Craft of Manhood

Does Geocaching Use a Lot Of Data?

The act of going out to find something hidden, something that few people even know about, is a part of the human condition. We love finding things, things that only we know about, and geocaching is the modern-day equivalent of finding hidden treasures. This means that doing it for the first time can be daunting, and you may be afraid to do it because of your data constrictions.

Geocaching uses around 500mb of data for one full day of searching, and usually, a lot less if you only go searching for one cache at a time. The maps and applications are all made to use as little as possible data, and sometimes even being built to use no data at all.

However, there are a few things that you will need to know before making your first trip out into the world to find your geocache. Some of the things you will need to know are how the apps work, what you can use if you have no data, the best ways to find a geocache, and a list of must-haves when you go out into the world to go hunting.

Here are the do and don’ts of basic geocaching and how much data you will need:

How the applications work

There are a lot of different applications that you can use for geocaching; some have exact locations, whereas others only lead you to a general location.

The most well-known app and the easiest one to use is simply called Geocaching. This is the app associated with the very first creators and producers of the hobby.

It is available on both the Apple iTunes Store and the Google Play store. Relatively intuitive, the app marks and leads you to where most local geocaches are. You simply select the one you want, and it will plot a route for you, leaving the final part of finding the cache up to you. However, this doesn’t exactly explain how it works or how it knows where to find it.

When a new geocache has been created, the creators of it mark the location on one of several central databases. They usually give a set of instructions and clues as to where to find it. The databases then upload these instructions and clues to various apps. Once a cache has been marked, the app will share that information with others.

Using a combination of exact longitude and latitude spots, and the integration of google maps, the applications remember and store the location of the new cache. When others then go to find the cache and leave behind their little part, the applications update, and the next visitor will be able to find the cache more easily.

Can you geocache without data?

There are many challenges that you can set up for yourself while geocaching, and one of the first ones people like to do are not using the apps as guides. Every geocache location has its exact location marked on a map, with the right longitude and latitude marked on them. This means that if you want, you can use a simple map to find them.

This is precisely what it sounds like too.

Many people that do geocaching love exploring new areas and walking as well. This is something that can easily allow you to use traditional tools, like a map of the area, and a compass.

This adds a whole new level of mystery and means that you can easily go exploring and maybe even get lost while looking for your next geocache.

Not using an app, and therefore not using data, will be challenging when you first start doing it but promises to add a whole new level of mystery to your geocaching experience.

Note: Find out here if it’s worth paying for Geocaching.

The best ways to find a geocache

While the applications and maps can tell you where the geocache is, you will regularly find yourself standing in an often-wooded area that looks entirely normal.

This is because geocaches are not left in the open for almost anyone to just stumble upon. Easy to find geocaches would mean people and wildlife could stumble upon them and cause damage.

You can also check out our article on “How To Know If a Geocache is Still There: 7 Tips & Tricks.

Here are several things you need to know when you go out looking for your first few geocaches and the tricks to finding them:

What to have when you go geocaching

This is as important as everything else that you need to have when looking for the geocache, taking care of yourself, and being prepared for most things that could happen, will save time. However, the list is like other kits recommended when exploring with only two weird additions.

Conclusion

Geocaching is a practice that has been going on for a while, and many people around the world enjoy doing it as a weekend break from the hustle and bustle. It’s a hobby that is both rewarding and extremely healthy, letting you and your friends get out into the fresh air.

Or maybe you just want to escape the world and be alone for a while. Geocaching is the perfect way for you to enjoy life in a new, low-cost way!

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