Geocache Containers

Despite the fact that the majority of geocaching containers are standard tupperware or ammo cans, occasionally you will find a container that is ingenious and distinctive.  The best geocaching caches are disguised to look like something else or to blend into their surroundings.

In urban areas, making the cache blend into the background is extremely important.  You want to make sure that those walking by don’t spot anything out of the ordinary so they will leave it alone.  Tiny caches like nanos and micros work well in an urban location.  Micros are typically the size of a 35 mm film canister.  Nanos are even smaller – with reference to the size of your fingertip.  Nano and micro caches are common choices in urban settings due to lack of other hiding places that would sustain a bigger cache.   Since these caches can be located practically anywhere due to their size, they can be exceptionally hard to find even without any camouflage on the container.

Nano caches are typically magnetic which makes them ideal for hiding under benches or on fences.  They can easily be mistaken for a bolt.  The typical muggle (non-geocacher) most likely won’t observe anything out of the ordinary.  Some of the best nano caches are hidden in plain sight and can baffle even seasoned geocachers.

However, you aren’t just restricted to nano caches in urban areas.  Adding magnets to a regular electrical outlet cover and painting it to tie in with the background is a simple way to hide a cache in plain sight on utility boxes.  Of course this type of cache won’t have room for SWAG, but it will hold a baggie with a log when the plate is in place.

If you want to hide a micro in an area that has a fence, look for loose fence post caps. You can simply attach a micro container to the inside of  the cap that will hang down into the fence post.

A hollowed out book makes an excellent cache for hiding in a library or bookstore. Of course you must make sure you have the owner or manger's permisson first.

A number of ingenious geocachers disguise their urban caches to look like junk.  A cache concealed in a stinky old shoe and hidden in an area with trash will have other cachers scratching their heads. Skillful geocachers have also fashioned caches from old cans and  bottles.

If you are hiding your cache in a wooded area, it is still advisable to disguise your container in some way so it stands out less.  Interesting cache containers are much more fun to discover than ordinary Tupperware.  The camouflage can be as simple as gluing some leaves, twigs, and moss to the top of your container.

Consider duplicating things you find in nature for your cache containers.  You can acquire reasonably priced bird’s nests at craft stores and hide them up in a tree.  The one downside is that a bird might decide it looks like a good home! If you choose to hide a cache in a rocky area, think about those hide-a-key rocks.  If you need a larger cache, you can obtain a plaster mold and create your own rock cache.  .

If you are looking to up the difficulty rating a bit, one ingenious purpose is to drill out the end of a small log and insert a 35 mm film canister into the hole.  Then hide your cache in the woods surrounded by fallen limbs.

When it comes to geocaching containers, you truly are limited only by your imagination.  If you don't possess the tools or know-how to make your own, you can search eBay or Amazon for geocaching containers.  Regardless of whether you concoct your own or purchase one, a creative container can make the difference between a so-so cache and one that gets people excited about visiting your caches.

Geocaching is an enjoyable and rewarding game where people from all over the world conceal and search for “caches” using hand held GPSr (Global Positioning System Receiver) units. Ask any geocacher and they’ll tell you that there is nothing like the excitement of locating your first cache.

The word “geocache” combines the words “Geo”, meaning Earth, and “Cache” (pronounced cash), a French word for a place where supplies are hidden. So geocaches are like supplies (or in our case, goodies) that are concealed all over the Earth and geocaching is the sport of finding them.

Before the word “geocaching” was created it was referred to as “stash hunting”. On May 3, 2000, Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant, became the “father” of geocaching when he placed the very first “stash” in a wooded area near Beaver Creek, Oregon. The stash held a logbook, a can of beans, mapping software, five dollars in cash, and a slingshot. Prior too May 2000 the gps units that were available to the public didn’t have the accuracy needed to locate a stash.

Ulmer hid his stash and posted the coordinates on a USENET group and referred to it as the “GPS Stash Hunt”.

One of the first people to locate the “stash” was Mike Teague. After finding Ulmer’s “stash” he wrote about it on his website and formed a mailing list where members could receive locations of new stashes. One of the members of the mailing list was a guy by the name of Mike Stum. Stum is credited with inventing the word “geocaching” which soon became the universal term for the hobby.

Geocaching is not only fun it's a great family activity that provides excitement, exercise, and fresh air. Kids enjoy it and with over 1 million geocaches hidden around the world chances are you will find many close to your home. On our own geocaching hunts we discovered things close to home that we never knew existed.

Geocaching is not just for those who live close to the great outdoors. There are geocaches in small towns and large cities as well. Many geocachers also include geocaching on their vacations, allowing them an opportunity to locate caches that would be too far away during their regular outings.

Geocachers are an inventive bunch of people and have placed caches just about anywhere you could think of, even underwater. That’s part of the fun for cache hiders and seekers alike, making them challenging for both the mind and the body. Some geocaches even require you to have a boat or climbing gear to get to their location.

On one of our outings we found a cache was sealed with a chain and a combination lock so we had to explore the area for the lock combination. Another one we found was located in a swamp inside of a huge frog lawn ornament. The cache owner had appropriately named his cache as “Frog Bog”.

When you are geocaching you’ll most likely come across fellow geocachers during some of your hunts. You won’t find a nicer bunch of people, fellow geocachers are always eager to share tips and advice and you’ll learn a lot from them.

When looking for caches you’ll need to learn to think outside of the box. When you arrive at the general location of a new geocache, also know as ground zero, start looking for things that just don’t seem right. Some caches will be easy to spot while others will require some additional hunting, don’t get upset if your first geocaching adventure ends in a “DNF” (did not find). It’s happened to all of us.(and still does.lol) On the other hand maybe you’ll be one of the lucky “FTF” (first to find) geocachers and you’ll get a change to grab a special gift that a lot of cache owners leave for the first person to find their “hidden treasure”.

Finally, I suggest you make your first geocaching adventure an easy one if you bring your kids. After they’ve successfully located their first geocache they’ll be begging you to go again and you can start searching for more difficult caches.