Questions tagged [geocaching]

This tag should be used with questions about Geocaching, and information on geocaches.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
21 votes
11 answers
7k views

What are good items to leave in a geocache? [closed]

I started geocaching roughly a month ago and it's really fun activity to get into. I had a few questions (though one was answered already here > What should be carried in a standard Geocaching bag?) ...
19 votes
8 answers
1k views

What can I do to keep my hands warm while using touchscreens in the winter?

Now that it is starting to get cold it is more difficult to use touchscreens while outdoors. I use both an iPhone and a Garmin GPS to geocache and both have touchscreens that require me to take my ...
Brad Patton's user avatar
  • 1,089
19 votes
3 answers
1k views

What should be carried in a standard Geocaching bag?

As in the title, when going Geocaching what are some standard implements and tools I should carry with me to get started so I'm not caught out?
berry120's user avatar
  • 22.5k
15 votes
4 answers
545 views

How to "hide" text so that it can't be vandalized but without damaging any public property?

This might be off-topic so I understand if this gets closed. I'd like to set up a kind of treasure hunt (perhaps geocaching) for my friends. I was thinking that I could take pictures of places (signs,...
user265554's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
355 views

What is a "travel bug" in geocaching?

I've seen mention of travel bugs (or trackables) on geocaching sites. What is a travel bug and what can I do with one?
Brad Patton's user avatar
  • 1,089
14 votes
5 answers
4k views

How can one find the difficult to find geocaches?

I've recently been getting into the hobby of Geocaching. However, I'm finding there are many, particularly in cities, that I just cannot find no matter how hard I look for them. They tend to be very ...
PearsonArtPhoto's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
322 views

What is Geocaching?

There are questions on this site tagged geocaching. This appears to be some kind of GPS game. How is it played?
Mr.Wizard's user avatar
  • 9,506
13 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is it generally allowed to walk in German forests in the night?

I was geocaching a bit and I've found in many caches the warning not to cache in the night during the winter because of hunting season. My question is, have such limitations a legal basis, and if so, ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
651 views

An alternative to geocaching, but with classic maps instead of GPS?

Geocaching is a great fun, but it is oriented on GPS devices. I'd like to participate in searching caches, which location is given on the map (full, or fragmented, or just a drawing) - like in ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
742 views

What precautions need to be taken when night-caching?

This has really come about since doing some night caches and the issues that arise from doing them. What precautions should you take before under-going a night cache?
Aravona's user avatar
  • 15.4k
11 votes
1 answer
299 views

Some mobile helper for tree climbing?

When I do geocaching, I meet sometimes caches on trees. Some of them can be climbed by me without equipment, but in some cases I miss some flexibility or height to reach them :) Is there any mobile (...
alfresco02's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
803 views

What are some good ways to waterproof a geocache / letterbox?

Has anyone got any good tips on how to (cheaply) waterproof a geocache or letterbox? Those pill pots used to work brilliantly - one inside the other - but now they seem to be rather hard to come by ...
berry120's user avatar
  • 22.5k
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

What's a good, secure way to attach neodymium magnets to a geocache?

I've grabbed some neodymium magnets as a cheap way of attaching small geocaches to metallic objects such as road signs and poles. However, I'm not sure of the best way of attaching the magnets - tape ...
berry120's user avatar
  • 22.5k
9 votes
2 answers
348 views

Legal issues when entering school areas while geocaching in Europe

What are the legal issues when entering school areas while searching for geocaches? Some caches are located in such places. The first is available without problem for children and teachers, but what ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
352 views

What specific features should I take into account when buying GPS device for Geocaching?

I've been geocaching using Android smartphone, but it slowly becomes unsatisfying. The battery time of Android smartphones is too low, I need to minimize time I'm walking with device on, because ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
322 views

What to look for on the site of a geocache?

I am starting geocaching and have a few finds already, but there is one cache near my residence that I could not find. I checked the logs and pictures, but I found no sign of a cache at ground zero. ...
Forrest M's user avatar
  • 203
8 votes
4 answers
337 views

Geocache inside of a pole

I'm trying to mount a geocache on a string inside a pole that looks like this: Can you suggest me an idea how to attach the string to the pole without drilling anything to the pole? The dimensions ...
redbeam_'s user avatar
  • 189
8 votes
2 answers
172 views

What's the best writing implement to carry to sign a Geocache?

I often find when Geocaching ordinary pencils don't seem to leave much of a mark at all, especially if the log is wet, and especially on the smaller logs pens are difficult to "get going" without a ...
berry120's user avatar
  • 22.5k
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

GPS navigation device or app that allows entry of UTM coordinates?

I would like to start being a little more active by getting outdoors more. My state offers a "water guzzler" program that puts water in remote locations for wildlife. They also publish a large atlas ...
Unknown Coder's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
246 views

Taking only the part that I need from OSM to my Garmin

I'm just buying my Garmin and I'm looking for maps for geocaching. I'd like to select Bavaria, or a part of it. Under the link: User: Computerteddy (Wiki). I've found the map for the whole Germany, ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
6k views

How to estimate is the branch thick enough to stand on it?

Some geocaches are placed high on trees: You need to climb there to log. But standing on too thin branch can be very dangerous. Is there a formula to estimate how thick must be a branch of a given ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
982 views

Geocaching: How important is having a dedicated GPS device instead of a smartphone?

