The purpose of this page is to suggest how you can get started with acquiring caving equipment.
What you might need, where you can get it, and an indicative price (to the nearest $5 or $10) is given.
Please update it as you purchase gear.
Clothing
| prices @ ~2005 unless specified
|
| Overalls
| New
| polycotton, from Protector Safety, NZ Safety, farm suppliers, or similar
| $50 +
|
|
| Used
| polycotton, from Apparel Master, 14 Petone Avenue (down an alley), Petone
| $20 + depending on condition
|
|
| PVC
| from Protector Safety, Marine shops, etc
| $200 +
|
|
| Cordura
| Aspiring Enterprises details
| $200
|
| Footwear
|
Traditional caving footwear is white rubber gumboots.
Also other slip on gumboots, lace up gumboots (Ashleys).
Boots, sneakers, etc.
Considerations are the protection of your feet,
keeping the dirt and gravel out of the boots,
and ease of getting them on and off.
Boots must not have hooks if you're going to be using a ladder.
Waterproofness is not a consideration.
| $30 (Warehouse) to
$120 + (Ashleys or tramping boots)
|
| Gloves
|
Heavy duty long wristed rubber gloves.
These are resistant to carbide flames.
Also have seen kitchen gloves (not recommended), gardening gloves, polypro gloves (not recommended).
| $10 NZ Safety to
$25 Hardware Store
|
| Knee pads
|
Neoprene with two velcro straps, above and below knee.
Worn under overalls to stop mud clogging velcro.
Also have seen roller blade knee pads (bulky and rigid) (not recommended),
other kneepads (more expensive, poor fastening, or loop fastening).
| $35 (Placemakers, 2008)
|
Equipment
|
| Helmet
| Petzel
| $150
|
| Light
| Electric
|
LED headlamps are recommended, as battery life is excellent, and spare bulbs are not required.
These are attached to caving helmets, or elasticised for tramping or climbing use.
Any headlamp can be taped, cable tied (recommended), or otherwise attached to a helmet.
Always bring spare bulbs.
| Zoom $90
Duo $150
|
|
| Carbide
| Needs helmet mounting.
See Petzel Caving Helmet.
Also needs generator.
|
|
| Batteries
| Alkaline or better. Digitor Alkaline at Dick Smiths - recommended
| $25 for 40 (2008)
|
| Generator
| Generator - Petzel Ariane.
|
|
Accessories
The following are useful accessories.
|
| Cave packs
|
Small, Aspiring Enterprises
| $65 (2007)
|
|
| Standard, Aspiring Enterprises
| $110 (2008)
|
| Clothing
|
Polypropylene recommended.
Macpac do a great range of underwear and crop tops.
Everwarm and others do fine balaclavas, singlets, long johns, and skivvys.
Considerations are warmth when wet, no absorption of water, and ease of drying.
|
|
| Wet suits
|
Only needed for long wet trips.
If going to Waitomo contact Black Water Rafting in advance,
and they may be able to sell you used suits suitable only for caving.
| $10
|
Miscellaneous
|
| Waste Carbide bag
| Aspiring Enterprises, or plastic bag, old car inner tube, etc
| $4
|
| Generator bag
| Aspiring Enterprises, or use old foot stockings or pantyhose
| $4
|
| Generator strap
| Aspiring Enterprises
| $13
|
| Dry bags/sacks
| 20 litres
35 litres
| $25
$30
|
| Rapide wide mouth stainless steel
| 3mm
6mm
| $10
$20
|
