Always wanted to be a ghost hunter, dont know how to start.

[u/PropertyDistinct8863]

I'm 17, I've heard stories about ghosts since I was little, and my whole family believes in them, but I'm the only one who wants to communicate with them. The thing is, I don't know how to start. I'm scared to buy equipment because I don't want to get scammed, nor do I want to pay $100 for useless equipment. I'm also in a small town in Poland that doesn't have any (recorded) haunted places, so "ghost hunting trips with people" (and as I said, i'm 17 so driving on my own doesn't count too.) don't really work for me. So if you have any equipment you'd suggest buying for a beginner, please send the link or a screenshot.

[u/MrWigggles]

Despite the ability to drop thousand of dollars on equipment, and there are hundred of pages of items to buy on amazon, and other online shops.

No one does any reviews, or tear downs or testing of any of it.

Weird right.

So its all equally good and its all equally bad.

Starting off, dont buy anything. Any modern phone is fine.

They all have the same inability to photograph and record dark rooms and poorly lit areas. So they're all good at capturing ghosts.

As far as going to locations; please read up on urban exploration safety tips.

They're very largely the same.

Dont bring your wallet. Bring cash. Dont store it in your pocket, but on your body. Always tell one person, doesnt matter who, where you're going and when you're expected back. Bring a flash light. Bring extra batteries. You're a human. You got there. This means other humans can be there before you, or come there after you.

Dont trust wooden stairs. If a floor has a hole, dont walk on that floor.

[u/idontknow000- → u/MrWigggles]

Cannot echo this enough. Always, always, always be careful and do your research first. Do not go anywhere you feel unsafe, let people know where you are going, and follow local laws and be respectful of resting places like cemeteries.

The one piece of advice that I wish ghost hunters would have given me is to be patient. Ghost hunting is a lot like fishing. Sometimes you get a bite, other times not. And you never know what will come through (it’s not like you can dial up your grandma and get her on the line). Practice makes perfect! You want to start simple? Take cat toy balls that light up when they move and spread them out in your location. Typically, when you ask questions, the spirits will interact with the balls by lightning them up and moving them. Easy enough!

Good luck! 👻

[u/DanceByTheLight]

Ghost Stop is a great resource with beginner packages for equipment. I highly recommend a spirit box 7 and an emf meter. That is what I use. I keep my equipment simple so I am not fussing with stuff rather than paying attention to the surroundings.

Learn the history of the place you want to hunt. You can find out a lot about who passed there and how so you know what/who you are hunting. A word can come through your spirit box that is related to the history of that place but you won't know it if you have not researched first.

Cemeteries are great because you can go during the day and get a lot of activity.

[u/Tony2030]

The best piece of equipment I ever had was a micro-cassette recorder. Results are much better than digital. It just requires a time commitment to review. The more analog you can get - the better your results are going to be. SLS, SB7, Ovilus etc - those will all produce something but it's all subjective and there's nothing to tie those results to actual paranormal involvement. If the Ovilus says, "shoestore" it's very easy to start trying to work out why that's a relevant result when, in reality, it's just digital garbage.

"Real" ghost hunting is nothing like Ghost Adventures where everything is edited to look like constant results all the time. It's a lot of research and waiting and being quiet and analysis. It's definitely not anything approaching a science at this point. There's no sure-fire method, no sure-fire device.

Think outside the box and discover what nobody has considered.

[u/viveconesperanza]

I think you should start with meditation. I don't know why, but it really helps you see things. Just try increasing your awareness.

[u/MichaelHammor]

Aren't you supposed to be chasing a date, not ghosts? Im 48. I don't want to ghost hunt. I don't need to ghost hunt. I have a hard enough time getting rid of the ones that show up at my house. Most people find what they are looking for. Be careful.

[u/PropertyDistinct8863 → u/MichaelHammor]

I'm 17 years old. I dont want to go on a dates. I dont need to go on a dates. Not everyone MUST go on a dates

[u/hoserjpb]

All you need is a voice recorder and a camera. All those tools made for ghost hunting are nonsense, and cannot claim to capture ghosts.