Home Grown Gizmos for Geocaching

[+Headhardhat]

I am compiling a list to be published on my blog. If you would like your name not included please state in your post but I like giving credit where credit is due.

 

The question is: What tip, trick or homemade gizmo do you use that is an absolute must while geocaching?

 

I'm not talking basics like a gps, gloves or batteries. I'm talking that special thingie you keep tucked in your backpack or pouch that you keep with you at all times.

 

For example, a safety pin to get logs out of nanos or a plastic fork to easily take prickley burs out of your clothes. That sort of thing. All suggestions will go into the list and I will let you know when it goes out.

 

Thanks as always,

 

-HHH

[+fishingdude720]

I usually carry a pocket knife to use as a prod stick for places I don't want to stick my hand into, and to cut down branches to use as a geo-pile

[+Kit Fox]

I've got a whole backpack of special "thingies." One item I carry for Joshua tree, Cholla, and Beavertail, spines is a set of sliver tweezers. http://www.rei.com/product/407072

[+sbell111]

A pen.

Edited February 26, 2009 by sbell111

[+DarkZen]

Two ideas:

 

-I keep my batteries in a carrying case. It protects them and it helps keep up with whether they are good or not - positive ends matching=bad, positive ends opposite=good.

 

-A telescoping mirror to help with hard to find micros.

[+Y2KOTA]

I carry a red LED flashlight to help with nightcaching.

[+Star*Hopper]

I've already posted a couple pix of my 'one indispensible & ever-present' cross-lock tweezers. A mini-Leatherman's always in my pocket, even when not caching; as is my 2" 'Bullet' Fisher Space Pen in the watch-pocket.....& while not indispensible, another couple of very handy items include the break-down 20' "reaching pole" I fashioned from 1.25" conduit (3x 7' sections velcro-banded together in the back of the Blazer) & these 2, which get considerable usage:

~30" telescoping magnet.........& 2" 'snake' mirror (so-named for more'n 1 reason!!)

 

~*

[+Too Tall John]

Ditto Star Hopper & Y2KOTA, plus a Pickle Grabber.

[+StarBrand]

A Red Uniball Powertank pressurized pen - for signing logs.

 

Ball of string and a few paperclips.

 

Swiss Army kife with tweezers and toothpick.

 

Backup GPS unit.

 

Duck Tape.

[+Star*Hopper]

Ditto Star Hopper & Y2KOTA, plus a Pickle Grabber.

BOY am I ever glad you posted an explanatory picture for that one!!!!11

 

 

 

\not that there isn't anything not wrong with that

\\stopping now, before I get banned

 

~*

[+Vater_Araignee]

Because it would take a screwdriver and a 20 some odd dollar battery to change my battery if it dies, I made a 12v (8 AA) battery pack that I can plug my car charger into.

It is inefficient but simple.

[AZcachemeister]

A turbo-torch with a tank of MAPP gas.

[+SkellyCA]

Ditto Star Hopper & Y2KOTA, plus a Pickle Grabber.

 

...And I thought it was an olive grabber...silly me.

[+Too Tall John]

...And I thought it was an olive grabber...silly me.

Yeah, well, knowing that if I didn't post an image, I was going to get comments like what Star*Hopper is alluding to, I did a Google Image search. That was the best representation I found. Blame Google!

Ditto Star Hopper & Y2KOTA, plus a Pickle Grabber.

BOY am I ever glad you posted an explanatory picture for that one!!!!11

Me too...

 

After all, without the pic, someone was going to think I was talking about something like this:

Edited February 27, 2009 by Too Tall John

[+Dread_Pirate_Bruce]

Sample subpoenas.

 

They give me a reason for skulking around places that are not ordinarily skulked around. I can explain that I am looking for so-and-so. After that, people generally leave me alone ... and when they don't I ask their name as I look through my stack of subpoenas.

