Field Gear We Can't Live Without

This year’s field season is coming up fast, and we are preparing our packing lists for the summer, so we asked our staff to share what essential pieces of field gear they absolutely can’t live without! If you’ll be joining us in the field this year, it’s also a great time to start doing some shopping, stocking up on sunscreen, and breaking in some good shoes. (But don’t worry, we’ll bring some of the supplies for you, there’s no need to buy radios and awls.) Here’s our list of must-have items for paleontology field work!

Jason S:

2-way radios - it's so important to stay in communication.  We constantly check in with each other throughout the day to make sure we know where everyone is, that they're feeling fine, staying hydrated, etc.  We also report back when something interesting has been found, and sometimes I just check in to see how the progress is at the other quarries.  And sometimes I just need to mess with the other guys - and vice versa.  The 8 yr old in me still wants to play with the radios (and annoy Rick!).

Devon:

I'm the queen of BBPI merch, so I would say I can't do a field season without a suitcase full of BBPI branded gear and lots and lots of sunscreen! I also love my Swell bottle because it keeps my water as cold as possible, even on Montana desert summer days.

Katie:

If I had to choose, I think sunscreen is the single most important item in my field kit. Your day and even your week can be absolutely ruined by a bad sunburn. It is dangerous to be overexposed to the sun, and sunscreen is just one layer of armor you can put on against sun exposure. Find a sunscreen you like and that works best for your skin- SPF 30 or higher. Reapply often! I apply sunscreen when I first arrive to camp, after lunch, and mid-afternoon. Your friends won’t mind helping you protect those hard-to-reach spots! By protecting your skin from the sun, you’re making it possible for you to go on digs for years and years to come (and stay looking young, too!) 

Jason P:

The thing that I really cannot live without in the field is a good sketch book and some good ballpoint pens. So much can be communicated via sketches. Sketching is part of my observation process so it helps with the science side of things as well as just being a fun way to spend some time capturing a few moments on the site or at the lodge. 

Rick:

My most essential field gear item has to be my multi-tool.  I think I own at least four of them now and one always stays with my "bug out" field gear.  Whether I have to cut, saw, pry or pull, the value of a high quality multi-tool cannot be underestimated.  

Jeb:

My favorite item to have in the field is a scale bar! Whether I’m out prospecting or working at one of our excavation sites, a scale bar is so important for getting useful pictures of specimens (or any rocks or small wildlife) that I find in the field. Being able to communicate scale can be difficult in photos, especially when you’re working with dinosaur bones that vary so much in size, so having a scale bar is super helpful! Even when I’m not in the field, I always keep one in my wallet just in case I spot some interesting rocks or a cool insect. Alternatively, the geologist’s trick of using a rock hammer for scale can work in a pinch!

Daniel:

I have to say that apart from my rock hammer and trusty water bottle, my most useful piece of field gear is my wide-brimmed hat. I started wearing one long before I actually did any field work, but once I started field work it became a necessity. Not only does it prevent getting horribly sunburnt on your scalp, ears, and face, but it can also be an improvised fan when the heat and humidity are just too oppressive. As an added bonus, it's a unique piece of gear that you can use to express yourself (i.e., would you wear a fedora or a cowboy hat, a boonie hat or a bucket hat?), and feel a little bit like a true-blue paleontologist or geologist while you're at it!