Caving equipment checklist

[Dangerjudy]

I *always* forget something when I'm going caving. Usually if Martha Mills is there she has an extra of whatever I forget. :) But anyway do y'all have a caving gear checklist, and what is on it?

ME:

Helmet
Main light - Foxfury Performance Series OR Autolite Carbide lamp w. carbide accoutrements
Backup light - UK 4aa eLED
3rd light - one of those shake-up flashlights, two glow sticks.

Do-rag
Batteries
Caving Bibs
Kneepads
Caving Boots - check to see if are they still relatively intact.
Socks
Chiliheads pants to wear under the bibs
Elbow Pads
Sports Bra
Ol' T-Shirt

Towel for changing after trip.

Caving pack (SWAGO now - I'm super fancy!)
Energy bar
Drinking water

OK did I forget anything?


Sometimes I need a CAVE MAP
How about a trash bag in my helmet. It can be a life-saving device if there is an emergency.
Some kind of First Aid kit - I usually don't bring this. Should I? What should be in it?


What else?

[Dangerjudy]

LMAO - I'm forgetting my VERTICAL GEAR. Would suck to forget that if I'm going to a cave with verticality. Don't underestimate my ability to forget it, though!!!

[pebblepoint]

Did you forget anything? Depends on your age. I've had my AARP card for several years.

A few years ago, we had a grotto party at my house. Seems like most gravitated to my gear room at the end of the night where, on the wall, I had a checklist just like yours posted.
Next morning, I found that these items were added to my list during the party.

Preparation H
Depends
Fas-teeth
Metamucil
Geritol (ask your mother)
Support stockings
Orthopedic shoes
Extra hearing aid batteries
WD-40 (for the knees)
Truss
Toupee glue

So you see, age is important
don
little egypt grotto

[Wayne Harrison]

I always carry a couple of Imodium AD for me or anyone else who might need it. (Sometimes that spicy beef jerky can really do a number on you)

[Wayne Harrison]

Also, you might check out this well equipped caver from WyomingCaves.com:

http://www.wyomingcaves.com/gear.htm

[Ralph E. Powers]

Also, you might check out this well equipped caver from WyomingCaves.com:

http://www.wyomingcaves.com/gear.htm

That... is a bit much.

I used to carry around SO MUCH gear and have now learned from experience that much of it isn't necessary, even for the just in case. I used to have this big first aid kit and have now downsized to a small (cloth) zip-up bag that's full of the medicine cabinet stuff you find at various work places.
Extra batteries of course and a couple of mini-mags for back-up lights (my second source of light is already on my helmet alongside my main), and an improvised piece of vertical "self-rescue" gear for the in-case pick-off.
Some granola or energy bars and then my camel-back for water.

Experience has taught me over-loading isn't a good thing, experience taught me as well never to take anything for granted. Learned how to improvise and to bring what gear necessary for that particular cave. But most of all... keep it light.

[Squirrel Girl]

I once went on a cave trip while in Mexico. The guy (a rock climber) couldn't handle his pack, and we split up his gear to carry to help him out. He carried Athlete's Foot Cream IN HIS CAVE PACK. HE DIDN'T HAVE ATHLETE'S FOOT, HE JUST WANTED IT "IN CASE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Phil Winkler]

Back in my Huntsville caving days my extra lights were named JV and Bill. JV's were Phil and Bill, etc. We always tried to travel light. On longer trips the value of an item was inversely proportional to how long you had to carry it and how heavy it was.

Sort of like the gear we carried in Vietnam.

[George Dasher]

I carry a ditty sack with pliers, repair kit, candle, matches, and cord.

I used to carry a spare bulb for my Koehler, but I never used the thing--Koehler bulbs have two filiments and both never burn out on the same trip.

de Joly, of French caving fame (between the World Wars), used to carry a hand gun. Even more amazing, he actually got in a situation when he encountered a rabid dog in a crawlway, where he needed the thing.

[hewhocaves]

when considering what to bring into a cave, i think we should all take our lead from the best known cave-dweller of all time. I speak of non other than the Bat-Man.

here is what he carries, safely tucked away into his belt of utilities.

