What do you use to catch a ghost? Should you bring a proton pack, PKE meter, and a ghost trap? Maybe just a butterfly net and a jar? What you bring and how much you bring is really variable. I work with an investigator who can’t go anywhere without an entire SUV full of stuff while I usually only carry one roller bag and a couple tripods (unless I need the DVR, then things get a little bit messier). So what do you really need and what about the rest of it?

I am a proponent of video, and I’m not talking about DVR cameras which are cool for standard space monitoring, but I really like your basic small camera with audio.  I currently use the small GoPro style cameras sold by GhostStop. (I have purchased the new Phasm camera and will be doing a review of this in an upcoming blog). Of course, I don’t carry mine but instead place it on a tripod and leave it somewhere. I get motion sickness from watching more than 10 minutes of handheld video so if you have similar problems, get a tripod and park it. This also keeps you from experiencing the entire location through your viewfinder. Trust me, the investigation is WAY more interesting when you see it first hand and not on a 3 inch screen. I like using this method because I get both a visual and auditory record of a space. This helps with reviewing evidence as audio or video alone leaves you with not enough information to fully understand what may have caused an anomaly. 

I’m also a fan of environmental measurement devices but these are a bit trickier. Primarily because most scientifically precise instruments are expensive and not really great in the dark. There have been some paranormal equipment companies attempting to make environmental readings easier during the investigation process but due to the fact that most are handmade, they are typically on backorder and also very expensive. I do own an EDI+ device which measures vibration, electromagnetic fields (EMF), temperature, humidity, and pressure. You can even download the data into a spreadsheet or have it converted into a graph. There was a level of nerd excitement I experienced when I received this device in the mail. The only problem is that the creators didn’t program a clock into the device so while you have readings for every second, those seconds are not directly connected to a specific day or time. This makes cross referencing a specific incident a bit challenging when you are completing your evidence review. If you are using this device, state loudly in front of your video camera what time it is when you turn on the EDI+ and also write that time down immediately. This will help you get as close as possible to tracking down the time an environmental anomaly occurs. 

Equipment that lights up or signals when there is movement or changes in the environment is also helpful. Several of my teammates have REMpods that we usually place throughout to help us track activity in a location. We have found that activity doesn’t typically occur in the space 6 people are standing in but instead down the hall and just out of sight. I like to have these and other light-up triggers placed where cameras can capture their activation and maybe something paranormal to coincide with this action. Proximity sensors are another tool that can be good for this. 

Beyond these items, you can go a little crazy but you really don’t need to. Your basic video and audio recorder is sufficient to investigate just about any location. Honestly, the best evidence I have seen always comes in the form of video and audio data so don’t worry if you can’t afford all the other bells and whistles. Spend any additional funds on going somewhere interesting and enjoy the experience without having to carry around 20 pieces of equipment. Pro-tip: Don’t bring more recording devices then you are willing to review. Data is great but only if you actually look at it. At least, that’s my two-cents. 

Until next time, Happy Hunting!