Essential Supplies for a Ghost Hunt
Just as you wouldn't embark on a mountain trek without a backpack and carabiner, and you wouldn't go on a picnic without a blanket and sandwich, you don't want to go on a ghost hunt without packing these key supplies.
Camera
You need a camera to record your ghost, not just to identify what type of ghost you have (differentiating, say, an incubus from a poltergeist) but to further the mission that most paranormal agencies have: obtaining empirical evidence of ghostly activity. Suite 101 has some tips for choosing a good ghost camera. You want a model with an adjustable shutter speed setting, so that you will be able to capture both floating orbs and moving phantom trails. A high ISO number, meaning that the camera is sensitive to light, will serve you well in dim surroundings like basements and graveyards. As with any other purpose for your camera, ghost photos will benefit from a camera model with the highest resolution (in megapixels) that you can afford. The blog Ghost Hunting Secrets advises that you take along several cameras so that you will have a range of capabilities for different purposes.
Sound Recorder
Ghost noises will often show up in recordings, even if they aren't audible by people at the time and place in which they occur. A tape recorder will work for this purpose, as well as a digital sound recorder, which you may already have on your cell phone. An eHow article called "How to Audio Record a Ghost" recommends taking notes about any background noises you hear while recording, so that when you play the tape or sound file back later on, you will be able to distinguish the odd cries of a loon from the plaintive wail of a ghost.
Dowsing Rod
This has been recommended by the American Ghost Society as the world's oldest ghost detection device. Bring two L-shaped metal rods, one in each hand. When you find the area where the ghost is hiding, the two rods will cross each other. The official explanation from the American Society of Dowsers is: "the reasons the procedures work are entirely unknown."
Your Pet
Cats and dogs have sharper senses than human beings in some respects, and this goes for detecting the spirit world as well. If your cat's hair stands up when you bring her into a certain room, or your dog refuses to enter at all, you may have an invisible ghost on your hands.