Climbing is an innate part of the human brain. From an early age children have a tendency to climb on things from rocks, slides, climbing frames and of course the classic... trees.
There are lots of things you need to think about while improving your climbing and also lots of kit that you need to get to protect yourself from falls, scrapes and ropes.
Here’s a guide to tell you the in’s and out’s of climbing equipment and what you’ll need to look for to have a safe trip to the rock, both indoors and out.
If you’re heading to the wall or the crag to do anything more than bouldering then you’re going to need to know how to use a belay device. It is one of the most critical climbing skills in the climbing world and can save your life on some of the most majestic bits of rock around the globe.
There are many types of belay device depending on what type of climbing you are doing:
1. Tubular Belay Device
These devices are the most common devices to be used and as suggested use a tubular shape to guide the rope through to device.
They work by folding the rope through one of the lower holes and clipped via a screwgate karabiner directly to the belayer’s harness or a solid anchor.
These devices have a large surface area to dissipate the heat created by the friction away from the rope and are lightweight and very easy to use. You’ll find these type of devices being used on the indoor walls and at most crags around Britain.
Examples that we stock:
The Black Diamond ATC XP
2. Auto Lock Belay Device
These belay devices are automatic in the fact that they clamp down on the rope when there is a sudden force or movement applied. The function is very much like that of a seatbelt.
The rope is fed through the device and then clipped onto the belayer like the tubular devices. These auto lock belay devices are usually used for sport climbing and can be seen in Britain in such places as Malham Cove or any indoor wall. They don’t actually require any effort from the belayer and this is a bonus for those who are starting off on longer pitched routes.
Examples that we stock:
The Petzl Gri Gri Belay Device
3. Figure of 8
As the name implies, these are shaped like a figure of eight with one large and one small hole.
Often known as an ‘eight’ and used for descending, they work by a rope being fed bend through the large hole and around the outside of the small hole. This is then clipped to the climber and is commonly used in rescue operations or as a rappel device.
Examples that we stock:
The Black Diamond Super 8 Figure of Eight
There are 5 main types of karabiner ranging from those that lock and those that don’t lock.
Non-Locking Karabiners
The non-locking karabiners are generally used for clipping on to protection or used for accessories and clipping things to your harness.
The gate of the karabiner is the part that pivots and opens to allow things to be attached to it. The gates are all spring loaded and open when pushed; once released they close again and ‘snap’ shut.
Straight Gate (Solid)
These are the most common type of ‘biner and have a completely straight gate.
Petit Dru Straight Gate Karabiner
Bent Gate (Solid/Wire)
These are shaped to make clipping to protection very simple. The concave shape doesn’t sacrifice any of the strength so are the best choice for connecting the rope to a quickdraw.
Petit Dru Bent Gate Karabiner
Wire Gate
These gates are completely made of wire making it lighter and easier to carry more on your rack/harness. If it is being used for ice climbing, it is less likely to stick and they allow for larger openings for larger bits of protection.
Black Diamond Neutrino Wire Gate Karabiner
Locking Karabiners
Locking karabiners are generally used by the belayer and have the same general shape as the non locking karabiners but usually have a thicker body, and of course can be locked shut so that they don’t open if hit against a rock or if they are put under large amounts of force or pressure.
Wild Country Titan Screwgate Karabiner
Auto-locking
These gates allow quick locking – great for beginners as it doesn’t matter if you forget to lock it as it automatically does it.
Screwgates
These gates are used most commonly for belaying and have a screw or a bolt that has to be turned and twisted manually.
Karabiner Shape
Oval Shape
These are the original style of karabiner and are probably the most common and most affordable. They have a smooth and symmetric shape allowing room for shifting loads.
D Shape
These have been specifically designed to be as light as possible and to force the weight of the load onto the spine of the karabiner – which is actually the strongest part. They therefore have an outstanding weight to strength ratio and can be seen as safer and more protective than oval shaped karabiners.
Offset D Shape
Exactly like the regular D shape but with a smaller end and a larger gate entrance to reduce weight even more. They are asymmetrical in shape and this makes clipping them even easier.
HMS / Pear Shaped
These are ‘oversized’ Offset D shaped karabiners that allow you more space inside the gate allowing you to be able to use them for belaying. Commonly known as the HMS, you’ll need one of these if you’re heading to do some sport, traditional or indoor wall climbing.
Chalk is one of the most useful pieces of kit for a climber. Without this you’ll fall off, scrape your hands and get sweaty in warmer conditions.
The basic make up of climbing chalk is Magnesium in the form of Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3) which is used in a multitude of sports including gymnastics and weightlifting.
