An Introduction to Caving for the Novice Caver

MIT Caving Club ~ Revision 4.0: March 11, 1999

	Take nothing but pictures
	Leave nothing but footprints
	Kill nothing but time

Basic Caving Equipment Checklist

Caving will do awful things to your equipment. Everything usually gets covered with mud to some degree. You and your equipment will get wet, bashed about, scratched, torn, dropped, and other such pleasant things. And, oh yes, this is all on a normal trip where everything goes well. Tough trips are REALLY brutal. Plan your equipment accordingly. It should be tough and well made. It should contain nothing which is near and dear to you.

The following checklist is appropriate for a first time caver going to a "Beginner's Cave."

Lighting

• A helmet mounted headlight of some kind, either carbide or battery powered.

• Two heavily constructed, water-proof flashlights.

• Alkaline or lithium batteries and spares for each flashlight, and your headlight, if electric (otherwise, spare carbide and a ziploc for spent carbide).

• An extra bulb for each light (a repair kit with tip reamer if using carbide).

• Short pieces of nylon cord for flashlight wrist loops.

• A thick candle and waterproof matches or cyalume light stick.

For Your Head

• A knitted pull-over type hat.

• A hardhat.

• Something to tie up your hair if it's long.

Clothing

• Multiple thin layers of clothing are best. If you have a wool shirt, sweater, and/or longjohns, wear them. Polypropylene longjohns are best. Wool isn't generally good as an outer layer, but you can cover it with something else. Remember, it is better to wear too much than too little. Down clothing and cotton are useless in a cave. As soon as they get wet, they lose their insulating ability. Wool still insulates some even when wet.

• Two pairs of pants, worn one over the other. Coveralls are great as an outer layer.

• Cheap gloves. The heavy duty dishwashing gloves work well.

• Have a complete change of dry clothes appropriate for the surface weather. Pack them in a large garbage bag or two to keep them dry. The bag is also to carry your "muddies" on your way home. These dry clothes are essential for coming out of a cave in the winter. They can be left in the car, if nearby, or just inside the cave.

Footwear

• Sneakers are marginally acceptable. Hiking, climbing, or combat boots are much better.
• Heavy socks. Wool is best.

Miscellaneous

• A plastic garbage bag neatly rolled up.

• A lock-blade knife.

• A liter or more of water in a tough container.

• Food. Raisins, peanut M & M's, or other such easily consumed, physically tough foods are OK. A tuna salad sandwich on soft bread will come out as tuna salad mush. You have been warned!

• A small pack to carry your junk. A strong cloth laundry bag will do. In practice, you can put stuff in your pockets, but you will regret doing so in a pinch.

Optional Equipment

• Camera equipment. This is a "strictly at your own risk" option. Cameras are best carried in steel ammo boxes heavily padded with foam rubber. Good luck. Disposable cameras with a flash work pretty well. Pack them inside a ziploc.

• Knee pads are especially nice for crawling caves.

Remember that everything you take into a cave you must also take back out. You cannot leave ANY junk in the cave.

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