetter weather) Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I use those wipes as trade items. Cheap and useful. Quote Link to comment
+TreeSqueezers Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I use those wipes as trade items. Cheap and useful. That's an excellent idea. But, I'm sure you already thought so Quote Link to comment
+007BigD Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Just got a snake bite kit after a cacher got bit by a snake while placing a cache on my behalf...It wasnt poisoness but the next one might be! Also a magnafier lens...for startin a fire or lookin at teeny tiny Coin Numbers...'N' Bugs too! Quote Link to comment
magellan315 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Extra fine steel wool-(good for starting fires). How does steel wool help you start fires? Quote Link to comment
+whereabouts Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Starting Fires with steel wool and AA batteries I love Google. Quote Link to comment
+Driver Carries Cache Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 For those looking for survival essentials, one of the first things I added to my pack (along with my first aid kit, a leatherman tool, locking folding knife, flashlight and headlamp was: Pocket Survival Pack There's lots of good reading about survival tactics etc. at: Equipped to Survive Driver Carries Cache (among other things) Quote Link to comment
targetvarmints Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I bought one of those cranking flashlights. It never needs batteries or bulbs. So far it has worked great! I bought it before I started geocaching, but it works for this although it is a litlte heavy. My friend has a headlamp which allows you to have both hands free. Don't forget to take along some water. Quote Link to comment
+Chuy! Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Toilet paper! Also a whistle, trail mix, and a backup GPS. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Last summer I emptied my pack and photographed the contents: Quote Link to comment
+mr_candyman Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I recently got a 3X1 watt (3 1 watt bulb) Nichia LED headlamp that runs off 3 AAA batteries. http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_deta...fromSearch=true It is such a fantastic light I can't believe it. It gives a VERY strong, bright white light that spreads very well and lights up the distance like crazy. The last night time caching I did (2 nights ago) was my first time using this light. I vowed before even starting to JUST use this light. I never encountered a time that this light would have been worse than using one of my other flashlights. I'm a bit of a flashlight whore and I always try to find better and better flashlights. This headlamp really is amazing and the convenience of not having to hold a flashlight some awkward way when signing a log is great. The only problem I really have with it is that the power button is a bit small and hard to push in. Thinking about it though, it could be a good thing if you're ever a klutz goin in caving... Quote Link to comment
+quikkuffer Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 (edited) Glock, when I go into the outback. (yes I have a license to carry it) 2 knives, 100 oz. Camelbak for those long treks and a 50 oz for shorter ones. Several carabiners of different sizes. Edited May 15, 2007 by quikkuffer Quote Link to comment
+fox-and-the-hound Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 The old tried and true safety whistle. Oddly enough, this item gets overlooked constantly. Costs about a dollar, makes a good trade item and has saved countless lives in countless situations. Quote Link to comment
+Totem Clan Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 The old tried and true safety whistle. Oddly enough, this item gets overlooked constantly. Costs about a dollar, makes a good trade item and has saved countless lives in countless situations. Anytime we go in to the wilds, caching or not, all the kids carry one. They can be heard a lot farther than the human voice, and it takes a lot less energy to blow a whistle that to scream. Quote Link to comment
+Thrak Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I have a police whistle in my bag and a wooden whistle on a thong on the end of my hiking stick. Like folks said above, it's a lot easier to hear a piercing whistle than a human voice and takes a lot less energy and lung power to blow one than to yell. I noticed that you had spare baggies on your list for cache maintenance but not spare pens. One day when I was a new cacher I ran into two regular sized caches in a row without pens. From then on I carried spares and have had a number of occasions to be glad that I had them. Quote Link to comment
+faststepper Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 What about a GOOD old fashioned compass. Quote Link to comment
+fox-and-the-hound Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Howdy Hobo2, PM me your snail mail and I'll send you a little something for you pack Quote Link to comment
+monahmat Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Two obvious ones - Zip Ties & Duck Tape. Ton's of uses and work great for cache container maintenance. Quote Link to comment
