JOSH HARING: Hi, I am Josh and today I am going to briefly go over how we can check climbing gear. Now, when we are talking about rock climbing we have got a lot of different factors. We have got harnesses, ropes, carabiners, slings, belay devices, even shoes. So it is really important that we make sure that everything is properly maintained and everything is in good order. The general rule is if you do not trust your equipment, get rid of it. When we look at a rope we want to make sure that a rope is new, that we know the history of that rope. So it is important if it is not your rope, you are climbing with somebody who you trust and who has used the rope in a safe manner. And we want to make sure that the rope has no noticeable frays, that the rope feels smooth and even throughout and that the rope, especially a dynamic rope like this still has some stretch to it. If a rope has been fallen on too many times it is going to feel stiff and it is going to feel like it does not any give to it. So that is the rope. When we look at harnesses, same kind of idea. We want to make sure that there is nothing fraying on the harness, that we do not see seams coming unraveled. Harnesses are pretty safe if used properly. The waist strap here is always double backed, which is important. And that is an important thing to check when you are climbing with your partner, make sure that they are definitely double backed. In climbing, you can never be too safe. So, always double check and have an alternative or have a back up in just about everything you do. This is a good example of the rope. I am tied in here with a figure eight. But just in case something weird was there with my figure eight, I have got a little back up here. It is just a little overhand knot I have tied right here. It is always good to check your partner. When you are dealing with slings right here--if you see stitching coming undone, not a good idea to climb on it. Carabiners, carabiners can suffer micro fractures just from a simple drop but you can't always see it from the eye. So, it is really important not to be careless with carabiners. You do not want to be throwing carabiners around, just about all climbing gear, any, like, mechanized or metal climbing gears that way, so you really want to make sure. Climbing shoes, the same thing. Before you start up a big climb you want make sure that your shoes are in good working order, that they cling and that they are going to hold you for that whole climb. The stickier and tackier the rubber on your shoes, the better off you will be.
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