Get Dirty
Caves are very dirty places. Be prepared to get covered in dirt and mud. Your gear will get dirty, scratched, soaked, torn, and destroyed.
Caving/Splunking is about exploration. Going places others seldom visit. Proper gear preparation is essential to stay alive, nourished, warm, and comfotable. Whether you are a beginner on a tight budget or an experienced caver there are options for you.
This list provides a comprehensive selection of gear you will likely use over a lifetime caving. The specific items for each cave will vary based on the cave, climate, weather, route, and personal preference.
Protective Wear
▢ Hard Shell Helmet
▢ Knee Pads
▢ Elbow Pads
Flashlight
▢ Headlamp
▢ Emergency Flashlight
Food and Water
▢ Water Bottle
▢ Gas Stove
▢ Metal Pot
Gloves
▢ Leather Gloves
▢ Rubber Gloves
Footwear
▢ Shoes
▢ Rubber Boots
▢ Socks
▢ Neoprene Socks
Clothing
▢ Shirt
▢ Pants
▢ Jacket
▢ Suit
Backpack
▢ Tactical Backpack
▢ Caving Backpack
Climbing
▢ Harness
▢ Chest Harnes
▢ Ascender
▢ Descender
▢ Rope
▢ Webbing
▢ Footloop
▢ Locking Carabiner
▢ Rappelling Device
▢ Cow's Tail
▢ Parachord
Other Gear
▢ Knife
▢ First-Aid
▢ Battery Pack
Your strength, knowledge, experience, and wisdom are the most essential gear you can bring to the cave. You are invaluable.
The best way to get into caving is to know a caver. Join the local grotto. Cave locations are often secret and the caving community are cautious gatekeepers.
Caves are very dirty places. Be prepared to get covered in dirt and mud. Your gear will get dirty, scratched, soaked, torn, and destroyed.
Caving isn't a run but a walk. Not a race but a journey. Know your limits. Have common sense. Take time to think through your decisions.
The human head is delicate and vulnerable. Protecting it is crucial to ensure safety during high-risk activities like caving.
Suspension vs Foam Helmet
• Suspension usually preferred for caving
• Ultimately a personal preference
• Suspension: More durable, heavy, and traditional
• Foam: Less durable, lighter, and common
Helmet Ratings
• A helmet with a EN 12492 rating preferred
• EN 12492: Rated for rock impacts and falls
• EN 397: Rated for impact and penetration resistance (not for rock impacts or falls)
Knee and Elbow Pads
• Ultimately a personal preference
• Cavers often have issues with velcro straps failing when muddy, and trouble staying in place
• Better to buy cheaper options that can be regularly replaced
Suspension Style
ABS Shell
EN 12492 Rating
1.08 lb | 0.49 kg
Foam Style
ABS Shell
EN 12492 Rating
0.73 lb | 0.33 kg
Suspension Style
HDPE Shell
EN 397 Rating
1.02 lb | 0.46 kg
Softshell
Velcro
Softshell
Pull On
Softshell
Velcro
Softshell
Pull On
Dependable flashlights are life-or-death in a cave. A quality and durable headlamp with multiple redundancies is the only way to approach light when caving.
3 Flashlight Setup
• 2 headlamps and 1 emergency backup
• Carry extra batteries for all flashlights
• Headlamps should be waterproof (rated IPX7, IPX8, or IPX9)
Flood vs Floody Headlamp
• Flood: Wide beam for illuminating larger areas.
• Floody: A flood with a soft beam for close-up tasks, minimizing shadows and hotspots in tight cave spaces.
• Experienced cavers usually use floodys most of the time
0.08-1568 Lumens
IPX8 Waterproof
4.4 oz | 125 g
1-4000 Lumens
IPX8 Waterproof
4.5 oz | 128 g
1-110 Lumens
IPX8 Waterproof
2.12 oz | 60 g
IPX7 Waterproof
332 Lumen Output
4.15 oz | 118 g
1PX4 Water Resistant
140 Lumen Output
4.51 oz | 128 g
Water Resistant
180 Lumens
0.7 oz | 20 g
Proper food, water planning, and an emergency supply are crucial to staying warm, motivated, and safe during your cave journey.
Food Options
• Choose calorie-dense, protein-rich, and carbohydrate-heavy foods that require minimal preparation.
• Good options include peanut butter, tortillas, tuna and chicken packets, nuts, protein powder, crackers, cheese, trail mix, oatmeal, dehydrated pasta, sandwiches, ramen, protein bars, dried fruit, hot cocoa, instant mashed potatoes, and Snickers.
Titanium vs. Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum
• Titanium: Lightest and strongest option, but poor heat transfer.
• Stainless Steel: Heavy yet strong, excellent heat transfer.
• Aluminum: Lightweight but less strong, moderate heat transfer.
