Caving shops no more

[paul]

I had an Aquaquipment kit wetsuit hen I was a teenager. It did the job!

Same here - a kit version! Spent a Thursday afternoon during a school holiday in a friend's kitchen cutting out the pieces, gluing them together, gluing on the zip on and tape along all the seams and sewing all the lining on the seams inside. It was for an intended caving trip on the weekend and they didn't have a ready made suit in the shop that would fit me.


We turned up at the agreed meeting point with a caving club my friend was a member of and there was no room in the van for us so we didn't go! 


Still, I got plenty of use from that wetsuit, with plenty of patches, in the following years.

 

[blackshiver]

Just remembered my first Tailor Made wetsuit was from Typhoon in Redcar back in the 70?s
Drove past there on my way back to work this afternoon and still going strong!

 

[Graigwen]

My first wetsuit, 1967;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11409438@N06/49562336678/in/album-72157620557572135/

 

[mikem]

Just remembered my first Tailor Made wetsuit was from Typhoon in Redcar back in the 70?s
Drove past there on my way back to work this afternoon and still going strong!

Of course they are now mainly drysuits.

 

[andys]

My first wetsuit, 1967;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11409438@N06/49562336678/in/album-72157620557572135/

On that invoice, under "Other Items" - does that say boobs! Just wondering LOL

 

[Graigwen]

My first wetsuit, 1967;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11409438@N06/49562336678/in/album-72157620557572135/

On that invoice, under "Other Items" - does that say boobs! Just wondering LOL

Boots!

When I found the document I was surprised I paid that much (then equivalent to nine pints of cheap bitter) for neoprene boots. I did not use them much and they hung around for years being partially cannabilised for patches until the remains were thrown out about fifteen years ago.

.

 

[Jon_M]

In regard to Caving Supplies, there was a time years ago when it seemed like most cavers in the UK had one of these (found this one buried in the shed) 

 

[mikem]

Or a green karrimor one (I still have 2 or 3)

 

[Duck ditch]

There used to be caving shop in kettlewell.  I think that was called over and under but I?m not sure. Up in the village on the left bank of dowbergill

 

[crickleymal]

Just remembered, the YHA Shop in John Adam Street in Covent Garden, London used to sell Premier carbide Caplamps ("stinkies") eons ago (the 70's anyway).

I still sometimes use a framed rucsac and down sleeping bag, both their own brand, bought from there in

I've got a Swedish army framed rucksack.  I prefer them as it spaces the sack away from your back so it's less sweaty.

 

[Wardy]

I remember the Kettlewell shop.
Never really noticed it before until going to do Dowbergill one day and realising I had not packed my wet socks - Then like an apparition I spied some caving gear in a shop window opposite where I was parked and wandered over in disbelief before leaving leaving, socks in hand still somewhat amazed.
Just goes to show "every" village needs a caving shop as the internet can't always fix things fast enough.
Turned out to be a great trip so thanks to the Kettlewell shop.