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Climbing Gear
Climbing gear simply rocks and that is that. Here is a list of most of the climbing gear that you will need for indoor and outdoor climbing. Rope
You just gotta love climbing rope. All coiled up in that rope bag just ready for some action. I know when I got my first climbing rope I thought I was a special agent of some kind - I went out and rappelled off every building I could find. Cruising through the night running around in my all black outfit, yea I was cool. Climbing ropes are not needed if you are just going to be an indoor climber; but if you want to climb outside you’ll need to pick up one of these beauties. Now you have a few different rope options: dynamic or static and wet or dry. A static rope is not elastic meaning if you fall you will most likely feel a jerk. These ropes are mostly used to carry or attach equipment to things. We recommend a dynamic rope for actually climbing and belaying. They have a certain amount of elasticity and they reduce the force experienced by the climber and the equipment during a fall. It is also important to choose a rope that is dry-treated to keep it from absorbing water.
Dry ropes
Webbing
Webbing is basically flat rope, it has no core like a climbing rope. This stuff is strong and we mean strong. This versatile piece of climbing equipment is most commonly sewn into a loop. We call these guys slings and runners and use them for a variety of reasons.
We use runners and slings for extending anchors, equalizing anchors, switching over on a sport route, carrying equipment, prusiks, tying off to a tree for belay safety, and as a component of quickdraws. Carabiners
Carabiners
These little fellows come in a lot of cool shapes and sizes. You can find them in an oval shape, D shape, locking, non-locking, wire gate, screw gate, light or heavy styles, etc. The type you want depends on what you are going to use it for. Locking carabiners are used for an important connection like your belay device to your harness. Locking biners come in either twist lock or a screw gate.
Wire gate and non-locking biners are used for quickdraws. If you do any kind of climbing besides bouldering you’ll want to pick up a some carabiners right away. Get your
carabiners
Quickdraws
Now this is a cool piece of gear. When someone who is non climber sees this baby they are impressed and of course you need to make up some cool explanation as what it is used for. Right? Ok maybe not, but we do love quickdraws.
Quickdraws, a.k.a draws, are used by climbers to attach our rope to bolts, protection, and anchors. They allow the rope to run-through with minimal friction which reduces rope drag. Quickdraws are pretty simple they are made of two non-locking carabiners connected by a short, runner/sling. They come in varying lengths and with varying kinds of biners from wire gate, bent gate, to your normal D gate biner. The ones you select depend on your style of climbing. Wire gates are obviously the lightest, but that doesn’t make them the best. If you are going to be doing longer, multi-pitch routes where the amount of weight you carry is significant, wire gates are your best choice. However, for the normal sport climber the choice is yours, as the slight difference in the weight doesn't matter as much. Harness
Don’t you just wanna wear this all the time? We know you do.
The most important things in our opinion are finding a harness that is comfortable and doesn’t weigh too much. Harnesses are used for attaching the climbing rope to a person. The majority of the harnesses used in climbing are worn around the waist, although other types may be seen occasionally, such as chest and full body versions. The chest and full body harnesses are for young kids or emergency rescue situations. Different types of climbing warrant particular features for harnesses. Sport climbers will typically use a minimalist harness that is comfortable with sewn gear loops. Some climbers like to use speed buckles, this allows you to always know that your harness closures are double backed. If you are an indoor climber you will want to use a similar type of harness. Big wall climbers prefer harnesses with lots of padding because they have a ton of gear and will wear their harness all day long. Do you need a climbing harness? What to get a good deal? Check out these
adult harnesses
Chalk Bag and Chalk
Chalk bags are pretty simple. They come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes. Just find one that you like and that fits your personality. These babies just hold your chalk and that's it. Your chalk bag should be durable and easy to get your hand in and out of. The chalk you put inside it comes in the form of loose, block, or chalk ball. They all work to dry your hands and help your grip - find one that your prefer.
Belay Devices What a little gem. Its funny how we rope climbers rely so much on this device. These are mechanical devices used when belaying. They give belayers careful control of the rope. Their main purpose is to allow locking off of the rope with minimal effort. Many types of belay devices exist. Find a belay device that works for you and better yet, find a climbing partner who knows how to belay well. When we climb in gyms we often see people who don’t know how to use these devices properly. This is serious stuff - you have your partner’s safety in your hands. ATC
This is a very popular
belay and rappel device
Grigri
Miscellaneous Climbing GearHelmet
A helmet is an often overlooked item of safety equipment that has saved many climbers from serious injury. It is a tough item of headwear that protects the skull against impacts. Is it always necessary to wear a helmet? No. Choosing when to wear helmets is up to you. Remember they are about keeping you safe not making you look good. If you are a beginner climber climbing outside it is advised to wear a helmet especially when you are lead climbing. If you could possibly take an uncontrollable fall on a route, climbers of all abilities should where a helmet. Be safe rather than sorry. Climbing Tape
Athletic tape is useful to both prevent and repair minor injuries. Tape is highly desirable for protecting hands on climbing routes that require repeated hand jamming. Climbers often use tape to prevent and protect skin tears. Tape is also used on the fingers to protect the tendons. It is advised to tape your fingers before campusing on small holds and when doing HIT training.
Rope Bag
Rope bags are not much more than a bag with a tarp, specially designed for storing and protecting your climbing rope.
Gear VendorsSo now you know what kind of gear you need...but where do you get it?There are tons of gear providers out there which makes it easy to get lost in the mix. Our favorites and the ones we recommend for all your gear needs are located below. Be sure to check out there great deals now.
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