With television shows like SyFy's Ghost Hunters and Discovery's Ghost Lab growing in popularity, more and more people want to take up paranormal investigation as a hobby. While the teams on these TV shows have access to an expensive array of toys and tools, it is possible to start ghost hunting with just a few basic items that can be acquired inexpensively. In fact, some ghost hunting tools may already be readily available within the home.
Basic Ghost Hunting Equipment for Beginners
Rather than going out and purchasing every available ghost hunting tool, beginners should begin with a few basic pieces of equipment and gradually add more tools to their arsenal. This is not only easier on the wallet, but also allows novice paranormal investigators to completely master each piece of ghost hunting equipment before moving on to additional, new items.
These basic tools make a good equipment kit for a beginner's first few investigations:
- Digital Voice Recorder – This piece of equipment is an audio recorder that stores information on an internal memory chip. Digital voice recorders are used to capture electronic voice phenomenon, or EVPs. EVPs are disembodied voices that are below the threshold of normal human hearing. While they may not be audible at the time, these voices may imprint themselves on the digital recorder and can then be heard upon playback.
- Hand-Held Digital Video Camera – A video camera is a very handy tool for paranormal investigations. Video evidence is very valuable and can be difficult to refute, including apparitions and moving objects. To start with, a cheaper, lower-quality camera is acceptable. Many basic models are now quite inexpensive, and used older models can be found cheaply as well.
- Digital Camera with Flash – Still photos can provide valuable evidence during paranormal investigations. Take many photos before investigating, and take additional photos throughout the investigation as suspected paranormal activity occurs. Later review of these photos and comparison to baseline photos may yield important discoveries. Again, a super-high-quality camera is not necessary. While super-high resolution is optimal, three to five megapixels is certainly adequate for beginners who don't want to drop a large sum of cash on a high-resolution model.
- Electromagnetic Field Detector – Often called an EMF detector, this piece of equipment senses any changes or abnormalities in the surrounding air's electrical currents. These tools are often used by electricians to locate leaky, bad wiring; they are often used to debunk claims of paranormal activity. Unexplainable spikes on the EMF detector may indicate a paranormal presence! Basic models of these meters can be found many places online for under $25, making them an affordable addition to a ghost hunting tool kit.
Finding Bargain Prices on Ghost Hunting Equipment
Most of these items are very common and if not already owned could be borrowed from friends or relatives. Most households now have at least one digital camera, video cameras are now owned even by teenagers, and many college students record lectures on a digital recorder.
Any equipment that cannot be borrowed does not need to be purchased brand new. Surfing sites like eBay and Craigslist could save bargain hunters 50% or more on basic ghost hunting essentials.
Using these inexpensive tools for the first few investigations of a beginner provides a way to test the waters; novice ghost hunters can experience investigations and decide if it is a hobby they wish to pursue further without a huge investment. Those who do not enjoy their experience aren't out hundreds or thousands of dollars, and those who do wish to investigate more can purchase additional and upgraded ghost hunting equipment over time.
Rhonda Rowley - Rhonda Greene is a freelance writer living in Northern Michigan. She loves crafts, cats, and being outdoors.
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