Geocaching Cointainers – Part II (Micro Containers)
Micro caches are a topic that generates a lot of heated discussion in the Geocaching.com forums. They have their ardent supporters and staunch foes. However, even most detractors admit that there are some quality micro hides out there. So what makes a quality micro hide? I’ll leave most of that for the reader to decide, but I think most people will agree that any quality geocache hide starts with a quality container.
No matter what kind of caches people prefer, I doubt anybody enjoys finding a sodden mass of slimy pulp where the logbook should be. I addressed quality regular sized caches in last month’s Todays Cacher, so this article deals with selecting a quality micro container.
The first criterion of a good micro container is that its – well, small. Sometimes very small. The popular micro containers include Hide-a-keys, Altoids tins, film canisters, waterproof match containers and Listerine breath strip packages. These containers have been used with varying degrees of success. Here are the best:
Waterproof
Match Boxes – These small, plastic containers make great
micro containers because they are readily available, inexpensive (often
under $1), waterproof and durable. The screw top closure has a rubber
gasket that keeps out water and the container is long enough to hold a
pencil stub or “shortie” pen.. They most commonly come in
a bright orange color, but sometimes can be found in a camouflage green.
The bright orange containers can be an issue in some applications, but
that is easily remedied using camo duct tape or a special spraypaint made
for plastics. The only negative is that the rubber gasket comes off easily
and careless geocachers may lose it. Without the gasket the container
is no longer waterproof. Some geocachers add a dab of epoxy to the gasket
to keep it in place, or replace it with a similar sized O ring.
Pros: Watertight, inexpensive, durable and large enough to hold a pencil stub
Cons: Bright orange color may be noticed by non geocachers. O ring can fall off.
Available at: Anyplace that sells camping supplies
Bison Cylinders – These small, aluminum cylinders get their name from Bison Designs, the company that first marketed them. They make great, watertight and rugged micro containers. A rubber O ring keeps water out and though they often come in bright colors, the container is paintable. The first Bison cylinders were very narrow, but some wider ones have appeared on the marked in recent years. They are too small to fit a pencil, but a decent sized logbook can be rolled up and inserted. The cylinders are on the expensive side for a micro, starting at $3 and running up $7 for a large one with the Geocaching.com logo
One problem is that the O ring will deteriorate with exposure to the elements and needs to be replaced periodically or the container will no longer be waterproof. The O rings are available at nearly any hardware store.
Pros: Watertight, easily concealed and durable
Cons: Expensive. Will not fit a pencil. O ring can degrade.
Available at: Bison Designs’ website, REI, Geocaching.com store and other geocaching specific merchants.
Nalgene Cryo Tubes - Nalgene has made lab ware for many years. The famed Nalgene water bottles got their start when a group of backpacking doctors would swipe lab ware from their hospital to carry water on backpacking trips. Others saw how useful they were and now Nalgene bottles are the most popular way to carry water into the woods.
Cryo tubes are just another adaptation of Nalgene lab ware for use outside the lab. These slim (about the diameter of a pencil), long tubes are water tight and make great micro containers. They come in a white plastic, but can be easily camouflaged using camo tape, or special plastic spray paint. The smallest of the tubes is an inch long which makes it easy to conceal in high traffic areas. The tubes have a screw top closure that doesn’t rely on an O ring to keep out water, making it a low maintenance container. It can be hard to extract the log from such a small container, so some cache owners wrap the log around a nail or part of a paper clip so it can easily be removed.
Pros: Very inexpensive, waterproof, no O ring to degrade
Cons: Log can be difficult to extract
Available at: Online lab supply vendors, Ebay
Pill Cases – These small, sometimes plastic, sometimes metal containers are generally sold in pharmacies to hold nitroglycerine and other pills. EZ Doze is a popular brand. Being small and watertight they also make fine micro containers The screw top closure has an O ring that keeps moisture out and a small log can be rolled up to fit inside . The metal ones look a bit like mini Bison Cylinders.
Pros: Watertight
Cons: The O ring can degraded after a while in the elements
Available at: Drug stores and supermarket pharmacies, online medical suppliers.
Nalgene Straight Jars – These were also mentioned in last month’s article about regular sized cache containers. Because the smallest straight jar (2 oz.) makes a great, watertight cache container it also is worth mentioning here. Like any plastic container, it can be painted using a special plastic paint or covered with camo tape.
Pros: Watertight, inexpensive.
Cons: On the larger side for a micro.
Available at: Camping supply outlets.
Travel Aspirin Vials - These small, plastic containers make great micro caches. They are water resistant, though they can take on water if completely submerged for a length of time. They are long enough to fit a pencil stub and can a little camo tape or plastic paint can make them harder to see.
Pros: Inexpensive, durable.
Cons: Can admit water if submerged.
Available: Supermarkets and drug stores. Your medicine cabinet.
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| From left to right: Nalgene cryo tubes, travel aspirin vials, Nalgene Straight Jar, waterproof matchbox, Bison cylinder, nitro pill case. |
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather are a list of containers that this author has had experience with. There are many other suitable micro containers. Glucose test strip packages, “Mr. Magnetos,” M&M tubes and pencil lead cases are among the micro containers that have their proponents.
Mr. Magnetos – Mr. Magnetos are in a word, small. In two words, very small. The built in magnet allows them to be attached to any metal structure. They have been frustrating geocachers for some time now. Being metal, they are very durable and as long as they are closed firmly, they are waterproof.
Pros: Durable, easy to hide in high traffic areas.
Cons: The very small logbook requires frequent maintnenance
Available at: Online retailers.
Here are some containers that have had mixed results. Remember, if a container is shielded from the elements, nearly anything will work. Most of the following have proven to be poor choices in applications where they will be exposed to the elements.
Film canisters - The famous black Kodak canisters with the grey lid are popular, yet poor cache containers. I have rarely encountered on in the wild with a dry logbook. Do not use these where they will be exposed to rain or snow. I have however found older canisters have a much better seal, so there was a change in the manufacturing at one point in time, but I’m not sure when. The ones that I discovered with a good seal were 10 or more years old, so if you can find some older film canisters they may work. . I also understand that the white canisters ones that held Fuji film fare better in the elements than the more common black and grey ones.
Altoids Tins - They rust and do not seal out water. Enough said.
AOL CD-ROM Tins – These are the flat tins that the ubiquitous AOL CDs came in at one time. They have the same issues as Altoids Tins.
Listerine Breath Strip packets – At least these don’t rust, but they don’t seal out water either.
Ziploc Bags – Yes, people do use these. They are popular enough in some areas that they have been given the nickname, “Slim Bob”. They also make terrible cache containers. Besides the obvious problem with holes wearing in the bag, zipper locks are only good for a limited amount of openings and closings. Some people have used duct tape to reinforce the bag and that could work for a while, but these “containers” will fail in a relatively short time.
Cassette Cases - Just might be the worst possible container. They leak and are fragile.
Hide-a-Keys – If you can hide
these someplace where water won’t get at the container, they can
work. Otherwise you are guaranteed a wet logbook the first time it rains.