TheInvestor Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) So my son and I have been looking into Geocaching for the last year and finally getting ready to take on the challenge. I am looking for suggestions to add to my arsenal as far as accessories or stuff I should use and shouldn't use.. Here is a listing of all the materials we thought would be appropriate that we currently have on hand... 1) Jornada 540 series HP Pocket PC (no wireless card) but can hook up to current PC 2) 1st generation Iphone no special Geocaching Apps 3) Garmin Nuvi 760.. "Standard Out of Box" 4) Premiere membership to Geocaching.com So with those tools any suggestions... I am also open to buying new tools or upgrading tools I currently have.. We plan on doing easy to extreme hunting. Also we are looking for any ideas people might have for something we can leave when we visit the cache. My wife suggested Chap stick being in the high elevation of Colorado, but I kinda thought that would melt. Anyways thanks in advance for the advice and look forward to seeing you all on the trails... CHEERS Edited July 22, 2008 by TheInvestor Quote Link to comment
+Silfron Mandotheneset Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Things I take: GPS (obviously) A camera a trashbag (CITO!) A first aid kit Bug spray sunscreen germ-x (like purell, but cheaper) A spare notebook to replace logs if they're full or wet a BOX of pens. I tend to lose them... and a whole ton of swag! There's a thread going on swag you might want to look at, I'll go get the link. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=198824 Edited July 22, 2008 by Silfron Quote Link to comment
+zoltig Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 So my son and I have been looking into Geocaching <snip> <snip> 3) Garmin Nuvi 760.. "Standard Out of Box" So with those tools any suggestions... I am also open to buying new tools or upgrading tools I currently have.. We plan on doing easy to extreme hunting. Also we are looking for any ideas people might have for something we can leave when we visit the cache. My wife suggested Chap stick being in the high elevation of Colorado, but I kinda thought that would melt. Anyways thanks in advance for the advice and look forward to seeing you all on the trails... CHEERS First off, welcome to geocaching! Not exactly certain how well the Nuvi will work for caching. I think that is more of a road machine. Chapstick and alike are thoughtful but is considered a food type of item. Yeah I know you don't eat it but animals can still be attracted to the scent and may try to access the cache to get to it. There are events going on, one this weekend at Burning Bear Campground just up the South side of Guanella Pass you may wish to attend. Lots of socializing and you can ask questions to other cachers who would be more than happy to help. Quote Link to comment
+Raffaz Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 So my son and I have been looking into Geocaching for the last year and finally getting ready to take on the challenge. I am looking for suggestions to add to my arsenal as far as accessories or stuff I should use and shouldn't use.. Here is a listing of all the materials we thought would be appropriate that we currently have on hand... 1) Jornada 540 series HP Pocket PC (no wireless card) but can hook up to current PC 2) 1st generation Iphone no special Geocaching Apps 3) Garmin Nuvi 760.. "Standard Out of Box" 4) Premiere membership to Geocaching.com So with those tools any suggestions... I am also open to buying new tools or upgrading tools I currently have.. We plan on doing easy to extreme hunting. Also we are looking for any ideas people might have for something we can leave when we visit the cache. My wife suggested Chap stick being in the high elevation of Colorado, but I kinda thought that would melt. Anyways thanks in advance for the advice and look forward to seeing you all on the trails... CHEERS A torch - for looking in dark spots compass spare bags and pads for damaged caches Quote Link to comment
TheInvestor Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 Things I take: GPS (obviously) A camera a trashbag (CITO!) A first aid kit Bug spray sunscreen germ-x (like purell, but cheaper) A spare notebook to replace logs if they're full or wet a BOX of pens. I tend to lose them... and a whole ton of swag! There's a thread going on swag you might want to look at, I'll go get the link. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=198824 Perfect thanks for the List I will try to get those all in our pack.... Also thanks for the link to the swag TOP NOTCH Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 If I were you I'd keep the Nuvi in the car and get an inexpensive hand held unit like a Venture HC for geocaching. The Nuvi and other units designed for vehicle use are poor choices for geocaching. Depending the unit's capabilities, they range from nearly impossible, to royal pain to use for geocaching. There is no compass screen, battery life is not sufficient and they are not physically designed to be held in the hand. Some other things to consider - the 760 sells for around $600 and it's simply not built for the abuse it will receive while geocaching. It's going to get rained on, snowed on, dropped, banged around, dragged through brush, you name it. A regular handheld unit is built to take this, a Nuvi isn't. Drop it in a puddle or get caught out in a sudden thunderstorm and you have yourself an expensive paperweight. You are best off using your Nuvi to get you to the parking area and buying a hand held unit for geocaching. For your Pocket PC there are several apps that will allow you to send all cache pages to it. Cachemate is one of the most popular for Palm devices and I think it now comes in a Pocket PC version. GPS Sonar is another app for the Pocket PC that is popular. Like your Nuvi, your pocket PC isn't really built for the outdoors, but at least you can keep it safely tucked away in your pack and only take it out when needed. Quote Link to comment
TheInvestor Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 First off, welcome to geocaching! Not exactly certain how well the Nuvi will work for caching. I think that is more of a road machine. Chapstick and alike are thoughtful but is considered a food type of item. Yeah I know you don't eat it but animals can still be attracted to the scent and may try to access the cache to get to it. There are events going on, one this weekend at Burning Bear Campground just up the South side of Guanella Pass you may wish to attend. Lots of socializing and you can ask questions to other cachers who would be more than happy to help. Thanks...... My main worry was that the Nuvi wasn't going to work and thru trolling the forums kinda figured out why. DO you happen to have a suggestion as to a nice hand held? Or do you think with the combo of my nuvi to get to parking spots and my iphone would work? Not to worry about paperless caching just getting to where I need to go... I did read about the event and wish I would have looked at it a few weeks ago as we have plans, but hope to make many more when they come... Thanks for your advice... Quote Link to comment
TheInvestor Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 If I were you I'd keep the Nuvi in the car and get an inexpensive hand held unit like a Venture HC for geocaching. The Nuvi and other units designed for vehicle use are poor choices for geocaching. Depending the unit's capabilities, they range from nearly impossible, to royal pain to use for geocaching. There is no compass screen, battery life is not sufficient and they are not physically designed to be held in the hand. Some other things to consider - the 760 sells for around $600 and it's simply not built for the abuse it will receive while geocaching. It's going to get rained on, snowed on, dropped, banged around, dragged through brush, you name it. A regular handheld unit is built to take this, a Nuvi isn't. Drop it in a puddle or get caught out in a sudden thunderstorm and you have yourself an expensive paperweight. You are best off using your Nuvi to get you to the parking area and buying a hand held unit for geocaching. For your Pocket PC there are several apps that will allow you to send all cache pages to it. Cachemate is one of the most popular for Palm devices and I think it now comes in a Pocket PC version. GPS Sonar is another app for the Pocket PC that is popular. Like your Nuvi, your pocket PC isn't really built for the outdoors, but at least you can keep it safely tucked away in your pack and only take it out when needed. Thanks a lot for the input.... I dont really want to use my pokcet pc, but figured I would list it since I own it. I think i will be headed to REI to purchase a hand held GPS to use rather then my auto nuvi I currently have. Thanks again what a great community you all have here and I am glad to be a part of it... Thanks, Ross Quote Link to comment
+wapahani Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8707# The Venture HC is a nice unit and can be had for a little over a $100... Quote Link to comment
+scoutingfamily74 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Check out this thread, a lot of good stuff! http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...&hl=arsenal Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8707# The Venture HC is a nice unit and can be had for a little over a $100... The Venture HC is an excellent choice for people who already have a GPS for their vehicle. Quote Link to comment
TheInvestor Posted July 23, 2008 Author Share Posted July 23, 2008 https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8707# The Venture HC is a nice unit and can be had for a little over a $100... The Venture HC is an excellent choice for people who already have a GPS for their vehicle. Perfect I will look into that model.... You guys are a ton of help... See you in the forums or out on the trails. CHEERS... Quote Link to comment
+WRASTRO Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 And keep in mind that the torch advice is coming from someone in the UK. In the US of A they are called flashlights! Torches in the woods or in the village streets are usually reserved for Snoogans' posts. Quote Link to comment