[+aka Momster]

2-$1 Bandanas

 

One for use as a cover-up to hide the GPSr or cache container from muggle eyes, makeshift water bottle carrier, cache location/trail marker, container and swag dryer, dirt remover, and many, many other uses one doesn't know until you need it.

 

The second, hopefully clean, to stem the flow of blood. Stuff happens.

[+Snoogans]

You know those thingys you ust to hang Christmas lights???

 

 

You're gonna need one to get some of my newest cache creations. I just love 5-Star difficulty.

 

(Idea shamelessly stolen from GPSaxophone.)

Edited February 27, 2009 by Snoogans

[+power69]

6 foot length of string with neodymium magnet on end for those rare occasions where a magnetic cache has fallen to earth and isnt retrievable bare handed.

[+WatchDog2020]

 

CellSensor EMF Detection Meter - made to detect cell phone radiation and electromagnetic fields but can be used to locate those tiny little magnetic nanos. Shhhhh don't tell

[+Suburban Hillbillies]

I have a small battery powered blacklight.

I still haven't used it to actucally find a cache, but who knows.

[BlueDamsel]

Sample subpoenas.

 

They give me a reason for skulking around places that are not ordinarily skulked around. I can explain that I am looking for so-and-so. After that, people generally leave me alone ... and when they don't I ask their name as I look through my stack of subpoenas.

 

Dang! I wish I'd thought of this. I'm stealing this idea.

[+Star*Hopper]

Sample subpoenas.

 

They give me a reason for skulking around places that are not ordinarily skulked around. I can explain that I am looking for so-and-so. After that, people generally leave me alone ... and when they don't I ask their name as I look through my stack of subpoenas.

 

I like that one!!!!!!11 Got a few extra samples I could borrow?

Oh.....never mind. I'll just get a few of Vinny's - he's no doubt got lots. & I'll bet he'll even toss in some bonus restraining orders.

~*

[+geos of the jungle]

During peak tick season I always have a roll of cellophane tape (e.g. Scotch). The tape works great for grabbing the ticks off my clothes, and I can count how many I nabbed at the end of the hike.

[+fox-and-the-hound]

A pair of buckskin gloves. I always carry gloves (usually fleece) in winter, but these I carry all year long for when you have to climb that tree or reach into some sketchy-lookin' hole, etc. Very, very soft, feel like a second skin actually and have saved my hands again and again from bites, scrapes, tree sap, etc.

[knowschad]

Sample subpoenas.

 

They give me a reason for skulking around places that are not ordinarily skulked around. I can explain that I am looking for so-and-so. After that, people generally leave me alone ... and when they don't I ask their name as I look through my stack of subpoenas.

 

I like that one!!!!!!11 Got a few extra samples I could borrow?

Oh.....never mind. I'll just get a few of Vinny's - he's no doubt got lots. & I'll bet he'll even toss in some bonus restraining orders.

~*

 

Sample Subpoena

 

And instructions for serving it

 

Isn't the internet wonderful!?

[+Woodstramp]

When I first started folks mentioned carrying a clipboard to "look official" so as to ward off muggle attention. That sounded good but I use something a little smaller and more convenient. It's a small spiral bound pocket notebook. You can flip it open and lay the GPS over or under it if need be. It cammos the GPS hand well.

[+Star*Hopper]

..... I use something a little smaller and more convenient. It's a small spiral bound pocket notebook. You can flip it open and lay the GPS over or under it if need be. It cammos the GPS hand well.

 

Now, there's an advantage of a smaller GPSr like my "Ol' Blue" Garmin -- no need to hide. I've used it to "take photos" more'n I've used an actual camera. And not to mention, the "cellphone calls" I've made on it!!

 

More problems grabbing & then putting back 35mm cans in heavy muggle areas....but I've about perfected my "accidental pen drop" & "shoe needs tying" moves.

 

~*

[+Star*Hopper]

During peak tick season I always have a roll of cellophane tape (e.g. Scotch). The tape works great for grabbing the ticks off my clothes, and I can count how many I nabbed at the end of the hike.

