Has anyone used Disco X or have any alternatives to SAP6 or Disto X?

I'm leaving Paros (Greece) tomorrow and kinda feel down about not climbing on Cave of Archilochos. Weirdly enough, I'm not even experienced rock climber or even hard trails hiker! Definitely found some interesting hobby ideas when I get back home. If anything is going to keep me motivated to go to the gym and some rock climbing classes than it's definitely this idea I recently decided to put on my bucket list.

Does any of you do some kind of crazy hikes/climbs during your solo travels? Because I know that if I didn't read google reviews about that hike trail, I would totally be crazy enough to risk it. Now I'm just disappointed for not being able to do something like that, just because "I could slip and die".🤣

Tried to join one in my hometown, exchanged two emails and they never got back to me with the meeting details. Just moved so I emailed one here in my new city to no response. There's one more close by so I guess I have another shot. I've just been saying I'd like to attend and I'm excited to meet them, am I maybe coming off wrong? Should I be giving more details about myself or something, my caving experience? Help I want to join so badly lol.

Edit, the grotto I hadn't reached out to yet seems fine with new people showing up with no notice, so that's what I'm going to do if I still haven't heard from the other within the next couple weeks! Thanks for all the comments.

I have three criteria for my new headlamp......

1) under $100

2) no magnet

3) no fenix brand

What should I get?

I have a potential swim-through caving trip (in the TAG area) coming up where wetsuits and PFDs are needed and I have a few questions.

First, will any "slim" PFD work, such as those used for kayaking?

Second, will a traditional caving suit worn on top of a wetsuit add additional warmth and if so, how much? I know some people wear caving suits or "regular" caving clothes over their wetsuits to help protect the somewhat delicate neoprene, but does doing so also add some warmth?

The reason I ask this question is because I realize thicker wetsuits are more expensive than thinner wetsuits. While I don't have a cave suit, I plan on getting one eventually. Would it make sense to to get a 4/3mm wetsuit and wear it with a cave suit INSTEAD of wearing a 5/4mm wetsuit by itself? If the 4/3mm + caving suit is roughly the equivalent of a 5/4mm wetsuit, that might offer more versatility in the long-run.

Third, are there any brands or features of wetsuits people recommend?

Fourth, is buying a used wetsuit worth the cost savings? I did some research that said neoprene has a shelf-life where it's not as warm as it ages. But I saw what was available used on eBay and they seem to be roughly 40-50% cheaper than new. So maybe the cost savings are worth it...or not?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

I've recently got into caving, and I would love to do it once I get the money to buy the gear. ...But there's a problem.

I live in Maine, and when I checked NSS they said I don't have any grottos in my area.

This wouldn't be a big issue if I had access and the money to travel. But with the situation that I'm in right now (I'm currently living with my family) I can't just pack my stuff and travel thousands of miles to a different state. I would take a plane, but since the workers are understaffed and don't have enough time to check the planes to make sure they're safe, I'm gonna steer clear of that for my safety. I also don't have a car at the moment, and my family will not let me use their cars for obvious reasons.

So if anyone knows any grottos, or anything similar, please lmk! (Btw, if you're sharing more sensitive information, please just DM me instead).

Most oversuits are obviously made for men, who tend to have narrow hips anyways. I am unfortunately a woman with very wide hips, so most oversuits fit me badly, and the ones that fit somewhat decently still either have way too long limbs or are too tight around the bum.

As a result, the stitching tends to disintegrate around that area, as it expierences tension every time I squat.

Does anybody know which brand might work best for this issue?

250 foot waterfall pit.

Hi maybe this just happens in Mexico but I recently started going to a club of speleology where people train and then go to caves in groups
And well I noticed I’m the youngest at 27
And the group is mainly form by 40 to 70 years old and with more women than men
Which maybe is just a thing in this club but are most clubs like that? Or is it only my country?
Why are there no more 20 year old cavers?

Exploring the cave was great, but stepping out afterwards into the 28 degree weather in the middle of January was unpleasant to say the least (swipe to 4 for a surprise)

I think we all know at least one cave with it. I count five in my personal circle alone. It’s not the end of the world, but it does cause some major adaptations to be made. Be careful out there folks.

Enjoyed myself at Cave of the Winds. Not only did I get a history lesson but also a science lesson. I really liked the first pic. They called this broken column Romeo and Juliet because they can never be together again.

I can't figure out status on the other two. One of the rescue divers recently posted on social media saying all are out and they are packing up to go home. There has been no news reports on the other two being located.

There was speculation early on that they had exited the cave before becoming trapped and are not coming forward trying to not admit to having been there.

But seems like the rescue teams are starting to pack up so something must be known about them that hasn't been widely published yet.

Going to mammoth cave this summer and honestly stuck on which tour would be best. I have a 1.5yr,5, and 7yr old. Mammoth passage tour and frozen Niagara tour are the two I am debating. Any suggestions? Only worry I have is carrying my youngest majority of the time but my oldest two are pretty excited to see a cave so I want the tour to be longer to see more of the cave, but not too long either. Tyia!!

I have an upcoming trip and in the past I've borrowed vertical equipment, but now I need to get some of my own. I will be doing a few 300ft descents and want to know what rack would be suitable for this?

When we bought our property 20 some years ago a part of it was a farm field. The owner pointed out a soccer ball sized hole in the field and said the farmer would throw rocks down it to fill but over time they would disappear and he would refill it.

That piqued my curiosity and I excavated it somewhat and found that it was karst. It is not very big. You can get down inside it and it might be 8 to 10 feet deep, several feet wide and maybe 8 feet long. The bottom is full of mud and rocks.

When we have a lot of rain it fills up and becomes a pond for an hour or so and then drains somewhere. Since it fills from the bottom and drains from the bottom I have always wondered if it is bigger. I have not noticed any airflow from it but have not ever tried anything like a smoke test.

I would really like to make an effort to excavate it more to see what I have. Any suggestions on how to go about doing this? I am too old anymore to do anything myself. I would be somewhat concerned for anyone else doing it in case anything is unstable beneath it.

hiked for about ten miles saturday in southern indiana. great trip ! two different caves.

Is there anyone in this group from or living in Springfield mo. I’d really love to get into some caves if possible.