Essential Geocaching Equipment – What’s in your Geocaching bag?
Posted by admin on Mar 16, 2009
Whether you're new to Geocaching or you're just getting started, you most likely have a bag of some type, which you carry with you when you're on your geocaching adventures. If you don't then I highly recommend getting one and and filling it with the items listed below.
This list is a compilation of what I carry in my own bag and what other Geocaching friends mentioned to me on Twitter (thanks guys and gals) that they consider to be essentials.
1. Pens & Pencils - Most micros and even some smalls, regulars and larges do not contain writing utensils. If you go caching without a pen there's a good chance you won't be able to sign half of the logs.
2. Batteries - It's great fun to be out hunting for caches in the middle of nowhere, or in the middle of somewhere for that matter 
But it's not so much fun when your GPSr dies and needs new batteries!
3. Swag (Trade Items) - Especially when caching with children, it's always good to have some small items to trade for other items inside caches.
4. Tweezers - Many micro containers contain logs that are very difficult to remove. Tweezers have "saved the day" for me on several occasions! In some rare occasions tweezers are even needed to retrieve the actual Geocache itself.
5. Flashlight - Whether you cache at night or doing all of your hunting during daylight hours a flashlight often comes in handy. At night it's obvious, but even during the day some hiding spots are much easier to find when a flashlight!
6. Paper and/or log books - Mannnnnnny logs get wet. It's always good to help out the cache owner by replacing wet or full logs, so 1. you can sign the log 2. those who find the cache after you can sign the log and 3. the cache owner doesn't have to deal with it. It's cheap and easy, so why not?
7. Camera - You never know when you're going to find a neat place, creative container, rare animal etc. on your geocaching adventures. Always have a camera with you, so you don't have another "Darn, I wish I had a camera" moment 
8. Cache Containers - I have a few extra nanos and bison tubes in my bag. You never know when you're going to come across a great spot that needs a cache.
That's what's in my bag, what's in yours?
photo credit: geishaboy500
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March 16th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Nice post! I keep forgetting the tweezers in mine, I usually use a bobby pin out of my hair to get those nano logs out… but the tweezers are also good for picking out cactus needles here
Here is what I have in mine: http://www.erikajean.com/2009/03/ive-upgraded.html
April 28th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Extra logs, bi-lingual stash notes, and duct tape for minor cache maintenance (always let someone know if you replaced a log or cleaned/repaired a cache.) Handi wipes, trash bags for CITO.
I keep a tool box, spray paint, nanos and misc. size cache containers; a stash of camo materials for making containers in the field. Like you, we often run across a spot just begging for a hide!
One other thing I keep is a folder with geocaching information for folks we meet in the field.
Thanks for a great article! Here’s a link to my “field kit” http://geocachingidaho.wordpress.com/
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I also carry extra ziploc bags and an dry pair of socks. Cold wet feet are no fun!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:26 am
We take Invisibility Cloaks, aka orange vests. Recently, a muggle came to us and reported a downed road sign. I went with him to inspect the sign, while Friedrick found the cache. Friedrick is making us nonsense badges. We take a clipboard in high traffic areas.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:05 am
I also have wet-wipes/baby wipes, a first aid kit, and bug spray in my bag. You never know when you are going to need it!
July 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Fluffy & Friedrick – I like that idea! Difficult to pull off though if you have children with you though like we do!
August 4th, 2009 at 2:40 am
I’m imagining children dressed in hardhats and orange vests. Could you dress them like a Scout troop? Or, do you have some flyers with a bunny rabbit mugshot saying “Mr. Freckles is Missing.” I suppose it is wrong to teach children to act except onstage. Otherwise, perhaps they would be inclined to throw a Fit of Distraction when a muggle approaches. I think Fits of Distraction could be found in a Harry Potter book– its like a magic mood-changing charm. When kids are down on the ground having a tantrum they can look in the hard-to-see places for micros.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
We’ve joked about the clipboard thing before! Too funny. We also keep sunscreen in the pack.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:05 am
This week at work, someone needed a hair clippy, so while looking thru my gym bag (computer bag during the week, and geocaching bag on the weekend), I couldn’t find any clippies, but I did give her a penguin.
(Which made no sense at all. But her little boy will really like it because Happy Feet is his fave movie.)
December 30th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I really like the orange vest and clipboard idea. I was trying for a cache today at lunch, and it would have been really handy. Maybe a hardhat too.