A
Anna
Guest
I now its a bit of an odd question but when caving do you prefer your oversuit trouser legs tucked into your wellies or outside? And why?
F
Frog
Guest
no real preference although i tuck mine in as they arent quite wide enough to go over my wellies. also my wellies are so cool it would be a shame to cover them up!
Andy Sparrow
Active member
Try tucking one in and leaving one out - then lift your knee as high as you can to see which gives you most freedom of movement.
Johnny
New member
It's easier to drain water from your wellies if your suit is tucked into them, so thats what I tend to do.
If I am on a trip with allot of swims I have my wellies inside my suit legs to stop drag and the possibility of loosing one.
I suppose it also depends on how big your calves are in relation to the wellies, there's plenty of room in my Suretreds for my spindles.
If I am on a trip with allot of swims I have my wellies inside my suit legs to stop drag and the possibility of loosing one.
I suppose it also depends on how big your calves are in relation to the wellies, there's plenty of room in my Suretreds for my spindles.
Andy Sparrow
Active member
The best system was devised by Dave Elliot and the Whernside instructors back in the early 80s. This is to make a plastic ring a few inches wide that fits snugly into the top of the wellie (cut from a plastic container and riveted). You can then use bands cut from tyre inner tubes to make reasonably good seal between the oversuit and the wellies. This works well because it keeps your feet dry and has the concertina effect on the oversuit legs to give freedom of movement. I used to use this system with a PVC oversuit had no trouble keeping dry feet on a trip to the sump in Swildons. If you have a copy of Elliot's SRT manual or rigging guide there are lots of photos of the system in use.
Peter Burgess
New member
I spend a lot of time in places with gravelly and gritty crawls. So to keep the stones out of my wellies, I wear outside.
Cave_Troll
Active member
Outside. helps keep rubbish and water out of boots.
If i go swimming and water comes in you can drain easily by bending your leg while keeping your thigh pointing straight down, ie bring your ankle up to your arse.
Water will then drain to your knee, and when you straighten your leg again it will rundown the oversuit and drain out.
If i go swimming and water comes in you can drain easily by bending your leg while keeping your thigh pointing straight down, ie bring your ankle up to your arse.
Water will then drain to your knee, and when you straighten your leg again it will rundown the oversuit and drain out.
Brains
Well-known member
Outside every time - keeps the crap out, and holes in the wellies let the water out. Tried the plastic boot cuffs thing years ago, what a faff, also only works if the boots are smooth (most industrial ones have ribbing), so just Keep It Simple... Being a bit porky I take a larger size of suit, so I can put my boots on first and then the oversuit over them - makes changing a bit easier imo
SamT
Moderator
Inside all the time (definately better freedom of movement). unless swimming in deep water (the drag can pull them off).
Have never really had a problem with stuff getting in them. I suppose if I was scambling about on gravelly scree slopes and pebbles were running into my wellies then I might pull them out.
With modern 'wet' socks - its just not worth trying to keep your feet dry although I dont think cutting drain holes in your welly is a good idea really. Wetsocks/suits work best if can miminise the 'flushing' effect. Your going to get cold feet if you continally replace the water your body has heated - with fresh cold water. Does that make sense??
Have never really had a problem with stuff getting in them. I suppose if I was scambling about on gravelly scree slopes and pebbles were running into my wellies then I might pull them out.
With modern 'wet' socks - its just not worth trying to keep your feet dry although I dont think cutting drain holes in your welly is a good idea really. Wetsocks/suits work best if can miminise the 'flushing' effect. Your going to get cold feet if you continally replace the water your body has heated - with fresh cold water. Does that make sense??
underground
Active member
SamT said:
I'm with Sam here- I find that my boots- exclusively Grey suretreds with white nitrile soles- are snug enough with oversuit legs inside that i don't get much of a problem with pebbles etc. getting in. Likewise flushing- wet socks keep everything nice and warm, and I only bother draining them if on the way out if it's vertical (that now includes the spanky new Bagshawe steps). I feel comfortable in the way that legs tucked inside stay put, no flapping, and no riding up beneath my kneepads and ballooning at the thigh.
The only benefit i really found with holed was when the toes of my last pair wore out and the vacuum effect was eliminated- so I could actually get them off my feet!
W
wallop
Guest
I don't think it really matters in the long run. In or out
you will always get stones in your wellies, and it don't take
long to drain out your boots!!!
you will always get stones in your wellies, and it don't take
long to drain out your boots!!!
jasonbirder
Member
Have you all got super big wellies or have I just got very fat legs...
Its all i can do to squeeze my legs into my wellies...there would be no room at all for my oversuit to be tucked in!
Its all i can do to squeeze my legs into my wellies...there would be no room at all for my oversuit to be tucked in!
T
twllddu
Guest
In general :
Outside for PVC oversuit secured with a couple of snoopy loops so water just runs down outside.
Inside for nylon oversuit.
It really does depend on exactly what you're doing and how whether keeping completely dry is critical (e.g. alpine caving in winter )
Outside for PVC oversuit secured with a couple of snoopy loops so water just runs down outside.
Inside for nylon oversuit.
It really does depend on exactly what you're doing and how whether keeping completely dry is critical (e.g. alpine caving in winter )
