Caving Suppliers

compiled by Kevin Harris

This list of the suppliers is for the benefit of U.S. cavers. We list mostly local suppliers unless a foreign supplier offers products difficult to get in the U.S.

State Of The Artz, 326 Stonewall Circle, Woodstock, VA 22664.
Packs, harnesses, coveralls accessories. Phone orders: 540 459 8526 or Mike Artz. This business is run by Mike Artz.

Bcwunderwear.inc", 306 Eakin St. East, Blacksburg, VA 24060.
Specializes in custom coveralls, kneepads, packs, rope pads, and accessories. Phone orders: 703 552 5305. This business is run by Cecile James.

Bob And Bob, P.O. Box 441, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Full service vendor specializing in caving supplies: Coveralls, lights, packs, ropes, harnesses, ascenders, descenders, helmets, chest boxes, webbing, accessories. Phone orders: 304 772 5049. This business is run by Bob Liebman.

Cave Books, 4700 Amberwood Drive, Dayton, OH 45424.
Small publisher of cave-related books.

Custom Cave Gear, P.O. Box 7351, Charlottesville, VA 22906.
Simmons Roller manufacturer. This business is run by Ron Simmons, inventor of the Simmons roller.

Gibbs Products, 2608 East 3820 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 84109.
Gibbs ascenders manufacturer. Phone orders: 801 272 8354.

Guadalupe Mountain Outfitters, P.O. Box 2429, 216 S. Canal, Carlsbad, NM 88268.
They advertise Caving, Climbing, and Backpacking equipment and feature Kelty, Petzl, and Crazy Creek products. They stock mostly hardware type items (i.e. not much clothing). They are located conveniently in Carlsbad, NM, for easy access to cavers visiting the caves of the Guadalupe Mtns. Their web site is their catalog, with up to date prices, availability, and sale announcements. Phone 505 885 9492.

Inner Mountain Outfitters, Route 1, Box 263, Greenville, VA 24440-9727.
Full service vendor specializing in caving supplies: Coveralls, lights, ropes, packs, harnesses, ascenders, descenders, helmets, flashbulbs, accessories. Orders (phone/fax): 540 377 2690 or imo@cfw.com. This business is run by Alex Sproul.

Inner Realm Books, PO Box 622, Golden, CO 80402.
Cave and bat related books. Phone orders: 303 278 1891. This business is run by Rich Wolfert.

Karst Sports, PO Box 555/RT 1 Box 184, Shinnston, WV 26431.
All kinds of caving supplies with an online catalog on the web. Phone orders: 304 592 2600. This business is run by Douglas Moore.

NSS Bookstore, 2813 Cave Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama 35810.
Cave and bat related books, posters, and accessories. Phone 205 852 1300.

On Rope 1, Inc., 6313 Jan Lane Dr., Harrison, TN 37341.
The featured products are complete rope climbing systems, featuring all the recommended hardware. Three different complete systems are featured: the Double Bungee system, fastest and most efficient for long climbs; the Mitchell system, fastest system that also allows down-climbing the rope; and the Frog system, the standard rope climbing system used in Europe. They also feature pre-fabricated climbing system parts, such as foot loops and chest harnesses with adjustment straps, adjustable safety ascenders, etc. They also retail a variety of individual parts such as ascenders, racks, carabiners, chest rollers, buckles, pulleys, webbing, rope, and accessories. Phone: 423 344 4716, Fax: 423 344 9089. This business is run by Bruce Smith, principal author of the NSS publication On Rope.

Seal Skins, 1701 E 58th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220.
Wet suits and accessories for cold-water caving. Phone orders: 317 253 5395. This business is run by David Strickland.

Speleobooks, PO Box 10, Schoharie, NY 12157.
Wide variety of cave and bat related books, magazines, posters, clothing, jewelry and accessories. Phone orders: 518 295 7978. This business is run by Emily Mobley. Located near, and custodian of, several popular caves in the Schoharie County, NY area.

Speleoshoppe, PO Box 297-N4, Fairdale, KY 40118-0197.
Small general caving equipment vendor, specializing in British imports. Orders: 800 626 5877 or ian@speleo.com. This business is run by Ian Ellis.

Speleo Technics Company
They make the "FX" series of electric caving lamps and batteries. These are very popular in England and there are only a few vendors here in the US. So if you want to get them from the source, or have questions, these are the people to go to.

Sterling Rope Company, 181 Elliott St. Suite 707, Beverly, MA 01915-3060.
Rope manufacturer sells through several outlets such as Earth Gear and Boston Rock Gym. Phone: 508 921 5500, Fax: 508 921 5501, Chris O'Connell, Sales Manager.

Vertical Supply, PO Box 204, Califon, NJ 07830.
Hardware for rope climbing and descending. Phone orders: 908 832 6415. This business is run by Carroll Basset.