Inglesport
Well-known member
We'd like to get your views! What are some caving-focused brands or equipment you'd like to see us stock at Inglesport?
Is there a trick we're missing out on?
Is there a trick we're missing out on?
-
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Brands/Equipment UK Cavers Would Like Us to Stock
- Thread starter Inglesport
- Start date
Inglesport
Well-known member
Good ideas, ta! 
PeteHall
Moderator
Good suggestion, but this would (in my opinion) need quite a lot of research and testing to choose the right products.
I've found the range diving lights available online to be huge, but there really isn't anything specifically designed for UK sump conditions (except possibly the Scurion Dive). I'm not sure it would do a caving retailer much good to stock and advertise products for sale, for a use that they were not designed for. In the event of equipment failure, would the retailer be liable for mis-advertising? Could be a bit of a minefield...
PeteHall
Moderator
One thing I use for every caving trip, made by a caving manufacturer, but I've never seen in a caving shop is neoprene shorts.
Warmbac make "padling shorts" (for kayakers, I believe), which make the perfect caving pants. They provide a little protection when the water reaches that critical level, and are perfectly comfortable wet or dry. It also saves shedding and mud-staining all your regular underwear. I'm on my second pair, with the first pair lasting 10 years I think, so even at Warmbac prices, they have been extremely good value.
Warmbac make "padling shorts" (for kayakers, I believe), which make the perfect caving pants. They provide a little protection when the water reaches that critical level, and are perfectly comfortable wet or dry. It also saves shedding and mud-staining all your regular underwear. I'm on my second pair, with the first pair lasting 10 years I think, so even at Warmbac prices, they have been extremely good value.
cap n chris
Well-known member
CT jammers, and perhaps even the Harken Ninja footjammer, although I already possess mine, other people might find also find them preferable to the well known previous manufacturer of caving kit.
William_Emmo
Member
Possible American brands like swaygo and smc.
Babyhagrid
Well-known member
AV and MTDE are the two brands who come to mind
Steve Clark
Well-known member
Few things come to mind :
Small wellies
Warmtex non-adjustable knee pads but with bigger leg loops (for big people) and with a pocket in the back so you can put an extra layer in for swinsto.
Some Velcro based padding to that fits standard 50mm webbing to put on the leg loops for big people doing longer SRT hangs. I’ve tried some that are available for the petzl newton fall arrest harness and they kinda work and make an aven much more comfortable but they aren’t quite the right width.
The rock empire(?) SRT harness that you had floating about as a trial looked really good. The adjustable buckles are good and it feels solid and comfortable for sitting in. The waist strap was too short for me and could do with being 4” longer to fit the biggest of us.
Small wellies
Warmtex non-adjustable knee pads but with bigger leg loops (for big people) and with a pocket in the back so you can put an extra layer in for swinsto.
Some Velcro based padding to that fits standard 50mm webbing to put on the leg loops for big people doing longer SRT hangs. I’ve tried some that are available for the petzl newton fall arrest harness and they kinda work and make an aven much more comfortable but they aren’t quite the right width.
The rock empire(?) SRT harness that you had floating about as a trial looked really good. The adjustable buckles are good and it feels solid and comfortable for sitting in. The waist strap was too short for me and could do with being 4” longer to fit the biggest of us.
JAshley73
Active member
American here - I'll try to be helpful...
I find it hard to find neoprene anywhere but dive places. I'd love to be able to try on shorts/pants in-store, for wet trips. Doubt I'd want a full wetsuit for caving, but bottoms would be nice.
Harnesses are always nice to try on in-person, so the more, the better.
Swaygo packs are popular here in the USA. Might be of some interest in the UK. I have a love-hate relationship with mine. Would be nice to see them in-person, to get a sense for how much gear you can fit in the different sizes. (I bought mine sight-unseen, online...)
I find it hard to find neoprene anywhere but dive places. I'd love to be able to try on shorts/pants in-store, for wet trips. Doubt I'd want a full wetsuit for caving, but bottoms would be nice.
Harnesses are always nice to try on in-person, so the more, the better.
Swaygo packs are popular here in the USA. Might be of some interest in the UK. I have a love-hate relationship with mine. Would be nice to see them in-person, to get a sense for how much gear you can fit in the different sizes. (I bought mine sight-unseen, online...)
Going off topic here, but there are many, many things sold for caving by caving retailers but not designed for caving. Wellies, for example. Head torches, for another.
PeteHall
Moderator
Agree entirely, but diving lights are subjected to significant additional stresses (water pressure), compared to regular caving lights and failure has the potential for much more serious consequences. For the likely low volume of sales, it's a headache I'd probably avoid if I were a caving equipment retailer. That said, I'd be very pleased if someone else did the homework and identified a range of suitable lights that I could buy from a caving shop
Space Doubt Caver
Active member
Rope protectors,
Rope care kit's,
As mentioned above small wellies size-5 + size-6 if possible.
and if you can get them the old styled crolls (The better ones)
Rope care kit's,
As mentioned above small wellies size-5 + size-6 if possible.
and if you can get them the old styled crolls (The better ones)
thehungrytroglobite
Well-known member
Warm gloves in smaller sizes (like size 6), the blue ones you sell are wonderful for summer caving but I really struggle to find warmer / thicker gloves for winter caving.
That's the main thing I can think of that comes to mind, I think you have everything else I might need for caving maybe thicker wetsocks too? I have the standard warmbac ones but find my feet still freeze off in them (even in summer) so some thicker wet socks would be great
That's the main thing I can think of that comes to mind, I think you have everything else I might need for caving
maybe thicker wetsocks too? I have the standard warmbac ones but find my feet still freeze off in them (even in summer) so some thicker wet socks would be great
Cantclimbtom
Well-known member
Puzzled you have several brands of hand ascender, but no camp turbohand given you are good enough to sell both turbochest and turbofoot?
Cantclimbtom
Well-known member
The better ones are camp turbochest
not the new croll with the nasty plastic catch
Space Doubt Caver
Active member
i can't say ive seen them, but i do know i hate the new crolls, they only last like a year and you need a whole new oneThe better ones are camp turbochest
Edit: Just seen the turbochest i want one
carpet
Member
If you can find anyone to make them, and a lawyer who agrees it's not some form of intellectual property infringement, some stainless bobbins for petzl stops would be welcome. I also love my AV Fornocal trousers which I don't think you have for sale, I would also like the shorts variant which I can't find for sale in the UK (I run super hot so can often be found in a mine in my fornocals and a tshirt provided it's not too wet and draughty)
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