How to Dress for Caving

When one gets invited caving, one of the first things we all think of is "What in the wolrd will I wear?"

Rest assured, with a few words of advice, you will have the perfect ensemble pulled together in no time.

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose under garments carefully. Everything you wear caving will retain the permanent imprint of the cave forever. Set aside anything you do not want stained mud brown and go for more dispensible undies -- or none at all.

      Then again, in all likelihood, you will be changing back into your street clothes by the side of a road, so wearing underwear is probably a good idea.

    • 2

      Choose high knee socks -- the higher the better. Those that afford some knee-padding are a real plus on those 100-yard belly crawls through mail-slot passages.

    • 3

      Select a pile undersuit if your plans include a wet cave and you do not have a wet suit. No pile undersuit in your closet? Fleece top and bottoms are a good second option, or any non-cotton long underwear.

    • 4

      Throw on one of those bright plastic oversuits you see freeway workers wearing in rainy season. Accessorize with a canvas utility belt, embellished with your headlamp battery pack, and you are stylin'.

    • 5

      Wear Wellies. Always wondered if those wellies would ever make it out of the garden? Here is their chance to shine! Wellies are surprisingly grippy on wet rocks (and walls) in streamway caves even though, well, er, they do tend to fill with gallons of water you then have to lug around with you.

    • 6

      Top it all off with a helmet and you are sure to be the belle of the ball.