+targetw Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Learnt a valuble lesson today about things to have with us while out driving the back roads of Ontario geocaching. I tool box with screw drivers and pliers for example. We got a flat tire in the middle of no where and had a heck of a time getting the tire changed over just before dark. I know better now. What types of things do other cacher's bring besides the basics that might help us all??? Thanks Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Magnetic compass; space blankets; lots and lots of batteries; chem-lite sticks; fire-making materials (not just a lighter); rain gear; cache fix/repair materials; QUALITY first-aid materials; bug dope, maybe; Oh yeah, a GPSr! A small backpack to put it all in. NEVER leave the magnetic in the car! Quote Link to comment
+squirtle squad Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Don't forget, cell phone because you will end up running late doing just that one more. Toilet paper, biodegradeable, unless you don't mind using a big leaf. Hopefully not poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Quote Link to comment
+woody_and_pip Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Oh wow. I do need to throw some toilet paper in the bag... that is a good idea. I always bring my gerber multi-tool and a flashlight on my belt. The compass is a great thing for a kid not holding the GPSr cell phone my walking stick and a backpack for everything else to fit in. but I am a neophyte and I haven't ventured much more than 2 miles from the vehicle. I think it depends a lot on where you are planning to go. bear country would demand different equipment than here in the middle of a lot of farms Quote Link to comment
+Carlos1787 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I always have my letherman pocket tool Water Food if I'm in a remote area bug spray is a must! Batteries lighter flashlight Cell phone loaded with Cachemate my primary GPSr Etrex vista HCx and a Back up Garmin etrex H just in case. some swag to trade I fit it all in a large camera bag..I tried a backpack..it's just not for me. Quote Link to comment
+Gratusin Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Make sure you bring plenty of water, that is essential. Here in Southern Arizona, we've had to turn around because we were getting low even though the cache was a few hundred yards away (although a few hundred yards scrambling over 50 foot boulders is much further than it seems!) We always bring a snake bite kit as well, the rattlers are out in full swing right now. I also tend to bring a gun as there are many large critters that are very aggressive out here in the desert wilds (Mountain Lions, Javelinas and Drug Smugglers). Haven't had to use it yet, nor will I if a confrontation can be avoided, but it brings peace of mind. If you're in bear country, that would be a really good idea. Quote Link to comment
+jennyofthemoon Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 (edited) I carry a backpack that always has the following: compass whistle first aid kit/bug spray/sunscreen baby wipes water (well, everyone carries their own) flashlight lighter pen/pencil a bag of swag my gerber food of some sort, even we don't plan on being gone long, because you never know a couple plastic bags for trash I always carry my cell on me eta: I also carry an extra pair of socks Edited May 11, 2010 by jennyofthemoon Quote Link to comment
+woody_and_pip Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I know I am just a newbie, but after a day of going after 7 with the kids I know one item that I now travel with in the cache bag. A note/log book. With multiple caches it is much easier to write down what is traded and what shape the cache is in than to try to remember it. Quote Link to comment
+godavid Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 i just pull geotraveltrailer every where Quote Link to comment
+Telecacher Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Only been caching about a week now. I'm jealous. So far around my area in urban SoCal I haven't had to venture much further than my car to find a cache. No need to bring all those supplies, as there is a convienence store on every corner. Really, a backup GPSr? Extra socks? You guys are having all the fun! Quote Link to comment
+godavid Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 000ooh yea but there is more fun to be had and always enougn ro0m for others to join to have fun on the way Quote Link to comment
+popokiiti Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Only been caching about a week now. I'm jealous. So far around my area in urban SoCal I haven't had to venture much further than my car to find a cache. No need to bring all those supplies, as there is a convienence store on every corner. Really, a backup GPSr? Extra socks? You guys are having all the fun! Welcome to the forums and to geocaching! We still do the same sort of caches as you, and venture into the woods also. A fanny pack is great for leaving the hands free and mine holds swag, pens, batteries, spare ziplock bags, and there is even room for my cellphone. It also contains flashlights (2), dental tweezers, mirror on telescoping wand, telescoping light/magnet and hand sanitizer. I also have spare bisons and nanos and R&R logsheets "just in case." I found I was putting too much in my backpack - the weight had me tipping over on my back on a couple of occasions! Quote Link to comment
+The Wandering Stars Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 (edited) It totally depends on where we are going. If we're going into the woods we have a backpack w/ the following: - Water bladder w/ water - Flashlight - Swag - Travel bugs/coins/etc - Bug spray - Various tools, tweezers, magnetic telescope thingy, mirror, etc - First AID kit - Snake bit kit (well we should have one, but we don't, are planning on getting on though) - More water - Snacks, granola bars and the like - Extra batteries - all kinds of different sizes ziploc bags - all sizes of extra log sheets We're also of course carrying a GPS (60CSx) each and a cell phone. Edited May 11, 2010 by The Wandering Stars Quote Link to comment
+cachecrashers4 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Wow! No one has said a camera yet. An essential I have kicked myself for not bringing on occasion. Quote Link to comment
+hukilaulau Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 eta: I also carry an extra pair of socks yep. I keep an old pair of running shoes and extra socks in the truck. I am inclined to muck my way through swamps from time to time and it can be unpleasant if I have to go to work or something directly from caching if I have to wear the same shoes and socks. Quote Link to comment
+Chokecherry Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I hit a particularly soft spot in a bog last weekend and got moist (or at least that's how I explained it to my mom). Glad I had extra socks. Basically if I'm doing a day trip I have my cache bag which holds a travel bug I'm holding on to for now, baggies, some paper, a pen, swag to put in caches, batteries, my camera, phone, and if I'm not carrying it my GPSr. I'll carry this back and forth with me. So then in another bag in the car I usually have my "after caching clothes" (and have become quite good at changing in secluded parking lots), extra socks, extra hoodie, and after caching shoes (flip flops for dealing with sweaty and/or wet feet). Sometimes I'll toss some band aids or reloads for my mini swag bag in my cache pack. And I also have water somewhere near by either on me for longer ventures or in the car for shorter ones. Quote Link to comment
+targetw Posted May 12, 2010 Author Share Posted May 12, 2010 (edited) All great idea's thanks for sharing. Happy Caching! Edited May 12, 2010 by targetw Quote Link to comment
+jennyofthemoon Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Wow! No one has said a camera yet. An essential I have kicked myself for not bringing on occasion. Oh yes, I ALWAYS carry my camera with me, but that is for most everything so I never even think of it! eta: I also carry an extra pair of socks yep. I keep an old pair of running shoes and extra socks in the truck. I am inclined to muck my way through swamps from time to time and it can be unpleasant if I have to go to work or something directly from caching if I have to wear the same shoes and socks. I will tell you, if there is swapiness within a mile of me, you can be sure that *I* am the one it ends up in. There have been plenty of times I have gone home shoeless with the extra socks on to warm my feet LOL Quote Link to comment
+brslk Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I just try to bring my wife with me. She is the planner that brings the stuff. Quote Link to comment
+ButcherChop Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Wow! No one has said a camera yet. An essential I have kicked myself for not bringing on occasion. cell phone is always a must. the 5MP camera on it is a plus. Quote Link to comment
hoosier guy Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Water and snacks, really important if you have your kids along. Quote Link to comment
outsidenKS19 Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 I haven't embarked on any caches that require a camel and sherpa, but I really want to. But, Here is a list of stuff I take even though we rarely get more than a mile from the car. Extra Batteries. Water and snacks, especially with kids. Writing Utensil Sun screen Bug Spray and Extra Batteries I always carry a swiss army knife and cell phone..which is actually a better camera than my camera. So I don't really list them as things to take, because If I'm outside the house I have those things anyway. I should really reclaim more North Face backpack from my daughter and make a Cache Go Bag with extra notebooks, pens, swag and some of the other mentioned items like First Aid Kit and extra socks. Quote Link to comment
+Harry Dolphin Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 Make sure you bring plenty of water, that is essential. Here in Southern Arizona, we've had to turn around because we were getting low even though the cache was a few hundred yards away (although a few hundred yards scrambling over 50 foot boulders is much further than it seems!) We always bring a snake bite kit as well, the rattlers are out in full swing right now. I also tend to bring a gun as there are many large critters that are very aggressive out here in the desert wilds (Mountain Lions, Javelinas and Drug Smugglers). Haven't had to use it yet, nor will I if a confrontation can be avoided, but it brings peace of mind. If you're in bear country, that would be a really good idea. Always water! I went through a liter of water today. Hmm... I am in bear country. I've met thirty or forty of them. You respect them and they respect you. If they stare at you, you go a different way. If they follow you, (only had one do that) you wander off into a different area, and leave the bear behind. The closest I've come to having a problem with a bear was a cub sunning him/herself on the rocks. S/he heard me coming, and took off like a bat out of somewhere. Sweet little cub almost ran me over! We got lots of bear in Jersey, but I don't think we have to worry about drug smugglers... Quote Link to comment
+Mosaic55 Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Mini pencil. I was always forgetting to bring a pencil until I got a half-size mechanical pencil. Now I can keep it in my pocket all the time, so I actually have it when I need it. Gardening or work gloves for handling wet or muddy stuff. Rain poncho. Quote Link to comment
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