The Essential Rock Climbing Gear You Should Bring In Your Travel Bag
Recently, rock climbing has been in the limelight. With the many indoor climbing gyms being opened daily, it’s evident that this sport’s love has continued to increase. If you are looking to take your rock climbing experience outside the gym’s walls, you must prepare in advance. As professional rock climbers will tell you, your hands are everything. Yes, they play a vital role in holding while you climb. However, it won’t be easy to carry out even the shortest climb without the correct gear. Here, we shall continue to share a list of essential climbing gear you should have to make the climbing experience smooth and safe.
1. Chalk Bag and Chalk
Chalk is one of the few essential items you need for your climbing as it helps your hands grip each hold. The chalk dust helps ensure a tight grip even when your palms and fingers are sweaty during the climb. You know how sweaty things can get when daring the rock. Most rock climbers chalk up while on the ground using a bucket. If it’s your first time doing it, it would be best if you tied a bag around your waist for convenient access throughout the climb.
2. Climbing Shoes
As said earlier, your hands need the support of the correct gear for successful climbing. Investing in a good pair of climbing shoes is, therefore, a good choice. According to a blog published at Gneiss Climb, you can’t get very far off the ground without the right pair of shoes. When finding the right climbing shoes, you should go for a piece designed to favor the type of climbing you are planning. The shoes vary in shape, stiffness, amount of rubber, materials, and how curved they are. For beginners, it would be best if you picked a shoe with sticky rubber, a slight downturn, and high-quality construction. The good thing is that you can find many shops out there selling these shoes. Therefore, finding a pair that matches your needs shouldn’t be hard.
3. Climbing Harness
Unless you are a rock climbing god, you can hardly go any distance without a harness attached. A climbing harness is a special piece of equipment that attaches you to the rope hence keeping your body upright while climbing, falling, hanging, or rappelling. With this equipment, it’s a bit safe to belay your partner and provide gear loops. When it comes to finding the correct climbing harness to perform this amazing exercise, it’s recommended that you go for one that suits your climbing needs. Among the things you ought to consider when shopping includes; comfort, durability, and weight.
4. Belay Device
If you plan to carry out roped rock climbing, you should ensure that you carry with you a belay device. There are many types of belay devices out there. However, all the types work using the same formula, which is using friction to stop or slow the rope hence preventing your partner from falling. To be safer, it would help if you went for a versatile belay that can be used for rappelling and belaying from both the bottom and the top. Additionally, you can consider an assisted-braking device for extra comfort.
5. Climbing Rope
It’s recommended that you start at a gym wall to gather the experience needed for real rock climbing. In gyms, you may not need climbing rope as you will find one already provided. If you are looking to try outdoor rock climbing, you shouldn’t miss a climbing rope in your bag. When shopping for a climbing rope, you will realize that most of them are between 60-80 meters in length and 8.5 to 10.2 millimeters wide. The size you choose is dependent on the rock you want to face.
6. Helmet
Your safety is paramount, and that’s why you are always told to be prepared for the fall at all costs. In rock climbing, you shouldn’t miss a head helmet. The helmet should protect your head from damages in the event of a fall. The same helmet also safeguards you against rocks and debris that may fall from above. Helmets range in different types. Some are heavy with hard shells, while others are light and durable. You should go for a version that’s hard to crack for your safety while enjoying the climbing.
Rock climbing is an exciting outdoor activity. At the same time, it can be scary for first-timers. However, with the correct set of gear, you can be sure of your safety while enjoying the fun part. Mentioned in this article are top gear you shouldn’t miss in your travel bag if you are looking forward to smooth climbing. Read through the article to create a checklist for your next outdoor rock climbing.
