NorthWest Arkansas Cachers

I'm looking for several different cache containers that people use regularly but, would prefer to purchase them locally. Does anyone know where to find bison tubes ? I'm not really sure what other kinds of containers people use. I have a few film containers left from when I used to only have a 35mm camera. I found a place in Fayetteville with ammo cans (Uncle Sam's next to Ozark Natural Foods), and Wal-Mart has various small/micro/nano sized bottles and containers I could use. Any other ideas for finding various types/sizes of cache worthy containers locally ?

Thank you,

I believe you can find bison tubes at Wal-Mart. The sporting goods section there probably has the best variety of containers.

I will say that you need to be careful where you hide film canisters, as they really aren't very waterproof. But, you can get all you want by asking at the photo shop in Wal-Mart.

The major consideration for any container is that it is water and weather proof. That's why so many people laud ammo cans and lock-n-locks.

Truthfully though, for blinkies and bison tubes there's no beating ebay and nothing beats a good imagination.

We "try" to make all our hides a little different. Nobody likes to look for skirt-lifter after skirt-lifter, so we have a few unique containers, a few hides that take you to a nice place, some that are easy hides after a difficult puzzle, and now our micro-mania series.

Hmmm. I have never seen bison tubes in Sporting Goods, have been looking at every kind of container I come across the last two weeks. I will check again tonight when I go to get food. By the way, I get 10% discount at WM, so buying there might be the same or cheaper than online ? I don' know. I just hate waiting to receive packages, and hubby gets mad when they arrive while he's sleeping.

I bought several different containers today, some micro, some small. There's still one more I wanted to try something with but, haven't found it again at the price I saw it two weeks ago. I did just buy a small ammo box. I found them at Big Brother's Pawn for $4, the bigger ones are $6. I guess that's a good price ?

How can you be sure a container will stand up to the weather ? Fill it with water, and see if it leaks ?

Thank you for your help.

Howlingmoon wrote:Hmmm. I have never seen bison tubes in Sporting Goods, have been looking at every kind of container I come across the last two weeks. I will check again tonight when I go to get food. By the way, I get 10% discount at WM, so buying there might be the same or cheaper than online ? I don' know. I just hate waiting to receive packages, and hubby gets mad when they arrive while he's sleeping.

I can't say I've ever seen them there either. You might check the pharmacy. The original use for them was to hold nitro tablets

I bought several different containers today, some micro, some small. There's still one more I wanted to try something with but, haven't found it again at the price I saw it two weeks ago. I did just buy a small ammo box. I found them at Big Brother's Pawn for $4, the bigger ones are $6. I guess that's a good price ?

I would call that a good price. More usual for them to be $5 plus

How can you be sure a container will stand up to the weather ? Fill it with water, and see if it leaks ?

Weight it down in a bucket of water for a day or few. When you open it, you'll know how moisture resistant it is.

Thank you for your help.

No problem

I've seen a lot of film cans in trees, either hung from a branch or in a hollow. Wouldn't that cause a problem with moisture if film cans are not weather tight ? How can you combat something like that, baggies ? I have plenty of those, in five different sizes. lol

I also bought a hydration compatible pack today but, I can't seem to get everything to fit into it just right. LOL Any suggestions on an inexpensive (around $30-40) pack that has multiple pockets, and can hold pretty much anything including my digital camera inside a protective bag ? LOL

Howlingmoon wrote:I've seen a lot of film cans in trees, either hung from a branch or in a hollow. Wouldn't that cause a problem with moisture if film cans are not weather tight ? How can you combat something like that, baggies ? I have plenty of those, in five different sizes. lol

I also bought a hydration compatible pack today but, I can't seem to get everything to fit into it just right. LOL Any suggestions on an inexpensive (around $30-40) pack that has multiple pockets, and can hold pretty much anything including my digital camera inside a protective bag ? LOL

Film canisters make just horrible cache containers. Way to high maintenance due to wet logs etc. They can hold up better if hidden in such a way as to not be exposed to direct weather. Baggies are a must.

