Rock climbing is a sport of managed risk. Even in a climbing gym, which is the most controlled climbing possible, a bad fall or belayer's mistake can still result in serious injury. Climbing shoes, a harness and a belay device are the bare minimum for a beginner.
Climbing Shoes
The sticky rubber on these shoes helps your feet stick to the rock. The fit is critical: Tight shoes will be too painful to climb in but loose shoes will keep you from doing precise footwork. In general, rock shoes should be loose enough that you can wiggle all your toes together as one unit, but not so loose that you can wiggle your toes individually.
Climbing shoes come in a variety of styles. While some prominent climbers advocate certain styles, the final selection always boils down to what fits both your foot and your climbing style. Edging shoes have stiff soles and are ideal for long climbing pitches. Aggressive boulderers or gym climbers might choose a shoe with a downturned toe for "hooking" holds on overhanging problems, and slab climbers might prefer a softer soled, more sensitive shoe.
Climbing Harness
As with climbing shoes, climbing harnesses come in a variety of styles according to your body size and what kind of climbing you'll be doing. Climbers who indulge in more than one vertical passion, such as alpine climbing and sport climbing, might prefer to buy a separate harness for each type of climbing. A good all-around harness will have a padded waist belt, padded leg loops and gear loops on the waist for storing climbing gear. Always hang-test a harness before you buy it. Most climbing shops will have a rope set up for you to tie into, then sit or hang your weight on to make sure that the harness isn't uncomfortable when it supports your weight.
Belay Device
One typically climbs in two-person teams, with one climber actively ascending the rock or gym wall while the other belays. The rope runs through any one of a variety of available belay devices, usually anchored to the belayer's harness. Sometimes the belay device is anchored to the wall itself or to a ground anchor. "Figure eight" belay devices were long considered the standard for rescue work and climbing, but have a reputation for twisting the rope. The standard ATC (Air Traffic Controller) belay device and variations thereof are more common and twist the rope less.
Climbing Rope
Climbing ropes are a specially made and designed. Never substitute rope intended for other uses, even rescue ropes. Rescue ropes are often static, which means they don't stretch. That can cause serious injury if a climber falls. Climbing ropes, on the other hand, are designed and rigorously tested not only to stretch slightly under an impact, cushioning the climber's fall, but also to endure the abrasion and repeated loading a climbing rope is often subjected to.
If you're climbing in a gym, you probably won't need your own rope, although some gyms provide only topropes, requiring lead climbers to bring their own ropes.
Member Comments