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UER Forum > Rookie Forum > Drain Safety/Comfort tips (Viewed 3004 times)
Hunter.CO-TX16 


Location: Fort Collins, CO
Gender: Both
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Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< on 1/10/2016 3:25 AM >
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I'm surprised to see there's not a single thing on the rookie forum about drain safety or comfort, so I figured I'd start a thread.

Safety: Common sense, but bring a flashlight and replacement batteries. No one wants to be in a drain using just their cell phone to light the way. Been there, done that, it's killer on your eyes and just generally stressful in terms of moving around safely. Bring a pack of cigarettes to give to any potential homeless person camping out in the drain. Talk to them, ask if you're welcome to explore, give them the cigs if they want them. Don't offer cash. Bring a lighter and a knife. Never know when you'll need them (maybe for some light painting with steel wool, and in that case bring something to put the steel wool in). When it rains, stay out of the drains (also common sense). Don't go without telling someone where you're going, when you're going in and when you expect to be out. Keep your phone well-charged before going in in the event of an emergency.

Comfort: I usually wear rolled-up jeans, just because there's usually spiders and I'm 100% not down with feeling them crawl on me. For winter draining, I'll wear a jacket and then a t-shirt under, as it's cold outside but generally pretty warm in drains (especially steam tunnels). Hiking boots and cotton socks are my go-to, and then bringing along a pair of jeans, shoes, and wool socks to change into after we're done. I used to wear galoshes, but depending on the drain, my boots would get filled with water and I'd have to stop to pour the water out.

What other tips do y'all have to offer for rookies/people bringing rookies in drains?



[last edit 1/10/2016 3:44 AM by Hunter.CO-TX16 - edited 1 times]

blackhawk 

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UER newbie

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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 1 on 1/10/2016 3:46 AM >
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Ummm...
Use the Search feature.




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catdog23 


Location: Limestone City
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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 2 on 1/10/2016 3:54 AM >
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Hunter.CO-TX16 


Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 3 on 1/10/2016 4:07 AM >
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Oh, thank you! I didn't realize.




catdog23 


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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 4 on 1/10/2016 5:12 AM >
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Posted by Hunter.CO-TX16
Oh, thank you! I didn't realize.


No problemo. PS I like your steel wool pics!




Steed 


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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 5 on 1/10/2016 5:55 AM >
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I don't think one flashlight with extra batteries is a good idea, unless you plan to change batteries in the dark. Best to bring a backup flashlight, rather than backup batteries.




Darthbindy 


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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 6 on 1/10/2016 6:25 AM >
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Posted by Steed
I don't think one flashlight with extra batteries is a good idea, unless you plan to change batteries in the dark. Best to bring a backup flashlight, rather than backup batteries.


Agreed. Also, if you only have one light, having extra batteries won't help if you lose the light or it breaks. And finding your way out in the dark is going to be extremely unpleasant, and dangerous.
Having at least 2 flashlights really is a must for any tunnels with no light.




blackhawk 

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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 7 on 1/10/2016 11:31 AM >
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Posted by Steed
I don't think one flashlight with extra batteries is a good idea, unless you plan to change batteries in the dark. Best to bring a backup flashlight, rather than backup batteries.


In underground tunnels with no natural light I bring a minimum of 3 good working flashlights preferably waterproof. Shit happens.




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catdog23 


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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 8 on 1/10/2016 4:21 PM >
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Posted by blackhawk


In underground tunnels with no natural light I bring a minimum of 3 good working flashlights preferably waterproof. Shit happens.


I bring three flashlights as backup, but you should always bring a torch. Like a real one, with flames and all. Not only does it provide light it also goes out when no oxygen is present, and has a built in methane detector. Fire is also better at scaring off any rats/C.H.U.D. you encounter.




blackhawk 

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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 9 on 1/10/2016 7:38 PM >
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Posted by catdog23


I bring three flashlights as backup, but you should always bring a torch. Like a real one, with flames and all. Not only does it provide light it also goes out when no oxygen is present, and has a built in methane detector. Fire is also better at scaring off any rats/C.H.U.D. you encounter.


Fire is never a good idea in confined spaces... don't kill the fng
I always carry batteries for my primary light.


At least a quart of drinking water.
A roll of self adhesive cloth tape and crazy glue for wounds, if you known how to use them. Some cloth rags damped with ammonia water or Windex in a zip lock. That's all I need for first aid and clean up...




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hoover 2 


Location: Minneapolis MN
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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 10 on 5/9/2023 2:27 AM >
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When I explore drains I always bring 3 headlamps, a lot of flashlights (depending on what I'm using them for), a lot of extra batteries (most of my lights use rechargeable batteries), at least 1 or 2 power banks (for charging my cellphone on the go), snacks (candy bars to be exact) I often put an extra flashlight in my pants pocket in the summer in case my headlamp suddenly goes out (it's happen to me before), I always put everything in Ziploc bags with sliders on them, so all my stuff stays dry and I always carry a good quality backpack that is reliable and can handle a beating. In the summer I wear hiking shoes, long pants (to protect my legs from getting cut up and scratched), tee shirt (I call they clothes my drain clothes because I don't care if they get ruined). I don't mind getting soaking wet in the drains, especially when it's very hot outside. In the winter I wear waterproof boots (I try not to get super wet when it's cold out), sometimes I wear chest waders, depending on the occasion. I will add that most of my lights are great quality (not cheapies) because they sometimes get dropped but so far they haven't gotten broken or damaged in the water.




Aran 


Location: Kansas City
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Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 11 on 5/9/2023 3:07 AM >
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Some long pants made of fast-drying material (not jeans) tucked into knee-high rubber rainboots, a few flashlights, and some water-resistant gloves for grabbing ladders/walls are usually all I need.




"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

Steed 


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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 12 on 5/9/2023 3:31 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk
Fire is never a good idea in confined spaces... don't kill the fng


I actually have used torches in drains, and they aren't great.

First time, the torch head was too heavy and just fell off into the water.

Second time was in a much smaller tunnel, and the smoke from the fire made all the spiders living on the ceiling spin their webs and descend to get away from it. Suddenly I found myself surrounded by hundreds of spiders.




hoover 2 


Location: Minneapolis MN
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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 13 on 5/14/2023 8:25 PM >
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Posted by Steed


I actually have used torches in drains, and they aren't great.

First time, the torch head was too heavy and just fell off into the water.

Second time was in a much smaller tunnel, and the smoke from the fire made all the spiders living on the ceiling spin their webs and descend to get away from it. Suddenly I found myself surrounded by hundreds of spiders.


Oh that sounds awesome! I love seeing lots of spiders in drains! In fact I named a few drains after a lot of spiders being in the tunnels (LOL).




hoover 2 


Location: Minneapolis MN
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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 14 on 5/14/2023 8:29 PM >
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Posted by Aran
Some long pants made of fast-drying material (not jeans) tucked into knee-high rubber rainboots, a few flashlights, and some water-resistant gloves for grabbing ladders/walls are usually all I need.


Sadly when I go into drains in the summer I don't wear anything that is waterproof but everything I wear is stuff that I wouldn't wear when I'm not in a drain (LOL). You never know when other people will give you a weird look HA HA.




Doug 


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Re: Drain Safety/Comfort tips
< Reply # 15 on 5/15/2023 1:30 AM >
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The Urbex Zine Guy
https://www.cavecl...wtopic.php?t=12259
UER Forum > Rookie Forum > Drain Safety/Comfort tips (Viewed 3004 times)


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