To be honest I always wear ladies jeans. Much more comfy and stretchy.

Also my ass looks fantastic.

Mostly that.

I agree the dude's got some obvious ideas of what's needed for poking around the local abandoned textile mill or factory but it's WAY overkill and economically unsound. Plus there's a mistake or two that could leave you unprepared or injured. I'm bored shitless so I'll tear it down for you.
If you disagree with anything I'm writing, that's fine. We're all individuals. This is Radical Ed's take and is JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION. Feel free to comment any way you see fit.

1) head lamp: Unless you're on a solo mission, stop annoying the shit out of your friends with these fucking things! I have a Tikka at home oddly enough, and it's great for working under the car but it'll blind the first fellow explorer I'd inadvertently blast with it's searing death-ray beam.

2) gloves: I don't wear 'em. I work in a lumber mill and my hands are already like leather. With heavy-duty work gloves I can't manipulate a camera rig or open a can of beer in 'em. No reason for all that flex-grip shit either. You might hold onto a railing and get tiny flakes of rust on your hand but you're not rock-climbing in Utah in February. Urban exploration isn't for cupcakes and pansies. Dirt don't hurt.

3) backpack: I can certainly see the value in one but I don't use one. All the shit I need fits into my pockets. It doesn't need to be waterproof unless you're exploring rooftops in the rain. I find it an incredibly annoying hindrance as my beer cooler is heavy enough. How sick are you of being the first one in and having your friends hand you all of their shit they brought along? Probably as sick as they are of handing me my beer cooler, lol!

4) jacket: WTF is this silly-ass hipster piece of shit? It's form-fitting, no useful pockets and it's got a fucking choking-ass turtleneck (again, WTF?). It's made from foamy plastic and looks extremely uncomfortable. If I need to wear a jacket, I use one of three government-issue armed-forces jackets I own. They're comfortable, have shitloads of pockets, are durable, made from cotton canvas and have removable liners and hoods. If it's good enough for the army and doesn't cost me $350 goddamned dollars, I'm all for it.

5) camera: No bitch here except again, it doesn't need to be waterproof. If the forecast calls for inclement weather, I toss mine in a fucking plastic Ziplock-type bag.

6) protective phone case: I don't have a smartphone, nor do I need a protective case for my ancient clamshell flip-phone either. Again with the waterproofing. Use a sandwich baggie. Since it's usually in your front pocket, are you really preparing to get your groin-region soaked-through or have something that could crack your phone-screen slam into your pelvis? Maybe you're a butter-fingers and are always dropping it because your giant Flex-grip gloves are hindering your personal dexterity?

7) old denim jeans: I wear cargo pants because they're usually loose-fitting. They have tons of pockets which negates my need for a backpack and the ones I purchase are for industrial use, so they're well-made with double-stitched seams and thicker-than-denim canvas cloth. I also wear a belt because I have no need for the world to see my underwear. My pants stay up. That whole pants-down thing started as a trend in maximum-security prisons as an advertisement for sexual availability for other prisoners. My ass is an exit ramp only and I have no need to advertise for possible anal sex. Dumb fucking kids. Do they even know why their pants are around their hips?

8) tripod: I don't use one but everyone else likes them for their sharpness of photography and can set them up for certain photo techniques. It's annoying to me and just another fucking headache but we all have differing goals while we pursue our hobbies. There's no need for the expensive tripod in the photo. Anything will do if it's not broken. Plus I always see shots from about chest-level, and not that much from the floor or from up-high. I'm forever crouching and extending my arms in the air for that special angle. A lot folks with tripods just shoot the same level constantly. Of course, I'm not trying to win any competitions or publish a coffee table tome. My photos sometimes have a softness where there's minor blur but for the most part, I have the breathing technique down to where I can stay still for a click of the shutter. I can't take long exposures though or HDRs so I AM limited with some techniques. I'll live.

9) LED flashlight: LED is great but the variable focus is an unneeded option. I prefer LED over incandescent because of the battery life and the white beam over a yellow one. I also find that lights with a plastic coating and are less than five inches long are perfect for clenching between your teeth during those floor and stairwell moments where you need both hands AND a light.

10) first aid kit: A good idea if you have the room for one. I just pour beer over the wound and knot a sock around it but that's not for everyone. Just be mindful of broken glass, splintered wood, rusty metal and nails and try not to do anything that will hurt you. Pain is bad. You're exploring rot and decay. Focus on your surroundings and watch what you're doing.

11) water: Hydrating is good but any container will do. Animals don't need water to be ice cold. I bring a large coffee and follow it up with a six-pack of ale so I have no need for a $20 thermos.

12) respirator: Wear 'em if you want but I don't. If I absolutely had to, like in the KPPC tunnels where it literally fucking SNOWS asbestos particulate, I certainly don't need one the colors of the Miami Dolphin's football tights.