+Brik Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I have one of these. i have never taken it caching but may someday depending or terrain. http://www.woodmanspal.com/products.html Also, Tecnu. Quote Link to comment
+Totem Clan Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I've got a machete from one of my trips to South America that I took via Uncle Sam's Tours and Vacation Planners Inc. Maybe I should start carrying that. It would tend to "clear out" the muggles on those pesky urban micro hunts. Quote Link to comment
vtmtnman Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I've got a machete from one of my trips to South America that I took via Uncle Sam's Tours and Vacation Planners Inc. Maybe I should start carrying that. It would tend to "clear out" the muggles on those pesky urban micro hunts. Muggle-So whatcha doin there bud? TC-Yard work...what's it look like? Muggle-On a lamp post? Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 (edited) Extra fine steel wool-(good for starting fires). How does steel wool help you start fires? Steel wool (extra fine, 000) is one of the best fire starters... the kind without soap added. It will light even if it gets wet, just shake it out and away you go. Steel wool can get started easily with flint & steel, or with your extra batteries. Try it, just place a couple D, or three AA bat. end to end, hold them tight. Tare off a small portion of your steel wool stretched out (about a pencil width, no need to have it twisted together just leave it loose), hold one end on the negative end, and strike the positive end with the rest. You will get a spark that will start the steel wool burning quickly. Blow on it as you set it in your tinder, and walla... fire. Edited May 16, 2007 by Hobo2 Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 Two obvious ones - Zip Ties & Duck Tape. Ton's of uses and work great for cache container maintenance. Great idea! Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 I have one of these. i have never taken it caching but may someday depending or terrain. http://www.woodmanspal.com/products.html Also, Tecnu. Not much poison oak around here, but good idea! As far as that big knife goes, WOW, I don’t know if that’s for cutting foliage or defending yourself. I think if I have to use something like that to get into a cache, I’ll pass. But protecting myself is wise, so I let Sam Colt do that for me. Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 Magnets. I’m intrigued, magnets for what? Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 (edited) I have a police whistle in my bag and a wooden whistle on a thong on the end of my hiking stick. Like folks said above, it's a lot easier to hear a piercing whistle than a human voice and takes a lot less energy and lung power to blow one than to yell. I noticed that you had spare baggies on your list for cache maintenance but not spare pens. One day when I was a new cacher I ran into two regular sized caches in a row without pens. From then on I carried spares and have had a number of occasions to be glad that I had them. Extra pens and or pencils are a thoughtful idea too, but I prefer pencils though... pens tend to freeze. Edited May 16, 2007 by Hobo2 Quote Link to comment
+d-town cachers Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 i think the best new tool i've added to my bag since the git would be a sturdy pair of tweezers. there are some local caches that the hider recommends you bring some tweezers with you, and since we did a few that day, i will never take them out of the bag. you can pull splinters, micros, squish bugs...and they easily collapse to fit almost anywhere!!! and no, i don't work for the tweezer industry. Quote Link to comment
+Thrak Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Two obvious ones - Zip Ties & Duck Tape. Ton's of uses and work great for cache container maintenance. Great idea! \ Get the camo duct tape from Wally World - it's in the sporting goods section and also in the paint section. I found it to be cheaper in the paint section. Weird. Different pricing in different parts of the store. Quote Link to comment
+Kraz3yCacher Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 GPS Pocket Knife Compass Pen/Paper Trade Items Cellphone and sometimes the wife and kid (depends on if the wife can behave or not) lol Quote Link to comment
+Brik Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I have one of these. i have never taken it caching but may someday depending or terrain. http://www.woodmanspal.com/products.html Also, Tecnu. Not much poison oak around here, but good idea! As far as that big knife goes, WOW, I don’t know if that’s for cutting foliage or defending yourself. I think if I have to use something like that to get into a cache, I’ll pass. But protecting myself is wise, so I let Sam Colt do that for me. The woodsmans pal is really more a machete/hatchet. I find the hook part of the blade to less useful than the main blade. Its great for those sticker bushes and such. I bought it for cutting my way along a property line in pretty heavy and dense under brush. Its sort of spendy. You can get a cheapo machete at wall mart for about $8 in the camping department. The difference is night and day though (I have both) Quote Link to comment