Carry Extra Food
• Bring extra food in case of emergencies
Plastic
32oz Capacity
6.25 oz | 177 g
Plastic
17oz Capacity
0.3 oz | 9 g
2.9 oz | 82 g
8 oz | 227 g
Stainless Steel
12 oz | 340 g
Titanium
3.6 oz | 102 g
Proper gloves are essential for caving, protecting your hands from cuts and scrapes while keeping them warm and dry.
Leather Gloves
• Required for rappelling and rope-work
• Best for dry caves
• Leather will become very cold and uncomfortable when wet
Nitrile Coated Work Gloves
• Very cheap, lightweight, and waterproof
• Preferred by experienced cavers
• Best for wet caves due to high functionality in water and mud
• Easy to carry an extra pair
Goat Leather
Synthetic Leather
Insulated
Nitrile Dipped
Nitrile Dipped
Improper footwear in a cave can lead to trenchfoot, infections, and hypothemia. At least cold and uncomfortable. Be prepared with the right gear.
Hiking Boots
• Best in dry caves
• High-cut preferred to avoid rolled ankles and scratches
Rubber Boots (Wellies)
• Most common and practical caving boot
• Best for muddy caves and walking through low water (high need waders/suits)
Socks
• Don't wear cotton socks (they absorb moisture and are cold when wet)
• Wool and synthetic material is best
• Neoprene socks are waterproof (best when combined with a wool interior liner)
Leather
Waterproof
2.29 lb | 1.04 kg
Leather and Mesh
Breathable
2.56 lb | 1.16 kg
PVC
2.2 lb | 1.00 kg
Neoprene/Rubber
3.88 lb | 1.76 kg
Merino Wool
3.4 oz | 96 g
Polyester/Wool/Spandex
4.4 oz | 125 g
Waterproof
Marino Wool Lining
7.68 oz | 218 g
Waterproof
3.53 oz | 100 g
Caves are often cold, wet, and dirty. Proper clothing will keep you dry, warm, and comfortable.
Preferred Materials
• Non-cotton, quick-drying material is best
• Quick-dry material is stretchy and not as durable so will need to be replaced quicker
Jeans
• Great for completely DRY caves because they are durable and tough
• When wet are extremely heavy, cold, will not dry, and will cause chaffing
Wool
• The warmest material that retains heat even when wet
• Can be expensive
• Marino wool is preferred
Cotton
• Best for completely DRY caves due to durability
• When wet is cold and doesn't dry fast
Marino Wool
9.74 oz | 276 g
Polyester/Acrylic/Rayon
6.5 oz / 184 g
Marino Wool
8.04 oz | 228 g
Polyester/Acrylic/Rayon
5.3 oz | 150 g
Nylon/Polyester
8.6 oz | 244 g
Polyester
6.7 oz | 190 g
Polyester
14.9 oz | 422 g
Nylon/Spandex
13 oz | 369 g
Polyester
1.5 lbs | 0.7 kg
Polyester
1.3 lbs | 0.6 kg
Waterproof
Reinforced Knees
Waterproof
Reinforced Elbows/Knees
Caving backpacks keep essential gear collected, dry, and protected. Quality backpacks will be your trusted companion through rough caves.
Prepare for Bags to be Destoroyed
• No such thing as a life-long caving backpack
• Gear will tear, rip, and fail over time
• Many cavers purchase budget backpacks that are regularly replaced
Drybag Inside Regular Backpack Method
• Use a regular backpack with multiple small dry bags inside
• Diversify leak risk: A single leak in the one bag can destroy all gear
Extra Protect Essential Gear
• Put flashlights and batteries in a separate ZipLoc bag
36 Liters
4.41 lb | 2.00 kg
12-20 Liters
1.26-1.50 lb | 0.57-0.68 kg
5-40 Liters
0.53-1.64 lb | 0.24-0.74 kg
Vericle caving is a next-level envedour that requires additional skill and expertise. Proper climbing gear will help you reach caves others cower from.
Ascending and Descending
• Most vertical caving gear is only to descend into a cave and ascend out
• If you need to rock climb you'll need anchoring gear (uncommon)
There's More Than One Way to Skin a Cat
• There are several different methods for ascending and descending a cave
• Groups have different preferences based on the cave, weather, and personal preference
Learn From An Experienced Caver
• Don't attempt to learn by yourself
• Learn from an experienced caver how to utilize gear
22.75 oz | 645 g
6.53 oz | 185 g
5.8 oz | 165 g
12.35 oz | 350 g
11mm Diameter
30-366m Length
Full Rope
5.68-75.3 lb | 2.58-34.17 kg
14.1 oz | 399 g
2.29 oz | 65 g
2.5 oz | 70 g
100-ft Parachord
8.8 oz | 250 g
1.8 oz | 50 g
1.4 oz | 40 g
11mm Diameter
4.5m Length
Full Rope
13.05 oz | 370 g
3.28 oz | 93 g
3.5 oz | 99 g
8 oz | 227 g
10,000mAh
0.54 lb | 0.24 kg
10-Year Battery
100m Water Resistance
1.5 oz | 43 g
8.32 oz | 230 g
1.5 oz | 43 g
3 oz | 85 g