 

You.....ummmmmmmmmmmmm........save them??!!??

 

Tell me.....what does it mean when you "file your nails"??

 

~*

[+Team O-Zone]

I have in my bag a telescoping mirror & telescoping magnet, among other things but I also carry a package of diaper wipes. It's great when you get plant sap on your hands, as well as when you're on a hike and you kid "needs to go now!" if you know what I mean!

[+DiamondDaveG]

When I first started folks mentioned carrying a clipboard to "look official" so as to ward off muggle attention. That sounded good but I use something a little smaller and more convenient. It's a small spiral bound pocket notebook. You can flip it open and lay the GPS over or under it if need be. It cammos the GPS hand well.

 

I have used this one many times. I always have a mini-composition book in the van for notes while driving too. Now that I came across one really cheap, I have started to carry an orange vest and a hard hat just in case I need to look even more 'official' than just the clipboard.

[+Star*Hopper]

I hear ya, DD. NOBODY messes with da Village People!!!!!!111

~*

[+rastus76]

i have a bag that always goes with me. is has a small led flash light, cammo duck tape, extra blank logs, my travel log book, empty cache containers, spool of green flower arrangement wire, band-aids, leather man tool camera, batteries, and i took an old solar light and stripped it down to just the battery housing and the solar panels. (i can leave it on the dash or take it with me. i used it during a week long hike thru yosimite and only took 6 rechargeable batteries. it keep my cam and gps going the whole time i was there.) there is also some baby wipes for cleaning muddy sappy or what ever hands and cleaning wounds.

[+Mredria]

When I first started folks mentioned carrying a clipboard to "look official" so as to ward off muggle attention. That sounded good but I use something a little smaller and more convenient. It's a small spiral bound pocket notebook. You can flip it open and lay the GPS over or under it if need be. It cammos the GPS hand well.

 

I do this too. Mine's a small black book, though. It goes well with my fancy fountain pen. I like the versatility. From Banks to Cemetaries, people can imagine you're doing whatever it is appropriate to do in those places.

[+DiamondDaveG]

I hear ya, DD. NOBODY messes with da Village People!!!!!!111

~*

 

 

I never thought about that.... I wonder if I could get my oldest kid to dress as a cowboy & youngest to be a sailor?

Edited March 1, 2009 by DiamondDaveG

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

A turbo-torch with a tank of MAPP gas.

Best answer yet...!

 

.

[+Vinny & Sue Team]

Sample subpoenas.

 

They give me a reason for skulking around places that are not ordinarily skulked around. I can explain that I am looking for so-and-so. After that, people generally leave me alone ... and when they don't I ask their name as I look through my stack of subpoenas.

 

I like that one!!!!!!11 Got a few extra samples I could borrow?

Oh.....never mind. I'll just get a few of Vinny's - he's no doubt got lots. & I'll bet he'll even toss in some bonus restraining orders.

~*

It does not bother me one bit that I seem to get served with about five or six subpoenas and restraining orders each day. What DOES bother me slightly is that most of them originated with Groundspeak, and many of them demand that I stay at least 1,000 feet away from Signal the Frog.

 

Sheesh! How, and why, does this happen to me? I don't get it! And these subpoenas come from many jurisdictions, and worse, the restraining orders come from a number of different countries. It is almost as if an occult hand had reached down from above and moved the players like pawns upon some giant chessboard.

 

.

[+Vater_Araignee]

I hear ya, DD. NOBODY messes with da Village People!!!!!!111

~*

 

 

I never thought about that.... I wonder if I could get my oldest kid to dress as a cowboy & youngest to be a sailor?

And cause some body that cant take a joke call child protective services on you.

[+fox-and-the-hound]

I have a new "gizmo" in my bag A soft-bristle toothbrush! It's fantastic for cleaning the seals and edges of containers. Has a great reach into tiny corners and quickly cleans away mud, leaves, sand, etc. to ensure a good clean seal when closing up that container. I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier.

