(Part 2) Best products from r/geocaching

The iPhone itself does not have the built-in ANT+ radio that would be required to discover and read from a chirp beacon. However, you can buy a dongle to add the capability. The only one I'm aware of is the wahoo fitness key. However, it uses the older 30-pin dock connector, so you'd also need to have a 30-pin connector to lightning adapter to use it with anything newer than the iPhone 4s. If you've been using an iPhone for a while like me, you probably have one of those adapters laying around already. Once you have the hardware, the GeoBeacon app that someone already mentioned will use the dongle to read the chirp beacon.

I have used this combination in the past with an iPhone 6, and other than the app using the older pre-iOS 7 skeuomorphic UI, it worked great to read a chirp. I would expect it to work with the iPhone 7 as well, but I haven't had a reason to try it. There are only two chirp caches in my area. If I was considering buying the dongle again today, I'd probably skip it since the price on Amazon has gone up quite a bit since I bought it. I'd probably try to team up with someone that had an Android phone that supported ANT+ natively instead.

Yes, the DeLorme challenges are based on the state map books DeLorme published (such as this one for California).

However, you don't really need a copy of the atlas to do the challenge - which is good, because Garmin (the GPSr maker) just purchased DeLorme, and said the atlases will no longer be published in print form.

The challenge is to find at least one cache for each "page" of the atlas. Specific details vary by state - in some cases, a page might be optional (because there aren't caches there). Sometimes, if a page has a smaller inset map, you'll be required to find a cache in the main area and in the inset; in other cases, finding something in either is sufficient.

The easiest way to check these is to use a challenge checker at Project-GC (search for "California Delorme" or similar), or use the statistics functions at mygeocachingprofile.com. Either one will generate a map showing what areas you have/haven't found.

I've been working on my state (Virginia) for about a year - along with the City and County challenges - and I'm finally at the point that 3 cache trips should finish it off. It takes a decent amount of trip pre-planning to pull these off... but some folks (myself included) find it fun to work towards.

You'd have to purchase maps for either the US or the UK, depending on where you buy - most GPS units won't come with both. Something to consider in GPS purchases then is storage space for maps. I recommend something with a few gigs for storage and easy map purchases, like a Garmin.

Low-end ($175 or less)

• Magellan eXplorist GC (Amazon - $130)
  
• Magellan eXplorist 110 (Amazon - $130)
  
• Garmin eTrex Venture HC (Amazon - $130)
  
• Garmin eTrex 20 Worldwide (Amazon - $160)
  
• Magellan eXplorist 310 (Amazon - $170)
  
  Mid Range ($175-$300)
  
  
• Magellan eXplorist 510 (Amazon - $250)
  
• DeLorme Earthmate PN-60 (Amazon - $250)
  
• Garmin Oregon 450 (Amazon - $280)
  
• Garmin GPSMAP 62 (Amazon - $300)
  
  High-end ($300+) Sky's the limit here!
  
  
• Magellan eXplorist 610 (Amazon - $350)
  
• Magellan eXplorist 710 (Amazon - $460)
  
• Garmin GPSMAP 62S (Amazon - $380)
  
• Garmin Oregon 550T (Amazon - $420)
  
• Garmin GPSMAP 62stc (Amazon - $485)
  

Thanks, I got the ammo can from Amazon, here's the link I'm very happy with the quality, especially for the decent price.

Glad to help. :-) Don't forget the catalyst.

If you're going to get a phone, get any of the android phones that also support the new GLONASS system internally. GLONASS is the new Russian system that works alongside GPS in devices that can see it. It basically doubles your number of available satellites. My RAZR uses it.

What I do for a full day of caching is to turn the backlight on my screen off in the display settings. This will greatly extend your battery usage. You can also manually set the brightness to really low if you need to use the backlight.

If I had to recommend a phone for geocaching, it would be the RAZR MAXX. It's an identical phone to my RAZR, but has a much bigger battery in it. My solution was is to get one of these external USB batteries off Amazon. I can recharge my phone's internal battery off of this about 4 or 5 times with the screen off. I can also leave my phone plugged into it all day with a long USB cable running to my pocket and just use it as the actual battery all day.

My friend and I did a sunup to sundown run of ~140 caches a few weeks ago. I left my phone plugged into the external battery all day (backlight off as well) and by the end of the day, I had drained the external battery but still had about 70% internal battery left.

Pick up a pair of quality synthetic cargo pants. I get mine off of Amazon fairly cheap and not only do they protect against bugs, plants, and the like, but they also dry out fairly quickly if you happen to get wet while caching. A pair of these, a decent day-hiking bag, and a nice moisture-whicking golf-shirt and you're set.

How would you say those GPSr's you mentioned compare to this? I know it's fairly basic, but it seems to have what I need. Plus it's wrist-mounted so my hands would be free when using it.

How about a waterproof match holder? You might have to venture a bit further than a container store to get one, but they're pretty commonly available anywhere you find basic camping/outdoors gear.

Pencils are by far the best method of marking this paper. A cheap ballpoint is probably the only thing I would leave in a cache as all the good pens are too expensive to leave.

This pen from RitR should be good but I have never personally tried it; Rite In The Rain Unisex Metal Clicker Pen, Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000QBPZKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AI9tDbD8FY2WM

I have a few of those small ikea pencils in my small cache for cachers to use in a pinch.

In my standard kit my tools would be:

• LED Flashlight
  
• Magnetic Probe
  
• Mirror Probe
  
• "Pointy" Tweezers
  
• Swiss Army Knife (Hiker)
  
• Gloves
  
• USB Endoscope
  
• Small Roll of Duct Tape
  
• Length of String
  
• Length of Wire
  
  Beyond just tools to find or retrieve a cache I have:
  
  
• Water Bottle
  
• First Aid Kit w/Bug Spray and Sunscreen
  
• Bandanna
  
• Charging cables (Micro & Mini USB)
  
• USB Battery Pack
  
• Extra AA for GPS
  
• Small Bag of Almonds
  
• Map of the Wissahickon
  
• Ear Buds / Hands Free
  
• Extra Logs
  
• Extra Baggies
  
• Assorted Bisons and Nanos
  
• Swag Pouch
  
  On my person:
  
  
• Garmin GPSMAP64s
  
• Samsung Galaxy S7 (w/Geocaching & C:geo Apps)
  
• Long Pangs
  
• Hiking Shoes
  
• Hat
  
• Sunglasses
  
  Finally, in my big bag that stays in the trunk most times:
  
  
• Reflector Vest
  
• Binoculars
  
• Large First Aid Kit
  
• Large Flashlight
  
• UV Light
  
• Compass
  
• Extra Swag
  
  My wife likes to mock me with this.