Climbing Buying Guide

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Basic Gear

Climbing is one of the most extreme sports in existence. It combines athletic prowess, agility, stamina, and determination, bundles them up into a lightweight spike, and jams it repeatedly into nature's cliff-face.  There are only two objectives: get to the top and don't fall. No matter what your skill level, or what type of climbing you've chosen, every climber requires a certain amount of equipment.  Whether its rock climbing,  ice climbing,  mountaineering  or bouldering,  safety is a top priority. The amount of necessary equipment may be daunting, so be sure to take your time through this helpful guide.

If you have a local climbing club in your area, they may offer rental equipment for a fraction of the price. These clubs are also great for meeting people, discovering new sites to climb, and getting into the scene. The more experienced climbers might lend you the extraneous gear, leaving you to buy the harness,  a helmet  and a pair of shoes.  One important rule of thumb is try it before you buy it. Gear can be expensive, so you'll want to make sure you have the kind that suits you best. Ask your mates what brands or models they recommend. They may even let you try out some of their equipment.

Once you have found your basics, your next step is....everything else! Happy Shopping. 

 
Useful Essentials

Climbing Shoes 

Climbing Helmets 

Popular brands include:

Harnesses 

Hydration Packs 

GPS Device

Avalanche Beacons

Usually reserved for wintry climbers, you will know the importance of these devices should you suddenly be trapped beneath several feet of snow. An avalanche can occur at any moment, so its important to be prepared. You will definitely want to check to see if it works before you go out!

Popular brands include:

Belays

Your belay gear will also be essential to your safety. They hold the chimber's rope in place, which is essential for not falling down the mountain. 

Belay Devices: Ascending, Descending, and Locking the Rope

Ascenders 

Descenders 

Belays 

Rappel Rack 

Pulleys 

Bags

When choosing your climbing pack, remember you will need enough room for large ropes and possibly a lot of gear. They should be durable, weather resistant, flexible, and stylish. 

 
Belay Devices: Ascending, Descending, and Locking the Rope

Climbing bags 

 

Rope bag 

Hydration bags  are essential for a climber. Many bags come with some kind of hydration portal, but they're great to have for everyday exercising as well. 

Utilitarian bags, such as the Porta Cord Rope Bag,  offer excellent holding capabilities. 

Cams

As with most climbing equipent, Spring Loaded Camming Devices (SLCD) are primarily employed for safety purposes. A form of anchor (along with a climbing nut), the cam is wedged between a crack in the rock where it springs open when pulled.  Popular and respected brands include:

  • Metolius
  • Camp
  • Camalot
  • Aliens
  • Black Diamond

Hexes, or climbing nuts, are smaller, cheaper, and provide less support. They are made for smaller cracks, and require an extractor to remove them. The best kind are made in hexagonal shape. They are manufactured by Metolius,  Black Diamond,  and Wild County.  

 

Carabiners

Another essential piece of equipment is the caribiner, which is used to lock the rope to an anchor. They are usually strong and light in weight. Ones with more space in the middle give the rope more leeway and prove stronger, but they can be unwieldy and not particularly versatile. A wide gate makes it easier to clip and unclip. But a smaller gate can be better for securing.

D-shaped biners (such as the one pictured, right) are either symmetrical (for lead climbing or, the beginner's favorite, top rope climbing) or asymmetrical (for, again, top roping and belaying). Oval carabiners are weaker but versatile, perfect for technical or aid climbing. Pear-shaped carabiners are good for clipping multiple items and are often used in belaying. Carabiners also have different types of gates, such as wire,  bentgate,  straight gate,  and locking.   Locking carabiners, being the most secure, are used in belaying and rappelling. Wire models are thin, with lots of room. Bent, also roomy, are easy to clip. Straight are the most common and versatile.

Quickdraws,  or draws, are a similar piece of equipment to a carabiner. Essentially, quickdraws are two carabiners attached to one another via a nylon loop or rope webbing. Both carabiners and quickdraws cost $10 or less a piece for a generic model. The highest grade screwgate locking carabiners 

Shoes (Cleats/Crampons)

In general, the shoe will fit the style of climbing. More advanced climbers will probably want a tight-fitting shoe, as this will allow for more foot control. However, beginners should shy away from this, because foot pain caused by tight shoes might detract from the climbing. They should however be tight enough for control purposes.

Ignore shoe sizes, as this can get confusing when trying on different brands. The construction of the climbing shoe is inherently different from street-shoes and thus should not be subjected to any classification that uses street-shoe sizes as a standard for measurement.

There are three types of shoes: unlined shoes will stretch about 2 cm after a few climbs, so buy them tight. Lined and synthetic shoes will not stretch at all. You will have the choice of Velcro, Lace or Slipper. Velcro is not only the cheapest but also typically rates higher than the others. Here are a few top rated shoes on the market:

Harness

The harness is among the most important pieces of equipment. Without a harness, you would be holding onto the rope for dear life throughout your climb. You'll need to give your arms a break, and the comfortable way to do that is a harness. Size and strength are the most important factors, as you should never be able to pull the harness over your hips. Harnesses come in sizes for men, women and children, as well as larger models for ice climbers (bulkier clothes mean larger harness). Often times the type of climbing will determine the type of harness.

 

Ropes

Climbing ropes  are necessary for climbing any height above 5 meters. However, they are usesless without caribiners  and belays,  so be sure not to forget those. 

Brands include:

You may also be interested in: rope cleaners,  rope bags   and rope brushes. 

Chalk

Keep those hands dry: a slip could prove pretty painful. The most recommended product for this is, of course, chalk, which is similar to gymnast's chalk. You cannot have loose chalk floating around your bag, so you will also need (you guessed it) a chalk bag.  However, it doesn't stop there. You can't have free-floating chalk in that bag either. You need a chalk sock, or what is sometimes called a chalk ball.  This container holds the chalk, which you simply brush your hands against and poof! your hands are chalky. 

Another alternative is purchasing belay gloves, which come in leather  or synthetic  varieties.

Cleats and Crampons

Cleats  and crampons  are used primarily for mountaineerings and ice climbing. They attach to your boots and provide added grip on slippery surfaces.Full foot crampons  and ice crampons  cost much more than smaller, mid-sole crampons.  Popular models include:

Ledges

Ledges provide climbers with an artificial resting space, for sitting and also sleeping. They are sized for one or two people. Here are some of the top rated models:

Camping Stoves

Camping stoves can be very important during long hikes, climbs and overnight trips. Major Brands include:

Major Manufacturers: