+Chuy! Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 I recently purchased a mountain bike for $550. This purchase can be directly attributed to caching. Six months ago I was perfectly content being a roadie; I had 2 road bikes and no interest whatsoever hitting the trails. But then, you see, I get involved in this new sport/hobby and made the mountain bike purchase for those long off road hides. This got me thinking what purchase(s), other than GPS devices and associated accessories, have been made by fellow cachers that would not have been made other than for their geocaching activities. Who can beat my "frivolous" purchase? Quote
WH Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 Ok lets see... Garmin Etrex Vista: $275 laptop computer: $2000 DC/AC power inverter for the car: $50 a years worth of swag: $500 Then theres other things such as gas, meals while caching, bottled water, hiking shoes, caching bag, supplies to make and maintain my own caches, TB tags, etc etc etc. Who said this sport was free Quote
CoyoteRed Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 Besides a pallet of 7.62mm ammo cans and a double handful of other containers in different sizes from sub micros up to 105mm howitzer tubes? How about a PDA? Okay, sundry caching gear. Various swag, backpacks, two GPSs, comfortable shoes for longer hikes, various hiking and camping gear. Again, various sundry caching gear. How about a 1997 Seedoo GTX jetski specifically to grab those hydros? Only once has this item been used for something other than caching or testing a repair/upgrade. Not that we've done it yet, but my next vehicle purchase will be influenced by its ability to take us caching. But then again, I'm not sure that would count because it's not purely for caching. OTOH, depending what we get it might only be used on the weekends to go caching. This is only a "gonna do" item. Another "gonna do" is a trip to Nepal which we wouldn't have considered if it hadn't been for our participation in this sport. Quote
WH Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 Besides a pallet of 7.62mm ammo cans and a double handful of other containers in different sizes from sub micros up to 105mm howitzer tubes? How about a PDA? Okay, sundry caching gear. Various swag, backpacks, two GPSs, comfortable shoes for longer hikes, various hiking and camping gear. Again, various sundry caching gear. How about a 1997 Seedoo GTX jetski specifically to grab those hydros? Only once has this item been used for something other than caching or testing a repair/upgrade. Not that we've done it yet, but my next vehicle purchase will be influenced by its ability to take us caching. But then again, I'm not sure that would count because it's not purely for caching. OTOH, depending what we get it might only be used on the weekends to go caching. This is only a "gonna do" item. Another "gonna do" is a trip to Nepal which we wouldn't have considered if it hadn't been for our participation in this sport. You win. Quote
+TeamK-9 Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 (edited) Magellan Sportrak - $200 6 Ammo Cans - $20 Assortment of Tupperware - $40 Trade Items Since I've Started Caching Approx. 6 months ago - $50 Miscellaneous Groundspeak Gear - $50 Topo Software for GPS - $70 Holster and Car Mounting Brackets for GPSr - $50 Palm for Paperless Caching - $200 Used 1996 Jeep Cherokee - $2800 Laptop - $1500 Street Atlas Mapping Software for Laptop - $50 AC/DC Power Inverter for Laptop in Car -$40 I'm probably forgetting some stuff, but the grand total works out to be: $5070 plus travel and meal expenses.. The purchases of the PDA, Jeep, and Laptop, were not bought primarily for geocaching, but the decisions to buy were heavily weighted by geocaching... I've also signifigantly upgraded most of my camping, hiking and bicycling gear, mostly related to geocaching... But I don't want to even figure that out, probably in the $300 range... Edited June 13, 2004 by TeamK-9 Quote
+Torry Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 I've been known to buy Happy Meals for the toys. Quote
