like a second skin...

In my quest for warm layers for our wet caving adventures, I spoke to many folks who suggested I check into wetsuit and scuba gear. The way it works, so I've been told, is the horrifically freezing cold water gets into the suit...and then warms up and stays warm thanks to good old-fashioned body heat turning it all into an insulating layer.

I set out to my trusty toy store to see what they had available, and as luck would have it they were running a sale. Most of the stuff in my size was full price (boo), save for a lone pair of NRS Hydroskin Capris. I tend toward the shorter end of the spectrum—rather, I sit pretty firmly entrenched at the bottom of it with my staggering 63" of might—so capris suited me just fine.

They've turned out to be pretty perfect for caving AND kayaking, and something akin to "yoga pants for Other activities." The NRS specs say they've got a .5mm neoprene core with a 4-way stretch PowerSpan™ outer layer and some other fancy stuff (coating, lining, the works to ensure you have a quality pair of stretchy pants).

That puts them at just the right thickness to layer under other clothing so I don't ruin them in a cave when I drag my rear end across a breakdown pile, as well as perfect for layering under my shortie or just wearing over my bathing suit on a sunny day.

I LOVE THESE PANTS. They are comfortable, they are stretchy so I don't lose any range of motion, and they are pretty cute for neoprene pants—probably because they are capris. If you can nab them on sale, even better. I bet they'll last me for quite awhile, too. They really *are* like a second skin :-)

Another well-done product from NRS.

Grade: A+++++

cold gear...i'll never leave home without it

Anyone who's been caving with me knows that I have a very difficult time staying warm when I'm not actively moving around. I'm the kinda girl that wears Cap3 on a cool summer evening. This cold is not limited to caving, mind you, as I've frozen my butt off in my fair share of grocery stores, movie theatres, restaurants, and countless other exotic locales. My awesome superpower best shows itself underground and in water, though.

After one particularly frigid trip last year to Limrock Blowing Cave, managed by our friends over at SCCi, wherein particularly hilarious video footage was shot of me dancing to get warm (cue up Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me" in your preferred music player; they've disabled sound)...I resolved to get a better handle on the situation.

I bought any number of base layers to test them in the miserable conditions that caves present: a steady temperature of 56F with even colder water that you often get to swim and crawl through (goodie!) and zero sun to add warmth (because, you know, there's no sun in caves). The key is to be fully flexible, not overheated when I'm moving around, and warm when I'm stationary or swimming. This is harder to achieve than one might initially think. But, yesterday, one particular set of layers fit the bill and proved to be way more valuable than gold.

We ventured out to Steward Springs Cave, and spent most of the time partially immersed in water, or so it seemed. I started with one set of base layers, and about halfway through finally decided I'd had enough chattering of my teeth and tough-gal efforts so I switched to my magic layers: Coldgear Compression (under my wet clothes).

I immediately felt the difference. I don't know what took me so long, honestly. I never overheated, and I was not cold for the rest of the cave.

They can be pricey for a budget shopper, but I swear it's some of the best money I've spent on gear. Coldgear is a flexible base layer with some kind of magic membrane that keeps you warm but not too warm. I know there are some cheap knockoffs at places like Cabelas that you might check out (my fiancé swears by them) if you don't want to spring for the $50. They claim the wicking will keep you dry, but obviously that's fairly null and void when you're swimming.

Seriously though, I'm in lurv.

who's your daddy??

Denise and I are very much alike in our cheapitude...which is to say, I'd rather buy something at a thrift store or dig it out of my poppins-esque closets and make it work than go nuts spending money on gear when I could be spending that money on food, plane tickets, and my house. For quite some time, I went for the $4 Wallyworld volleyball kneepad specials...and for just as long I complained about pain behind my knees where the pads always pinched. Then there were the perma-bruises and inevitable aches and pains after every trip, ensuring my absolutely stunning attractiveness in a swimsuit.

That is, until I met the Crawldaddies found at Inner Mountain Outfitters. Holy molé batman, worth every hard-earned penny and then some.

