SWAG for grownups?

[Trekkin and Birdin]

As we’ve been placing several new caches, we try in most cases to have them large enough for trading stuff. Picking up things for the kids is easy enough, but since we almost never take things ourselves, I’m curious to know…as a “grown up” cacher, what trade items have you found that made you want to run back to the car to get something to swap? Thanks!

[Grandma & Grandpa]

I like caribiners, I use them a lot. Fishing lures are good, too. Gram likes anything related to sewing or quilting.

But with the way caches get emptied out with no trading, we’ve been putting more and more free rummage sale stuff in. We seem to have a streak of empty medium and large cache finds lately.

We have KFCs, maybe we need a designation for GFC – Grandparent Friendly Cache!

cYa, Chris & Jim

[Mister Greenthumb]

Knives, matches — just kidding. In the summer I buy boxes of 12 packets of Deep Woods Off wipes. In the winter I switch to hand warmer packets. Both are well appreciated, not too expensive and fit in most small and larger caches.

[huffinpuffin2]

Safety and/or ease-of-us items relevant to geocaching:

Jagermeister Lanyards and other things that free up your hands by attaching to caching items (e.g. gps, pens, notepad) example => http://cgi.ebay.com/3-New-Jagermeister-Lanyards-/120740772983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1cb5fc77

CITO bags in 35mm canister, small tethered pens, small and reliable compass, combo compass/whistle/light/thermometer.

Probably anything that gc.com sells 😉

The plastic-wrapped book titled: “How to poop in the woods” or something like that 😳 :oops:……cuz sooner or later…………..you’ll wish you’d read it…….

[kungfuhippie]

CITO kit – although if people wouldn’t poke holes in the lid I’d be more inclined since it would become a new cache after my CITO.

I like to trade for personal swag items, pathtags, wooden nickels etc. although I’m always a little bummed when I drop one of my tags and it doesn’t get logged.

[goirish75]

Lithium batteries is always a nice prize! 🙂 Cash is always good too, lol. Being a Pathtag addict, I will always run to find something to put in a cache to be able to grab a new tag as well.

[hack1of2]

@Trekkin and Birdin wrote:

What trade items have you found that made you want to run back to the car to get something to swap?

Actually it would be rare that I would find anything that would make me feel like running back to the car for suitable swag items. Two reasons. 1) I don’t normally find decent swag, especially when I don’t have any with me to give. 2) I normally carry decent swag at “almost” all times. The exception to #1 is trackables. There’s been lots of times that I found a TB or geocoin when I didn’t have one with me. When that happens I usually run back to the car like you described or don’t take it. Usually ;).

Lately I’ve been keeping one or two geocoins in my wallet for those situations. Comes in handy since I prefer to trade up or trade even. That’s maybe some of the best advice I could give regarding the subject. As far as adult swag, sometimes against my better half’s better judgement I keep an extensive inventory of items that I consistently drop in caches that adults would like:
– stubby ratchet screwdrivers with interchangeable tips (I buy about 10-20 at a time at Home Depot)
– compact umbrellas ($1 at the Dollar Tree)
– LED flashlights including 3 AAA batteries (only $1 at Home Depot or various places online)
-Newly activated geocoins and travel bugs

We’ve also unloaded numerous used VHS videos and even DVDs in caches rather than giving them to Good Will. Just dropped off the season one DVD set of Friends in a cache in NW Milwaukee.

I like Mr. Greenthumb’s idea about insect repellent wipes and hand warmers. Will likely add that to my adult swag options. And it’s cheaper too!

[Team Deejay]

The only thing I have taken is a lanyard, which I traded for a dollar.

Note that the trade even rule does not apply to trackables, as you are not actually taking them, you are MOVING them. Trackables (with some exceptions) are intended to travel, they are NOT a trade item. That said, I only move trackables in 3 circumstances:

1. Trackable has very specific mission that I can help it achieve
2. Geocoins left in very easy urban caches (prone to theft)
3. Trackables in caches which are rarely found

Otherwise, I’d rather not move them, but instead leave them for newer folks to find and enjoy.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Thanks for all the great ideas. We have certainly seen the degradation of trade items, it’s pretty discouraging. I recently had to archive a cache as a result of mountain bike trails expanding to the point that it was literally next to one of their jumps. What was in the container was just junk, junk, junk. Personally, I’d rather if someone sees something they like and have nothing to trade, to just take it, rather than leave expired gift cards, empty candy wrappers and whatever else happens to be in their pocket, ready for the nearest garbage can. We have also tried to leave things in caches that are empty of much swag, but these days, we’re being a little more careful with our cash until we have a good feel for how this whole retirement business works.

I’m trying to live by Ghandi’s advice, “be the change you want to see.” I know that’s idealistic, but if I keep getting annoyed with everything that might annoy me about geocaching, nothing will ever change, least of all for me. In the end, the only thing I can change is…me! Thanks again, keep any more great ideas coming.

[Thraxman]

I like shiny things.

[kc9gbo]

I like some of the suggestions offered so far, as I’ve debated this point myself and couldn’t come up with anything decent. Although I do know of a couple cachers that found bar chips on a hot summer day and made use of them shortly afterward!
T/B, I have the same sentiment, I did maintenance on one of my caches this pass week and I found a movie stub in there as swag!! And it didn’t even have a coupon on the back for anything.. bummer.

[JimandLinda]

We just picked up 20 key chains at a garage sale for .10@. Gold chain with a polished agate on the fob. We’re always looking for something useful to leave.
And DJ is right…TBs are not tradable swag. They are for moving! 🙂

[Muggle B]

I just replaced a 4gallon cache for Giz. When filling the cache I tried to fill it with stuff id like. So other than just some kids toys I put in more adult stuff. Like a star wars vhs, some books, a fishing reel, and some line, a screwdriver, etc. It would be nice to find that kind of stuff. And like trekin said if that’s how you want it to be you have to start the change yourself.

[Frizz]

I will always grab a keychain in a cache. I’ve collected lots of them over the last 6 years, and have them displayed over my computer desk at my store.

I usually trade a personalized Team Bald 2.5 pocket comb. Many of you have seen them, they come in 4 different colors, and between the team members, we’ve distributed these combs all over the country.

[RSplash40]

I can verify the combs are unused.. really no need :>

[Author]

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