+Eaglecacher55 Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Just a little more input. I am fairly new to geocaching also, and have ask advice such as yours to several on the forums. I know that there are many lesser expensive units that work great for caching, however, you sound like you are reasonably "well equipped" judging by your equipment list. Being the kind of person who is always wary of buying too "entry level" and wishing that I had gone a little further up the line, you might want to check out the Garmin 60CSx. I wanted a good full featured unit but couldn't spend a ton of money either, so this is the one I chose after listening to much discussion. I am very pleased with it. I like the much debated front, lower button placement among the many other features. Just an opinion Quote Link to comment
+Gettinglost_101 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I see so much good ideas. I too am a newbe, and me and my son are having a blast! I have a E Trex Venture and love it i use it with my car unit. i have to say for swag ideas kids are always good with that and we leave gold dallors. and small toy's, but i like to leave water tab's, and hand gel. wipes,ect. I have made up Micro pens and left them. in Micro's for outhers. I ALWAYS have new log's both kinds, you wont beleave how many time you will find wet ones. If you have a larg can (i.e. ammo can) don't leave arousal cans like bug spray.. they blow up under heat! happy hunting Quote Link to comment
+WRASTRO Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 (edited) I see so much good ideas. I too am a newbe, and me and my son are having a blast! I have a E Trex Venture and love it i use it with my car unit. i have to say for swag ideas kids are always good with that and we leave gold dallors. and small toy's, but i like to leave water tab's, and hand gel. wipes,ect. I have made up Micro pens and left them. in Micro's for outhers. I ALWAYS have new log's both kinds, you wont beleave how many time you will find wet ones. If you have a larg can (i.e. ammo can) don't leave arousal like bug spray.. they blow up under heat! happy hunting Yikes! Are these like Viagra or something? I would hunt for caches that had those and get other members of the team to come along! Edited July 24, 2008 by WRASTRO Quote Link to comment
+J Loran Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Cabella's sells the garmin E Trex for $99.00. We have 2 of them and have never needed anything fancier for caching - we often find caches faster than people with high-end models. Shipping from the website is inexpensive and only took 3 days. Quote Link to comment
+-CacheMonkey- Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Muggle spray or those little stink bombs from the joke shop. You'll have no problem searching the area alone for a few minutes! Quote Link to comment
+vw_k Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Take into consideration the areas you will be caching in and equip yourself just as if you were going for a walk in these areas (because you will!) A cache on a mountain will need different equipment than one in a downtown park. Take appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, a mobile phone in case you need to call for help, a first aid kit and cream for insect bites and plant stings. Take a ballpoint pen or pencil in case there is nothing in the cache to sign the log with too! Quote Link to comment
+BuxCamper Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Spare batteries even if means stopping at the dollar store on the way to the hunt. Quote Link to comment
+jonnos hunters Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 (edited) Just a little more input. I am fairly new to geocaching also, and have ask advice such as yours to several on the forums. I know that there are many lesser expensive units that work great for caching, however, you sound like you are reasonably "well equipped" judging by your equipment list. Being the kind of person who is always wary of buying too "entry level" and wishing that I had gone a little further up the line, you might want to check out the Garmin 60CSx. I wanted a good full featured unit but couldn't spend a ton of money either, so this is the one I chose after listening to much discussion. I am very pleased with it. I like the much debated front, lower button placement among the many other features. Just an opinion I also looked at the Garmin 60csx but settled for the Garmin 60c. As for what to carry for "swaps" I found that reading logs gave us good ideas of what to carry. Happy Hunting and welcome to the world of Geocaching!! Edited July 28, 2008 by jonnos hunters Quote Link to comment
+Silfron Mandotheneset Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Before you buy one you might look at Newegg. They seem to have much better prices on some things (I got my eTrex H for $85 instead of the $99 everyone else was charging, not a huge difference, but worth the look). Quote Link to comment
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