I'm looking to buy some caving stuff. I have two Cascade water rescue helmets
( http://www.rescuetech1.com/cascadewaterrescuehelmet.aspx )
are they suitable for caving, or do I need a climbing helmet?
Thanks!
from a helmet point of view, all it has to do is protect your head from bumps and scrapes, cos if anything large drops on you, a helmet isnt going to do a whole lot.
the isue you may have with the helmet youve posted is A- mounting a lamp to it
and B- if it's full of polystyrene, your head will sweat like you wouldnt beleive.
Great, thanks! I'll see how it goes with what I've got and keep an eye out for something better.
you can a good second hand helmet for £10
brilliant. i'll keep checking ebay!
[quote="Iestyn999" post=12056]brilliant. i'll keep checking ebay![/quote]
We can always lend you a helmet until you find one, I have a spare one if the club ones are already out.
Hello by the way, and welcome.
:cheer:
awesome, thanks guys!
I keep several spare helmets in my truck. Most have lights fitted, but not the most expensive ones.
Iestyn, As I'm a new member too, I thought I'd give you an idea of what I've bought so far and how much it costs (mostly on the advice of more experienced club members)
2nd hand helmet £8
B&Q overalls £17 (overalls wear and rip very quickly so I'm looking for a caving suit. Myself, Richard S & John N were talking of taking a trip to Inglesports in Yorkshire to buy new gear, you and anyone else would be welcome to join us)
B&Q Wellies £11
B&Q electricians gloves £3
Energiser head torch (from tesco) best waiting for a special offer when they're £5 and get two so you've got a spare (batteries included and they last for ages)
Thermal underwear £9 from Aldi when they've got a special offer on. (I just wear thermals under my overalls so I don't overheat too much)
This is all you'll need to get underground and you can replace the items above over time with better quality ones. The 1st few trips with UCET I borrowed a helmet until I bought my own.
Hope this helps :silly:
Good advice from sweetie there, i was going to post and say you would be better off with this or that or the other, but then i remembered my first trip..
i had a £3 head light and a whooly hat lol..
the only thing i will add, and i think is the 3rd most important bit of kit only been beeten by the helmet and light is neoprene socks, it compleatly changed my underground experance, to the point i was thinking of selling my gear and giving up caving/mine mooching, the neoprene socks are awesome
Gosh Sweetie - you have now spilled all your secrets.
You must have done a lot of research to optimise your budget caving kit.
Having bitten the bullet and bought a proper suit I must say that they do give me a lot of extra confidence, because they seem to help me slide through tight holes and make a lovely noise whilst slipping. It is sort of saying 'you are making progress'.
I do think the design could be improved, I find them a bit tight across the chest and I would like to experiment with fitting a belt inside the suit with reinforced holes each side of the Zip, to take a 'D' ring for use as a belay point. Does anyone in the club have a powerful sewing machine?
I might have to invest in some of those Dan B)
[quote="JohnNicholson" post=12099]Gosh Sweetie - you have now spilled all your secrets.[/quote]
It's probably my cheapest hobby in terms of making do with £3 bits n pieces. I will be investing in a caving suit soon though!
[quote="Sweetie" post=12100]I might have to invest in some of those Dan B)[/quote]
ive got a couple of pairs, both of ebay for under £5
i dont mind getting wet, but once your wellies breach and you end up up to your knees in water, i struggle to walk my ankles and knees just seize up and and feel like they are having nails driven into them. the neoprene socks fixed my ankles, the caving undersuit fixed my knees.
think mine were caused by years of riding a motorbike all year round
By the way....
I visited your Sweetie Shop yesterday, unfortunately you were not there. The young girl who was serving could not have been more helpful. I soon spotted those lovely lip red lossenges, but still can't remember their name. She made up a brilliant assorted concoction of glories which I hope will give much pleasure.
John: Olivia mentioned that a man had come in and asked where I was, she said he bought Sarsaparillas (pronounced sasperellas) so I thought it might have been you. Sorry I missed you Thanks for your custom :cheer:
SARSAPRILLAS - yes, thats what everyone should have in their pockets whilst caving. They are like spare batteries. When energy is low and there is a long incline to ascend then stick one in the right place and suck on it gently. Heaven!
Thanks for the advice! So i need a second hand helmet, neoprene socks and a pocket full of sweets?
I take it stuff doesn't last long underground?!
[quote="Iestyn999" post=12108]Thanks for the advice! So i need a second hand helmet, neoprene socks and a pocket full of sweets?
I take it stuff doesn't last long underground?![/quote]
your helmetg should last you forever or untill it's done what it's supposed to.
a good caving lamp should last for more than 10,000 underground hours.
i've had my neoprene socks for about a year, their still good as new.
my boiler suit is over 2 years old, and it wasnt new then, i robbed itoff my dad, he'd prob given it years of wear and tear.. i tend to use a set of gloves per trip, i normally lose one either in the cave/mine or on the walk back to the car.
[quote="Mad-Dan" post=12109][quote="Iestyn999" post=12108]Thanks for the advice! So i need a second hand helmet, neoprene socks and a pocket full of sweets?
