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It is always helpful in knowing what you should take with you on an urban exploration trip. We've listed a few things you may consider taking with you if you decide to go on an adventure of your own. There are links for each item listed to where you may purchase the item online. Of course, use your saving senses if you can find an item cheaper at a local shop. We have tried to link to items that are of good quality at a reasonable price. To see our equipment list, click here. You may also visit the OES Gear Shop where you can purchase highly recommended items for urban exploration and paranormal investigation.

You'll need a bag or backpack to carry all of your gear in. The pack should be large enough to hold a flashlight, extra batteries, camera, extra clothing, first-aid kit, water, snacks and what ever else you decide to take. You should choose a quality backpack that will be very durable to ensure you don't loose your gear while exploring. Click Here for a wide variety of backpacks available on Amazon.com.

A flashlight is a must-have tool for all urban explorers. You will need to see in those dark places some how! We prefer using MagLite flashlights. They are extremely durable, sealed to prevent explosions or fires, and could last many years with proper care. Always have a back-up light in case your primary light is damaged or runs out of batteries. You may also want to consider a headlamp to keep your hands free. Click Here for MagLites and click here for a headlamp.

While this is more of an optional item, we usually carry a spotlight of at least 500,000 candle power with us on all explorations. Since a spotlight can usually light up an entire room or drain, you must exercise caution if you decide to use one. Nothing will attract more attention than an abandoned building glowing like a lighthouse! Click Here for a cordless, rechargeable, one million candle power spotlight.

You may be wondering, "Why do I need a respirator?!" Well many abandoned buildings are full of this nasty substance called asbestos. Asbestos is a VERY lethal substance that was commonly used as insulation years ago. When asbestos particles are breathed in, it lingers in your lungs and will eventually kill you. Check out our Safety Section for details. You will need a respirator with the correct filters that are rated for asbestos to guarantee protection. Be aware that paper facemasks offer no protection against asbestos. Click Here for a respirator with the correct filters included.

Gloves will protect your hands and keep them dry in wet conditions. We suggest you purchase a pair of gloves that are comfortable, form-fitting, water resistant, and durable. Click Here for a pair of gloves that meet all four requirements.

You will need to keep hydrated during your explorations, especially during the warmer months. Be certain to pick up a bottle of water or two before you head out. Refrain from drinking sodas or other carbonated beverages as they do not provide hydration at all. You may also choose to combine your need for water with your need of a backpack by purchasing a CamelBak system. In either case, use a cap or something else that will protect the area where you put your mouth to avoid contamination from the nasty elements you will likely encounter. Click Here for a choice CamelBak backpack.

A pocket knife is a very useful tool to have around. Although it is more of an optional item, a member of each of our explorations usually carries one. The knife you choose should be sharp and durable. Click Here for our preferred pocket knife.

Although a first-aid kit is an optional item, we highly suggest that you take one along. There are a wide variety of injuries that could occur while exploring. We recommend taking an all-purpose first-aid kit that has plenty of supplies. Click Here for such a kit.

You will probably want to take a camera along to document the abandoned building, cemetery or drain you're exploring. Taking photos and showing everyone what you found during your adventure is half the fun! There are three basic types of cameras you may purchase. Click here for a digital camera, click here for a 35mm camera, or click here for a one-time use disposable camera.

If you plan to split into groups to cover a large area, radios are a great way in keeping in contact. FRS/GMRS radios are the best you can buy without obtaining a license from the FCC. Under the right conditions these radios can reach miles away. They should work fine in most places you will explore. Click here for a set of two FRS radios that are rechargeable and have a 22 mile radius.

Take a roll of masking tape with you on your adventures. Some locations are very large and you can get lost in seconds, especially in tunnels or drain systems. Using masking tape is a non-permanent way of marking where you have been to ensure you can always find your way out. Click Here for masking tape.

Carry at least one extra set of batteries for each piece of equipment that requires them, especially your flashlight. We prefer to use rechargeable batteries as they pay for themselves after a couple of uses. Make sure to check what size batteries your equipment needs before heading out. Click Here for a selection of rechargeable batteries, or click here for a selection of normal alkaline batteries.

The items below are optional items. They are no where necessary for urban exploring, but they are cool to have!

Night vision systems are a really cool toy to have in your pack. As long as you have one of these with plenty of batteries, who needs a flashlight?! You can see through the dark without any light at all. Night vision scopes come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, strength, and price ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for the more advanced systems. Thermal cameras are another option for seeing without ambient light. These units are extremely expensive but require absolutely no light source as they produce an image based on temperature. Click Here for a night vision scope or click here for a thermal camera.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) is an extremely useful tool for urban explorers. Using multiple satellites in orbit around the planet, a GPS unit can determine your exact location anywhere on Earth within a few feet. No more getting lost while looking for a place to explore. With many GPS units, you can tag the coordinates of a place you've visited so you'll know where to find it again. Click Here for a portable vehicle GPS unit, click here for a GPS unit you can use with a laptop (our preferred method), or click here for a handheld GPS unit.

What better way to remember your exploration than to have a video! And as a plus, it will double as a way to catch paranormal evidence if you're in to ghost hunting. Make sure to buy a brand that includes a night vision feature so you won't need ample lighting in dark places. Click Here for a Sony MiniDV camcorder or click here for a Sony 30GB hard drive camcorder. If you have a MiniDV recorder, click here for tapes.

If you're the type who likes to ghost hunt while you're exploring, the next few items are for you. Using a digital voice recorder or a microcassette recorder with an external mic, you may be able to catch ghostly voices on tape known as Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP). Visit our EVP Page for more details and recording tips. Click Here for a digital voice recorder, click here for a microcassette recorder, or click here for an external microphone. If you have a microcassette recorder, click here for tapes.

Another piece of equipment that you may want to take for ghost hunting is an Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Detector. These instruments detect slight changes in EMF that may be associated with the presence of ghosts. EMF detectors come in several models that you may purchase, but make sure you're buying the meter for your needs. Most retail EMF meters detect AC fields, which are manmade. These EMF meters will pick up interference from things like electrical wiring, microwaves, and televisions. Only a few EMF meters detect naturally-occurring DC fields. This is what you want to purchase if you'd like to detect the presence of paranormal activity. Click Here for the TriField Natural EM Meter, which detects DC fields. Click Here for a basic EMF meter, or click here for a digital EMF meter with a built-in thermocouple thermometer...but be warned, these two models detect AC fields. Use common sense and be aware of your surroundings at all times with whatever meter you decide to purchase.

A thermocouple thermometer can be used to detect changes in the ambient air temperature instantaneously. This is extremely useful if you are trying to document cold/hot spots during a paranormal investigation. IR thermometers are useless as a ghost hunting tool as they only detect surface temperatures, but may come in handy for urban exploration. Click Here for a very well priced thermocouple thermometer, or click here for a EMF/Thermocouple meter combo.