Critterhunter
New member
I thought it would be interesting to see how others are carrying their tools and/or control boxes in the field. I had been using a large leather utility belt and kept my Sovereign control box inside it's largest pocket. My digger, probe, pin pointer, and ID chart were thrown into various pockets on it. Since I don't plan to hip mount anymore with the advent of my light weight Sovereign (unless I'm water hunting, but then I'd probably chest mount it or something), I figured I'd retire the bulky utility belt and buy something more streamlined that just has enough size and pockets to carry everything else. I found a nice holster for $6 at Home Depot. While I was at it I figured I'd get rid of the hooky looking leather belt I was using and buy a real utility belt for $3 there as well.
This holder has a nice big pocket for my digger, another screwdriver holder for my probe, and a smaller elastic pocket that snugly holders my Garrett Pro Pointer without the need to use the holster it came with. The picture doesn't look like it but the pin pointer's pocket is very snug, yet it still allows easy removal and re-insertion of the probe without needing two hands. Same deal with the other tools. I try to make things so I can use just my left hand to remove and use the various items. There's even a big pocket behind the digger pocket that I keep my Sovereign ID chart in should I need to reference it to refresh my memory on something. It doesn't show up well in the picture but you can see something white behind the digger's pocket. While I was at it I also threw an extra nylon bolt/wing nut into the extra pocket should I need that to fix a coil mount bolt or one of the arm cup bolts in the field. Come to think of it I should probably stick a few extra rubber washers in there as well in case I lose one swapping coils.
This holster is the type that doesn't need a belt. You can stick that part into your pocket if you don't like wearing those. I plan to cut off the dog chain connector and the unneeded cover that folds over the pin pointer's pocket down the road to save as much weight as possible, but I want to use this setup for a while first to make sure I'm happy with everything. I'm still using the old two pocket style apron from Home Depot for my finds to go in one pocket and my trash in the other. I prefer using those because it's easy to shake out the dirt, remove the junk, and wash it once in a while should need be.
Can't tell you how many years I carried my digger by sticking it in my apron's trash pocket. It would poke me in the belly when bending down, fall out on me without me realizing it, migrate dirt or mud to my shirt or deposit it into the apron, and even my trash would stick to it when I remove the digger sometimes when it was wet out.
The biggest thing for me was making sure none of the pockets would snag or cause me to have to use two hands for removing or replacing a tool. That leads to frustration in the field. I feel it makes no sense to tweak out your machine but not do the same with your tools so everything goes as smooth as possible in the field.
I'd love to see pictures of what others find to be a useful setup for them in the field.
This holder has a nice big pocket for my digger, another screwdriver holder for my probe, and a smaller elastic pocket that snugly holders my Garrett Pro Pointer without the need to use the holster it came with. The picture doesn't look like it but the pin pointer's pocket is very snug, yet it still allows easy removal and re-insertion of the probe without needing two hands. Same deal with the other tools. I try to make things so I can use just my left hand to remove and use the various items. There's even a big pocket behind the digger pocket that I keep my Sovereign ID chart in should I need to reference it to refresh my memory on something. It doesn't show up well in the picture but you can see something white behind the digger's pocket. While I was at it I also threw an extra nylon bolt/wing nut into the extra pocket should I need that to fix a coil mount bolt or one of the arm cup bolts in the field. Come to think of it I should probably stick a few extra rubber washers in there as well in case I lose one swapping coils.
This holster is the type that doesn't need a belt. You can stick that part into your pocket if you don't like wearing those. I plan to cut off the dog chain connector and the unneeded cover that folds over the pin pointer's pocket down the road to save as much weight as possible, but I want to use this setup for a while first to make sure I'm happy with everything. I'm still using the old two pocket style apron from Home Depot for my finds to go in one pocket and my trash in the other. I prefer using those because it's easy to shake out the dirt, remove the junk, and wash it once in a while should need be.
Can't tell you how many years I carried my digger by sticking it in my apron's trash pocket. It would poke me in the belly when bending down, fall out on me without me realizing it, migrate dirt or mud to my shirt or deposit it into the apron, and even my trash would stick to it when I remove the digger sometimes when it was wet out.
The biggest thing for me was making sure none of the pockets would snag or cause me to have to use two hands for removing or replacing a tool. That leads to frustration in the field. I feel it makes no sense to tweak out your machine but not do the same with your tools so everything goes as smooth as possible in the field.
I'd love to see pictures of what others find to be a useful setup for them in the field.
