In our document Luton Paranormal Society Investigation Method we give details of what happens during an LPS investigation and what is expected of the members who attend. One thing it does not do is tell you what you should expect and how to prepare yourself for the investigation, these details are given herein.
Equipment: Virtually all of our investigations take place at night. This is not an absolutely necessary time to investigate as paranormal events are just as likely to occur 
during daylight as they are at night. The night does have certain advantages; it is a lot quieter with less traffic and less people around so that anything unusual that happens is less likely to be due to human effects. In addition the quiet helps to open up the mind so you are more receptive to things (though some feel that this makes you sense things that aren’t there to be sensed, your mind plays tricks with you). One thing that this does necessitate is the use of a torch so you can see what you are doing especially on outdoor events. LPS can not be responsible for any injuries you incur due to your not being able to see where you are going. It is up to you to provide a light source and without one you may not be allowed to accompany the team into potentially hazardous areas. The torch you use should not be too bright and have a fairly narrow beam and its use should be kept to a minimum so as not to affect the night vision of the other team members. This especially applies to dark vigils (where we stay in 
one place for around 45 minutes or so) when a torch should only be used when absolutely essential. A useful addition to the torch is a laser pointer which allows you to point out to others something that you spot without affecting your night vision. These can be bought as part of a torch and can even be found in some infra-red thermometers.
By far the best detector of the paranormal you can bring is yourself but a camera would be useful especially if you see something. One thing that we need is proof of the paranormal as a persons word does not amount to much when it comes to scientific proof. Any other equipment you bring is up to you but if it is physically excessive, takes a lot of time to set up or it could interfere with others during the investigation then you should get permission from your team leader to use it before the start of the investigation.
Clothing: A lot of our investigations take place outside when it can be very warm, very cold, very wet or very windy (due to the vagaries of the British weather all of these can occur in the same night). Because of this you should come well prepared for the weather. We have sat in a churchyard for 45 minutes without moving at -5ºC so warm clothes are a must, it is better to be too hot than risk freezing to death. On the Home page of our website there is a weather map giving the general weather conditions at the site on the night of the investigation, you should refer to this but be prepared for changes that the forecasters didn’t predict. One thing we didn’t prepare for on one investigation was mosquitoes and we ended up being bitten to death. These can be a nuisance in the summer and near water (like Stanton Low) so be warned.
Outdoor investigations will either involve a reasonable amount of walking or a lot of sitting (or even both). On the Events details for the site we will tell you what the event involves including how far you have to walk and the general ground conditions. These can also be seen by viewing the map for the site which includes aerial images. Good footwear is always advised especially as some events involve exploring muddy fields or rough, uneven paths. The footwear should also be warm as your feet soon get cold 
when you are sitting in sub-zero temperatures.
Other Essentials: If we hold vigils then we stay in one place for a considerable time in which case a chair is useful. This can be a folding one but remember you may have to carry it some way so the collapsible types used by fishermen and kept in a shoulder bag are the best.
A mobile phone is a useful item just in case you get separated from the group and end up lost. By all means bring one but the sound must be muted during the investigation.
Indoor Investigations: For indoor investigations the above advice regarding torches and chairs applies as we normally hold vigils at such sites and some of the buildings are unlit. Clothing can also be critical as a lot of the time the buildings are unheated and it can get very cold when you are sitting still for 45 minutes. Some buildings are old and derelict so that good footwear is again advised. For derelict sites LPS can again take no responsibility for any injuries you sustain on site due to the surroundings, if you choose to enter the site you take on the responsibility for your own safety. We will advise you about any potential hazards in the Events details.
There is nothing nicer than sitting outside at midnight on a clear night with a full moon and 20 below as long as you are prepared. If you come prepared then investigations can be fun.