All the Gear You Need to Go Rock Climbing

If you are just starting out in professional climbing or sports, you will need to buy or borrow some equipment to get started, unless you book with a company that provides equipment and an instructor.

Sport climbing (climbing on previously bolted cliffs) will require slightly less equipment than traditional climbing (traditional climbing where climbers dock and remove all equipment).

While having the right gear makes a big difference in terms of safety and the types of routes you can climb, it is also essential to have a climbing partner or at least someone in the group you are climbing with who knows what they are doing.

If you and your climbing partner are newbies, book first with a climbing company to do some routes with an instructor and learn the basics of climbing technique, abseiling, lashing, donning gear, and clearing a route.

We hope you enjoy watching this video about The Essential Beginner Rock Climbing Kit

Source: Outside

Essential equipment for every climb!

Harness

A climbing harness consists of a belt, leg loops, buckle, noose loop, lanyard loop, equipment loop, carry loop, and a hanger.

Climbers and insurers alike must wear a harness while climbing.

Both harnesses will be attached to the rope, with the climber tied in a figure-of-eight knot and the belayer via a locking carabiner attached to the harness safety loop.

The harness is used not only for safety, but also to catch and evenly distribute a climber's weight in the event of a fall; It is also used to hang all other equipment during a climb.

Footwear

Climbing shoes come in a variety of styles with a variety of zippers. They should fit snugly and give you a light to big curl on your toes.

Depending on the curve of a shoe, it will be classified as neutral, moderate, or aggressive.

While neutral shoes are more comfortable (and more popular with beginners), moderate and aggressive shoes put your foot in a stronger position, helping you climb more challenging routes.

Consider shoe closures when making your selections - laces will give you a better fit than velcro straps but will be more uncomfortable to remove between climbs.

Rope

New climbers will want to use a unique dynamic rope in the 9.5 to 9.9mm range, suitable for sport or traditional climbing.

"Dynamic" refers to the type of rope, which means that it is elastic and absorbs shock rather than static, which is rigid. "Single" refers to the classification of the chain, which means that it should be used alone and not with other types of chain, such as half chains or double ropes.

Buying a rope in the diameter range of 9.5 to 9.9 millimeters means that the rope will be more durable and easier to tie (although it is also heavier than the shorter diameters).

In terms of length, 60 meters is the standard for outdoor climbing.

Chalk

Whether you're climbing on a hot sunny day or starting to get nervous on a route, you'll end up with sweaty hands at some point during the climb, making the rock hard to grip.

Fix this by placing an easily accessible bag of chalk on the harness, then reach into dust and dry your hands.

Choose from loose chalk, chalk balls, or liquid chalk and consider whether you want the high-end or low-end variety.

High-quality chalk will have a higher concentration of magnesium carbonate and will keep your hands drier longer.

The basic product does not last that long, but it is cheaper.

Helmet

Falling off a rock or ice, hitting an overhead, and hitting the rock face after slipping can all happen on a route, which means protecting your head is extremely important when climbing or tying.

The helmets are made of a hard shell, which is cheap and durable, or foam, which offers more breathability and less weight on the head.

Most beginning sport climbers opt for a helmet.

Try on your helmet before ascending by adjusting the straps so they are secured to the side of your chin, then nod to make sure it stays in place.

Quick Design

Two carabiners connected by a textile sling form a quick design.

Quick drawings are used to keep the chord on the path as you scale it.

Not only do they keep the ropes straight and parallel to the route, but they also provide protection and shorten the distance from a possible fall.

For sport climbing, you will need a maximum of 12 quick pulls, plus two more for the anchor.

You can easily attach the quick handles to your climbing harness using one of the carabiners while climbing and then secure them as needed.

For sport climbing, you'll want a variety of short and medium-speed tapes.

Tie-down device

Both sport climbing and traditional climbing require a tie-down device.

Having a safety device that you can maneuver easily is essential for safety by avoiding a fall and diverting you or your climbing partner.

For sport climbing, a Grigri style power brake device, as well as an ATC (a tube device known as an “Air Traffic Controller”), should cover all your abseiling and safety needs.

If you prefer to climb, always bring an ATC and prussik cable (short, soft accessory cables of varying thickness) to help rescue or rappel safely.

Also, get familiar with how to use them properly before hitting the rock face.

Rack

For traditional climbing, you will buy or share with your climbing partner a set of equipment known as a "rack." Racks include approximately 6 to 12 cams, 10 to 12 nuts, some long alpine slings, 20 to 30 non-locking carabiners, 4 locking carabiners, a nut tool, and a rope.

These items help you position and clear a route as you go. Nuts are metal wedges of different sizes and shapes with metal handles.

Cams are metal devices with springs, shafts, and lobes. You'll drive the cams and nuts into the crevices to secure the path, then use a nut tool to remove them.

Slings consist of a section of fabric sewn into a loop. Use them to extend fast services and decrease friction on a route.

Finally, a lanyard, essentially a long sling, is an accessory lanyard used to attach an anchor.

Approach shoes

A cross between climbing and walking shoes, the approach shoes are used for walking towards the climbing route.

A board shoe helps the climber to cross paths through a forest with bushes and roots, as well as to scale a rock to reach a route.

The upper part of the shoe is similar to that of a hiking shoe, while the lower part has sticky rubber like a climbing shoe.

You can wear socks with these shoes, and your feet should be flat (rather than curving as they would in a climbing shoe).

Alternatively, wear hiking boots, sneakers, or even Converse All-Stars as approach shoes.

Water and Snacks

Stay hydrated during the climb, taking a sufficient amount of water with you.

If you're doing a lot of short sport climbs, fill up a CamelBack bottle or 32-ounce water bottle during the day.

For longer climbs, especially traditional ones in the heat of summer, a gallon of water a day should be sufficient.

Before climbing, avoid fats and stick to carbohydrates.

During the climb, eat some type of protein for the first 30 minutes and eat carbohydrates every hour and a half to increase your energy levels by increasing your glycogen.

Bananas, peanut butter, hard-boiled eggs, tree nuts, beef jerky, trail mix, and energy gels are some good climbing foods.

What to Wear Climbing

The clothing you wear for climbing will largely depend on your climbing style, when you go up and where the route is, but always bring layers.

If it's hot, wear a tank top or tank top and shorts that reach mid-thigh.

Otherwise, chafing can easily occur with the harness, plus part of your butt could end up dangling once the belayer begins to build up tension.

If it's cold, wear durable stretch pants and a down jacket.

If you're expecting a cold morning followed by a hot afternoon, running or yoga tights can work well for both types of weather.

Do not wear clothing with buttons or zippers that can snag on the cliff, and if you have long hair, tie it back tight.

Otherwise, it could easily get caught in gear or even plants on the rock wall.

Tips for Packing Your Gear

Divide the equipment into two bags: the rope in one and everything else in the other.

In this way, the weight of the suitcases will be equal to that of the approach, since the rope generally weighs as much as the rest of the combined equipment.

Place a tarp on top of the rope so that you can place it on the tarp and not on the ground when you unpack everything.

Carry heavy items in the lower part of your backpack and close to your back for optimal weight distribution.

Do not put things on the outside of your bags, as external items can easily get caught in branches or trees, fall, or hinder your movement in general.

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