How much stuff to start a cache?

[+gnbrotz]

How many items (for trade) do you put in a cache when you hide one? When I placed Devil's Racecourse, I put twelve items in it.

 

Although not valuable, I didn't consider them junk either. Now, I am trying to make a more conscious effort to focus on quality; but, twelve items at $4-$5 (or sometimes more) can really get expensive. Especially when I have seven boxes waiting to be filled/hidden. Also, variety can sometimes be a problem.

 

Another thought: Let's say I find a nice pocket knife or something similar around $5. How about placing 4 of them (identical) in a cache to start it, explaining this on the cache page so hunters (at least the first couple) know what to expect?

 

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions in advance!

 

Greg

N 39°54.705'

W 77°33.137'

[+KD7MXI]

1:LOGBOOK

2:PENCIL OR PEN

3:ERASURE FOR PENCIL

4:PENCIL SHARPNER

5:EXTRA PENCIL OR PEN

6:GEOCACHING LETTER

7:LOOSE CHANGE

8:TRADE ITEMS"UP TO 6"

 

7 TO 13 ITEMS

 

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI

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73s from kd7mxi

TERRA UTAH USA

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146.520 simplex

frs-1 no pl

cb-19 am

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[Steak N Eggs]

I try to put in a 7+ GOOD items. Sometime to the brink of stuffing the cache. Unfortunately I have only a few item that I use so repetition sets in. I get most of my stuff from the doller store or Wall Mart. Misc tools, and or some type of out door equipment.

 

"My gps say's it RIGHT HERE".

http://www.geogadgets.com

1240 plus miles and only 8 caches?

[+Mopar]

Greg, I think what you place in it depends alot on where and what the cache is. Obviously, a larger cache can have larger items then a micro or a mini. More important, I think, is the rating of the cache. A simple 1/1-2/2 cache is likely to attract families, so the cache should have something that will appeal to kids. A 4/4 and up cache is most likely going to be hunted by people that are in it for the challenge, not the toys. You can put fewer, more adult things, since chances are those people are there for the log book. A nice trinket or even a wheresgeorge.com bill is just a nice bonus. I don't think I would fill the cache with all identical things in any event, (unless its the Enduring Freedom cache!) variety is nice. :

 

Illegitimus non carborundum!

[+TheBeans]

It depends on the size of the cache. They can contain a lot or a little. The two rules that we stick to when creating and hiding caches are: 1) they go out into the world, from our hands, with good stuff in them---no junk; 2) that the cache we create is signifcant or different in some way.

[+Renegade Knight]

My daughter just started a micro cache with a single austrailian penny. We might of stuck more coins in, but foreign coins (Canada doesn't count) are hard to come by. Besides it's a Micro Cache, there isn't much room to begin with!

[Robereno]

quote:

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Originally posted by TheBeans:

1) they go out into the world, from our hands, with good stuff in them---no junk; 2) that the cache we create is signifcant or different in some way.

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I try to follow those rules as well. Actually I’m surprised at just how little room there is in a 50 cal ammo box for my stuff. Al, the rubber alligator, had to curl up his tail to fit in my last cache. Also, I like to leave a lot of the items in their original packaging. That takes up more room but I feel like it adds a certain “newness” to the cache. I just have a feeling that the kids like to get a brand new toy that’s still in the original unopened package. Hmmm, maybe I’m putting a little too much thought into all of this.

 

[+glenn95630]

quote:

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Originally posted by gnbrotz:

How about placing 4 of them (identical) in a cache to start it...

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Identical (high quality) items sounds great to me. A lot of cache hunters place the same item in every cache they find. If someone complains about a cache starting with identical items, then they should also complain about hunters leaving identical items.

 

Also, I think 6 (normal quality) items to start a cache is a good number.

[+Macro]

Depends. As Mopar said, consider your audience, or in this case, the hunter. If its clearly an easy find, stick with kids toys, enough to fill it up. For a trecherous hike in the mountains to claim a 5/5, stick with WG dollars. You really only need enough stuff to satisfy one finder. That finder should leave something for the next, and so on.

[+KD7MXI]

quote:

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Renegade Knight

Geocacher posted March 17, 2002 08:43 AM

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My daughter just started a micro cache with a single austrailian penny. We might of stuck more coins in, but foreign coins (Canada doesn't count) are hard to come by. Besides it's a Micro Cache, there isn't much room to begin with!

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I COME ACROSS THEM ALL THE TIME AT THE CASINOS IN NEVADA

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI

[+KD7MXI]

CANADA COINS THAT IS

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest_cache.asp?u=KD7MXI

[SNIFTER]

When the 2 Dogs place a new cache we try to have at least 6 to 7 new items in it. I also like to leave the items in their original packaging. I have done some caches where I have put in about 20 items but the cache container is also very large. I usually take a photo of my caches with all the original items in view just in case someone wonders how many things are/were there to start with. Sometimes we do put the photo on the cache page as often we put something special in it and the cachers know what "first in best dressed" gets.

[+Prime Suspect]

I put 10 item in the last cache I hid, not counting a camera, a travel bug, an other non-trade items. I try to put in something for both adults and kids (and adults who hopefully still have some kid in them). But it's a good idea not to pack the cache too full. Leave room for the occasional over-sized travel bug.

 

[DnA+1]

I think the rules should be fairly open, but know that there are many families and children doing this, and you need to keep the items rated PG if you know what I mean. As far as value, the sky's the limit, and that goes for the number of items as well.

 

The loot is always the secondary prize. The first prize is the hunt!

 

We placed a cache recently with lots of good stuff. Next time we're going to think of a theme. We found one that had a "Mardi Gras" theme, and it was lots of fun.

 

Happy Caching!

[SNIFTER]

I have placed theme cache a few times and one of the popular ones is all purple. There are about 15 or so purple items and everyone has had a great time with it. I did a halloween one and a Fathers day one and a valentine type one.

I have an easter one at the moment and the starting items were...6 hand blown and painted eggs, 6 chocolate eggs, 6 chocolate bunnies, 6 tiny yellow chicks plus of course log and pen. All this was enclosed in 2x1dozen egg cartons inside a very large container.

[+urbo]

i hit the local dollar store thinking i would find an item or two for a cache and boy was i wrong! they had diecast metal car sets that had 4 or 5 cars in them for $1! sure they arent hotwheels but still put a smile on a kids face! i picked up a big bag full of stuff. got cars, small teddy bear, bags of farm animals or soldiers, patriotic ornaments, aa batts for the cacher that shows up with a hungry gps, and a few other items. mostly geared at small children. i even got 2 tupperware type containers for a buck each. i have enough to do 3 stuffed caches and i spent less than $20!

 

in my opinion stay away from food in your caches. it gets nasty in the sun and attracts varmints. also.. who wants to eats melted chocolate or mushy twinkies?

 

URBO

[+georgeandmary]

quote:

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Originally posted by DnA+1:

 

We placed a cache recently with lots of good stuff. Next time we're going to think of a theme. We found one that had a "Mardi Gras" theme, and it was lots of fun.

 

Happy Caching!

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Mardi Gras, what do you have to flash the cache before you can take the beads out?

george