I've noticed a lot of the bison like tubes at convenience stores lately. Ebay is the best place to get them. The matchstick containers found in the camping department of wal-mart work pretty well. They're only like $0.99 and easy to camouflage. Plus you get that discount! (seethes with jealousy.)

A good way to test whether or not a container is waterproof is to hide it outside for a time. I place containers outside in my yard in different ways(in a tree, etc.) to see how they would hold up. Used make-up containers make good micros to. I recently discovered that, much to my wifes dismay. LOL.

I haven't seen the matchstick containers at WM. I did find more or less bison tubes in Pharmacy last night. They're about $2 each. Guess I'll have to check Sporting Goods in WM again, preferably not the Mall Ave Wal-Mart, as they are moving everything around, and tis a complete mess! You can't find anything in that store anymore.

I just ordered the Mountainsmith Approach 3.0 to hold everything. Spent way more than I was hoping to but, tis a good bag, with plenty of pockets and ways to organize stuff.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

Uncle Sams has match stick containers, and I bet Sportsman Warehouse does by Pleasant Grove Wal-Mart.

Im cheap and use throughly cleaned pill and vitamin bottles camoed up with camo duct tape.

Also the magnetic key holders are good, but use baggies with them for the log. They are not water tight.

Dont forget to pack bug spray, sunscreen, tp, hand wipes, anti-bacteria hand wash, knife, flash light, extra pair of socks, ear muffs, wool cap, scarf, pens, handy dandy search mirror on a stick (get in automotive), extra batteries, in that new backpack!

I did finally find match stick containers at Wal-Mart (Bentonville) while I was doing my 10 hour long night cache run tis morn'. I bought a few, since they're only 96 cents each. hehe

And I do have just about everything you listed Gruizzer, and then some. grins I do not currently have the sunscreen, hand wipes, extra pair of socks, ear muffs, wool cap, or scarf in my caching box (using box 'til I get pack).

Probably should have used sunscreen last Friday, 'cause when I looked in the mirror a couple days later, the back of my neck was red. I never felt it like I used to back in the day (riding mountain bike everywhere), so it was all good. hehe

The Mountasinsmith 3.0 is a great pack! I'm jealous. If you're serious about hiking and enjoying the beauty of Arkansas outdoors you need to be sure to bring along two things. Be sure to include a good first aid kit. Wal-Mart has some nice ones for under twenty dollars.

Second and very important is to always carry a compass and know how to use it if you don't already. Although for 99.99% of the caches you hunt it will be unnecessary.

For caching around Rogers I think the most important thing you'll need is aspirin. I get a headache every time I look at TnT's puzzles. LOL.

I bought a small $5 or so first aid kit in Sporting Goods at Wal-Mart a couple weeks ago. Was all I could afford at the time. I did get a compass/whistle/temp gauge combo, and I KINDA know how to use it but...

After a 10 hour caching trip last night (1030p-830a), I definitely needed something for the migraine I got from trying to find some of TnT's "Bag of Tricks" caches. OMG wtf ?! I never did find any of them. sigh Maybe in a few years, when I have more experience or something. = \

OEnavigator wrote:The Mountasinsmith 3.0 is a great pack! I'm jealous. If you're serious about hiking and enjoying the beauty of Arkansas outdoors you need to be sure to bring along two things. Be sure to include a good first aid kit. Wal-Mart has some nice ones for under twenty dollars.

Second and very important is to always carry a compass and know how to use it if you don't already. Although for 99.99% of the caches you hunt it will be unnecessary.

For caching around Rogers I think the most important thing you'll need is aspirin. I get a headache every time I look at TnT's puzzles. LOL.

Chris, Stop getting a headache and use the resources available to you. All the hints needed to solve all of our puzzles (thus far) are posted in these forums under >geocaching 101 > puzzle solving hints. You may not get to find them for a while, but at least you'd have the satisfaction of having solved them.

What about some help figuring out your "Bag of Tricks" caches ?

There's only 1 or two left out there, right? They aren't all that hard. Just look for the unusual. Very subtle differences can stick out.

One or two ? I tried looking for anything unusual, out of place, etc, and I couldn't find anything.