+TeamK-9 Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 I've been known to buy Happy Meals for the toys. Me too, but I did that way before I started caching. Quote
+HikingMan Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 Errrr, trading up to a MeriGold, have additional backpack, water reservoir with straw thingie, dog backpack, trekking pole (Stansport Odyssey from Target), shoes, ammo cans and other caching stuff. Quote
+HikingMan Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 That list would include an ebay Palm Vx and another backup ebay Palm Vx. Recommend this unit and don't pay over $40 before shipping! Quote
+Team Perks Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 Garmin eTrex - $100 Garmin eTrex Legend - $150 Garmin GPSMAP60CS - $500 25 ammo cans - $100 Other cache containers - $150 Palm - $150 Decent mountain bike - $450 Mapping & topo software - $150 Laptop - $2200 Shoes, backpacks, & other trail gear - $200 Brand new full-size truck - $35000 Quote
+Lone Duck Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 The interesting part for me is that all of the gear needed to help find caches is stuff that I already have. All of it serves other purposes as well, especially the laptop, GPS, PDA, bike, compass, pack gear... And I don't consider the cost of gas to be a factor either, since I would be driving to do other things anyway if it wasn't for caching. The real side benifit to caching is that I can combine with other outdoor pursuits that I do, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, travel, and so on. While I'm there, I look up a cache that's nearby. Quote
+Imajika Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 (edited) Garmin Legend: $160.00 (which I sold to a friend when I upgraded) Garmin 60cs: $419.00 Palm Tungsten E: $150.00 Cache containers: $100.00 Trade items and cache stock items: $150.00 Sig items: $45.00 for 100 Mapsource City Select: $129.00 Gas for the car: I have no idea how much I have spent! Getting into a great hobby and making a lot of friends: PRICELESS! :lol: Edited June 13, 2004 by Imajika Quote
+Stuey Posted June 13, 2004 Posted June 13, 2004 I recently purchased a mountain bike for $550. This purchase can be directly attributed to caching. Six months ago I was perfectly content being a roadie; I had 2 road bikes and no interest whatsoever hitting the trails. But then, you see, I get involved in this new sport/hobby and made the mountain bike purchase for those long off road hides. This got me thinking what purchase(s), other than GPS devices and associated accessories, have been made by fellow cachers that would not have been made other than for their geocaching activities. Who can beat my "frivolous" purchase? £6,500 for a car that does twice the miles per gallon of my previous car. A new iPAQ. Quote
+quills Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Garmin Legend $200 Garmin Yellow $70 Garmin Map60CS $410 Ammo Cans and containers $60 Items for caches $100 Cables and mounts for GPSrs $105 New Jeep $9,000 Quote
+spiritfilledfamily Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 I think you guys are all nuts! (teehee) I don't want to add up everything cause I will probably pass out! Quote
+Torry Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 ... oh yeah, I spent $2.00 at a local auction house for a box of garbage because it included a huge wad of lanyards for racing pit credentials and some Lego toy sets that an Indy car team was passing around. Quote
+Right Wing Wacko Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Garmin Rino 120 - $200 Garmin V - $400 Mapsource Topo - $115 Delorme Topo - $75 Cache Swag - $200 Ammo Boxes - $100 Ford Ranger 4x4 - $22,000 Gas! - No clue but over 20,000 miles on the truck so far! Quote
