M
mickw
Guest
in need a new oversuit pvc or wormback which is the best ive got a wormback but its getting old.
:?
:?
M
mickw
Guest
ty sam ill have a look
mick
mick
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duggadig
Guest
Personally, I wouldn't go for Warmbac. In my experience they always split at the arse. Always the arse, never anywhere else. (Except the sleeves if they get that old). Every Warmbac should come with its own repair kit.
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mickw
Guest
been and got a pvc meander
M
mickw
Guest
dugg ive stil got me wrmbac got to chang sume time
lets see
lets see
Rachel
Active member
Has anybody else noticed their meander suit falling apart? I got mine maybe about 25 trips ago and the cuffs are split and there seem to be loads of little holes where the yellow pvc has rubbed off the webbing underneath - it looks as though the leg seams are about to go any minute. Just wondered if this was typical - and how long do these things usually last before falling to pieces altogether?
cap n chris
Well-known member
A lightweight warmbac usually lasts around 50 trips before the material wears thin enough to split; based on wearing out 6 of them last year with a known number of trips at 325. The actual number will vary depending on body weight, the type of caving to do (SRT, crawling, sliding etc.) and the roughness/snagginess of the rock you're caving in. Mind you, if you're going caving once or twice a month this figure of 50 trips will equate to 2-4 years of life expectancy from your overall.
Tried a Dragon oversuit, heavy duty, which lasted about 80 trips but I appreciate the ability to move more freely in the lightweight cordura. My PVC suit was simply too hot for use in Mendip caves so I sold it on.
So Rachel's 25 trips seems a bit shy of an acceptable useage for a suit - I have no experience of the meander suits as yet so can't comment.
If a suit is going to last you around 40-60 trips you'll need to depreciate it accordingly, say £1-£1.50 per trip?; a "cost" of about £3-£5 per trip for depreciation of personal kit is probably not unfair and if the trip lasts many hours this equates as a cheap pastime by comparison with others involving technical equipment.
Tried a Dragon oversuit, heavy duty, which lasted about 80 trips but I appreciate the ability to move more freely in the lightweight cordura. My PVC suit was simply too hot for use in Mendip caves so I sold it on.
So Rachel's 25 trips seems a bit shy of an acceptable useage for a suit - I have no experience of the meander suits as yet so can't comment.
If a suit is going to last you around 40-60 trips you'll need to depreciate it accordingly, say £1-£1.50 per trip?; a "cost" of about £3-£5 per trip for depreciation of personal kit is probably not unfair and if the trip lasts many hours this equates as a cheap pastime by comparison with others involving technical equipment.
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diggerdog adam
Guest
Pvc meander grate suits, tho do get hot in dry caves, easy to repair,
top tip use round patches then they dont peel off
Mick be carefull on Nidderdale mud banks! I speak with experence!
30ft mud bank top to bottom 3 secs !
mine done 2 years ish and starting to show signs of wear
top tip use round patches then they dont peel off
Mick be carefull on Nidderdale mud banks! I speak with experence!
30ft mud bank top to bottom 3 secs !
mine done 2 years ish and starting to show signs of wear
My TSA was good for about 250 trips before it went completely. I now have a Meander PVC suit and it has done about 150 trips so far (of varying 'harshness!') and still shows no particular wear and tear apart from the stitching going in places. The seams are still fine. I was a bit wary of buying the Meander suit in the first place but I've come to like it now - it's quite baggy and is easier to move in than the TSA and the pocket is better (things don't fall out so easily) and I even quite like the velcro cuffs even though the velcro has been sewn in the wrong place!
danthecavingman
Member
I have just bought a Meander suit so will keep folks posted as to how it fares. It seems roomy and comfortable and I like the idea of Velcro cuffs. First test will be a Giants Round Trip next weekend.
Dan.
Dan.
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Anna
Guest
My Dragon has lasted at least 150 trips and shows no signs of wear. Much better than the TSA I had before which came apart at the seams after about 50 trips. As for being hot I think all pvc suits are although I found the Dragon really sweaty at first. I suppose it still is but I have got used to it. I'm quite happy these days to cave for hours on end while the sweat pours off me !
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mickw
Guest
ty diggerdog ill lookout for mud
mick
mick
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duggadig
Guest
I've found that for dry caves boiler suits are much cheaper and easier to
repair worn over an ordinary fleece undersuit.
For wet caves swap the ordinary fleece for a neo/fleece, and for really really wet trips a wet suit still with the boiler suit for protection.
You can pick up old boiler suits for about a fiver at a bootsale, buy a few
and rotate them means having to repair less often.
Ideal for digging as well you dont get too hot.
repair worn over an ordinary fleece undersuit.
For wet caves swap the ordinary fleece for a neo/fleece, and for really really wet trips a wet suit still with the boiler suit for protection.
You can pick up old boiler suits for about a fiver at a bootsale, buy a few
and rotate them means having to repair less often.
Ideal for digging as well you dont get too hot.
danthecavingman
Member
First trip in my new Meander down P8 was very good. Comfortable and waterproof.
