Best Way to Ship Caving Equipment – 10 Tips
Caving as a sport has become quite popular in recent years. However, to be good at this game, you will need some specialized equipment. If you love caving, you need to travel with your caving gear most of the time. We at RunRex.com know what it takes to ship caving equipment. We have decided to share them with you to make your next caving expedition stress-free.
- Remove Batteries From Your Headlamps
When shipping your caving equipment, ensure that you do not have any batteries in your headlamps. The batteries could be depleted during the shipping process when it is turned on accidentally during shipping. Additionally, the batteries could cause problems during shipping by damaging the delicate electronics of the caving equipment.
- Bubble Wrap Your Equipment
Before placing your equipment in a shipping box, cover it in two layers of bubble wrap to help prevent them, especially the helmet from being damaged during shipping. You may add as many layers of bubble wrap as you feel is needed.
- Place small Devices in Bags
Items such as carabiners, pulleys, and Maillon Rapides could be misplaced easily during shipping. Place them in individually labeled bags before shipping them. Thus, when you get to the shipping destination, you will not have a hard time trying to locate them. You can use transparent, re-sealable bags that have some labels on them. It will make the process of finding and setting up everything quite easy.
- Make a Checklist
Before shipping your equipment, ensure that you prepare a checklist. As you place everything in the shipping box, cross it out on your list. There is a lot of essential equipment needed in caving. If you forget any of them, you may have to hire expensive ones if you are caving at a popular destination. If not, you may have to purchase new equipment for the exercise. A simple checklist can be useful in identifying any missing pieces of gear.
- Fill The shipping Box With Packing Peanuts
When shipping caving equipment, any movement within the shipping box could damage them. Ensure that your shipping box does not have any spaces inside when you seal it. Any space will just cause uncontrolled movements that could cause a lot of damage to things in the box. Use some force to ensure that you pack the packing peanuts as tight as possible.
- Place Your information on the Shipping box
When shipping caving equipment, it is important to have some personal information on the side of the shipping box. Cover this label in clear packing tape to keep it protected from the elements. That way, if your equipment gets shipped to the wrong destination, there is still a way to reach you. Additionally, a label helps to identify your box. Do not assume that you are the only one who will be using a particular shipping box to ship to a particular destination.
- Double Box Your Items
Double boxing is a common strategy used when shipping equipment. It ensures safety during the shipping process. Not only does it protect your caving gear from the elements, but it also adds an extra layer of cushioning. The reason for this is that your box may experience some turbulence during shipping. Additionally, the shipping guys may handle it a bit rough during the shipping process.
- Consider Using a Crate
In some cases, the only way to ship your caving gear is using a crate, especially when you are shipping them as a large group of people. It is highly advisable if you are shipping mainly headlamps and helmets. This kind of delicate equipment could do with the extra level of protection that a crate provides. However, keep in mind that a crate could significantly add to the weight of your package; thus, be prepared to pay more to ship your equipment.
- Consider Using the Home Pickup Service
Depending on the shipping company you choose, you will benefit from a home pickup service. A shipping company such as RunRex.com will pick the caving equipment right from your doorstep, which can be a useful service since the caving equipment can be quite heavy. Additionally, you will need to sacrifice time from your schedule to transport it to the shipping office. A home pickup service saves you both fuel and time that you can use for other aspects of the trip.
- Always Ship In Advance
Never wait until the last minute to ship your caving equipment, Start planning your trip at least a month in advance. Choose the shipping company carefully and understand what you are expected to pay. Sometimes, you may end up with the wrong shipping company or end up making mistakes during shipping. Use the planning period to make calls to the shipping destination. Inquire about their shipping policy and other details. When it comes time to ship your caving equipment, you will already know what to do without much effort.