I take it stuff doesn't last long underground?![/quote]
your helmetg should last you forever or untill it's done what it's supposed to.
a good caving lamp should last for more than 10,000 underground hours.
i've had my neoprene socks for about a year, their still good as new.
my boiler suit is over 2 years old, and it wasnt new then, i robbed itoff my dad, he'd prob given it years of wear and tear.. i tend to use a set of gloves per trip, i normally lose one either in the cave/mine or on the walk back to the car.[/quote]
your a warmbac boy now dan
it's a beaver mike, i like been in a beaver, it's all warm, it does get a bit damp, but that makes it easier to slip in and out of.
cheeky. :P :P
Ive ordered a load of stuff from inglesport but im.not expecting to get it until after christmas. Mostly srt.stuff and a rope so i can have a bit of a practice in the shed. Havent done srt for ages! I gave the socks a miss, i think they were 30 quid or so. Ill have a look on ebay. As for overalls, ive got 3 pairs of network rail ovetalls and they're pretty heavy duty sorts of things
you should be all set then.
Neoprene socks don't have to be expensive. I have these, and wear wellies.:-
[ebay]290669528652[/ebay]
As Dan said, they make a *huge* difference.
perfect, thanks!
i have some of those, AND these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TWF-Wetsuit-Socks-SOX-3mm-Neoprene-Boot-UK-Foot-Sizes-3-12-Surfing-Fishing-/180961939133?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Wetsuits_WatersportsClothing_CA&var=&hash=item2a222c0ebd
not decided which i prefure yet, the big ones hold a lot more water and are quite heavy when full, bit of a PITA when your in and out of water
well, at those sort of prices it's not going to cost the earth for both and give them a try. I take it they keep your feet warm rather than dry? Neoprene has always confused me, i just can't understand how a wetsuit lets water in but my immersion suit doesn't :blink:
A wetsuit is designed to let a very thin layer of water next to your body. Your body heat warms it up. You're still wet, but the "uncomfortable as hell" feeling is almost totally gone.
Drysuits/Immersion suits are non-porus, and keep you totally dry.
Neoprene is porus, but You usually find another layer next to it to stop the water getting in if that's what is wanted.
(I think, never got my mitts on a drysuit to look at).
Ah, thanks for the explanation!
personally the longer wet socks are the besr as when you are in water its usually over your wellies so the calf of your leg is kept warmer
A warning john these have been tried before and thrown out think beyond the box if you should ever have the need to disingage your belt ie
could be tangled up etc, you just undo it but if its sawn into your suit you are in trouble.
mick
[quote="JohnNicholson" post=12099]Gosh Sweetie - you have now spilled all your secrets.
You must have done a lot of research to optimise your budget caving kit.
Having bitten the bullet and bought a proper suit I must say that they do give me a lot of extra confidence, because they seem to help me slide through tight holes and make a lovely noise whilst slipping. It is sort of saying 'you are making progress'.
I do think the design could be improved, I find them a bit tight across the chest and I would like to experiment with fitting a belt inside the suit with reinforced holes each side of the Zip, to take a 'D' ring for use as a belay point. Does anyone in the club have a powerful sewing machine?[/quote]
the thing with beaver caving suits john is that there a bit basic
if you want comfort try a warmbac or adventure verticale.
bad idea about sewing a belt in, you might get pulled of a cliff( and i don't mean richards either :P :P )
I got some neoprene socks from Army Navy stores in Bangor High Street.
[quote="JohnNicholson" post=12141]I got some neoprene socks from Army Navy stores in Bangor High Street.[/quote]
bargain i luv a mooch in that place
I've been looking at helmets. Is it worth getting a helmet with vents in it? Does having vents make much or a difference re heating/cooling or is it a bit of a gimmick?
its a personal thing, some petzl lids have vents in them. look on e-bay under caving or mountaineering
your more than welcome to use the club lids until you find some(thats what there there for) at the right price
It makes a huge difference. I went from an unvented (I got a really sweaty head when exerting myself), to a lightly vented Edelrid, which means I only get a sweaty head when really pushing it. I suspect something with even more vents than mine, which is not really *that* well ventilated, would make the same difference again.
[quote="NewStuff" post=14994]It makes a huge difference. I went from an unvented (I got a really sweaty head when exerting myself), to a lightly vented Edelrid, which means I only get a sweaty head when really pushing it. I suspect something with even more vents than mine, which is not really *that* well ventilated, would make the same difference again.[/quote]
ye but your BIG tart ali
you brake into a sweat just thinking about it( whatever IT is) :P :P :P
Thanks for that. There's a Ecrin Roc ending in just under an hour on eBay or I'm looking at the Vertex Vent's.
Avoid anything with polystyrene! My helmet's 'orrible :angry:
[quote="WelshSossy" post=14997]Thanks for that. There's a Ecrin Roc ending in just under an hour on eBay or I'm looking at the Vertex Vent's.[/quote]
the good thing about these ecrin's are the wheel adjusters on the inside, and "he" is offering some exta foam inserts which might come in handy, seeing as you are buying for 3 different head sizes
I've ordered the girls some Elia's as I think they may be more comfortable for them (re ponytails), so just gotta get one for me now.
go for it
well !!!!!!!!!! did you get it. if not there are a few more on there for bid
Yep got it. £31 inc the postage. I've ordered a Vertex Vent aswell, as I quite like the look of them.
[quote="WelshSossy" post=15025]Yep got it. £31 inc the postage. I've ordered a Vertex Vent aswell, as I quite like the look of them.[/quote]
bargain . well done
[quote="mike leahy" post=14996]
ye but your BIG tart ali
you brake into a sweat just thinking about it( whatever IT is) :P :P :P[/quote]
Anything to do with Big drops and Ropes? :evil: :whistle: :P