# Bat-antidote Powder (used to recover from any form of poison)
# Bat-cillin (also called Bat-acillin, available in lozenge form to prevent infection)
# Mobile Phone Bat-plugs (enable use of a portable Bat-phone)
# Bat-gas (also called Bat-sleep, used to put people to sleep)
# Bat-awake (counteracts effects of Bat-gas)
# Anti Bat-sonic device (deflects energy beams)
# Underwater Bat-sonar Device (can be attached to tracking devices to enable them to work underwater)
# Bat-homing Devices (can be rendered ineffective by some metal alloys)
# Emergency Bat-air Pumps (used for pumping up Batmobile tires)
# Bat-respirators (used for traveling underwater)
# Remote Batcomputer (allows access to the Bat-computer's databanks from any distance)
# Bat-detector (can be set to super laugh track sensitivity)
# Bat-plugs (go in nostrils, to prevent inhalation of poisonous fumes)
# Anti Short-circuiting Brain Bat-electrodes (also known as Anti Short-circuiting Bat-brain Electrodes)
# Mini-charge (puts out 5000 Volts)
# Remote Control Batcomputer Oscillator (activates Radio Frequency Bat-generator in Batcomputer, accepts Batman's voice commands)
# Bat-melter (for locks)
# Emergency Bat-communicator (fits on jacket lapel, or disguised as cufflinks)
# Anti Eavesdrop Bat-plug (placed on telephone mouthpiece)
# Remote Batmobile Control Phase Advancer (brings Batmobile to user's current position)
# Small Echoing Seal Pulsator (tracking device for seals)
# Super-thermalized Bat-skivvies (also known as bat-thermal underwear, protect against Mr. Freeze's freeze gun)
# Batrope (used in the Bat-climb)
# Anti Radioactive Bat-pill
# Bat X-ray deflector
# Special Exploding Batarang
# Bat-cuffs
# Bat-sound Amplifier
# Trusty Bat-deflector
# Bat-fan
# Small Batcave Improvement Loan
# Empty Alphabet Soup Bat-container
# Bat-negative Ion Attractor
# Instant Unfolding Bat-costumes complete with Utility Belts (add warm water)
# Shark Repellent Bat-spray
# Heel-and-toe Bat-rockets (experimental)
# Portable Ultra-violet Bat-ray (used to set off explosions)
# Bat-geiger Counter (detects radiation and indicates which direction it's in)
# Pipe of Fog Bat-reverser
# Anti Blast Bat-powder
# Insecticide Bat-bomb
# Bat-tweezers
# Bat-shield
# Miniature Bat-communicator
# Bat-ear Plugs (block out any sound over 14,000 decibels)
# Anti Thermal Bat T-shirts (provide protection from explosions)
# Anti Lethal Fog Bat-spray
# All Purpose Bat-swatter
# Reverse Thermal Bat-lozenge
# Batarang
# Ice Batarang
# Ice Batrope
# Bat-tools (for picking locks)
# Bat-synchronizer (moves lips of the Bat-dummy)
# General Emergency Bat-extinguisher (can remove fog from a room)
# Batmobile Bat-tracker Device (leads the user to current position of Batmobile)
# Bat-file (for escaping from handcuffs)
# African Death Bee Antidote Pill
# Bat-brush
# Laser Bar Cutter
# Bat-hooks
# Bat-chemical (makes metal 20 times heavier)
# Anti Alvino Ray Bat-disintegrator
# Steam Neutralizing Bat-pellets
# Three-Seconds-Flat Bat-vault Combination Unscrambler
# Anti-percussion Asbestos Bat-flax
# Bat-bomb Machine (defuses bombs)
# Bat-hook (attached to suction cup, allows things to be hung on wall)
# Bat-gauge (used to search for hidden doors)
# Laser-gun (can be used to melt things)
# Special Super Thermal B Long Underwear
# Universal Drug Antidote Pill
# Anti-freeze Capsule
# Anti-mesmerizing Bat-reflector (for deflecting Mad Hatter's Super Instant Mesmerizer)
# Bat-key (though likely highly illegal, can open any door in Gotham)
# Insulated Bat-clips (for cutting electrical wires safely)
# Bat-inverser (reverses the polarity of electric currents)
# Bat-pellet (explodes on contact, releasing cloud of white smoke)
# Bat-knife (excellent for cutting bonds)
# Emergency Tank of Bat-oxygen (comes in handy when running low on air)
# Anti-Penguin-gas Pills (counters the effects of Penguin’s knock-out gas)
# Bat-magnet (compact, powerful magnet which is useful for stealing guns from villains' hands)
# Transitorized Shortwave Bat-transmitter (used for sending signals to the Batcave)
# Infra-red Eye Goggles (allow the Dynamic Duo to see in the dark)
# Bat-radio (much like a walkie-talkie)
# Adhesive Bat-bombs (small explosive devices with an adhesive which will stick to any surface. They are on a delayed detonation.)
# Particle Bat-accelerator Units (creates a anti-charge which negates the effects of Mintrel's static bolts)
# Sad pill (used to counter the effects of Egghead's sleeping gas egg; however, the dosage was a little strong, resulting in a few moments of weeping by the Dynamic Duo.)
# Plastic explosives
# Bat-antifreeze activating solution (is rubbed on skin & costumes to prevent attacks from Mr. Freeze's gun)
# Bat-compass
# Bat-nesia gas (instantly puts a person to sleep and erases their memory)
# Counter-hypnosis Bat-pellets (protect the user from any kind of hypnosis or mesmerism)
# Wayne Manor housekey (in case they get locked out accidentally)
# Bravery tablets (counteracts the effects of fear gas)

