Getting Started
Caving gear
How to get started
The purpose of this page is to suggest how you can get started with acquiring caving equipment.
What you might need, where you can get it, and an indicative price (to the nearest $5 or $10) is given.
This builds on gear and suggestions covered in first trip and covers basic caving gear.
Clothing | prices @ ~2008 unless specified | ||
Overalls | New | polycotton, from Blackwoods Safety, farm suppliers, or similar | $50 + |
Used | polycotton, from Apparel Master, 14 Petone Avenue (down an alley), Petone | $20 + | |
PVC | from Protector Safety, Marine shops, etc | $200 + | |
Cordura | Aspiring Safety Products overalls | $225 (2017) | |
Kevlar | Aspiring Safety Products Kevlar overalls | $276 (2017) | |
Footwear |
Traditional caving footwear is white rubber gumboots.
Also other slip on gumboots, lace up gumboots (Ashleys).
Tramping boots, sneakers, etc.
| $30 (Warehouse) to $120 + | |
Gloves |
Heavy duty long wristed rubber gloves.
| $15 to $30 | |
Knee pads |
Neoprene with two velcro straps, above and below knee. Worn under overalls to stop mud clogging velcro. (Eazi-fit Knee Protectors product number 971478 velcro fastening neoprene pad suitable for wearing under overalls) Also have seen roller blade knee pads (bulky and rigid) (not recommended), other kneepads (more expensive, poor fastening, or loop fastening). | $35 (Eazi fit) | |
Equipment | |||
Helmet | Petzl | $300 | |
Light | Electric | LED headlamps are mandatory, as battery life is excellent, and spare bulbs are not required.
Attached to caving helmets, or elasticised for tramping or climbing use.
Any headlamp can be taped, cable tied (recommended), or otherwise attached to a helmet.
| Zoom $90 Duo $150 |
Batteries | Alkaline or better. | ||
AccessoriesThe following are useful accessories. | |||
Cave packs |
Small, Aspiring Enterprises | $75 | |
Standard, Aspiring Enterprises | $110 | ||
Small, Access Gear | $85 | ||
Large, Access Gear | $95 | ||
Clothing |
Polypropylene recommended. Macpac do a great range of underwear and crop tops. Earth Sea Sky and others do fine balaclavas, singlets, long johns, and skivvys. Considerations are warmth when wet, no absorption of water, and ease of drying. | ||
Miscellaneous | |||
Dry bags/sacks | 20 litres
35 litres | ||
Rapide wide mouth stainless steel | 3mm
6mm Pear shape 6mm
|
Indicative prices (to $10)
Cavers Chest Harness | $25 |
Caving Overalls | $170 |
Triad Cavers Harness S M L | $80 |
Pick Off Strap | $45 |
Speleo Cavers Harness S M L | $90 |
Safety sling (Ascender lanyard) 80cm | $20 |
Kodra Gaiters S L | $50 |
Stuff Sack XS | $5 |
Stuff Sack S | $5 |
Stuff Sack M | $7 |
Stuff Sack L | $9 |
Stuff Sack XL | $11 |
Standard cave pack | $100 |
Small cave pack | $60 |
SRT Stop Descender | $275 |
Single Cows Tail 60cm | $20 |
Compression Stuff Sack | $35 |
Double Cows Tail 30/60 cm | $? |
Pack strap (lightweight strop with 4mm rapide) | $10 |
30m rope PMI Static 10mm regular "Sport Max" | $130 |
Stainless steel rack | $105 |
The safety sling (ascender lanyard) is designed to be looped directly on to your harness.
Connect the metal buckle fixed at the end of the Pick off strap to your harness, connect the movable buckle to the other person. Pull from the loop at the other end of the tape.