Explore gear

Two hikers with backpacks and gear stand in a picturesque mountainous landscape with trees and rocky terrain under a blue sky. Overlaid text reads 'THE APPROACH.'
Group of people camping in a forest setting with a campfire and tents, labeled 'Basecamp'.
Person standing in an illuminated underground cave with text 'THE UNDERGROUND' overlaid.
Person climbing inside a cave with "Vertical Equipment" text overlay.
Group of people camping inside a cave, with "CAVE CAMP" text overlay, surrounded by rocky walls and camping equipment.
Cave explorers conducting a survey in a rocky underground environment. Several people are wearing helmets and caving gear with a flashlight illuminating the cave walls. The word 'SURVEY' is overlaid in the center.
Group of people sitting and standing inside a cave.

Where explorers are made

Cave Camp

Sleeping underground is a different game — your setup depends on the cave, the temp, and the terrain.

The essentials

Assorted camping gear on grass, including REI Magma sleeping bag, sleeping pads, and storage bags from Therm-a-Rest and ENO.

Cave camping isn’t like surface camping. Whether you’re on a tarp on the ground or tucked into a sky bivvy or hammock, your system should match the cave’s environment — dry or wet, warm or cold, tight or spacious. Your basic loadout should include a camp stove, a sleeping bag rated for the cave temperature, a camp pillow if you like comfort, and your GRAYL filter for clean water. A pee bottle is a must, and wag bags are non-negotiable — you should never leave waste in a cave. Different regions have different protocols, but the golden rule is simple: take only photos, leave only footprints. Your camp gear doesn’t need to be extensive, but it does need to be reliable, compact, and respectful of the underground.

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Sleeping on the cave floor means dealing with moisture from above and below.

ground
setup

Camping gear including a Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad, an orange dry bag, and a green Klymit sleeping pad on a mossy rock surface with natural surroundings.

Sleeping on the cave floor usually means dealing with moisture, even in “dry” caves where the ground stays damp and ceiling drips are common. I recommend using a Tyvek sheet or old tent footprint as a ground barrier — Tyvek is lightweight, durable, and packs down small. Add a sleeping pad based on the conditions: insulated for colder caves, regular for mild temps, or none at all if you’re on soft sand or dry soil.

For extra protection, I bring a light tarp and string to hang above as a drip shield. It’s like an underground rainfly that keeps you dry through the night. This setup is simple, compact, and covers most cave floor scenarios without overcomplicating your kit.

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When the ground’s not an option, sleeping off it is your best move — just come prepared.

suspended setup

ENO hammocks and Atlas straps on a mossy rock in a forest setting

For caves where the floor is too wet or unstable, a hammock or portaledge is your go-to. Hammocks are lightweight, compact, and easy to hang with the right anchor points. Portaledges are bulkier, but if you can haul one in, they offer serious comfort. You’ll want a tarp or rainfly overhead since dripping ceilings are usually the reason you’re suspended in the first place.

I always carry a little trad gear for these setups — a few nuts or a small cam can be perfect for natural anchors if bolting isn’t an option. If you find a solid crack or feature to clip into, you’re golden. It’s a bit of extra weight, but worth it when you need a dry place to sleep.

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