What to Wear Caving: A Beginner's Kit Guide

Our caving courses are popular all year, and why not? It's a steady 8–12°C underground, it (almost) never rains, and the Peak District has a wonderful variety of caves and mines with endless possibilities.

For a day's instructed caving you don't need any specialist kit. We provide all the protective and safety equipment you need for a fun, safe trip underground: oversuit, helmet, lighting and knee protection, plus harnesses, ropes and hardware for vertical trips. Your guide carries emergency equipment and a first aid kit.

But what to wear underneath and what to bring can be as mysterious as the hole you're about to explore. Here are some ideas. You don't need to buy all of this; just see if you have something similar.

On your feet

Your feet are the parts most likely to get wet.

• Wellies: we can provide wellies in most common sizes, but you may find your own pair more comfortable.
• Socks: bring a couple of pairs of thick, warm socks per day. Better still, neoprene wetsuit socks keep you warm whatever happens and dry quickly between trips.

Under your oversuit

No specialist clothing is needed, but follow these simple rules:

• No natural fibres. Wool and cotton soak up heat-sapping moisture and make you cold when wet. Synthetics (polyester, fleece and so on) keep you warm when wet and dry quickly.
• Don't over- or under-dress. You'll have a thick oversuit on top and you'll be stooping, crawling and climbing, so you'll generate heat. We carry spare warm clothing just in case.

Three suggested combinations:

1. Underwear, a base layer (an old polyester football shirt works fine), a fleece top and fleece or polyester bottoms.
2. Underwear, a base layer and a fleece or polyester onesie.
3. Underwear and a specialist caving undersuit (only worth buying if you plan to keep caving).

Your hands

We can provide gloves, but we recommend bringing a couple of pairs of cheap work gloves from a builders' merchant. Neoprene gloves, if you have them, are warm, comfortable and dry quickly between trips.

Your head

You'll wear a helmet at all times underground, so anything on your head must fit underneath it. Buffs are excellent: one for your head and one for your neck. A thin fleece balaclava also works well.

Carrying your kit

A plastic garden trug or a large plastic bag (an Ikea bag is ideal) is perfect: waterproof, roomy and you can stand in it to change.

Food and drink

Great caving days start with a hearty breakfast, so don't skip it. Underground, compact high-energy snacks such as flapjacks, biscuits and chocolate bars are ideal and can be eaten on the go. For longer trips, a plastic water bottle (1 litre max) is handy, and a flask of something hot is heavenly back on the surface. You'll probably have lunch on the surface between trips, so bring hand sanitiser or wipes.

Anything else?

• Photos: the cave environment is harsh on cameras and phones, but you'll see some beautiful things. Compact cameras and phones should be in waterproof, protective cases. We're happy to share any photos we take.
• Lighting: we provide a bright, robust caving head torch, but you're welcome to bring your own if it's lightweight, water-resistant and tough.
• Towel: we can't promise you'll get wet, but if you do, a small towel waiting on the surface is great.

Ready to go underground? Take a look at our caving courses.