13) running shoes: This guy is a complete twat. Really? Nylon sneakers? This is the biggest fucking mistake you could make! Busted hot water heater roll over your toes? Step on a nail? Kick something in the dark that really fucking hurt? Stomp into a puddle of muck in the basement? Twist your ankle on that two-inch drop in the flooring? Lightweight sneakers will fuck you up and you'd better hope that clown with the 40 pound backpack has his first-aid kit.
I wear industrial workboots. They're made of thick leather, have steel toe cups, flexible puncture-proof nylon sandwiched into the sole's construction, are waterproof and protect my ankle from sprains. Sure they're expensive. Sure they're less than lightweight. I stand all fucking day running a CNC panel saw at the lumber mill (60 hour weeks) wearing the same boots so I can handle it.

Bring what you wish you had on that last explore and prepare for your adventure. Be safe, comfortable and don't bring anything you could do without. You're not Bear Grylls stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains, you're walking through a dilapidated building where countless thousands have walked before when it was active. Hundreds of people know where it is, it's existed for decades and decades and you're NEVER the "first one there".

Enjoy yourself. It's not competition, it's adventure. Be aware of the big picture and watch where you step. Don't make your trip suck for you and your friends if all you need to do is make a checklist and be vigilant enough to not get yourself injured.

Posted by Radical_Ed 12) respirator: Wear 'em if you want but I don't. If I absolutely had to, like in the KPPC tunnels where it literally f***ing SNOWS asbestos particulate, I certainly don't need one the colors of the Miami Dolphin's football tights.

Ed, you seem like a pretty cool guy, but this is not a safe attitude to take about respirators, and I'm pretty sure that you know what can happen through Maypost's thread about his health issues.

Posted by Shawn W. Ed, you seem like a pretty cool guy, but this is not a safe attitude to take about respirators, and I'm pretty sure that you know what can happen through Maypost's thread about his health issues.

While this is absolutely true... Ed is far from alone in this. Respirators really suck. Most of us (myself included) really should wear them more than we do. But seriously, they really suck! Personally, instead of wearing one myself, I choose to just tell everyone else all the reasons they should wear one...while not wearing one myself! That's logical, right?

FYI, here's the thread Shawn W is referring to, which you should definitely read:
http://www.uer.ca/...sp?threadid=104366

as usual, Ed nails it. right down to the coffee/beer mention.

Shit, I thought we were exploring places not doing a catalog advertisement....My boots are old AND steel toed, whatever jeans I haven't destroyed yet, whatever shirt I pull out of the drawer/hamper, Timex watch, Nagalene bottle, Spyderco and a SAK knife, Victorinox multi-tool, hat, first aid essentials, some paracord, flashlight and cell phone.

No fuss, no muss.....no hipster bullshit.

Shirtless man-hug for you, bro!

Posted by CarthageForever All you really need is a flashlight and brass balls.

Two flashlights are required because the one you just added new batteries to will stop working as soon as you need it.

Oh yeah, and I bring a can of dog mace. Actually needed it once.

So let me get this straight: I could change nothing and be a novice UE, or I could buy that kit and be a professional UE noob?

Nah man. Get a dollar store flashlight, use the camera on your phone and just do it more than once. You'll morph your bring-along list each time you go.

Posted by Radical_Ed ... 10) first aid kit: A good idea if you have the room for one. I just pour beer over the wound and knot a sock around it but that's not for everyone. ...

hahahahahha ... <like>

Posted by Leopard18 So let me get this straight: I could change nothing and be a novice UE, or I could buy that kit and be a professional UE noob?

Ever heard the phrase 'all the gear, no idea?'

Posted by mookster Ever heard the phrase 'all the gear, no idea?'

From the way Ed put it, most of it isn't even the proper gear you'd want. I guess I wouldn't know, all I've ever needed were a mini mag light, work boots, old clothes, a respirator (for places that require it) and a cellphone.

A $20 pair of compact binoculars can come in very handy, depending on the setting.

What if that flashlight breaks? That's why you need glow sticks. What if you lose the glowsticks? Road flares. Can't go wrong with road flares.

Posted by mrjack92 What if that flashlight breaks? That's why you need glow sticks. What if you lose the glowsticks? Road flares. Can't go wrong with road flares.

Now we're exploring Buttram Manfist territory, http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=98717

Posted by Ganesha Now we're exploring Buttram Manfist territory, http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=98717

... God help us all.

Posted by Archer ... God help us all.

What happened to the author anyway? Is he still around?

Posted by Aran What happened to the author anyway? Is he still around?

He was last seen over a year ago, so I'll go with no.

here's my list:
copious amounts of cold Diet Mountain Dew & ice in a cooler bag
camera(s)
extra SD cards
extra camera batteries
cell phone
Advil Liquigels
chapstick
bubble gum
a few zone bars
flashlight when I remember
gloves on occasion
sometimes a wet washcloth
clothing appropriate to the explore and season
That's it and I'm ready to roll!