If coveralls are not available, old clothing may be substituted. F. Two or three layers of clothing should be adequate for warmth while moving around on a cave trip to Illinois Caverns. Footwear is the second-most critical item to consider for a fun cave trip. An old pair of hiking boots, with good traction, could be used as caving boots. Some cavers choose to wear neoprene socks or scuba-diving booties to keep the feet warm, even though walking in water.
Gloves are necessary for protecting hands as well as the cave.
Canvas work gloves will make crawling easier and also protect cave formations from the oils on human hands. What to bring The most important element for having a fun trip to Illinois Caverns is adequate lighting. The ideal light is a waterproof light mounted to a helmet, allowing both hands free for crawling, climbing, etc. An adequate hard hat with a two-point chinstrap can be found at most home improvement stores. A canteen of water, a candy bar, extra batteries and a small garbage bag would be items to place in a small backpack for caving.