by Ozymandias » Jan 24, 2007 11:05 pm
A question from a new caver... What type of apparel alternatives exist to an official caving suit? As someone who's tall and thin (6'4" with a 33" waist), I would have to purchase a "custom made" suit, and I'm not sure my budget supports such an expense yet.
It's very difficult to find something at REI / EMS or Dick's / Sport's Authority that satisfies all the necessary criteria:
1. Rugged
2. Light-weight
3. Waterproof / Moisture Wicking
The default has been jeans, a synthetic athletic Tee, and a fleece hoodie. The jeans seem to hold up pretty well -- I feel insulated, not too wet, and don't get scratched up much. On the other hand, WET jeans weigh 30 pounds and don't dry very easily.
Last trip, my girlfriend bought some cheap nylon workout pants from Target. Waterproof, light-weight... until they ripped right down the back when going through the first squeeze. (Hilarious photos, but I've been threatened with my life to keep them private. :) ) Still, they had potential... maybe ones from REI would hold up?
Of course, a couple times ago... I ran into a college student wearing sandals and shorts (and pads). My first thought was "Spelunker...", but in retrospect -- it's lightweight, he knows he's going to get wet and muddy, why not? It's relatively warm in TAG, and if you need to, you always have that trash bag for a heat tent.
Any other thoughts? I'm kind of at a loss here.