Cavechat.org

What caving packs would you suggest for expedition type trips underground? I need something large enough to carry a wetsuit, vertical and rigging gear, sleeping bag/mat and all the regular caving gear normally carried. I haven't really figured out what packs would be suitable. I've looked at a lot of packs, but I'm still not sure what would work well.

I use a Yates big wall haul bag. Metolius and Black Diamond also has them. GGG make cave specific expedition bags.

Tim White wrote:I use a Yates big wall haul bag. Metolius and Black Diamond also has them. GGG make cave specific expedition bags.

Ditto the wall bag idea. I use an A5 version. Holds a sleeping bag etc. Shoulder straps but not too many loops to catch. Built to be dragged over rocks all day.

Also Petzl and Meander make some cave-specific big bags with shoulder straps and haul handles as well. I think that Inner Mountain Outfitters carries both, as well as the big Gonzo Guano Gear (GGG) packs.

Sometimes we haul gear in flexible drainage pipe. We call them worms. Just stuff your things in drybags and then stuff it in the pipe. You could drag one of those through hell and back. And the best part is, it's a LOT cheaper than any of those nylon packs. Here's the stuff I'm talking about

FiddleCaver wrote:Sometimes we haul gear in flexible drainage pipe. We call them worms. Just stuff your things in drybags and then stuff it in the pipe. You could drag one of those through hell and back. And the best part is, it's a LOT cheaper than any of those nylon packs. Here's the stuff I'm talking about

Hey, that's a pretty cool idea, Fiddle. Do you use 6" pipe? How long is the typical "worm"?

Usually 6" or 8" pipe. Any bigger and it becomes hard to get it through the squeezes. We made one for carrying some reflective flash umbrellas a while back, something like 4' long. It worked great. And you'd be really surprised at how comfortable they are to carry on your back with a sling over one shoulder.

FiddleCaver wrote:Sometimes we haul gear in flexible drainage pipe. We call them worms. Just stuff your things in drybags and then stuff it in the pipe. You could drag one of those through hell and back. And the best part is, it's a LOT cheaper than any of those nylon packs. Here's the stuff I'm talking about

Wow a modern day light weight plastic " Gurnee Can " That is an easy solution...Home Depot here I come

I have a Metolius bag nice for hauling lots of gear http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/produ ... 373/N/1025
but the "Vampire" pack by http://www.howiesharnesses.com or http://tinyurl.com/yumfp9 is about all I use and can fit camp gear....sleeping bag...pad...food...vertical gear etc.

Send me an email mark@cavediggers.com and I will tell you specifics on how to order it from Howie....the material is bombproof.

Mark Passerby, Cavediggers.com

FiddleCaver wrote:Sometimes we haul gear in flexible drainage pipe. We call them worms. Just stuff your things in drybags and then stuff it in the pipe. You could drag one of those through hell and back. And the best part is, it's a LOT cheaper than any of those nylon packs. Here's the stuff I'm talking about

That would be great for hauling tanks. There would be enough room to slide the tanks in with the closed cell foam around them.

Do you plug the bottom end somehow or just rely on the friction to keep your drybags in there?