Do have the Right Stuff??..

[DavHut]

...Every treasure hunter needs "stuff" if he is to gather treasure, and I keep my stuff in a "possibles bag". My current bag contains the following items (CW from lower right):

+ 3 Plexiglas stakes for gridding - they are tied together with fibreglas reinforced tape so that when deployed they form two 12' sides of a square. Made from pure scrap junk.
+ 3 treasure pouches...back-up, back-up.
+ Digging tools, resting on a red restaurant napkin used for piling dirt removed from holes -
1 - Wilcox 102
1 - 'Deep Dig'r' made from pipe and conduit. This thing is homemade and is the ticket!
1 - Small bait knife for slitting sod
1 - Drywall saw for roots, blunted tip
1- "Spoondriver," a screwdriver, flattened into spoon shape to lever coins from sod.
1 - Small Wilcox "surgical trowel."
1- Stainless steel probe, homemade
1 - Plug cutter made from 3" conduit and All-Thread rod, homemade.
1- Sand scoop, w/ gloves shown inside: rubber faced.
+ Green cloth bag containing: Extra batteries for Tesoro and Garrett detectors, A set of backup headphones, a set of backup-backup headphones. rubber stem washer.
+ Watch cap and woolen gloves, for when it is colder than I thought it was!
+ Flashlight, clipon, swivel head (on cold weather gear).
+ Plastic grocery sacks and a Hi-Vis highway workers vest.
You can never have too many plastic bags, and it is amazing how poeple overlook you when you are wearing that Hi-Viz "uniform." 'Nuff said.
+ Multipocket fishing vest. This contains:
- Detecting business cards
- "Detecting Professional Name Tag" hanging on the front
- Pocket Probe
- Pen and note paper
- One aluminum can that I didnt know was in there!
+ Miscellaneous items (NOT SHOWN)
- A box of waterproof matches
- Tube of super glue.
- Some old duct tape that needs to be replenished.
- Entrenching tool, homemade from pipe and 1/8" steel plate.
- 4' stainless steel probe, homemade.
These last two just stay in the truck.

And here's the bag, fully packed and ready to tote along. I got it at the Thrift Store for two bucks, and it's very rugged:

Sitting on top are one of my many headphones. See that bright orange sticker on the headband? It reads $1.99 ... DIFFERENT thrift store! That's the red naplin, hanging strategically from a "D" ring I found metal detecting, of course. The bag normally stays in the truck on weekends, when I do most of my detecting. I keep it neat and tidy, so stuff is always where I can find it. It is always ready to go, just in case...

This gear hasn't changed much over the years, and Ive tried to keep it pared down to the essentials, plus the obvious backups. I did have to replace it all once when someone stole my first bag. What a surprise that thief got when he opened it and found his loot! uke:
The bag, and it's contents, reflects my somewhat casual style of hunting.

SO, wadda you carry?

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

You don't use that stuff. It isn't even dirty.

I used to work in a clean room for 10 years. We have been demo-ing it for 2 years. I got a bunch of nylon belts and pouches with mesh on the seams only. Can't see my treasures and it lets the dirt out. Cut a hole in one pouch so the point of my pin pointer will fit in it. One pouch holds my water bottle. Different diggers for different ground. These things all fit nicely on my belt. I keep a shovel in the car for trashy ground. When they grade a lot and it is trashy. I suspect a good hit in the trash. I use the shovel to dig down and I scatter the sand and separate the objects.

 

[NM5K]

Myself, I don't carry a whole lot. More stuff, is more
stuff to lug around. I have a little holster thing that
I can keep my diggers, etc in. One "finds" apron if I need it.
In the real world with coins, I usually just throw them
in my pocket. I have a pinpointer that I have to carry.
It does have a belt clip, but I usually just keep it in
my hand most of the time, being I use it most every target.
My ace 250 has a set of LED headlights if needed, but I'll
only clip them on if it's actually dark.
As far as my diggers, I have one long skinny shovel for
deep holes, "dollar store", one good short appx 6 inch digger
with measuring marks on it, "home depot", and my coin popper
I made from a 8 inch screwdriver. It's ground down and smoothed
at the end to avoid coin damage. I use it most of the time.
I only use the diggers for deep large stuff. Most of the time,
I just keep the popper in my back pocket, pinpointer in my left
hand, ace 250 in the other, and thats it. I like to travel light
if possible.
MK