I'm thinking about getting into geocaching with my girlfriend, as it sounds like an activity that we'd both enjoy a lot. However I really don't think that I want to buy a dedicated GPS device if at ...
fgysin's user avatar
  • 12.9k
7 votes
2 answers
281 views

How to assure safe searching for cache hidden in my own backyard?

You shouldn't place a cache on someone's property without permission, that's for sure. But when the property belongs to me, I can hide cache on my own backyard. However, what should I do to assure ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
146 views

Safe looking for caches in hollows

Caches are very often hidden in hollows. Generally any tree with more or less visible hollow is a very probable geocache hide. Often you can't easily look into that hollow because it's deep or ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
360 views

When does a geocached area become "saturated"?

The 161m (0.1mile) rule in Geocaching is a pretty infamous one. However, the rules also state this: Please don't hide a cache every 600 feet just because you can. The two main goals of the ...
berry120's user avatar
  • 22.5k
7 votes
1 answer
97 views

Would it be acceptable to plant OC's mobile cache into GC's caches?

I have currently no place of permanent perspective (from the geocache's point of view, I think it should be about 5 years, to be able to service cache in that time). So I'm thinking about creating the ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
462 views

Letterboxing vs Treasure hunts

I did read through the wiki page, but I am sort of confused now. Is Letterboxing the same concept as what we usually call a Treasure hunt?
WedaPashi's user avatar
  • 31.7k
6 votes
2 answers
770 views

Consequences of crossing railroad tracks when looking for caches in Germany?

It happens quite often by geocaching: the cache is situated somewhere near the rail track, but it seems that you are on the wrong site... The legal passage is quite far, and you have still a lot of ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
207 views

I've found a GeoKret, what can I do with it?

The previous founder wrote in cache log that he had dropped a trackable called GeoKret. I've found it, but I don't know how to log it? I can't find it on GC site.
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
265 views

Etiquette/protocols/conventions for geocache logs

I realize that it's "only a game", and it doesn't have rigid rules, but there must be some standards that I could follow. A year and a half ago I noticed a strange object in a tree, but ...
Ray Butterworth's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
163 views

How to hide something at the telestation?

I've tried to find a few caches, where the coordinates were showing the T-Mobile telestation, such like that: I'm used to not being able to find geocache (I'm not enough experienced, or maybe simple ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
618 views

Geocaching or alternative game/activity to learn the basics of GPS navigation in terrain

We are 5 friends on vacation. Each of us has a smartphone but most have no experience with GPS. If we were only 2 or so I would suggest geocaching for getting practice. But with 5 it would just lead ...
user829755's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
767 views

What are examples of inappropriate places to hide a geocache? [closed]

Geocaching.com has a listing of fundamental placement guidelines that include legal and and other restrictions like cache saturation. What are some more informal guidelines to follow when placing a ...
Brad Patton's user avatar
  • 1,089
5 votes
1 answer
93 views

Garmin Etrex 10

I just got an etrex 10, and I am using it mostly for geocaching. When you are navigating to a geocache is there a way to see your distance from the cache? I know the geocaching app has this.
jqueryguy67's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
125 views

Should I register caches when I know in longer perspective I will move?

I've registered some caches in Poland. It strike me that reviewer from GeoCaching was asking how I'm supposed to service caches far from my home location. In the meantime I moved to Germany, which ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
622 views

How to deal with aggressive homeless when exploring urbex? [closed]

It's a geocacher's nightmare, when you do a nice urbex cache, and then, when leaving, find the entrance blocked by angry homeless, that seem to live there and are not happy from unexpected visitor (...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
605 views

What should I do about a reviewer who leaks final coordinates? [closed]

Mystery- or multi-caches are not published with their real coordinates, but with fake coordinates that have to be within a certain distance of the cache. Reviewers however need to receive the real ...
Baarn's user avatar
  • 151
3 votes
2 answers
342 views

Why can't I log a Geocaching "Cache Buddy"?

I recently found my first "Cache Buddy" tag that says: Helium the Alien I am a Cache Buddy. Please log me on www.geocaching.com and move me to another cache. www.cachebuddies.net But ...
Ray Butterworth's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
762 views

Stability and ergonomics of Garmin Etrex 20

I'm thinking of buying Garmin Etrex 20 (or 30) for geocaching purposes. I've read reviews in internet, and after that the issues with ergonomics and stability makes me worry, if that device will be ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
839 views

Is it possible to delete Geocaches from a Garmin etrex without plugging it into the computer?

My GPS (Garmin extrex 20) will not connect to my computer anymore (via USB), and therefore I cannot access the GPX folder of the device where Geocaches are saved. As a solution, I would like to save ...
Stockfisch's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
77 views

City tickets as exchange objects? [closed]

Is it good idea to use city tickets for public transport (laminated or in string bags) as exchange objects or traveller objects (krets)? Are such items welcomed by the geocachers community? From the ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
61 views

Make UPS-like cache searchable in winter

When hiding something in the forest on the surface, there's a great practice called UPS (Unusual Pile of Sticks, the German version is very sweet: Hasengrill). They prevent people from boaring a few ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
126 views

Geocaching websites [closed]

I'm new to Geocaching and I was wondering what else I've been missing out on. I didn't know where to ask this but if you know and love any similar adventure / exploring services please share!
Daedric's user avatar
  • 127