SRT Kit Advice
Advice for people new to caving about getting your first SRT Kit. The Crew can, of course, also lend you all this.
Gear Items
Braking Carabiner
An extra snap gate carabiner used on your Petzl Stop descender to add friction and control during descent.
Chest Jammer (Chest Ascender)
A chest jammer is a one-way device that slides up the rope but locks when you pull down. It is mounted on your chest harness and is what lets you ascend a rope by stepping up in your footloop.
Cowstail Carabiners
The two carabiners you put on your cowstails. A snap gate on the short one, a screw gate on the long one.
Cowstails
Cowstails are the two short lengths of dynamic rope on your SRT kit that keep you attached to the rope. One short, one long. You clip them into your chest jammer or into anchors at the top of a pitch.
D-Ring
The big circular connector on your harness that your descender, cowstails, and other SRT kit clip onto. Get a Petzl Omni screw.
Descender
The descender is the device you use to control your descent on the rope. Get a Petzl Stop 2019. It is safe, reliable, and what the Caving Crew uses.
Descender Carabiner
The screw gate carabiner that connects your descender to your D-ring. Needs to be a larger oval or HMS shape.
Footloop and Security Link
The footloop is the cord you put your foot in to stand up while ascending the rope. The security link connects your hand ascender to your D-ring so you don't fall if your chest jammer is disconnected.
Hand Jammer (Hand Ascender)
A hand jammer is the ascender you hold to steady yourself whilst you stand up. It works like the chest jammer, sliding up freely and locking when you pull down, but you operate it with your hand instead of your chest.
SRT Chest Harness
A chest harness holds your chest jammer in the right position on your chest so you can ascend the rope efficiently. It keeps the ascender at the right height and angle for each step up.
SRT Kit
An SRT kit is the collection of equipment you use to go up and down ropes underground. It includes your sit harness, chest harness, ascenders, descender, cowstails, and connectors.
SRT Sit Harness
A sit harness is what you sit in when you are hanging on the rope. It transfers your weight from the rope to your waist and legs so you can ascend, descend, and hang comfortably.
Zipline Pulleys
Petzl Tandem Speed is the standard. Two steel wheels for speed, steel sheaves for cable. Don't use a rescue pulley on a zipline.
Recommended Caving Shops
Run by active cavers Tom and Rubee, with focuses on ensuring that affordable beginner options are available as well as higher-end gear for more seasoned cavers. Next day delivery available, with a decent selection of headtorches, bags, suits, repair supplies and accessories.
A specialist UK caving equipment shop operated by Tony Seddon since 2009. The shop offers a unique "travelling shop" service visiting Yorkshire Dales caving locations. As sole UK importer for European brands like MTDE, Tony combines cave diving expertise with personalized equipment advice.
Established in 1977 in South Wales as a Caving lamp and welly hire company, working closely with Outdoor Centres, we have expanded to provide Caving, Hiking, Climbing, Trail Running, Watersports and Expedition kit within a vast store in Cardiff and online. Up and Under staff are outdoor lifers providing many years of experience across all of our sports. Up and Under offer instore fitting services and phone or email advice and stock products from brands including Alp Design, Beal, Bestard, Climbing Technology/Skylotec, Fenix, Kong, Lyon, Petzl, Raumer and Warmbac. Up and Under provide a next working day delivery as standard and offer club member, Outdoor Education and Rescue Team discounts on request.
One of the original Caving Shops - run by cavers, staffed by cavers, for cavers. Physical shop in Ingleton, Yorkshire staffed by cavers. Modern online presence - and accommodating and thoughtful staff. Ingleton shop also includes a top tier cafe - recommended.
A newer UK caving store, set up by cavers for cavers. Has its own line of gear under "Geo" brand.
A Facebook forum for buying and selling caving gear in the UK with over 2000 members. Fairly low traffic, but requests are often well answered. You must know what it is you want, and be able to assess if what you're being offered is suitable for use. Often a great hivemind to ask for advice with top expert contributors.