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Hey i'm pretty new to exploring abandoned buildings, what are some useful items to bring along? By the way i'm from the bay area hit me up if you want to explore.
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a sense of awareness: taking your time going thru abandoned structures looking for holes in the ground and trusting your instincts when something doesn't feel right. the town you are from has a really cool place to get you started, just FYI.
http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/ | |
Thanks for the tip RescueMe1060. btw I have pretty much explored all of the places where i'm from and slowly branching out to close cities.
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A flashlight is a must. Abandoned buildings are often much darker on the inside, and you don't want to put your foot through a hole that leads to a three story drop because you didn't see it. Work gloves are a favorite of mine, just because they keep spiders, ash, pigeon crap, and caustic industrial- grade chemicals off my hands. Also, they keep you from leaving fingerprints on dusty surfaces. A camera, of course, to document what you find. A dust mask where applicable. It won't do jack for asbestos, but it'll keep fiberglass insulation, sawdust, and some mold spores out of your lungs.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there. | |
Posted by RescueMe1060 a sense of awareness: taking your time going thru abandoned structures looking for holes in the ground and trusting your instincts when something doesn't feel right. the town you are from has a really cool place to get you started, just FYI.
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Every foot step counts... take nothing for granite. See the hellholes thread. Long pants and high top lace up boots help. Carry at least two good flashlights in dark areas.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. | |
a good supply of water can be very very helpful
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Posted by Aran A flashlight is a must.
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This. Even if it's midday outside, you'd be surprised how handy a flashlight is. Too many times I've had to pass up on an interesting opportunity because I didn't have a flashlight handy.
Posted by Aran ...pigeon crap ...
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I hate pigeon crap. Gloves will also help protect your hands from the weather, Plague and various other terrifying related-yet-often-overlooked rodent diseases. Not to mention they minimize blisters - which you can count on without gloves if there are any significant rungs, ladders, or general climbing involved in your adventure. Speaking of the plague and such, go ahead and throw some wet wipes or sanitizer in your bag too. It doesn't take up much space and you'll thank yourself later around snack time. Oh yeah, go get a tetanus booster while you're at it.
I wandered till the stars went dim. | |
Posted by AXTSWA21 btw I have pretty much explored all of the places where i'm from and slowly branching out to close cities.
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Also, fwiw, there are still probably places to explore near you. I thought "there are no good places to explore near me ):" and after spending time on here and on the internet I found there were a ton of places I didn't even know about. Just think about how often you drive by somewhere and see abandoned places. Abandoned stuff is everywhere if you can find it. I recommend checking out Access All Areas on Amazon (or if your local library encourages trespassing) for how to explore different sites that you may not have thought about exploring on your own. Access All Areas is also how I'd answer your question about useful items. Ninjalicious, the author, provides some good insight on what you should bring with you. Seriously buy the book; it's so important to me that I bought a second copy within 30 minutes of not being able to find another one. It's so good for Rookies; it answers just about every question you have getting into urbex. Good luck man, and I hope to see more posts from you in the future!
Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is, are we living a life that is worth the harm? | |
Posted by blackhawk Every foot step counts... take nothing for granite.
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Are we living a life that is safe from harm? Of course not, we never are. But that's not the right question. The question is, are we living a life that is worth the harm? | |
Posted by ryan5685 It's so good for Rookies; it answers just about every question you have getting into urbex.
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Plus, it's not just for rookies. Even though I've been exploring for three years now, I'm going through my copy with a highlighter to find those tidbits of crucial information that often only get a line or two. For example, on the topic of steam tunnels:
Access All Areas, p.193 Some systems are actually designed to trap students inside the tunnels until security has a chance to arrive. |
That's a hazard I didn't even think about until Ninjalicious mentioned it.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there. | |
This is my gear, if this gives you any inspiration (Mask pun not intended). All this fits into that little green bag, my personal icon.
One day I got a good camera. https://www.flickr...hotos/fleetsurbex/ | |
Thank you to everyone who responded. I got a respirator and some gloves over the weekend and I will definitely take everyone's advice when exploring abandoned buildings.
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Good looks for the ladies.
The Urbex Zine Guy https://www.cavecl...wtopic.php?t=12259 | |
As per blackhawk's post, I'll agree that good footwear is a must-have (boots or otherwise, I prefer boots.) A pair of shoes you're comfortable walking around with for an extended period of time, somewhat breathable, maybe puncture-proof? Steel toes are not really necessary, but I like being able to kick with force if I want to. I'd say don't go crazy about it, but eventually, you'll probably want to invest in a decent pair of six- or eight-inch tactical or work boots, preferably waterproof or at least water-resistant. Goodyear welted footwear is also a winner, for reliability and durability in the long-term. There's no feeling in the world quite like walking through a four-inch puddle of muck and knowing your toes are going to come away dry. But, you need to have the ability to run in them bootsies, so make sure to break them in before you go out with them. Know your gear, and you'll be perfectly fine! If you already have a pair of boots you like that aren't entirely waterproof but have a full leather upper, you can use some Teflon spray to create a noice hydrophobic coating and increase the chances of leaving a drain with unsoiled socks. I recently picked up a pair of 5.11 Tactical waterproof and puncture-proof boots at a store near my place, and there's a gigantic jump between even these and my old duty boots. I suppose you'll also never really think much about puncture-proof soles until you've had a run-in with a rogue nail. Then you'll really want them. Anyway, I hope this helps even a little, it's a little rambly, but I've done entirely too much research on the topic of duty footwear. Cheers!
