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.
People exploring inside a cave with helmets and gear, examining cave formations.

Dont scoop it, survey it

Survey

These are what you use to map the cave — measuring direction, distance, and inclination from point to point.

Survey instruments

Cave survey devices SAP, Disto, BRIC

I mostly use the BRIC, a rugged caver-made device built for underground conditions. It uses a laser rangefinder, accelerometer, magnetometer, and often a thermometer to capture distance, azimuth, inclination, and temperature — all in one go. They’re waterproof, accurate, and ideal for modern survey work.

Other tools include the DISTO, which is compact and precise, especially when paired for front/back sights, though it needs waterproof mods. The Shetland Attack Pony is a budget-friendly, caver-built option that works well when dialed in. And if you’re going full old-school, you can still use a tape measure, compass, and inclinometer — slow, but it gets the job done when gear fails or budgets are tight.

Shop survey

The old-school (but still widely used) way to sketch and record your survey data by hand.

Classic data entry

Yellow notebook with "Rite in the Rain All-Weather Field Binder No. 200" printed on the cover.

With classic entry, you’re logging data in a waterproof sketchbook, using forms that capture distance, azimuth, inclination, left-right-up-down, and notes at each station. Pages include a grid for scaled sketches, a space for the cave name, page number, and structured fields for front and back sights.

It’s still the most common method because it’s simple, field-tested, and doesn’t rely on tech. All you need is a pencil, waterproof paper, and a headlamp. When done right, it’s a durable, effective way to capture data — and it’s the go-to when reliability is everything.

A tablet-based system that connects to your survey instruments and updates sketches in real time.

Digital
data entry

Tablet displaying a colorful map or data on rocks in a forested area

I use a Samsung Active Tab 2, paired with a stylus and rugged case, and it’s been a game changer. It connects via Bluetooth to survey instruments like the BRIC and plots stations as you shoot them. You sketch directly on the screen as data populates around it — saving time and improving accuracy.

With the right gear, digital entry is incredibly efficient. Battery life is solid, and you can charge it underground with a power bank. While classic tools require you to manually input every measurement, digital setups build the framework for you — all you need to do is sketch in the walls and surrounding formations/objects.

Keep in mind — this guide is just what works for me.

Everyone’s setup is different, and what fits my style might not be right for yours. But if this breakdown helps you dial in your kit or gives you a solid place to start, then it’s done its job. Cave responsibly.