Crack climbing is a form of free rock climbing in which you climb the rock face by sticking your hands and fingers into cracks and crevices in the rock face. When you tape your hands, you protect them from becoming abraded on the rough surfaces inside the cracks. Tape also provides extra traction for hand jams in which you put your entire hand, or fist, inside a crack for leverage.
Step 1
Shave the back of your hand and wrist. This will make it easier to remove the tape glove later.
Step 2
Attach three strips of athletic tape across the back of your hand. Start your first strip across your knuckles, the second strip across the center and the third strip just above your wrist. Let each strip overlap by approximately 1/4 inch.
Step 3
Anchor the end of the tape roll to the front of your wrist, beneath the base of your thumb. Wrap the tape around your thumb and anchor the other end on the back of your wrist.
Step 4
Attach the end of the tape roll to the back of your wrist, run the tape around your index finger and anchor the other end on top of the starter end. Wrap each of your remaining fingers.
Step 5
Wrap the roll around your wrist three time. Overlap each strip approximately 1/4 inch. The tape should be snug, but you should still be able to move your wrist.
Tips and Warnings
- Cut through the wrist section to remove the wrap in one piece. Save money by reusing the wrap several times. To reuse it, put the wrap back on, like a clove, and wrap another layer of tape around your wrist. Make a new tape wrap when the old wrap gets frayed around the edges.
Things You'll Need
- 3-inch cloth athletic tape
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