Here is a guide on the essential kit for every Caver.
If you're looking to put together your own SRT kit, here is a handy guide on what you'll need.
The Petzl Rocpec Drill is a hand drill designed for aid climbers and cavers. The drill accepts SDS drill bits and can drill holes of varying depths and diameters for all types of anchors. The lightweight drill is easy to set-up and dismantle and doesn't need additional tools.
As the name implies, the Petzl Simple is an easy-to-use caving descender. It can be used with 8.5 to 11 mm diameter low stretch kern-mantle ropes. Reduced bulk and low weight simplify progression in narrow passages. The pulleys can be rotated or replaced to prolong the duration of use over time.
The Petzl Superavanti caving harness delivers on low-weight and durability. The leg loops are reinforced with TPU for abrasion resistance, whilst the gear loops and attachment points have been made with HMPE for long-lasting durability. The attachment points are positioned low, allowing you to ascend the rope more easily and efficiently. Four gear loops allow you to carry all the gear necessary to progress, and the adjustment buckles are positioned inside the leg loops, limiting the risk of snagging in narrow passages.
The Petzl Tam Tam is a practical hammer for speleology to place anchors. The handle is equipped with a 13 mm wrench for 8 mm nuts. Thanks to the practical wrist strap, it always lies securely in your hand.
The Petzl Torse clips securely onto the back of your sit harness and loops up over your shoulders and holds the Croll in position. It offers a little more back support than "bra style" chest harnesses. It is easily adjustable before a pitch or to fit different sizes of caver.
The Petzl Vrillee Twist Hanger is a simple hanger for 8mm bolts with a twist so that it holds a karabiner parallel to the rock. This can be an advantage in places where the rope is likely to be re-ascended rather than pulled through, although it can cause the rope to rub on the rock in certain placements.
The Raumer Handy allows the user to vary the descent simply by moving the rope into the narrow section of the karabiner, eliminating almost all downwards force. It is equipped with a stainless steel twisted ring which can be clipped into the semi-circular maillon on a harness, this ring makes this karabiner suitable for all speeds of descent on any type of rope.
The newest iteration of the Raumer Minox hanger is lighter, and has a larger hole for accommodating carabiners and attachments, all while maintaining the previous breaking strength. The polished finish allows for easy removal of mud and dirt (specific for caving), differentiating itself from matt grey hangers needed to mitigate visual pollution in outdoor areas.
The Raumer Super Tanka is very strong and allows rapid opening and closing of canyoning and caving sacks. Created in aluminium alloy, it can block two cords up to 6mm diameter simultaneously. It is resistant to cold temperatures and always guarantees that the sack is closed properly (and stays closed), which sometimes is not always ensured with a knot. Very convenient – once you’ve tried it there’s no going back!
The Raumer Tap features a sophisticated design that guarantees perfect anchorage to the rock. It has very strong and tough teeth, so it is not necessary to use another Tap to complete the hole. These self-drilling anchors are used with the Stroker to manually drill a hole. Made with galvanized steel.
The Scurion 2 Cell Battery Pack is a great solution where you can compromise weight and performance. This 2 cell battery is half the weight, but it only offers half the burn time. However it is great for short caving trips where you wants basic levels of light. In the event that you are using the Speleo 1500, this will not provide enough power to run it on full power.
The Scurion extension cable is designed to work with the Scurion Basic Headlamp. This cable features a plastic plug system that will easily fit into the cable of the current basic set up. It will lengthen the cable by about 1.1m.
The Up and Under Waterproof Battery Case holds 2 x 18650 or 4 x CR123 sized batteries or combinations of the two.
The Warmbac 100m Rope Bag is suitable for 100m caving ropes or less with some caving kit. There are also a few other sizes of rope bag, so what ever length your caving rope is there will be a rope bag to fit it.
The Warmbac 120m Rope Bag come in a range of sizes to meet the needs of every caver. They are designed from the outset with quality in mind and under go rigorous testing in the field before production. Whether you are looking for a small personal bag or a rope bag large enough for the deepest Alpine cave Warmbac has a tackle bag for you.
The Warmbac 200m Rope Bag is suitable for 200m caving ropes or less with some caving kit. There are also a few other sizes of rope bag, so what ever length your caving rope is there will be a rope bag to fit it.