First To Find Prizes

[+WrightStuff]

I am preparing to hide a couple of traditonal caches. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a first-to-find prize. Any unique or commonly used item suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[+ShadowAce]

I have found a gift certificate to a local mall works well.

 

Silver dollars seem to get grabbed up quickly..

 

Certificates are fun to collect.

 

We even have some local cachers who created military dog tags with the name of the cache and between 1 - 10 of them numbered. It is neat to see at an event who brings how many dogtags from what caches..

 

A couple of local teams create T-Shirts with logo's and statements..

 

Anyways, just a few of our local ideas...

[+Cow Spots]

If your cache has a 'theme' of sorts, it's also neat if your first finder prize ties into the theme. Some of my puzzles have included a first finder prize (A DVD, A Matryoshka doll, or a food certificate, a silver 50-cent piece) that tied to the theme of the cache.

[+planetrobert]

new travel bugs are my new thing...

[+Medic005]

My first cache placement, I left two Motorola FRS radios for the FTF. The second cache that I'm planning is a $25.00 gift card to local store.

 

Some other ideas are Un-Registered Travel Bugs or Geocoins.

[+Lemon Fresh Dog]

Here are some of mine:

 

Geocaching Patches

Unregistered Travel Bugs

Logic Board Game (new)

Coffee Shop Certificates (Starbucks Cards) -- I sometimes "sneak" these into caches as a "next to find prize"

 

I like to try and "theme" them as well. Can you guess which one above was for the "Coffee Cache"?

 

I'd really like to create a signature item sometime.

[+briansnat]

I rarely leave FTF prizes in my caches, but the few times I did I've used Geocaching.com hats, a Petzel Micro headlamp and a pair of binoculars,

Edited January 5, 2005 by briansnat

[+TeamK-9]

My first cache, I left a brand new travel bug.

 

My recently placed cache, I put in a brand new Nalgene bottle.

[+BadAndy]

I've left roman coins, headlights, gift certs, and silver dollars.

 

I've found gift certs, silver dollars, and a nice old timer pocket knife.

 

I've got a feeling that geocoins are about to become real popular swag in our area very soon.

[+TEAM 360]

Money is always good. I left a $5 bill for the first finder in my LAUGHLIN cache...

[rescue557]

My first cache placement, I left two Motorola FRS radios for the FTF.

That's quite a nice first to find prize! Unfortunately, it's beyond my budget at the present time.

[+Kai Team]

I haven't left FTF prizes (other than stocking the cache with nice items that the FTF can choose from), but found a home made stained glass geocaching symbol. It still hangs in my window. A nice touch if you have the skills to do something like that!

[+Medic005]

My first cache placement, I left two Motorola FRS radios for the FTF.

That's quite a nice first to find prize! Unfortunately, it's beyond my budget at the present time.

They were freebie's that we were giving away at trade shows and we had about 25 sets of two left over.

[+kfishok]

I purchased some "Signal" the frog antenna balls. I have my first one out right now, but with the icy weather it may be a few days for a FTF.

[+jelinidas]

I like TB's. Unregistered. State geocoins are always nice! Remember, it does not have to be expensive to be cool! Use some thought of what you would like to find!

I think I used a nice compass for my cache I hid. I would of liked it!

[+JohnnyVegas]

I have used gift certificates for local store, you know the one you do not see in every mall. The only cift card I ever used for a chain was a starbucks because the finder had to pass Star Buck to get to the Cache.

[+pghlooking]

we just put our first cache out and left a Unregistered Travel Bug for a FTF prize. The first 3 cachers kept chaniging the name to second then third then fourth since they already had some out there. it became a Fourth To Find prize at that point. The fourht finders were happy since they were new and actually going to buy one. not that expensive but hopefully someone will get alot of miles out of it.

[+McMurdo1]

My first cache placement still has the FTF prize in it. A replica of the 2004 USGS South Pole Bench Mark.

Cone_Z

I just don't understand why nobody has gone to get it yet

[+Team Tillery]

Here's what I've left for FTF prizes at my caches:

 

N8S GeoAdventure, Gerber multi-tool.

 

LXS GeoAdventure, a Maglite.

 

Echo Point, a pair of FRS radios.

 

River Bluff, a Greenman geocoin for the first finder and Joy of Geocaching coins for the second and third finders.

 

Echo Point II, a Joy of Geocaching coin.

 

Schultz Park, another Joy of Geocaching coin.

 

Quincy Park, Alabama geocoin.

 

Little John, Greenman geocoin.

 

Big John, another Greenman geocoin.

[+cudlecub]

Even though I have 100+ finds, I still feel like a newby here. I have 2 approved caches and awaiting approval for one I placed 24 hours ago.

 

I've browsed the forum recently and gotten some ideas for ftf prizes. I love the idea of the engraved dog tags and I saw some patches in another thread that I think would be nice to use.

 

Something I'm considering making is a t-shirt for the ftf, but then again there's the size issue for the cacher. Maybe I could advise of a FTF prize and mail it to them or meet them somewhere. I would make a iron on transfer with my printer with the cache name or the cache page on it with FTF added in some way.

 

Any feedback on the t-shirt idea?

[+GEO.JOE]

Any feedback on the t-shirt idea?

T-Shirts are great.

I was lucky enough to be second to find on a cache placed by a Garmin Rep. I got a "Get a Garmin or Get Lost" T-Shirt.

FTF got a cable for his GPS(new in package).

[+WxGuesser]

My first cache placement still has the FTF prize in it. A replica of the 2004 USGS South Pole Bench Mark.

Cone_Z

I just don't understand why nobody has gone to get it yet

Funny... I read about this cache a couple of months ago.. Maybe someone should make this a weekend trip....

[+Team GPSaxophone]

I usually leave one of these:

 

[+nfa]

There is a cache near me, Rupert's Cash Cache, which is bank robbery themed and has a $100 bill hidden in the cache container as a FTF prize. It has been out in the woods for nearly 7 months without a finder yet.

 

nfa-jamie

[+Chance Encounter]

How about a Moun10Bike Geocoin?

 

Check out The Amazing Moun10Bike Race.

 

[rescue557]

I'm placing a laminated card sized certificate in my newest cache (still in the works). This way whomever has it can claim bragging rights as being the first to find. And they rightfully should because the cache location is a 4/4.

[+MtnMike]

Out in the hills of Northern California I always carry a bandana in my pack. I get new ones at WalMart and sign them FTF "cache name" and date placed. That way it will be with the cacher as they travel.

 

Other items have been wooden train whistles, wooden domino sets, all signed with the name of the cache.

 

I always sign them: Carpe Diem, Carpe Geocachiem. . .MtnMike

[+Kidatheart]

I could use the opionion of different cachers. I am working on a series of caches and as a FTF bonus for finishing I am going to get a Tshirt with a list of "you might be a geocacher" with FTF in large letters and the name and location on the front. I have compiled a list of over 80 different if's and would like to narrow it down to 15 to 25. If you are willing to help with this please go to the following web page. I have a link to my email and your opion is needed. Thank you inadvance to all who help.

 

KIDATHEART

 

http://www.geocities.com/redwingcarrick4/25listtobe.html