What Type Of Bag Or Pack Do You Use?

[+airmetro]

I'm curious: what type of bag or pack do you find most useful for caching?

 

I've used camelbaks, daypacks, and even buttpacks, but still haven't found something that is equally comfortable, convenient, and compatible with tramping through the woods.

 

And while I'm at it, even though I'm sure it's covered in a different thread, what do YOU carry along while caching?

 

Any tips?

Edited December 30, 2004 by airmetro

[+briansnat]

Depends on the cache. For a quick urban hunt I only have my GPS and a trade item in my pocket. For an afternoon of urban or suburban caching a fanny pack is suitable. For longer hikes I use a Mountainsmith Guide daypack. It's a roomy 2,400 ci, is hydration compatible (I use a Platypus bladder or a 3 liter Cambelbak Unbottle) and has several outside mesh pockets to carry things like wet raincoats, garbage CITOed and other things I'd rather not put inside the pack. it also has a clip inside for my car keys and an internal panel that has sleeves for extra batteries, pens, PDA and notepad. An internal pocket that is designed for an iPod or Walkman is also a nice feature, but I use it instead as a built in first aid kit.

 

Some people use VOMPS (vest of many pockets). I don't like them because they are too hot in the summer, don't have room for lunch and water and have a high geek look factor.

 

And yes, what to carry has been discussed before:

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=80569

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=76912

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=74690

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=69796

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=57765

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=58613

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=53416

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=64154

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=7761

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=7112

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=8058

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=54584

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=54681

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=58613

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=54753

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=51482

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=55962

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=53681

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=9250

Edited December 30, 2004 by briansnat

[+Two Geeks and a GPS]

My new pack - from Santa!

 

I like the suspender part of it. It is basically a fanny pack w/ suspenders. I am not a big fan of the waste belts, they are too confining. It is bigger than the average fanny pack also.

[+zygote2k]

I suggest you use a body bag.

[+Renegade Knight]

I'm about ready to go for a tactical vest.

 

Nothing is perfect. But for now I use a fanny pack.

[+JohnnyVegas]

I have a small shoulder bag from Eagle creek that converts to a Fanny pack that I use it I am going on a short hike, It has room for batteries, a Back up GPS, replacement logs for micros, trade items, FRS radio, Flash lights and a few other items.

 

For a longer hike I use a Day and a half pack from Jansport, in this pack I have room for rain gear, war clothing as well a cache supplies metioned above. I tend to use this one even on short hikes durring the winter

 

I have been thinking also of adding a tac vest to my list of cool stuff you got to have but don't really need.

[+wornout]

I have been using two things.

 

1. A backpack with all the necesities in it like a mirror, magnet, trade swag, pack of batteries, pens, pencils, first aid stuff, stash notes, water.

 

2. A duck hunting vest. Found one at Wal-Mart that has two pretty good size pockets in front and the back it netted so it is not that bad to wear when it it hot. I stash my water and a cap in the big pocket in back where the ducks are suppose to go.

 

Both have their time and place of use.

[skillett]

all I carry is my light sabre!

[+clownsdd]

Dependis upon the hunt!. clownsdd uses mt bikes most of the time so camel bak hip paks or backpacks

 

dino

[+TeamK-9]

I have several different configurations that I go back and forth between.

 

Generally I keep all my caching stuff into organized plastic bags. One small bag is for my better and smaller trade items. I generally keep any geocoins, money, or travelbugs in this bag. It's basically the higher valued stuff that I think I'm more likely to trade. Next I have the bigger bag with tons of random trade stuff. Then I have what I call an the essentials bag. It's basically just extra batteries, pocket knife and flashlight.

 

Then I have the added essentials which includes FRS radios, signal mirror, signal strobe, stuff like that.

 

I switch back and forth between a smaller backpack meant for cycling and a much larger L.L. Bean daypack. Both of which let me just drop in my Camelback UnBottle, basically just an insulated stand-alone hydration bladder than goes into any pack.

 

I fill those two packs with the different things in the bags depending on where I'm going. If I'm somewhere suburban, I'll the smaller pack with just minimalistic things, or I'll even just take the small, high value trade item ziplock baggie and put it in my pocket. If I'm going somewhere else, I generally take the daypack, and load it down, just for the heck of it.

[+aka Monkey]

I use a Willis & Geiger bush pack. It's really a nice backpack, it's a shame the company is no longer around. I've seen them selling used on eBay for a few hundred dollars now (!!!).