Equipment recommendations

[darkplaces]

There is also an ongoing dialog to publish a female version.

Any excuse to take pictures of females changing... "Oh its alright love its for the internet"..

 

[wormster]

Females and caving gear caving porn surley??

(apologies to to those of the female species who inhabit this forum, we know you're out there (almost as bad as asking if anybody has a picture of Mr Darkplaces on a ladder, I KNOW i don't have any!!)) :-\

 

[cap n chris]

almost as bad as asking if anybody has a picture of Mr Darkplaces on a ladder, I KNOW i don't have any!!)) :-\

Lookie, lookie!

http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/album_page.php?pic_id=4138

 

[darkplaces]

:ras: noooo... I was on the rope the ladder was for axbridgecaver.

See other picture in the series - http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/album_page.php?pic_id=4139
My early SRT days...

 

[Peter Burgess]

Next he'll be telling us he wasn't tempted to use the ladder to help himself get over the lip of the shaft.

 

[darkplaces]

Next he'll be telling us he wasn't tempted to use the ladder to help himself get over the lip of the shaft.

er, ya maybe I used the ladder, I was young and inexperianced. SRT Rules KO.

 

[cap n chris]

Your honesty is to be applauded. When negotiating an obstacle, use whatever works!

 

[Chris J]

The "strippable model" which has attracted some attention is in need of an update we feel.

So the BCA is currently arranging for some suitable photographs and I am looking for someone with the technical skills to make the whole thing work.

Is there anyone out there who would like to volunteer their web design services to do this?

thanks

 

[cap n chris]

Please can the strippable model be a girlie caver? Please, please, pleasitty-please?*



* And good looking. And smiling. And not a minging munter chavchuffin' pustulery-mongchops.

 

[Walrus]

A question regarding clothing:

I've got a proper helmet (petxzl) and a light (nova 3) will be ordered around pay-day. What else would be a good idea to aquire to go 'proper' caving? For my current expaditions I'm using old clothes & a boiler suit... and I'm on a bit of a budget!

 

[Les W]

For Mendip and Wales type of caving a Fleece undersuit and a Cordura oversuit are ideal

For draughty wet Yorkshire type pitches some people prefer the pvc type oversuit (still with a fleece undersuit) but theses are easily subjected to damage and once ripped need careful repair or they will not last very long.
IMHO a good relatively new Cordura suit is as wind and water proof as the PVC suit anyway, and much more robust. (light blue touch paper and stand well back  )

 

[darkplaces]

The boiler suit is ideal for dry caves and mines. A Warmbac for wet stuff like Les says. I dont use a furry just T-shirt and trowsers.
A 'belay belt' is recomended for assisted climbs, ladders, tricky bits. Not free hanging vertical work, they needs a proper harness. Couple of krabs, 'dragable' rucksack (dont need a cavers bag yet). with sling onto which you attach onto belay belt+krab and drag alonge while crawling.

Kneepads! Look one day your gona be old and knakered (tis true honest), save your knees a little.

Wellys!

 

[Walrus]

Got wellies - not much grip though...    and kneepads sound like a good idea (I have dodgy knees already)

 

[andymorgan]

Knee pads are definitely the best piece of kit you'll ever buy!

 

[darkplaces]

Got wellies - not much grip though... 

A half decent pair of wellys is like being spiderman in a cave you stick to what looks like wet slippery rock, but no, no moss! Its as grippy as hell. Mines, places like Box etc ie 'stuff in your area' I would go for disposable walking boots instead. Differant type of ground you know....

 

[paul]

For Mendip and Wales type of caving a Fleece undersuit and a Cordura oversuit are ideal

For draughty wet Yorkshire type pitches some people prefer the pvc type oversuit (still with a fleece undersuit) but theses are easily subjected to damage and once ripped need careful repair or they will not last very long.
IMHO a good relatively new Cordura suit is as wind and water proof as the PVC suit anyway, and much more robust. (light blue touch paper and stand well back  )

Yes Cordura is tough but what about the thread and manufacture? I had a Beaver Cordura suit which used such weak thread that the crotch ripped on the first trip underground! Also the waterproofness does not last at all. You might be grateful of a good waterproof/windproof oversuit while walking across some god-forsaken moor in the p*ssing rain looking for an elusivecave entrance... or hanging around at some exposed shaft-top in winter...

Yes the PVC used in "boil-in-the-bag" suits are more likely to get ripped - but then they are MUCH easier to repair (almost the same as wetsuits used to be!).

Just spread some PVC glue around the tear, apply a patch of the same material (with rounded corners), press down leace to dry and job done. Most PVC suits even come supplied with the patching material and glue.

I've had a number of different oversuits over the years (and started on second-hand boiler suits/old clothes) and I've found that the PVC variety last just as long id not longer than the Cordura tpe. My current PVC oversuit has quite a few patches, espcially in the "derriere" region, but is still going strong after more than three years heavy use (including a week's trip to the caves on Skye!).

 

[paul palir]

is there any one else out there that wears a belay belt over their chest strap??
I have been doing this for years and find it keeps the croll closer to your body while climbing ropes, and it keeps your body more upright while haveing a fag break on larger climbs.. (eg Rowter hole)


Try it and let me know!!

 

[cap n chris]

while haveing a fag break on larger climbs..

Paul, you are joking, aren't you?

The reason I ask is this: if you gave up smoking you'd soon find you didn't need to have a rest.

P.S. Welcome to the bestest UK caving forum in the UK for cavers who like forums about caving. 

 

[Clarie]

What else would be a good idea to aquire to go 'proper' caving?

Wet socks. They revolutionised my caving experience - the joy of warm feet!

 

[Walrus]

Update: New stuff I got: Nova 3, Knee pads (Yes - they are lovely!) helmet, wellies, elbow pads.
Stuff I still [i[need[/i]: An oversuit of some sort. Somthing breathable but at least semi-dry. With lots of bum padding/wear protection (as its my most used part of the body for getting around - less far to fall). But may have to wait till next payday.