Advanced Gear
Once you have your basic caving gear and SRT kit you may decide to enhance your gear. The following gear suggestions describe gear for different situations up to and including SAR.
Gear can be categorised as personal gear, group gear, and cave gear. Personal gear is that which each person brings, and keeps on them between uses. Group gear is per group, typically where several groups go into the cave and rig it, eg for rescues. Cave gear is that required for the cave, eg for specific pitches for commuting.
The intention is that only the minimum required amount of gear is taken into a cave. This gear should be chosen with care, and the shovel it in or I'll just add an extra piece approach being avoided.
Edge kit
This kit is used when working at the top of a pitch or in any other exposed position. It consists of
- 5m of 8mm accessory cord, knotted at one end, figure 8 at the other
- one karabiner, fitted to figure 8
- one medium personal prusik
- small bag, can be attached to harness
In use the prusik is clipped to your harness, or load bearing waist strap, and the cord clipped into protection. By using the prusik the cord can be extended as required to provide a point of connection when working in an exposed area.
Access (personal gear)
This is the kit each person should carry. The list is ordered in suggested order of acquisition
- 17m 8mm accessory cord
- tandem prusiks
- 3 locking karabiners
- 1 short sling
- 1 medium sling
- 1 long sling
- 1 heavy duty waterproof bag (10 litre)
- prusik minding pulley