truly, a well equipped cave dweller.
(source)
http://members.tripod.com/~AdamWest/equip.htm

John

[tangled_slinky]

here is what he carries, safely tucked away into his belt of utilities.

*really long list*

shark repellent.

[cave rat]

Since we are on the subject of gear, I'll let you all see my list:

Horizontal Gear-
1- Small Rubber Maid Action Packer Box
1- Petzl Ecron Rock Red Helmet
1- TAG Light with both types of chargers
1- Petzl Zoom
1- Petzl Mega
1- UK LED Light
1- Roll of Duck Tape
1- Ground Cloth for standing on during changing
1- Pair of Neopreme Socks
1- Full Body 50/50 B&C WonderWare Cave Suite
1- Full Body Wet Suit
1- On Rope 1 Cave Pack
1- Pair of long Bombers Knee Pads

Vertical Gear-
1- Small Rubber Maid Action Packer Box
1- On Rope 1 Rope Walker w/ Duoble Pulleys on the Bungie
1- SMC Tub Bar Rack
1- SMC U-Bar Rack
1- 4 Bar Micro Rack
1- Blue Water Rack
1- Petzl Blue Handle Ascender w/ On Rope 1 Adjustable Laynard
1- On Rope 1 Endurance Harness
1- PMI Pit Viper Harness
1- On Rope 1 Complete Frog System
1- Caving Pulley
3- pairs of Gloves
1- PMI Rap Around Rope Pad
2- Flat Rope Pads
2- Pairs of Goggles
1- Emergancy Whistle
1- 160' PMI Pit Rope
1- 300' HighLine Rope
1- 45' 8MM Rope
1- 15' Peice of 1" Tub Webbing
1- 9MM Cows Tail- Hand Made
Assortment of Benners


3- Pairs of Shoes
1- On Rope Duffle Bag
1- Pair of PolyPro Pants
1- PolyPro Shirt
2- Pairs of Swim Trunks

[Doug McCarty]

I also carry Imodium AD--and Tums. There is nothing worse than being three hours into a cave and getting heartburn. And, after a college student died of a heart attack several years ago in Bowden Cave in WV, I started carrying five baby aspirins. Although I don't think I have heart disease, I'm an ex-smoker and it seems like a reasonable precaution without adding weight.

[Wayne Harrison]

after a college student died of a heart attack several years ago in Bowden Cave in WV, I started carrying five baby aspirins. Although I don't think I have heart disease, I'm an ex-smoker and it seems like a reasonable precaution without adding weight.

At a cave rescue course I attended it was suggested carrying small amounts of aspirin, tylenol and ibupropen for various emergencies (one pain reliever DOES NOT fit all cases of pain) and the aspirin can be used as you suggested. You can either put a few tablets of each in a small first-aid kit or check for individually wrapped pills such as you'd find in your workplace first-aid cabinet.

[George Dasher]

Jim Eyres, the famous British caver, once said the best thing is just to cave with an American caver with a REALLY big pack.

After reading these posts, I'm leaning in that direction myself.