No, you don’t need thousands of dollars in gear and fancy equipment. You don’t need night vision, nor do you need handheld meters that measure electromagnetic forces—that stuff looks cool on TV, but it weighs you down. Bring this:

-Pen
-Notebook
-Backpack (you don’t need a briefcase—you’re a legend tripper, not a lawyer)
-Camera (film, digital, video, whatever you have will do)
-Audio recorder
-Bug spray
-Snacks
-Water
-Boots
-First aid kit
-Extra batteries
-Some great music for the car ride
-Your favorite caffeinated drink for those late nights.