The shepherd’s equipment usually included the following: A scrip, or leather bag, that contained food supplies, such as bread, olives, dried fruit, and cheese; a rod, which was a formidable weapon, usually three feet (1 m) long with sharp slate embedded in the bulbous end; a knife; a staff, which the shepherd leaned on while walking and climbing; a personal water container; a collapsible leather bucket for drawing water from deep wells; a sling, which he used to lob stones near the straying sheep or goats to frighten them back to the flock or to drive off prowling wild animals; and a reed pipe, which he played to entertain himself and to soothe the flock.
Karjase varustuse hulka kuulusid harilikult nahkpaun, kus oli toidukraam, näiteks leib, oliivid, juust ja kuivatatud puuvili (1); relvana kasutatav umbes meetripikkune nui, mille jämedamas otsas olid kivikillud (2); nuga (3); karjusekepp, millele sai toetuda kõndimisel ja ronimisel (4); veeanum (5); kokkupandav nahast ämber kaevust vee ammutamiseks (6); ling, millega lennutada kive, et karjast eemalduvaid lambaid ja kitsi karja juurde tagasi ehmatada või metsloomi eemale peletada (7); roopill, millel mängimine oli mõnus ajaviide ja mille hääl rahustas lambaid (8).