+Brian - Team A.I. Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Magellan Pioneer - FREE (got me started) Garming GPS III - FREE (Dad never used it) Garmin eTrex Vista - $250 (paid for by eBaying the previous two) -neoprene case - $15 -windshield mount - $26 -bike mount - $15 -AC adapter - $10 ammo cans ($10 - get the rest for free) Garmin GPSmap 60C - $369 -winshield mount - $26 -AC adapter - $20 TB dogtags - $12 (only have 2 out) misc. cache containers - ~$50-75 1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ - traded vehicles with my Dad at HIS offering - FREE Old Man Emu 2.5" suspension lift (going on in August ) - $1049 set of 4 Eagle 058 15x8 alloy wheels - $350 extra Eagle 058 for the spare - ~$75 set of 5 Interco trXus 32" M/T tires - $530 Camelbak M.U.L.E. - $55 hiking boots - ? various repairs from caching trip damage (mainly tires), gas, drinks/snacks, permits for restricted areas...lots more. But in the grand scheme of things, well worth it. Quote
+Brian - Team A.I. Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 Gas! - No clue but over 20,000 miles on the truck so far! Being very loose with estimates, I put your truck at 19mpg by averaging the 17/21 the 4.0L v6 gets. Your estimated fuel costs so far should hover at a little over $2050 based on 20k mileage. Quote
+the hermit crabs Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 In addition to the things a lot of other people have listed (two GPSr's, packs, hiking shoes, ammo boxes, trading items, travel bugs, miscellaneous gadgets, etc.), we've made two other purchases: (1) Memberships to the Sudbury Valley Trustees and the Trustees of Resvervations (conservation groups in Massachusetts). We've gone caching in several spots owned or managed by these organizations, which led to us reading about them; we decided that we appreciated what they were doing, and are now supporting them. (2) A cell phone. Arg. As part of our hermit-crabbishness, we had resisted getting one for years, but finally broke down and got one since one of us often goes caching alone. As part of being dragged kicking and screaming into it, though, we got a pre-paid, no-bills / no-calling-plan type of phone. And we haven't given out the number to anyone. Quote
+JohnnyVegas Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 all the items listed below were purchase for geocaching Magellan Meridan w/ Handlebar mount and windshield moutn Magellan Sportrack map Magellan Sportrack color ( for use as a back up) Pocket PC Cable to connect Pocket PC to GPS Lap top computer for road trips Titanium hiking sticks-Leki Map Send topo Map Send Streets and destinations Map send direct route National geographic TOPO Ca. and Ha. National geographic Back roads Microsoft street and trips 4mp digital cacmera to photograph Virtuals Compass Next purchase will be one of the following for longer road trips MB SLK 320 BMW 330i Crossfire Acura TL ect. Quote
+beejay&esskay Posted June 14, 2004 Posted June 14, 2004 An ammo box A new pair of hiking shoes A compass 20 Smurfs to use as Travel Bugs. Quote
Dino Hunters Posted June 17, 2004 Posted June 17, 2004 So far I have purchased nothing except some cache swag just for caching. I bought my platinum for other purposes and discovered GeoCaching while googling around the internet for GPS pages in general. I have already most of the gear that people seem to use caching from before. I do a lot of outdoor activities so caching is just a new thing to do in the great outdoors for me. Beyond TB tags and swag, I'll let you know if I find myself needing caching specific gear. Quote
mortonfox Posted June 17, 2004 Posted June 17, 2004 (edited) 1. NY/NJ Trail Conference maps. 2. A few ammo cans. 3, Travel bug tags. I already had everything else before I started geocaching. I had a GPS receiver, mapping software and map books for many counties around here. The second and third GPS receivers are probably due to geocaching though. Edited June 17, 2004 by stayfloopy Quote
ayeyen Posted June 29, 2004 Posted June 29, 2004 Garmin Etrex Vista: $275laptop computer: $2000 DC/AC power inverter for the car: $50 a years worth of swag: $500 Participating in the greatest pastime on the PLANET: Priceless. Quote
+JMBella Posted June 29, 2004 Posted June 29, 2004 Jeep Wrangler Blackberry PDA Countless ammo cans, Lock 'n Lock containers and rubbermaid containers Quote
SirPoonga Posted June 29, 2004 Posted June 29, 2004 I will pick up items to cache with at garage sales 5cents for a whole bag of army men, sure!! Quote
+tirediron Posted June 29, 2004 Posted June 29, 2004 Hmmm... GPS... $250 New PDA... $400 (not just for 'caching, but had a lot to do with it) New Hiking boots... $100 Walking staff.... $90 Swag... $??? Quote
