Rock climbing involves climbing up natural or artificial rock walls with the goal of reaching the top or some other pre-planned end point. Rock climbing is mentally and physically demanding, and requires strength, endurance, concentration, agility and balance. To keep yourself as safe as possible, you should master the skills needed for rock climbing and have the correct gear.
Shoes And Helmet
Modern climbing shoes allow you to climb rock formations that otherwise would be impossible to climb. Today's climbing shoes have rubber soles that shield your feet jagged, sharp rocks, providing a better grip than bare feet. They are meant to fit tightly, to the point of being uncomfortable, to prevent your feet from moving around inside the shoe, which would soften your grip on the rock. The tight fit also creates more friction, which results in improved control and dexterity. In case of a fall, wear a helmet to protect your head against injury. According to the ABC-of-Rock-Climbing website, the helmet you wear should be certified by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation.
Ropes And Harness
Today's' climbing ropes are around 165 feet long and have an outer sheath of braided nylon that surrounds an interior core of braided nylon. Climbing rope has some stretch so that if you should slip, your fall won't be halted so abruptly that you become injured. To secure yourself to a rope, you will need to wear a harness. Harnesses usually consist of a nylon waist belt and two leg loops. Climbing rope is secured to harness via attached to your harness. Some harnesses come with accessories, such as padding or adjustable leg loops.
Belayer Device
A belayer device is used as part of a belay system meant to protect you falling injuries. In case of a fall, the rope passing through a belayer device is sharply bent and the resulting friction dramatically slows the speed of fall. Commonly, a belay device resembles a figure eight, consisting of two joined metal circles. Rope is looped through one ring, then placed under and around the second ring, and finally attached to your harness with a carabiner.
Carabiners
Carabiners are aluminum rings with spring-loaded gates that can easily and quickly connect different climbing components. According to the ABC-of-Rock-Climbing website, two carabiners can be connected to make a belayer device by placing them with their gates in opposite directions, thus decreasing the likelihood that they would both open at the same time. Another safety option is a "locking carabiner," which is appropriate if you have the extra time it takes to attach one. Locking carabiners have an added locking device that makes them unlikely to open by mistake.
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