I use a 100' reel tape w/a tent stake to anchor it and 30' tape for cross measurements. I think that's pretty standard.

I can pace off a mile and be less than 50ft off (very helpful for irrigation work)

learn your pace, and carry the 100ft tape for the really accurate stuff.

dp

Your 100 foot tape and a heavy duty extra thick metal 30 foot measuring tape will be your best friends.
A wheel comes in handy but you can get by with just the 100 + 30 foot tapes in the beginning.
I haven't found an affordable outdoor lazer yet that isn't less than a couple hundred bucks . The cheaper ones just don't work well outdoors.
I'm saving my pennies for the $ 400 buck lazer and hope that it pays for itself in one to two jobs.

Don't skimp $$ on your tapes. Buy the best quality that you can on both.
Purchase the thickest 30 ft. long metal tape you can find. The thick metal tapes are excellent for staying erect when extended and beat the limpy ones with erectile dysfunction.

every girls best friend.
Viagra should put out their own line of tape measurers.

100' tape and groundcover staples along with a 30' tape are invaluable. The larger diameter wheel is good for very large areas or curved bedlines and driveways. The small diameter wheel is only good for hard surfaces, otherwise it skips around too much. Don't forget the paint or flags to mark out whatever you are measuring. I also carry a calculater to aid in area and and quantity measurements.

Kirk

Maybe it's me, but I don't find the wheels to be accurate. I used one for a while last fall and returned it. I do, however, like DR, know the length of my stride and can probably match him mile for mile!

ohh the fun things we learned freezing to death on an orienteering course.

Thanks, I'll keep the 16 footer in the brifcase and go out in DH's shop and take .... oops borrow his 100 footer and one of his good 30 footers. He is a cabinet maker and has several. Michelle, I will deffinatly choose the stiffest ;-). I guess my dream of an easier way is just that.

DR my pace is 30" I use it at the nursery all the time... just didnt think about counting on it off the nursery.

Also 12" shoe exactally with my work boots on, yep big foot thats me.

Its raining again here in No Ca.......... really raining! What a suprise, spent he day dusting and vaccuming in the store.