+bblhed Posted June 30, 2004 Posted June 30, 2004 Geocaching Is not really not the money pit you think it is. here is my caching list. Garmin eTrex $100 My old College book bag $40 Palm IIIc $90 (on Ebay) First Aid Kit $10 FRS Radio $40 Back up GPS $100 Over the road GPS $100 (hooks to palm IIIc, has street maps) Assorted pack items $20 Groundspeek swag $50 Used Boat with electric motor $100 Boat regestration $7.50 (yearly) That view by the cache in a place 5 miles from home I never knew about. Priceless My other hobby 1993 Mazda Miata in bone stock condition $6000 (people love to tinker with these) Driving Helment $100 Magnetic numbers $150 (per set I need 2 sets) Extra rims $400 Special racing tires $800 (these can't be used on the street, every spring) Race mount and balance for tires $100 (Every spring) Trailer for tires $150 Trailer regestration $60 (by yearly) Special 4 wheel Alignment $100 (every spring) AutoX $20 (per event, I do 15 a year) Road rally $60 (per event I do 4 a year) That first place AutoX Glass, and those Rally trophys. Priceless! A lot of these items are cross over items, like the car. Geocaching is a sport, I use a sports car. I sometimes map race tracks with my GPS. I use the trailer for camping, I use the boat for other stuff too. Look at it from my point of view, Geocaching is super cheep! Quote
+BadAndy Posted June 30, 2004 Posted June 30, 2004 Compared to other hobbies I've gone overboard on: Scuba, Climbing, Shooting sports, Poker I'd say I'm getting off cheap with caching. Quote
+Pen-mawr Posted June 30, 2004 Posted June 30, 2004 (edited) Being very loose with estimates, I put your truck at 19mpg by averaging the 17/21 the 4.0L v6 gets. Your estimated fuel costs so far should hover at a little over $2050 based on 20k mileage. HA! My 3.0L 4x4 Ranger averages 17.5mpg, don't believe the figures and add a couple of hundred dollars to your estimate. Being new to the hobby I haven't had to use the 4x4 option to get to any caches yet but I'm looking forward to it. Oh yeah, compared to the cost of restoring and running my 1965 MGB and the train layout in the basement my $275 so far geocaching hobby is refreshingly dirt cheap ($275 includes the GPSr, mapping software and car adapter). Edited June 30, 2004 by Pen-mawr Quote
+Nazgul Posted June 30, 2004 Posted June 30, 2004 A lot of these items are cross over items, like the car. Geocaching is a sport, I use a sports car. I hate to admit it but the fact is that my Jeep is a better geocaching vehicle than my M3. Overall, anyway. Hmmmm, but now you have me thinking, which usually leads to trouble... "Honey, I need a set of R-compounds and new BBS wheels to go geocaching in the M3." Could it work?... Nah. Never happen. Geocaching is about my... let's see... Maybe my 7th most expensive hobby, or less? It way down on the list, although it benefits at different times from most of the others. Quote
+(DKZ) EL CHORIZO Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Went on a couple of caches in Idaho with my brother on vacation, got hooked, that was 3 weeks ago, have spent well over 1000 dollars in 3 weeks getting everything I need, but I have been a smart shopper and got most on ebay for killer prices, got my garmin 60cs brand new in box with shipping for $250, it is now fun going to the dollar store and places like that with my girlfriend LOL. sorry I missed ya chuy when you came to cache at my house. Quote
TygerD Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 dynamite for opening stumps,large bolders,and hollow logs. chainsaw for ones that can't be reached in trees. and a backhoe for those really deep ones. I'm currently in negoations with the navy for a mimi nucular submarine for those underwater caches. Quote
+JohnTee Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 I'm surprised nobody has written . . . "Divorce - half of everything I own . . . " JohnTee Quote
+wewalkthewoods Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 I'm really new at this so my list is short. Garmin 60cs Last night--2001 4runner. back pack lights swag..yada..yada..yada.. But I AINT' smokin!!!!! Quote
