Geocaching Supplies

For those that are just learning about "geocaching", it is known as a game of hide and seek treasure hunting, taken high-tech, with the aid of geocaching supplies such as GPS navigators to find the locations of containers. Typically, there will be a waterproof container made of plastic or an ammo box that might contain items you can trade, such as novelty coins, miniature toy cars and other trinkets.

There can be different versions, such as multi-caching, where you might find coordinates, where a clue is hidden to take you to another clue that leads to the final destination. Other types of caches can be virtual games, where a web cam may be hidden and you are logged when you find the coordinates. Basically, you will find a variety of geocaching games that might require different supplies, but here are the basics for the traditional version.

Geocaching Supplies---Containers and Logbook:

Most of the geocaches contain a log book and the trinkets have little value other than they were found, logged and re-hidden. There are over 904,000 active geocaches placed in over 100 countries on all continents. These caches can be any kind of plastic, waterproof container and ammo cans, film canisters, magnetic containers or decon containers are commonly used. A logbook is part of the cache, so that you can see where each one has been- you log it and re-hide the container someplace else.

Your container should include labels marking your cache for what it is. Several cities have experienced multiple "bomb scares" involving Geocaching containers.

Handheld GPS:

Part of the fun in this hide and seek treasure hunt is locating these hidden geocaches by finding the coordinates that are found online at geocache listing sites. This requires a handheld GPS to locate the coordinates and then find the hidden treasure. Some caches are in easy to find locations and others are more difficult, in rocky terrain or some hidden spot. With a handheld GPS, you can locate the coordinates and the game is hard to play without one.

Geocoins:

Some of the caches will carry common objects that are moved from cache to cache and others may have "Geocoins", which are tracked across locations and followed online to see where they end up.

These are especially interesting to follow if you travel overseas and re-hide a cache there for another geocacher to find containing a unique geonickel or travelbug, as they are referred to. They are typically distinct, such as the Federation Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Military or Compass geocoins. Some things, such as unusual coins of higher value may have a reward offered for the first to find them.

Walking Stick:

You never know when you will need a walking stick to balance in rough terrain and poke around sticks, rocks and other objects in nature. Since the locations can be remote and off the beaten path, many geocachers love to have a unique walking stick along for balance and poking.

Display Items:

Display stands for your geocache finds are a great way to display the colorful and artsy geocoins and collections. Since these may be from all over the world, the things you keep are going to be items you will want to proudly display.

Geocaching Supplies---Geoswag:

Things to put in your geocaches that you hide are called Geoswag. These can be anything from casino chips, hot wheels cars and party trinkets, buttons and other unique gadgets.

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