+Ry and Ny Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I'm trying to think of things other than the GPSr and Palm (if you're paperless) that are either "must haves" or "gee, wouldn't that be nice to have" items to be put into a backpack or carrysack to take along while seeking. Of course, being new, I'm sure I'm missing something. Please fill me in: 1. Camera (from another thread...great suggestion!) 2. Small First Aid Kit 3. Tweezers/nano winding thingamajig (saw it in another thread...) 4. Pen/Pencil 5. Bug spray (not so much this time of year here in WI, but for the summer) 6. Trinkets for trades 7. trash bags for CITO... Please chime in with additional thoughts/suggestions. And, with that, I should be done with the n00b questions for a little bit. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 That' a good start. Mine also includes a compact mirror (to avoid reaching in some spots) and flashlight. With that start you just need to remember when you wish you had something to add it later. Everyones needs will be a bit different. Quote Link to comment
+joeluke Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 i also take along a walking stick to the ones i will have to hike some- good for shooing small animals or if i run into a snake Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 How about a small pad and personal stamp for the letterbox hybrids? Plus: a compass a cheapo calculator (if your phone or GPSr doesn't have one) a cheapo emergency rain poncho Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 a bottle of water? How about a snack? Quote Link to comment
+StarBrand Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 (edited) flashlight, spare batteries, compact rain poncho, emergency compact blanket, sunglasses, hat, paper, garden gloves Edited March 12, 2008 by StarBrand Quote Link to comment
+Ry and Ny Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 Great ideas! I had thought of water and snacks as well, but was thinking for the purposes of this question more along the lines of a relatively permanent pack that I can have ready made to throw over my shoulder and go. Funny thing is, I never thought of the extra batteries and I can guarantee you that's one that would have come back to bite me. Thanks for the great info. Quote Link to comment
+emb021 Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 In addition to the other suggestions, I would add: * geocaching brochures or the like (can get these from geocaching-u). Nice to have to give to people if they ask what you're doing. * small cache repair kit (extra plastic bags of various sizes, extra logs of various sizes- nano, micro, etc, tape, and the like) Quote Link to comment
+victorymike Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 In addition to the items mentioned above: Trade items for regular and mini/micro caches. A few geocoins for special caches. My own personal logbook...for taking notes or calculations or whatever. Especially for writing down coordinates of unfinished multis and solved puzzle caches. My log stickers. My personal embossing stamp. Some funky pens because I like to log with color and flamboyance. A Leatherman. Lately I have been using it to chisel out caches from their ice-encased tombs. Hey...I live in the Great White North (a.k.a. Michigan). CITO bags. A good compass and the knowledge to use it...if my gps eats thru all 3 pairs of batteries I have. I have been meaning to attempt a few caches with compass and map only...but that seems like a bit of work, lol. My Gorilla mini tripod for my digital camera. Hurricane whistle. Never know. Scare away a bear...or a thief that isn't afraid of my Leatherman. Magnesium/flint combo. Why? Fire is cool. I don't know. I've never used it. My mini first aid kit is in my Jeep...but I could carry that with me. Headlamp...but I only carry that when I intend, or expect that I might, go night caching. Quote Link to comment
+TazDevil091102 Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Extra log sheets for the wet logs or no log. Quote Link to comment
+SassyGingerNinja Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I keep a "grabber" in my backpack - it folds in half and is handy when you need to root around and don't want to risk your hands. I got it at Walgreens for $10. Also, a travel size container of toilet paper - don't laugh! You never know! Quote Link to comment
+CacheMiner72 Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Sunscreen for those longer sunny day cache hikes. Becoming more important with how harsh the sun is now. Quote Link to comment
+redsuspenders Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 We picked up some cheap mechanics work gloves from Canadian Tire for rooting around unknown tree stumps etc. Quote Link to comment
+oldsoldier Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Yes, cheap gardening gloves, or something along those lines. Last thing you need is a spider bite... Also, I take along a small first aid kit. But, I also carry enough stuff, in a SMALL pack, to make it through an unexpected nite. Still all fits in a shoulder bag...but, its stuffed to the gills. My equipment list: GPS Compass Camera headlamp electric glowstick 3 granola bars 2 packets of cocoa water bottle metal cup flight gloves trade swag (my wooden nickels) all purpose knife firestarter bivy sack poncho 50' of paracord pair of socks small survival tin spare batteries ipod cell phone Again, it sounds like alot, but it all fits into a maxpedition shoulder bag, and, without the water full, is maybe all of 5 lbs. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I second the multi-tool. Mine comes in handy more than I thought it would. Quote Link to comment
+anakerose Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 In my pack I carry: *GPS *Extra batteries *Geocaching lanyard *Notepad *Pens/Pencils *Sharpener *Log book stickers *Mirror *Hand sanitizer *Rolled up garbage bags *Trade items *Bandaids *Extra ziploc bags *Extra car keys *Reflective band for my arm if we're out at night *Extra camera card (forgot it once) That's just in my everyday caching bag...I take more if we're going hiking. Quote Link to comment
+BCandMsKitty Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 In our bag: Pens Extra baggies for cache maintenance calculator flashlight trade items signature cards folding knife tweezers extra batteries geocaching brochure rubber gloves kevlar search gloves Quote Link to comment
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