Geocaching - cheap beginners equipment?

Hi welcome to the sport! I started a year ago and had pretty much the same questions. Here's what I did.

My first cache happened to be a Virtual which usually means its a bit easier and can be a bit fuzzier on coordinates. And I used one of the free sattelite applications out there to show me the coordinates it let me "try before you buy".

Once I decided to try caching for real, I bought one of the Garmin Etrex Yellow. Yes they are cheap ($100 US) but they are actually real easy to operate and darn near indestructible (I've bashed mine against rocks a few times.) You can usually find them for significantly less than the full price on an auction site. I got mine brand new in package for half price. I've used it for a year and just found my 300th cache with it. The only issue I have had is that they have a harder time getting a signal when the sky is cluttered. They are fine for urban caching but now that I am branching out to forest caching it is not working as well and I plan to upgrade soon to a Garmin 60cx. But it is a great "starter" unit to make sure that your family enjoys caching (Which I bet they will) and it means you don't have to put out a large purchase up front. And you can always resell it if you decide to upgrade.

Other basic equipment.

A compass - While all GPSr have compasses, they only work when you move

A mirror - Caches can be in the oddest angles and this will help

rubber gloves - Nature has a way of being too natural sometimes

A pen - This is the most important thing never leave home without one.

A sense of adventure - Even if you are caching in your hometown, you will be taken somewhere you have never been. It always amazes me what I don't know about where I live.

There is a lot of information on geocaching.com that can help you with more tools. And while the thegba.net is San Francisco Bay Area specific there is a lot of information on there that can be used anywhere.

Up until a few months ago, the Garmin eTrex yellow was the simplest and cheapest GPS to pick up to just grab and go geocaching with. However, new geocaches have seven-digit waypoint IDs and the Yellow (at least my old one) only does six digit IDs. The newer ones may hold seven. You can still use the Yellow, but if you plan to download a lot of waypoints at once, you'll need to download one of several FREE programs to edit your choices.

I'd recommend going ahead and spending a few bucks more and get a eTrex Legend. It normally comes with the PC cable included and the "toggle" on it makes it a lot easier to enter information over the yellow.

Other basic equipment that comes in handy:

- Spare batteries

- A handheld compass

- pens

- spare batteries

- a small handheld mirror

- a decal or something for you car that identifies you as a geocacher. A large percentage of law enforcement officers know about geocaching and the decal answers their question on what you're doing without having to stop. Also, it helps for when you're waiting out a muggle to leave, when it turns out they're also a cacher waiting on YOU to leave!

- spare batteries

- If hiking into the woods for any distance, a water container and alert someone to where you'll be.

We LOVE Geocaching! It's great fun to get out of the house and go trekking through the woods!

Any GPS should be able to work in Europe, you'd just have to download the correct maps for your location. I'm not knowledgeable on which models would be kid-friendly, though. There's a page with a GPS buying guide on the geocaching site: http://www.geocaching.com/about/buying.aspx

For other items that would be helpful to pack along; a flashlight if it gets dark on you or if the cache is in a cave or shaded area, a bottle of water if it's a long trek, your cellphone, a first aid kit, an extra pair of batteries for your GPS, a Ziploc bag and paper towel for if the cache has gotten wet and the log book needs protected, or a new logbook if it's already destroyed, a pencil and sharpener if one is missing in the cache (pens left in caches can freeze or explode and make a big mess), and don't forget to apply insect repellent/sunscreen/ before you go, or a raincoat, whichever is appropriate for the day.

Also remember to bring your small trinkets or treasures to leave behind if you take something, and leave a note or let someone know where you are going beforehand!

If you're thinking of placing your own cache, I highly recommend the Lock & Lock food storage containers or similar. They lock down on all sides, and they're airtight & waterproof, so no worry of rain / wet cache and logbook. They're freezer safe, so they can be left out in the winter. :-) And it's fun to live vicariously through Travel Bug dog tags, you can set where you would like them to visit and they'll be on their way! Have Fun!

Your lucky day. First check with the group that you might join. They might have specific tools or information that they want you to use and know. Here is the best price I've found anywhere for the essentials that many groups use, others require further study and actually have grades of ghost hunter but these will get you rolling and quickly. First let me add a bit of advice, under no circumstances should you ever test your house or dwelling for EVPs! Cause you're going to scare the crap out of yourself then what are you going to do and where are you going to live? Now for the toys! This is the best price anywhere for this duo, I ended up buying them separately and getting only one of them from ST, loosing a little in the postage but here is the whole shebang sans voice recorder, you're on your own for that. Some groups will require you know the information in "How To Be A Ghost Hunter (Paperback)" before you join and will be tested on it. I suggest getting a new one from Books4Little for a couple of dollars. Really very helpful since it distinguishes between ghosts, spirits, etc. The author describes his experiences getting into ghost hunting and how his hobby blossomed into a business. Some of the information is dated when it comes to available equipment but I'm already giving you that info now. Really indispensable if you haven't studied your soon to be favorite pastime. So much fun to be had, just get used to asking directions to that long forgotten cemetery, penitentiary, asylum or crematorium...BWAHHA HHAA

I also agree about the garmin....they are very cheap. I went with the Magellan 200....its semi-cheap...($150) and works very well in both urban and deep wooded areas. As for other stuff...I always go light...my backpack includes water, extra batteries, scrap paper, plastic baggies, flashlight, small first-aid kit, bug spray....candy, and my GPSr. Oh and I carry me a few ready to hide caches...you never know when your gonna find a great spot for a micro. I think it depends on the person who doing the caching. When I take my kiddos I pack more...for them just in case situations. Oh yeah and totally take your cell and a friend if possible...more fun...and safer. Good luck & welcome to the hunt!

1