Rock climbing is a sport, an activity that involves climbing rocks with the help of ropes and special rock climbing equipment. Rock climbing is something that you can do in nature or in specialized rock climbing gyms with artificial rocks. Either way, you can’t do it if you’re not equipped with all the essentials. Here’s what you need.
Get Rock Climbing Carabiners
Carabiners are the single most important thing for rock climbing. Simply put, you can’t climb that mountain if you don’t have and use carabiners. They are the base. The thing that connects you, the ropes and the rock.
Carabiners are small and lightweight. They are made from aluminium which is the lightest metal but incredibly strong. Strong enough to support your weight and hold all the additional tools you might carry with you while climbing. What makes one climbing rope carabiner different from the other is the shape. What is the strongest carabiner? You can come across four differently shaped biners – oval, d-shaped, asymmetric and bulb-shaped. Each has its own pros and cons.
Oval biners are the classic ones. They are multifunctional and affordable but not as reliable and strong. You can’t attach a lot of things to them because there’s not that much free space and the gate is small too. It also doesn’t distribute the weight very good.
D-shaped ones have a reputation of being the strongest out of them all. They are long-lasting too and have a big capacity. Their gate is slightly bigger than the one of oval carabiner clips. You can use them both to exercise and for the actual climbing.
Asymmetric carabiners are very popular. They have a large gate opening, big capacity and are lightweight at the same time. The asymmetric climbing rope carabiner is similar to the D-shaped one.
Bulb shaped biners are mostly used for rappelling (the action of descending the rock), but you can also use them to attach tools to your belt.
There’s one more thing apart from the shape that affects the quality and strength of the carabiner. And that is the type of gate opener. It can be a basic push opener or one that you can lock in place. Naturally, the ones that can be locked are safer. The risk of the biner accidentally opening is taken to a minimum. You can easily operate the gate using one hand only. You can rotate the gate to lock it and then rotate it again to release the lock and open it.
As Well As Quickdraws
Quickdraws look very similar to carabiners. In fact, they are two carabiners connected with a sling. The role of the quickdraws is to keep the ropes straight while the climber is going up the mountain. Tangled ropes are dangerous and can make the climber fall.
There are a couple of things you need to pay attention to before choosing a quickdraw: the gates of the biners, their shape, the length of the string and the materials used for the manufacturing. You need quickdraws that are strong and ones you can use with ease. Try out different types of quickdraws to find what works for you best before actually starting your climbing adventure. Up there, you need tools on which you can rely 100%.
Choose High-Quality Climbing Ropes
At first sight, all the ropes may look the same to you. But they’re not. And choosing the proper rope is important. You can get single ropes or half/double ropes.
Single ropes are the most commonly used ones. If you’re climbing with a single rope that means that you’re using only one rope to go up and down the mountain. Single ropes are strong and durable. They are able to support your weight as well as all the additional tools you have on. But, make sure to choose thicker ropes.
Half/double ropes are recommended to experienced climbers you like to use two ropes while climbing and rappelling. The two ropes allow the climber to go zig-zag while climbing instead of doing so by following a straight line.
If you go for the single ropes, choose ones that are thicker than 10mm. The half ropes shouldn’t be thinner than 8mm. And check the elasticity. When it comes to climbing and rappelling, slightly elastic ropes are the best. The static ones are only recommended for rescue missions.
Wear a Comfortable Harness
What does a harness do in rock climbing? The climbing harness is the thing you put around your thighs and waist. On it, you can attach quickdraws as well as carabiners for tools and for the climbing rope. Make sure to pick a harness made from strong but comfortable materials that won’t make you experience skin rashes and discomforts during the climbing.
Harnesses come in sizes but can further be adjusted so that they fit you perfectly. You need a perfect fit if you want 100% functionality. They are as important as the ropes and carabiners when it comes to safety.
Make it your habit to always check the condition of the harness before climbing and replace it if you notice even the slightest damage. The last thing you want is the harness to malfunction while you’re hanging on the ropes.
Start Using a Belay Device
The belay device is actually a brake. It applies friction to the rope and helps the climber rappel slower. Belay devices are very simple to use and effective as well. They can be made of aluminium or some kind of alloy. This means that they don’t weigh down the climber but aid his climbing and rappelling. In case the climber falls suddenly, this device will automatically stop the fall.
Get Special Helmet and Climbing Shoes
Rope climbing helmets have a special design and they protect the head of the climber from small rocks that might fall from above but also prevent serious traumas from happening in case the climber falls down or hits the head in any way. You need to make sure the helmet you’re getting is with a strong enough shell that can prevent penetration. It also needs to have a thick layer of foam that absorbs the impact and plenty of vents.
Rock climbing shoes are nothing like regular ones. They are really thin and made either from leather or similar synthetic material that’s non-slippery. They have additional straps that help you secure them in place for best performance. Be careful when choosing the size. You want a snug fit but not shoes that are too tight and painful to wear.
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