+eagletrek Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I like to tote one of these along to open those hard to open containers. Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 (edited) i think the best new tool i've added to my bag since the git would be a sturdy pair of tweezers. there are some local caches that the hider recommends you bring some tweezers with you, and since we did a few that day, i will never take them out of the bag. you can pull splinters, micros, squish bugs...and they easily collapse to fit almost anywhere!!! and no, i don't work for the tweezer industry. Tweezers, outstanding idea! This is one of the things my bag needs, THANKS! All make a list with all these ideas and post it after a while... just for us Geocachers that want to pack light. I am sure there are a lot more things I could include, but my aim/want was to keep it lightweight, tweezers are just the ticket. Edited May 16, 2007 by Hobo2 Quote Link to comment
Entrepid Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I generally carry just my gps, a pen, and a water bottle. Oh, and I carry a seven inch blade survival knife at my hip. helps to clear out the muggles. Quote Link to comment
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 (edited) With a few exceptions which occur largely when traveling in distant areas, I normally only tackle and place Terrain 4.5+ caches. My standard pack gear includes: Bottled water. Cell phone. GPSr plus spare batteries. Three radiation monitors/detectors with digital readouts, with varying ranges of sensitivity for a variety of conditions. Ambient oxygen level detector with digital readout and auto-alarm for levels below 14%. Tyvek protective bunny suit and hood in a protective Tyvek pouch. Battery-operated PAPR respirator for protective bunny suit. Hydrogen sulfide/ammonia/methane gas detector with digital readout and auto-alarm at dangerous levels. 3-minute emergency air pack for hydrogen sulfide escape. Rock climbing gear, including 4 etriers, 12 carabiners, 28 slings/runners of varying lengths, 180 feet of climbing rope in two sections, two ascenders, two descending bars. 2 grappling hooks. 3 Black Diamond fifi hooks of varying sizes. Black Diamond cliffhanger hooks. Protective helmet. Four high-intensity waterproof LED flashlights. two waterproof LED headlamps. Replacement alkaline cells for waterproof flashlights and headlamps. Edited May 16, 2007 by Vinny & Sue Team Quote Link to comment
+jackrock Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I carry a variety of the things mentioned in this thread. With the heat coming on now, I'm planning to pack lighter and move from a backpack to a hydration waistpack. This means I'll be toting far fewer items due to space restrictions but I'll still have room for essentials. The larger TBs will be the difficult thing. Quote Link to comment
+tands Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 From an adjacent thread: http://www.scs-mall.com/tick-removers/prod...p?number=PTRC2M I'm getting one of these. - T of TandS Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I have one of these. i have never taken it caching but may someday depending or terrain. http://www.woodmanspal.com/products.html If a park ranger were to encounter you hacking your way to a cache I think that might be the end of geocaching in that park system. Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 I have one of these. i have never taken it caching but may someday depending or terrain. http://www.woodmanspal.com/products.html If a park ranger were to encounter you hacking your way to a cache I think that might be the end of geocaching in that park system. I concur, plus it would leave a fresh and distinct trail right to the cache. I just don’t think it would be a good idea for any of us to go into the forest and start cutting brush… destruction of the environment is hopefully not what we are about. But I do like the knife! Quote Link to comment
+Bamboogirl Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Aside from the total coolness factor of the machete-thing which I would love to have: BENADRYL. A few in their usual sealed foil cards are very handy in case of bites or stings or into some allergen that surprises you way out in the sticks. Finding out the hard way that something may trigger a violent allergic reaction and not having any around is not a fun thing. (Voice of experience here, so I always have some in whatever pack I'm using) Quote Link to comment
+Brik Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Yes, just to be clear, I am not advocating destruction, marking trail to cache, pissing people off, etc. Nor would I ever likely take one of these with me caching as standard equipment. I might have it in the truck. There are many times 'round here when the sticker bushes get really bad and grow quickly. I have often trimmed a few with my pocket knife just so I wouldn't have to suffer their wrath. Quote Link to comment
