Odds are if you want to start hiding some geocaching items, you don’t want to spend a lot of money. It can be pretty easy to make homemade geocache containers or geocache boxes as they are often called for very little money.
There are any number of geocaching containers that you can buy, but you really don’t need to spend too much money to create your own. Creativity is key here. Whether it’s a normal size container, able to fit the logbook and small items, to geocaching micro-containers, you’ll be surprised that you probably have most of the materials in your home or garage.
All it takes is a little creativity. If Martha Stewart can make a fully operational kitchen out of cardboard and some hot glue, you can make a decent geocache container. You don’t even need a bunch of tools to make this work.
A geocache container is relatively simple. It needs to be able to hold the logbook, which doesn’t have to be a full 8.5x11 notebook, and the cache item or items. Then, all you need is to search around your house for items you’ve already purchased that would work as geocaching containers. You probably have more in your home that you even realize.
It’s important to understand that not any item is suitable for use as a geocaching container. This isn’t really a difficult concept to take in, just takes a little common sense. It’s important to remember the environment where you will be hiding your cache and find containers that will be able to survive the elements.
All containers should be as weatherproof as possible, especially if you are going to do something like Geo Cash is doing. Make sure that the container you choose is going to be waterproof as well. There’s nothing worse than someone finding your cache only to have it ruined by some rain. After all, you will be placing it in the elements, so it should be able to stand up to mother nature a bit. The items inside should be placed in a plastic bag for an extra layer of protection.
Your container doesn’t need to be dark. Feel free to put a little paint on it or decorate it however you see fit, but a plain see-through container will work just as well. It’s up to you to make sure that you are able to blend it into whatever environment you choose to set it in. So, stay away from bright colors. Even though you’ve always hated your wife’s bright pink Tupperware, you don’t want it to be easily visible from far away. An easy hack for this is to get a little camouflage tape to wrap around the container.
If your container originally had food in it, you have to wash it thoroughly. Animals have an excellent sense of smell and the last thing you want is to have a curious forest creature rip apart your geocache container thinking there is food inside.
Duct tape is great for everything. Especially for reinforcing recycled containers that might not be as sturdy as when they were originally bought. Just wrap your container in duct tape, which will also help with waterproofing it, and you’ll have a strong container you can use for pennies.
Your best bet is anything that has a screw on type of lid. Most people have plenty of these containers taking up too much space in the kitchen cabinets anyway, so this is the perfect time to repurpose those old pasta sauce jars into something useful.
It’s important that you identify the container as well. All you have to do is just write “Official Geocache” on the outside of the container and you’re good to go. Make sure you put the name of the cache on the outside as well and contact information if it’s for something more formal. Inside, you can just put the log book and the items, all in plastic bags, and a pen or pencil.
Some items that make excellent geocache containers: peanut butter jars, plastic coffee containers, ammo cans, old thermos, mayo jars, pretzel containers, tennis or racquetball cans with screw on tops, and water bottles. Remember, if it has a screw on lid, you can probably use it. Don’t forget to be extra diligent about rinsing out any food remnants. Once you remove the food, just soak the container in hot water and dish soap overnight. Then you can wash it thoroughly and you’re set.
If you’re looking to make geocache micro-containers, spice jars are an excellent resource for these. Odds are, you have plenty of these in your kitchen. Even some of the new containers for chewing gum will fit this need as well.
Just remember, clean them out thoroughly, and be creative. Duct tape is your friend. Now you’re ready to put your cache items out for others to enjoy.
