Equipment for getting started

[Jason Hobbs]

There are plenty of amazing resources on this forum for the education about the weather, of which I have barely plumbed the depths of much less read any mentionable amount, but I did manage to (maybe) find a question worth asking.

Of course, knowing my luck, it's been asked and I missed it. If I did, well, don't beat me too much, eh?

While education is crucial to chasing smartly and safely, is there any equipment that is necessary as well? At least, aside from the car I can afford getting beaten up a bit and a quality camera setup. What would be good equipment for someone starting out to have? What's some stuff that some of you experienced types realized you were missing that first time out that you were kicking yourself over?

 

[Skip Talbot]

Here are some categories I like to group equipment into:
1. Navigation - Maps, or GPS
2. Communication - A cell phone, ham radio
3. Data - A nowcaster, mobile internet, wx radio, satellite radar
4. Documentation - Camera, Camcorder, Sensors

All of those are pretty important in my opinion, and its up to you on how you want to fill them. You could chase old school or with the latest gadgetry: whether using paper maps or a GPS, a cell phone or a ham radio, calls to a nowcaster or mobile internet, a still camera or a video camera. Being able to navigate and have some information on the current situation is essential for situational awareness. Being able to communicate to others is also important for your safety as well as the safety of others if you take the time to do some reporting. Finally, what's a chase if you don't come back with some pictures or video (or measurements if you are doing research as that would also fall into the Docmentation category)?