 

[Dirt NC]

I use a small stow bag which carries an extra set of headphones, batteries, ground cloth and small first aid kit. I keep it in the truck tucked out of the way until I need it. I also have a small backpack in which I keep a compass, gps, gwrs radio, multi-tool, raingear, bug spray and a small military issue survival kit for those deep woods excursions. I dig with a bayonet and a lesche trowel in grassy areas and a full size shovel in the woods and farm fields. I use a vibra- probe pinpointer. I also keep a back-up detector in the truck along with a 38.

 

[Spanky]

David,

Yup your a true blue detectorist. I keep my bag in the back of the van and it pretty well stays there all year. Looks pretty well the same as yours.

 

[Uncle Willy]

You've got enough stuff to explore the Antartic. I haven't looked in my tote bag in awhile.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Me to.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

I built a clean room or two for Intel years ago.

Bill

 

[ernied]

wow like a boy scout.always be prepared.i would get tired carrying it around.i just carry knee pads extra batteries a clip on towel a pouch and a divers knife.

 

[Wisconsin Pete]

n/t

 

[Skillet]

Just to hand out to interested onlookers, if you've got 'em. I keep some in a small, waterproof ziplock in my "War-bag".

Every so often someone would ask, "Do you have any business cards? My sister in-law lost her engagement ring in the yard etc etc."

HH!
Skillet

 

[DavHut]

...Oh yeah! I carry them with me all the time. I even have a name badge that mirrors my card, so people can start conversations with ME.

Modern man is credential oriented and a business card/name badge combination satisfies this need for them. It legitimizes what is, to them, an unknown activity.

 

[DavHut]

...Natch! I got pockets on top of pockets. Sometimes I find treasures weeks later that I had "lost".

 

[DavHut]

...exactly. This stuff isnt used all the time, everytime. But each item has been needed at one time or another, so it gets a home in the bag.

 

[DavHut]

... I dont know about that Bill, but I gotses whats needed, when its needed.

 

[DavHut]

...you got to have this stuff. Some get by with minimal gear and thats okay for them. But Im a gadgeteer to some degree, and I aint dead yet - Im strong enough to carry a little bag around if I need to!
And when I need to save the hunt or take a poop out in the bush...well, Im prepared.

 

[DavHut]

...The term "possibles bag" comes from the old mountain men of the early western explorations. They had learned from experience what was needed and what was extra weight. However, they made absolutely certain that they had those things that were needed - and extras when they could manage. However, a few niceties were never begrudged either, for they added the CIVILIZED touch to a sparse existence.

Same idea here.

 

[DavHut]

You don't use that stuff. It isn't even dirty.
Au contraire, mon frere. Most of that stuff has been with me for years, I just take care of it.

 

[DavHut]

...now how about that. I am surprised you mentioned that. I didn't, you'll note. I'm not saying that I am a permitted concealed weapons carrier...but then I wouldnt, at least not in a public forum.

Some of the places one can find to detect are rather off the beaten path, where you are alone. In such places, the only help is what you bring.

A first aid kit? Good idea, and Ill be adding one. A topped-up brandy flask? Another good idea. A gun? If you are so inclined. It couldn't hurt, I have never had one attack and shoot me of it's own accord and it just might be the thing that saves your bacon - after all, not every predator in the woods has four legs.

 

[Dirt NC]

The .38 is kept in the truck with all the other gear. i only take the items that i feel the hunt calls for. i like to keep it as light as possible while i'm swinging. however, if i feel that the hunt warrants it i will hip mount the s&w snubby. for example: while searching a yard of an old abandoned house once i looked up from my digging to find 2 homeless guys standing behind me. they had been camping out in the old house. i had no idea that they were there. i saw them in time to stand up and spin around to face them. when they saw the lesche trowel in my hand they backed off. i told them that i was calling the cops and they ran. if i had been holding the .38 they might have ran a little faster. now i always watch my back in secluded areas.