Cost of caving

paul

paul

Moderator
whitelackington said:
Trouble with the just borrow it approach is
it has to be lent by someone.
Now that is fine if it is your bestest mate or your spouse or parent or child and you live in the same house or in the same village and will be travelling in the same vehicle and returning in the same vehicle.
BUT any other combination is almost guaranteed to loose  / damage gear.
Then usually none knows nuthing!!!
Result lost / damaged gear and the lender is shy next time.  :-\
Click to expand...

If an individual approaches a Club in order to have a try at caving, and the members of the Club lend them some gear and then take them on a trip underground, it isn't that difficult to keep an eye on the loaned gear...

My club often takes this approach with newcomers: lending the basics and taking them on a suitable trip.




 
M

martinr

Active member
paul said:
whitelackington said:
Trouble with the just borrow it approach is
it has to be lent by someone.
Now that is fine if it is your bestest mate or your spouse or parent or child and you live in the same house or in the same village and will be travelling in the same vehicle and returning in the same vehicle.
BUT any other combination is almost guaranteed to loose  / damage gear.
Then usually none knows nuthing!!!
Result lost / damaged gear and the lender is shy next time.  :-\
Click to expand...

If an individual approaches a Club in order to have a try at caving, and the members of the Club lend them some gear and then take them on a trip underground, it isn't that difficult to keep an eye on the loaned gear...

My club often takes this approach with newcomers: lending the basics and taking them on a suitable trip.
Click to expand...

So does MCG (one of WL's clubs!). We dont have problems keeping tabs on gear.
 
Elaine

Elaine

Active member
Clubs don't generally lend out clothing though do they. Also, it is hard to put a point on when an individual should stop borrowing club lights etc and buy their own!

I hope we are not confusing you Flix. Your original question was 'how much will my first caving trip cost me?' and I think we mostly agree that it should be next to nothing.
 
whitelackington

whitelackington

New member
Apparently there are very affluent people in affluent clubs who STILL try and cadge gear off other people  :eek:

Even though they have been caving for years!!!
 
Broken Chris

Broken Chris

Member
I agree with what's been said so far - don't bother splashing out on lots of expensive kit until you know that you like it! I managed to pick up my first oversuit from someone that had gone and bought the best he could. He wore it once, decided he hated caving and sold it to me for next to nothing :)

The club I'm in recently decided to invest in half a dozen sets of full kit that could be rented out for ?5 to newbies so that they could cave in comfort without having to cough up loads of dosh (not SRT kit though). This was prompted mostly due to the sad demise of Dragon. On the plus side it seems to be working a treat and we've never had so many new people join and stay caving. The weekend before last was spent in Caving Supplies persuading all the newbies to the club to part with their hard earned brass. Definitely worth the initial outlay for the club!
 
paul

paul

Moderator
Broken Chris said:
The weekend before last was spent in Caving Supplies persuading all the newbies to the club to part with their hard earned brass. Definitely worth the initial outlay for the club!
Click to expand...

I bet you made Chandra very happy! :)
 
Slug

Slug

Member
My costs, like Mr Burgess were quite minimal,

Boots, Waterproof Oversuit, Builders Helmet, Gloves : "Donated" by My employers.
Furry undersuit, an RAF pilots Dry suit liner, "Donated" by the RAF, (My previous employers, God Bless 'em  :confused:)
Oldham lamp and Belt, borrowed from a mate.

Also, We always shared travel costs, and that kept expenses low.

Caving has, however, cost Me, most of My hair, 2 Kidneys, the best part of My Liver, and all of My sanity.  :LOL:
 
whitelackington

whitelackington

New member
martinr said:
paul said:
whitelackington said:
Trouble with the just borrow it approach is
it has to be lent by someone.
Now that is fine if it is your bestest mate or your spouse or parent or child and you live in the same house or in the same village and will be travelling in the same vehicle and returning in the same vehicle.
BUT any other combination is almost guaranteed to loose  / damage gear.
Then usually none knows nuthing!!!
Result lost / damaged gear and the lender is shy next time.  :-\
Click to expand...

If an individual approaches a Club in order to have a try at caving, and the members of the Club lend them some gear and then take them on a trip underground, it isn't that difficult to keep an eye on the loaned gear...

My club often takes this approach with newcomers: lending the basics and taking them on a suitable trip.
Click to expand...

So does MCG (one of WL's clubs!). We dont have problems keeping tabs on gear.
Click to expand...
We loose keys though don't we martinr
 
mrodoc

mrodoc

Well-known member
"Caving is a cheap sport" quote from Pete Rose whenever I suggested he buy a lamp that worked properly. Mind you it was a shock when I bought my first purpose made caving lamp after 30 years of Oldham conversions and Premier Carbides.  When you are used to paying max of a tenner for stuff then 20 times that is a surprise. But, to be honest, I don't resent it.  The lights nowadays are wonderful and the purpose made clothing durable and comfortable. Worth every penny in my opinion and, as a diver, I can vouch for the fact that caving is cheaper even when you buy second hand (there's all that servicing of gear every year remember).
 
D

Dave H

Guest
The most costly item when caving is the fuel used to get there!  :mad:
 
W

wormster

Guest
ChrisJC said:
Tell me about it, a day in Wales costs be about ?70 these days.  :mad:

Chris.
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth, gawd fuel prices are going through the roof (yes I know it belongs in another topic)

To get started should cost not very much at all, depending on where you go and who you go with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top