[+Maingray]

Great thread.

 

Here is my "secret" gizmo...a mini fine point sharpie attached to the base of my GPSr. Great to prevent those run-back-to-car moments. Thanks to laineybug here in NC for the idea and the attachment device.

 

Note also the lid of the new $20 Inka pen I bought from REI to replace the sharpie..yes, i lost the actual pen the first day caching. Argh.

 

[+Team O-Zone]

I have a new "gizmo" in my bag A soft-bristle toothbrush! It's fantastic for cleaning the seals and edges of containers. Has a great reach into tiny corners and quickly cleans away mud, leaves, sand, etc. to ensure a good clean seal when closing up that container. I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier.

 

That's a great idea!!! I'm adding that one to my bag!

[+Colonial Cats]

A turbo-torch with a tank of MAPP gas.

Best answer yet...!

 

.

Of course! How else would you get through all that brush.

[+amianda]

Sample subpoenas.

 

They give me a reason for skulking around places that are not ordinarily skulked around. I can explain that I am looking for so-and-so. After that, people generally leave me alone ... and when they don't I ask their name as I look through my stack of subpoenas.

 

Hah! Ossim

[John E Cache]

CellSensor EMF Detection Meter - made to detect cell phone radiation and electromagnetic fields but can be used to locate those tiny little magnetic nanos. Shhhhh don't tell

I carry a compass for that. I have also heard you can use a compass to tell which direction you are going. I use a Lensatic Compass with a magnetic bearing to site at a cache:

 

[+fox-and-the-hound]

I've already posted a couple pix of my 'one indispensible & ever-present' cross-lock tweezers. A mini-Leatherman's always in my pocket, even when not caching; as is my 2" 'Bullet' Fisher Space Pen in the watch-pocket.....& while not indispensible, another couple of very handy items include the break-down 20' "reaching pole" I fashioned from 1.25" conduit (3x 7' sections velcro-banded together in the back of the Blazer) & these 2, which get considerable usage:

~30" telescoping magnet.........& 2" 'snake' mirror (so-named for more'n 1 reason!!)

 

~*

 

Where did you find the snake mirror? I've been trying to find a telescoping one, but this looks even handier!

[+kraushad]

I found my telescoping mirror at the local auto supply store.. pep boys, auto zone, etc.. should have them.

 

I have a few great gizmos, many of which have already been mentioned. BUT, nothing works better to keep heads from turning my way way in a crowded parking lot than my safety vest, hard hat, and the following magnetic signs which are prominitely displayed on my white pickup (looks like a work truck):

 

Edited March 25, 2009 by kraushad

[+Y2KOTA]

 

CellSensor EMF Detection Meter - made to detect cell phone radiation and electromagnetic fields but can be used to locate those tiny little magnetic nanos. Shhhhh don't tell

 

Thats tooooo cool Just ordered one though Amazon.com. Thanks!!

[+The Jester]

I don't have a picture, but I used zip ties to fasten a dollar-store belt clip (for cell phones, but it fits the button on Garmins) to my trek pole. That way I can hang my GPSr on the pole and lift it easily to read while using the poles.

[+Knight2000]

A turbo-torch with a tank of MAPP gas.

Whew! I thought i was the only one.

[+Dread_Pirate_Bruce]

I found my telescoping mirror at the local auto supply store.. pep boys, auto zone, etc.. should have them.

 

I have a few great gizmos, many of which have already been mentioned. BUT, nothing works better to keep heads from turning my way way in a crowded parking lot than my safety vest, hard hat, and the following magnetic signs which are prominitely displayed on my white pickup (looks like a work truck):

 

 

That is truly brilliant. On Monday, I'm going to the magnetic sign shop. I may also have company t-shirts printed. (I'll remember to put a local telephone number on it.)

[+Mustards]

we use a quilling tool which we use to roll up the logs in the dreaded nanos, wew have only used it once but it sure worked a treat.