+wandererrob Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 (edited) I have a police whistle in my bag and a wooden whistle on a thong on the end of my hiking stick. Like folks said above, it's a lot easier to hear a piercing whistle than a human voice and takes a lot less energy and lung power to blow one than to yell. I noticed that you had spare baggies on your list for cache maintenance but not spare pens. One day when I was a new cacher I ran into two regular sized caches in a row without pens. From then on I carried spares and have had a number of occasions to be glad that I had them. My great-grandfather and grandfather used to keep a spend rifle shell in thier pocket. Kinda like whistling with a bottle but MUCH higher pitch. My grandmother gave me one she had laying around from those days a few years ago. I keep it in my backpack at all times along with his old WW2 compass. Technology can fail, so I always have the plain old compass handy just in case. Of course also a regualr safety whistle and assorted other accoutrements. Edited May 17, 2007 by wandererrob Quote Link to comment
+krisandmel Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 Extra fine steel wool-(good for starting fires). How does steel wool help you start fires? Steel wool (extra fine, 000) is one of the best fire starters... the kind without soap added. It will light even if it gets wet, just shake it out and away you go. Steel wool can get started easily with flint & steel, or with your extra batteries. Try it, just place a couple D, or three AA bat. end to end, hold them tight. Tare off a small portion of your steel wool stretched out (about a pencil width, no need to have it twisted together just leave it loose), hold one end on the negative end, and strike the positive end with the rest. You will get a spark that will start the steel wool burning quickly. Blow on it as you set it in your tinder, and walla... fire. A little 9v battery works very well too. I've made a couple little 'kits' that contain a fresh 9v, some steel wool in a tiny ziplock, all vacu-sealed with the foodsaver machine. I made the two I have for my own use, but I'm thinking of making more and leaving as trade items. ~k Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share Posted May 19, 2007 I am going to add some of these great items (some I already have), to the list above. Then I think I will start a thread and calling it something like: Items for a "SMALL" well stocked Geocaching bag, how does that sound? Or has it been done and people are tired of looking at it so it would be locked? Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share Posted May 19, 2007 (edited) Extra fine steel wool-(good for starting fires). How does steel wool help you start fires? Steel wool (extra fine, 000) is one of the best fire starters... the kind without soap added. It will light even if it gets wet, just shake it out and away you go. Steel wool can get started easily with flint & steel, or with your extra batteries. Try it, just place a couple D, or three AA bat. end to end, hold them tight. Tare off a small portion of your steel wool stretched out (about a pencil width, no need to have it twisted together just leave it loose), hold one end on the negative end, and strike the positive end with the rest. You will get a spark that will start the steel wool burning quickly. Blow on it as you set it in your tinder, and walla... fire. A little 9v battery works very well too. I've made a couple little 'kits' that contain a fresh 9v, some steel wool in a tiny ziplock, all vacu-sealed with the foodsaver machine. I made the two I have for my own use, but I'm thinking of making more and leaving as trade items. ~k This is a good idea, but I am thinking lite. If we need to carry extra batteries for our GPS units already, which take AA, wouldn't it be prudent and save on weight to carry a flashlight, camera, etc. that take the same AA's? So then learning how to use AA's to start a fire is best, don't you think? But ya, I'll bet those little buggers get the steel wool burning fast! Edited May 19, 2007 by Hobo2 Quote Link to comment
+Hobo2 Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share Posted May 19, 2007 (edited) I just found something in a cache yesterday that I thought would be a great addition to my Geocaching backpack, so I thought I should share it with you. It is a small box of “Cutter” insect repellent… they come in individually wrapped packets of wipes. I have been trying to think of different items (because I’m a newbe) I may need with me while out in the field, and thought this was a good one. I have not seen the wipes before, but what a great idea. They will not freeze, or expand with the heat and leek, as I have had the spray do. They will also make putting insect repellent on the grandkids easier. I also would like some suggestions you may have that I haven’t thought of yet. My backpack contains: GPS unit Small 10x25 binoculars Insect repellent (wipes) Bear spray-(when needed) Small first-aid kit Small notepad & pen Camera Small flint & steel Extra fine steel wool-(good for starting fires) Small tin cup-(for drinking & cooking if needed) Benedryl Iodine pills-(for purification) Pocket knife Small flashlight Extra batteries-(AA for flashlight & GPS) Tweezers Trading items Replacement zip-lock baggies-(for the caches that need help) I have added the new items others have suggested here, plus the tin cup came to mind. Can you think of anything else? Edited May 19, 2007 by Hobo2 Quote Link to comment
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