Having information about each cache on a geocaching hunt can use quite a lot of paper. Paperless geocaching uses technology to provide details about each cache in the field without printing or having to cary tomes of printed cache pages.
Saves trees and saves you the cost of paper, ink, and electricity Paper and ink cost money. Stop using all of your ink and paper on geocaching so it's there when you need it for something else. Going electronic can help save the game needs to survive. Quicker to prepare Printing multiple cache pages can take an entire afternoon. Paperless equipment can reduce that time to simply a few minutes. Have more information Electronic devices can store much more information than in feasible to carry with you in paper form. Even the cheapest devices can hold thousands of individual cache information. Find information quicker When you need information on a cache, you need it now. It's no fun spending your entire time on site flipping through paper, then decrypting the hint. Paperless geocaching lets technology do all the work for you. Electronic devices are much quicker at sifting through hundreds of listings and finding the one we need. Also, almost all devices automatically decrypt hints for you when needed. Search for the geocache, not the listing. Save your back The electronic equipment needed for paperless geocaching is much lighter than paper. It also fits better in your pocket freeing up your hands for the side of the cliff or that steep hill.
Electronic Organizer/PDA You will need to have some sort of electronic organizer to access the cache information. There are different models and makes of each type that offer extra features and benefits. Some find it essential to have an electronic organizer with a built in GPS Receiver while others swear they should remain seperate. A detailed discussion of which type or model to choose is beyond this article, but you are encouraged to do your research before purchasing one. If you already have one of the type below, chances are it'll work perfectly.
Electronic organizer types usable for paperless caching:
Software There are many paperless geocaching programs you can use on your electronic organizer/PDA. We'll talk more about various free and non-free options later.
Premium Membership at Geocaching.com What you really need is the ability to create GPX files containing cache information. Currently, this feature is currently avaliable to premium members. More on GPX and pocket querries later.
GPX files contain not only the cache location, but the cache description, owner, hint, and past logs. They even contain information on travel bugs and difficulty ratings. In other words, they contain everything important to you while on the hunt.
Geocaching.com provides GPX files only for premium members. For a monthly or yearly fee, premium members enjoy extra features than the basic members. GPX files is one of them. Another feature geocaching.com provides their premium members is the ability to create pocket querries.
Pocket querries are simply advanced cache searches that run periodically and are automatically e-mailed to you in the form of GPX file. Most paperless cachers use the pocket querry feature for a constant source of updated cache information.
Geocaching is growing sport. Every day there are always some new products and software that can be applied to the paperless geocaching trend. In no way can any article on paperless geocaching include all the information avaliable nor conitnually stay current. Keep your eyes open for new and exciting ways and products to help you on the hunt. If you become savy to any information not listed in this article, feel free to e-mail us. Please provide as much detail as possible so we can share it with others.
Geocheating.com has included programs and/or products in the descriptions above and does not support any method, device, or software product over any other. Popular choices of geocachers are listed on the page as a starting point for potential paperless cachers. As no method or product can completely satisfy everyone, geocheating.com encourages each visitor to find and use the product right for them.