\=\ TOPKEK ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL MISSION /=/ \=\ ^u^ /=/ | |
Posted by Dee Ashley I hate pigeon crap. Gloves will also help protect your hands from the weather, Plague and various other terrifying related-yet-often-overlooked rodent diseases. Not to mention they minimize blisters - which you can count on without gloves if there are any significant rungs, ladders, or general climbing involved in your adventure. Speaking of the plague and such, go ahead and throw some wet wipes or sanitizer in your bag too. It doesn't take up much space and you'll thank yourself later around snack time. Oh yeah, go get a tetanus booster while you're at it.
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Although you can contract hantavirus by direct contact with mucous membranes, inhalation of fine particles of rodent urine and feces is a big hazard. This is especially true of pigeon crap; lung hazard. Plague; flea bites. It's in AZ and NM.
Posted by fluffy_bunnies As per blackhawk's post, I'll agree that good footwear is a must-have (boots or otherwise, I prefer boots.) A pair of shoes you're comfortable walking around with for an extended period of time, somewhat breathable, maybe puncture-proof? Steel toes are not really necessary, but I like being able to kick with force if I want to. I'd say don't go crazy about it, but eventually, you'll probably want to invest in a decent pair of six- or eight-inch tactical or work boots, preferably waterproof or at least water-resistant. Goodyear welted footwear is also a winner, for reliability and durability in the long-term. There's no feeling in the world quite like walking through a four-inch puddle of muck and knowing your toes are going to come away dry. But, you need to have the ability to run in them bootsies, so make sure to break them in before you go out with them. Know your gear, and you'll be perfectly fine! If you already have a pair of boots you like that aren't entirely waterproof but have a full leather upper, you can use some Teflon spray to create a noice hydrophobic coating and increase the chances of leaving a drain with unsoiled socks. I recently picked up a pair of 5.11 Tactical waterproof and puncture-proof boots at a store near my place, and there's a gigantic jump between even these and my old duty boots. I suppose you'll also never really think much about puncture-proof soles until you've had a run-in with a rogue nail. Then you'll really want them. Anyway, I hope this helps even a little, it's a little rambly, but I've done entirely too much research on the topic of duty footwear. Cheers!
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Always protect your ankles with high top lace up boots... truth. Some flexible stainless steel mesh inner liners like the fireman use are nice to keep things from going into your foot. Unimpaling yourself from something isn't pleasant; did that to my palm once on a thorn tree trying to use it to scale a fence. Full force drove it about 5/8 of an inch in. I was stuck to the tree, briefly oops. I've had hard desert grass straw go straight through my boot sole before and almost my foot too. Be careful especially if your boots have softer soles. Been lucky with unseen nails too... so far.
[last edit 10/18/2017 11:15 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. | |
Posted by Aran A flashlight is a must. Abandoned buildings are often much darker on the inside, and you don't want to put your foot through a hole that leads to a three story drop because you didn't see it.
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I've actually had this happen to me a few times, luckily the hole wasn't quite big enough for my entire body. Needless to say, I've learned my lesson. Unless it's day time and there are windows, get a good torch, and make sure you're pointing it at the ground in front of you when you're walking.
constants are changing... | |
One thing that hasn't been mentioned was pepper spray. I never bring weapons when exploring but I always try to bring pepper spray just in case. You never know what is going to happen with the homeless.
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I'm fairly new at this but (<3 yrs), but for what little its worth - this is what I take: 1) phone and free standing back up battery charger 2) camera and extra batteries 3) nitrile gloves 4) real gloves 5) face mask - N-90 most of the time, have a real mask for organics if needed with a purple organic cartridge, but I haven't ever needed it 6) water - three bottles per person 7) steel toed over the ankle water proof, oil proof, slip proof boots (I'm clumsy) 8) hand sanitizer 9) duct tape - to hold things back or open 10) hair brush - cause I'm a girl 11) wet wipes - cause I don't like sweat "crustiness" I prob need to overhaul what I bring and look at these other threads. I haven't been able to go in like three months. Work. Kid. Life. Ugh..........
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One thing that I always SWEAR by whenever I go is using my tripod with the legs extended as essentially a walking stick. That sounds a little peculiar and not everyone has one but I was a photographer (if I can myself that) before I got into urbex.
It Can be used to test the ground in front is stable. I've used it to remove the last bits of broken glass in a window frame for safer entry and to open doors/move objects with filth and dirt on them with two feet still on the ground. Also if you slip/twist an ankle you're more likely not to fall over and cause further injury. If you've got one use it - it becomes an extension of you quite quickly. D
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Posted by Derelictxdreams One thing that I always SWEAR by whenever I go is using my tripod with the legs extended as essentially a walking stick. That sounds a little peculiar and not everyone has one but I was a photographer (if I can myself that) before I got into urbex.
It Can be used to test the ground in front is stable. I've used it to remove the last bits of broken glass in a window frame for safer entry and to open doors/move objects with filth and dirt on them with two feet still on the ground. Also if you slip/twist an ankle you're more likely not to fall over and cause further injury. If you've got one use it - it becomes an extension of you quite quickly. D
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Tripods also make handy spider sticks. I hate walking into giant spider webs, so if it’s a particularly web-prone area, I’ll just wave a leg (or all three) in front of me to catch the webs in front of me. It probably looks idiotic but those damn webs never really come off, especially if I’m sweaty (in Texas, that would be 80% of the time). I had one hitch a ride on my person all the way to my car on me or my gear and the little bastard actually started webbing the inside of my car. I thought I was losing it at first but it was definitely spinning a web on the passenger side of my car, lol. Tripods are also useful for keeping a camera steady in low light/long exposure times too. Or so I’ve heard.
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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