Finally a pad that stays put! Made from tough ballistic nylon, Crawldaddies are designed to withstand the harshest cave environments while staying exactly where they belong. The Gravel Guard keeps those pesky pebbles from creeping in the top, while a breathable neoprene backing and inner padding also insulate and provide flotation in stream crawls.

The comfort factor took about 3 trips to break in the knee-pads and then I was good as gold. The crawl-daddies are great for long and short crawls, vertical caving, banging into rocks as I boulder and climb breakdown piles, and anything else I've encountered underground. I'm extremely klutzy, and they hold up well to the many bangs and bashes I give my body. They stay in place, and I no longer feel that unfortunate pinching behind my knees. Plus, they have lots of surface area for those times you need extra friction on your side.

They work so well that I've seriously considered using them in my daily life (I often walk better on uneven ground than even, so you can imagine my typical day :-) Tell Nina at IMO that I sent you...you'll be so happy you upgraded!

PS. They also carry LongDaddies for those who want even more coverage!

In pursuit of great caving shoes, Part 2

J and I were en route from Indianapolis and thought we'd try our luck at the outlet mall for trail shoes or caving boots. We hit the jackpot! At the Columbia outlet they happened to have a new batch of Montrail Torre boots on the table. I'm already familiar with the brand as I wear the Blue Ridge line for my backpacking. I quickly googled the Torre to find reviews for its performance with wet rock, and was happy to find corroborating reviews for Montrail's claims that they are perfect for "challenging terrain [and] trekking across snow fields."

Snow fields and mud in caves often demand the same kind of performance, so that was good enough for us. Montrail also says:

• Non-loading lugged Vibram Super Trek rubber outsole for great traction and durability.
  
• Rubber reinforced heel and toe for exceptional durability.
  
• Premium leather upper with suspended tongue construction and bootie lining keeps feet dry and comfortable in a variety of conditions.
  
• Injected lasting board with steel shank provides great support and comfortable flex while carrying heavy loads.

All that tells me they will hold up through many caves without shredding on the exterior, while protecting my feet in tough conditions. I am happy to report that I wore my new Torres in Cemetery Pit last weekend and they delivered as promised. I did not slip, I was comfortable all day, and I felt very much in control of what my feet were doing. I will follow up with a second review after I've gotten some good use out of them to see if the initial assessment holds. In the meantime…Yessssss!

Pros: Cheap at the outlet; Great for wet, icky conditions; durable to withstand lots of abuse

Cons: Expensive if not found on super sale

Score: A-

In pursuit of great caving shoes, Part 1

Long ago, I learned to cave in a pair of well-worn Doc Marten boots. Stylish and comfortable, they offered enough flexibility and grip for me to move easily in this new-to-me underground sport.

With the opportunity to cave again many years later, I invested in a pair of Hi-Tech boots from REI's outlet online, after a few desperate attempts to find cheap, yet sturdy, boots at my local Wal-Mart. My women's size 8 puts me below the bottom rung of men's work boots available at Wallyworld, and their women's department would lead one to believe that women do not hold tough jobs in this world beyond nursing! Boooo.

Ultimately the Hi-Tech boots have served me well, but it's time for a new pair. So, my fiancé found a pair of combat-SWAT-training Converse high-top sneakerish shoes for me. If police officers are using these in tough situations, surely they would be great for caving, right?



They looked good at home…the tread looked ok and deep enough for cave conditions, but I was unable to test them until we got into a very wet Ellison's cave on Saturday. They were a nightmare! I was slipping on the trail before we got into the cave, and continued to slip at every opportunity once inside. Thankfully Ellison's was the perfect testing spot, with no precarious positions to speak of...just a few rocks to bang into.

Needless to say, I give them an F for caving.

Pros: 75% off of 75$ = super cheap.

Cons: the lace setup was poorly structured for the shoe to evenly cushion my foot, leaving me with a tight, thin grab around my ankle (Ouch!) but still no ankle support; the performance on wet surfaces would have put me in danger in any other cave.

Overall: Next!

To be continued…