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 Aside from the GPS, a cheap ($65 new) spare GPS, trade items and travel costs, the expenditures have included: extra rock climbing gear, including extra slings and carabinersetriers (sling climbing ladders)grappling hooksalpine hookswaterproof headlampwaterproof flashlightsextra portable radiation monitorsextra Tyvek protective bunny suitstransparent waterproof underwater casesand many other odd items Quote
+Sherman T. Potter Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 I spent $6.00 on 12 hide-a-keys yesterday at Wally World! Quote
vagabond Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 I spent $6.00 on 12 hide-a-keys yesterday at Wally World! The hide akeys are not waterproof, go to sporting goods and get the orange match holders they are waterproof much better Quote
+Tharagleb Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 Lets see: Ammo cans: $30 Garmin Etrex Legend: $180 Garmin Etrex Legend: $130 Garmin Etreix Legend: $100 Magellan: $300 Garmin maps: $130 Expert GPS: $40 (?) Mapopolis: $15 Pick-up truck: $4000 Tupperware: $20 Tharagleb coins: $600 Geocoins: $700 Swag: $100 Quote
BRTango Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 Haven't done it yet... but saddle bags for my dogs are in the near future. Quote
+daiichi Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 I went the other way. I started with a $2000 mountain bike (to become my aerobic exercise) THEN discovered caching. But since I started geocaching, I bought two GPS's (A foretrex for roughly $200 and a CSx for about $490), a paperless capable Treo 700w ($400). Not to mention the dozen or so ammo cans ($3 each + shipping), software packages for my laptop (backcountry navigator $30, CoPilot live $300, Google Earth subscription, etc.) Bad news is that I've got my 6 year old hooked on it--and he can't 2 wheel bike yet. So all my recent caches had to be kid-walking friendly... Quote
+Buildingblocks Posted March 10, 2006 Posted March 10, 2006 So far, not too bad- a Mag Sporttrack Map (170), Hiking boots for all five kids, Mom and Dad (???), second hand backpacks, and swag. I'm investing in a digital camera this month, and I really want a palm to try paperless. Right now our time spent caching is very limited (based on the kid's attention span, endurance, and our work schedules) but I am really looking forward to this season! All in all, it is very hard to justify to hubby the things I wat to get when we have only done 29 caches and are broke! Quote
+Colorado Cacher Posted March 10, 2006 Posted March 10, 2006 Two brand new lower Inguinal Hernia repairs $5000.00+ interest. One Anesthesiologist $500.00. One Dr. to repair those $1000.00. The joy of being able to finally, just about, maybe, hopefully, not feel any more nerves or muscle twinges from the two three inch scars in my lower abdomen 1 year & 9 months later.= Priceless. Quote
+sbell111 Posted March 10, 2006 Posted March 10, 2006 £6,500 for a car that does twice the miles per gallon of my previous car. How about $35,000 for a vehicle that gets half the mileage of the previous car? Quote
+DrAwKwArD Posted March 11, 2006 Posted March 11, 2006 I see two definite classes of people while reading this thread: Those that brag about how MUCH they've spent and those that brag about how LITTLE spent. I guess I know where I fall.. good grief, I've spent less on geocaching then some have spent on PDA's! $590?? One nasty fall and it's OVER! £6,500 for a car that does twice the miles per gallon of my previous car. How about $35,000 for a vehicle that gets half the mileage of the previous car? Quote
+Tharagleb Posted March 11, 2006 Posted March 11, 2006 Lets see: Ammo cans: $30 Garmin Etrex Legend: $180 Garmin Etrex Legend: $130 Garmin Etreix Legend: $100 Magellan: $300 Garmin maps: $130 Expert GPS: $40 (?) Mapopolis: $15 Pick-up truck: $4000 Tupperware: $20 Tharagleb coins: $600 Geocoins: $700 Swag: $100 oops! forgot my digital camera $200 Quote
+Davispak Posted March 11, 2006 Posted March 11, 2006 Does the hiring of a Tibetan Sherpa to lead me to caches count? Quote
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