It has the ability to dry your hands while making you feel secure on rock and holds both outdoors on the cliff face, or indoors on the climbing wall.
There are 3 main types of chalk on the market today:
Chalk Ball
The most common type of chalk to be sold at climbing walls. This is where chalk is placed in ball shaped materials to keep it contained without having to worry about spilling it everywhere in your chalk bag.
Allcord Chalk Ball
Loose Chalk
This is the most commonly used chalk for outdoor use, mainly due to the fact that you can get a lot of it on your hands in one scoop. Some loose chalk has drying agents in it to keep your fingers even dryer in warmer, wetter conditions.
Metolius Super Chalk 5oz
Chalk Blocks
This is the least expensive and comes in a block form for ease of storage. This type of chalk can be broken up and placed in a chalk bag without mess or fuss.
Camp Chalk Blocks
You’ll need one of these to store your chalk. This is an essential for indoor, bouldering, traditional and sport climbing.
Outdoor Designs Peardrop Chalk Bag
Larger bags are usually better designed for bouldering and longer climbing routes. These usually are not tapered and have a cylindrical shape.
‘Bouldering buckets’ as they are now called are large, rucksack sized bags and are used in groups where everyone dips their hands into the chalk. These are becoming more popular with the prevalence of bouldering in the UK.
For shorter climbs it is usually better to have a smaller bag with tapered edges and an ergonomic cut.
Harnesses are attached to the rope and allow you to climb safely up a rock face. They should be comfortable without being restrictive, but also fitted to stop you from falling out when on a route.
Waistbelts
All harnesses have a waistbelt that is adjustable to alter it depending on your size. They are padded and very comfortable. The waistbelts have gear loops connected to them for storing your quickdraws, karabiners, chalk bag and other equipment. They are attached with a strap that needs to be ‘double backed’ to be secure and to make sure it doesn’t come undone.
Leg Loops
Leg loops can come in two different formats – both adjustable and non-adjustable. Adjustable leg loops are usually better for women’s harnesses as waist and leg sizes are very changeable between different climbers. However, non-adjustable are perfect for sport climbing and more lightweight climbing where every gram counts.
Gear Loops
Gear loops are essential for trad. climbing. Without these, the loops you won’t have anywhere to clip your karabiners or protection on a route. If you’re buying one for traditional climbing then look out for harnesses that have 2 or more loops as you’ll need to fill them up on some of the routes around the UK.
Wild Country Elite Ziplock Harness
You may wonder why you need one of these while climbing?
The answer is simple – whether you’re climbing, cycling, skateboarding or doing any activity, you’ll want to protect your head as it’s one of the most vital parts of your body.
Remember: Rocks are tougher, stronger and pointier than your head – it’s probably best to wear a helmet if you are going to come in contact with any type of rock. It’s not just the static rock that you have to worry about; rocks can be loose and unexpected falls can occur on any slope where there is loose material.
Camp Silver Star Helmet
Helmets are usually constructed via a plastic shell with an internal mesh, padding or webbing to make it comfortable to wear all day.
The attachment, adjustability and fitting of the helmet to your head is of utmost importance:
- If it moves, you’ll want to get more padding or make it tighter
- Most helmets come with a spin wheel or some adjustable mechanism
- Ventilation and vents are common, look out for these if you’re going to be in hot conditions
- Alternatively, check out if it can fit over a hat if you’re going to be in the cold
- All of our helmets are sold with the CEN and UIAA standards (European Committee for Standardization, Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme) and all have been quality tested as standard
Rock climbing shoes are designed not just for comfort but also to top performance and grip on the rocks.
To get the best out of your shoes, you’ll want to think about what you’re going to use the shoe for…
- Shoes for variety of uses
- An occasional climber looking for an all day comfortable shoe for a wide variety of rocks, types, climbs and techniques
- Used for bouldering, trad., sport climbing or even the indoor wall
These shoes are high cut, comfortable and have a lot of padding inside for all-day comfort. It’s usually best to wear your normal shoe size with these shoes or for a closer fit, deduct ½ a size.
Evolv Rockstar Womens Rock Climbing Shoe
- Shoes for top class performance
- Intense bursts of performance for competitions or for pushing your grade
- Where technique and edging, toe profiles and shape are so important
These are usually a very uncomfortable fit when first putting them on. This is designed to give you full sensitivity and control on the rock and your toes should be touching the edges but not so much that you are in constant agony.
La Sportiva Katana Rock Climbing Shoe
The sizes of these shoes are very hard to tell as different brands make different styles and use different lasts to build their shoes on. Therefore it’s usually best to try some on somewhere before you buy online.
For any more information about the climbing equipment we stock please contact our Web Team on 08450 020 888.
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