Other than a GPSr what else do you feel is a "Must Have" expense for geocaching?

[+willis2u]

What sorts of things have you found makes your geocaching experience easier and more enjoyable?

[+NanCycle]

Those are two very different questions. Do you have trouble distinguishing between "Need" and "Want" in other aspects of your life?

[+HotDiggityDogs]

a pen for signing the log.

Swag to trade if the kids are along.

Transport to get to the caches

premium membership for pocket queries and access to PM caches

a mini first aid kit -- someone is always in need of a bandaid.

printouts of the cache pages if you need the description & hints and don't have paperless caching.

[xKro]

I dont have a GPS unit but I have an Droid. Would you guys say I should get a GPS unit?

[+briansnat]

I dont have a GPS unit but I have an Droid. Would you guys say I should get a GPS unit?

 

If you want the experience everything geocaching has to offer, then yes, get a GPS unit. Your Droid has limited battery life and may not get reception in certain areas. It also isn't meant to get knocked around, rained on, dropped in snow, dragged on rocks, etc. the way a handheld GPS is designed to do.

 

Most serious geocachers I know use a GPS. They often use their Droids or iPhones for spur of the moment caching or to check on the up to the minute status of a cache, but for most caching they use a handheld GPS unit.

[+ngrrfan]

What sorts of things have you found makes your geocaching experience easier and more enjoyable?

Plenty of gas to get to the cache sites.

[+BStheTech]

1) Premium Membership

 

2) Some kind of camera (some caches lead to spectacular views, areas of interest)

 

3) Decent trail shoes/boots with proper socks (Cotton is your enemy)

[+kwcahart]

Diesel fuel. Lots of it.

[+dfx]

Flashlight. Always on me.

[+L0ne.R]

What sorts of things have you found makes your geocaching experience easier and more enjoyable?

• A good rugged handheld GPS with a strong antenna that I can use for both driving and caching.
• My cellphone with browser access and a camera so I can get full use of CacheSense. I can store photos and field notes for each cache find. Makes it easier to sort through my finds and do write-ups when I get home.
• Setting up my PQs to filter out micros makes geocaching more enjoyable for me. I like the full experience, which for me includes swag.

[+popokiiti]

Waterproof hiking boots with good grippy tread for winter, lighter type with the same good tread for summer.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

1. Premium membership.

2. Hiking Stick

3. Hiking boots ( long pants also )

4. 3" mirror w/ long extension handle.

5. High intensity flashlight.

6. Sharpie ( signs all logs, even wet )

7. Small pocket screwdriver ( extracts small logs, etc )

8. Micro probe....I use a 12" long 1/4" SS rod, specially bent ( turns over rocks, grabs ammo cans, roots, etc )

9. A fanny-bag or belt storage bag for the above and holster for your GPS

10. Spare batteries & water.

 

First Aid....you'll really want to carry a first aid kit ( think cuts, scrapes,bruises, bites, and stings )

 

Plenty of people will add tons to the list but this is what I carry.....just snap on the outer belt which supports the pouch and GPS holster, grab my stick and you're good to go. I won't be caching a hour or so and I will have used every item above. I tried back-packs but they're too hot in the summer and not as comfortable......I do carry all the above and MUCH more in a back-pack which stays in the car.

[+GrateBear]

Definitely a hiking stick--comes in very handy for climbing the steeps, poking in holes/bushes/spruce trees/etc., wading across rivers. And hiking boots/shoes with gaiters if you have pesky plants that stick to your socks.

[+EdrickV]

Some of the items above may only be needed for certain types of caches. (You wouldn't likely need hiking boots to do a micro in a parking lot for example.)

 

Essentials:

Pens

Pencils

Something to carry your stuff in (Right now I'm just using a zip lock and either grocery store bags or a jacket with big pockets, but am thinking about getting a DSLR type camera bag)

 

Very useful stuff:

Bug spray

Paperclips (aka extraction tool, for hard to remove logs)

Flashlight (useful at night/low light, or when checking holes and other shadowy/dark areas)

Pocketknife/Swiss Army Knife/Screwdriver

 

Stuff that could be useful to have:

Notepad and/or Paper (temporary logs, puzzle notes, Multi-cache stage notes, etc.)

Swag (in case you find something you'd really like to take)

Camera (pics for your own memories, or to e-mail to a CO on request to prove you did find a cache but couldn't sign the log book because it was full/wet/etc.)

[sdarken]

A sense of adventure and/or sense of fun is a must-have in my opinion.

[+germanybert]

If I had to choose only one thing it would be a good pair of hiking boots. I like to do cross country and off the beaten path. This is easier and much more comfortable with good boots.

[+willis2u]

What about GSAK?

[+dfx]

What about GSAK?

 

Not at all

[+germanybert]

I am gonna change my one thing to my dog....Sarge the Wunderlab

[+Team Pixos]

Bandaids

[+akkatracker]

Tweesers aren't a necessity but are cheap and good. So is a flashlight

[+willis2u]

What about GSAK?

 

Not at all

[+willis2u]

What about GSAK?

 

Not at all

Why Not?

[+dfx]

What about GSAK?

 

Not at all

Why Not?

 

I don't consider it a "must have". I don't have it, I don't use it, and I do just fine. Of course, YMMV.

[+willis2u]

What about GSAK?

 

Not at all

Why Not?

 

I don't consider it a "must have". I don't have it, I don't use it, and I do just fine. Of course, YMMV.

"YMMV"?

[+BAMBOOZLE]

What about GSAK?

 

It may not be a " must have " but that is one GREAT program and when loading a half dozen Garmins and Magellans prior to a caching it really hits the spot....as fast as I plug them in they get loaded and on long trips I use it to load my pda's ( although with the new paperless units I never use them anymore ). Its great for organizing.....I haven't scratched the surface on all its capabilities but it does what I need

[+niraD]

"YMMV"?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=YMMV

[Mourneman]

A good quality compass,something from the silva range,a range of scaled maps,an iPad which for me is a super tool,which I use to save each cache's profile page before I go searching for it,gloves are a big must for those hard to reach places.

[+BlackRose67]

Based on my limited caching to date:

 

Fisher Space Pen or Uni-Ball Power Tank pen (pressurized pens that write on wet or dry paper)

Small pocket notebook like the Rhodia pads for jotting down info, co-ordinates, etc.

Dedicated GPS unit

Smartphone with geocaching app

Water & snack food

Warm white or Neutral white flashlight (works better with foilage than cool white)

Swiss Army Knife

Fanny pack or murse to carry all your gear in.