Salt Lake Grotto Cave Equipment List

The page is a subpage of the Salt Lake Grotto website. If you are seeing this page alone and not as part of the main web site, please go to the Salt Lake Grotto website and click on the Equipment List link. A list of vendors that supply the following gear can be seen here.

Horizontal Caving Equipment

The following gear is recommended for horizontal caves:

UIAA Approved Helmet. The Petzl Ecrin Roc (A01) is the defacto standard. The Petzl Elios (A42) is an excellent choice for kids.
Headlamp - The Petzl Duo LED family of lights is an excellent choice for a main headlamp.
Two Alternate Light Sources
Spare Batteries
Coveralls. Cheap cotton coveralls will work for many things but eventually you will want to get quality caving coveralls. The Petzl Sud Oversuit (K40), Lost Creek Coveralls, coveralls by B & C Wunderwear, and coveralls by Daleswear are all excellent choices.
Kneepads
Gloves
Quality Boots
Water
Small Caving Pack

The following notes apply to the above equipment list.

Three independent light sources are the minimum safe standard. Extra batteries do not count as a light source. Dual bulbs in a light do not count as two independent light sources.
Gloves are required even if you don't mind getting your hands dirty. Caving without gloves is a conservation problem due to the oil that is deposited in the cave from your hands.
Even though cotton coveralls are fine for starters, consider getting quality caving coveralls as soon as possible. Caving coveralls will last longer, perform better, and will not generate lint.

Vertical Caving Equipment

There are many different configurations that can constitute a safe and effective vertical system. Several alternatives for building what is known as a frog system are presented here.

Frog system gear list:

All horizontal caving gear listed above
Petzl Fractio Harness (C16)
Maillon Rapide 10mm Semi Circle
Petzl Spelegyca (C44) - or make your own
Petzl Handled Ascender (B17)
Petzl Croll Ascender (B16)
Petzl Foottape (C47) - or make your own
Petzl Serpentine Chest Harness (C30)
Petzl Pantin Ascender (B02) (optional but recommended)
BMS Micro Rappel Rack Short Frame OR SRTE Stop Descender (D1a) OR Petzl Simple Descender (D04)
One locking carabiner to attach the descender to the main Maillon Rapide
Two locking carabiners for each end of the Petzl Spelegyca

The following notes apply to the vertical equipment list:

You should be fully trained by an experienced caver before using any of the above equipment. Failure to do so could result in injury or death!
It is advisable to train with an experienced caver before buying any of the above equipment. This will allow you to make more informed buying decisions.
ATC type devices and figure eights are not acceptable caving descenders.
The Petzl Fractio Harness REQUIRES a Maillon Rapide 10mm Semi-Circle; a carabiner cannot be used.
It is important to not attach bobbin type descenders directly to the harness maillon. The bobbin must be attached to the maillon with a locking carabiner. There is a safety notice on this subject from Petzl.