im a newbie...

[machine23]

kinda.

ive grown a certain love for seeing underground marvels. im 19 going on 20 and ive gotten into caving. what are the ideal things to have when caving? i have a decent tactical flashlight (smith&wesson galaxy 9). i have an ok dorcy headlamp, a small camelback to haul my freshwater in, gloves, and some puma climbing shoes. i want more, better stuff. where should i go? ive noticed REI has a lot of good stuff. anywhere else?

[VACaver]

Ditch the climbing shoes and get a pair of boots with lug soles.

Camelbak's are great...for hiking. A bit too bulky for caving, plus the hose will snag and probably get gummed up with mud. Get a small pack to carry a waterbottle and other gear in.

Helmet...don't leave home without it.

Get in touch with a grotto in your area...they'll help point you in the right direction.

[ek]

http://caves.org/safety/equipment.shtml

There's also a discussion of what people put in their packs here.

[Wayne Harrison]

Two good caving suppliers:

http://www.karstsports.com

http://www.innermountainoutfitters.net/

[Squirrel Girl]

Get in touch with a grotto in your area...they'll help point you in the right direction.

And this would be a place to find a local group:
http://www.nssio.org/Find_Grotto.cfm