What to Bring on a Ghost Hunt

What should you bring on a ghost hunt?

If you arrive sober and remain observant, that's all you need. But, check this list for helpful items:

• Sturdy walking shoes or sneakers - haunted cemeteries are often badly maintained.
• A compass with a reliable, floating needle - to find "hot" haunted areas.
• A flash camera - the flash is important for ghost hunting. We usually use both film and digital cameras, since they can provide very different results. For more information about taking photos on a ghost hunt, see Ghost Photography 101.
• A working flashlight - Useful to check uneven ground in haunted cemeteries, and for dark areas of buildings.
• Map of the area - when you're scared during a ghost hunt, it's easy to get lost.
• Extra layers of clothing and an umbrella, so you can stay at the site if it's cold or rainy.
• Spiritual protection such as medals, rings, amulets, a Bible, Holy Water, or a pentacle.
• A warm or cool beverage, depending upon the weather. We often ghost hunt when it's cold out.
• Bug spray - the single most important non-ghost item!
• Photo ID (in case the police ask)
• Cellphone - it won't work in many haunted cemeteries; try it just a few feet outside the cemetery.
• First aid kit if you're accident-prone. Bandaids for blisters or scratches, anyway.
• Walking stick if you're in an area that has snakes. Many haunted cemeteries do.
• Favorite CD or tape for your car, in case you get frightened and need something "happy" to drive away unwanted thoughts.
• EMF meter if that appeals to you and ghost hunting is a long-term interest. (Also see our article, Use a Compass to Measure EMF.)
• Digital voice recorder (internal microphone is okay) or a tape recorder (tapes need an external microphone or the whirring noise of the tape recorder can garble EVP). Among digital voice recorders, Olympus is our favorite brand; use the "lecture" setting.