How to Buy Rock-Climbing Equipment

Aspiring rock climbers may find the equipment intimidating at first--but if you ask lots of questions and buy over time, it can be fun. Quality gear is labeled by independent testing agencies. Only buy new equipment, and only from a reputable shop. Treat your gear as if your life depends on it, because it does.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Make sure you buy a true climbing rope, not a static rope intended only for rappelling. Various rope systems are in use today, but for the majority of climbing needs, a single rope, 10 or 11 mm in diameter and 50 to 60 m long, will do.
2. Get an inexpensive harness. An inexpensive harness is fine for most climbing. More money will add neat features but not necessarily be safer. Spend more for a harness that is easy to get into. It should be comfortable but able to be tightened until it is very snug.
3. Buy the smallest shoe you can comfortably wear for long periods of time. Fit is the most important consideration, and the only way to find that perfect fit is to try on different models.
4. Get one of the two major styles of carabiners--locking and non-locking. Locking 'biners are more secure but can sometimes be cumbersome. All types are strong enough for general use, so don't worry about strength ratings unless you really enjoy engineering trivia or are doing some specialized climbing. An introductory climbing set should include four locking ($15 to $20 each) and four non-locking ($8 to $12 each) carabiners.
5. Invest in good webbing. Webbing is a strong, flat, ribbonlike material with numerous climbing applications used to secure a climber or carabiner to the rock. While webbing is now made from a variety of materials, the most common and affordable type is nylon. For starters, buy four 10-foot (3-m) sections of 1-inch-wide (2.5-cm-wide) tubular webbing. Consider buying different colors for ease of identification.
6. Get climbing-friendly pitons, or steel pegs hammered into the rock to secure a climber. State-of-the-art equipment for decades, they have been supplanted by newer, easier-to-use tools that do not scar the rock. An introductory climbing set does not require pitons, but it may be fun to own one for practice or as a paperweight. Understand that it is considered bad form to hammer pitons indiscriminately into the rock at popular climbing spots.
7. Consider buying a few small chocks for practice before buying your full-time chocks. Chocks, or nots, are small metal blocks with cable or webbing attached, which can be inserted into a crack in the rock, creating a secure anchor. Well-equipped climbers on extended climbs carry a large selection of chocks in different sizes. Again, an introductory climbing set does not require these, but eventually you will want to become skilled in their use.
8. Not required in a basic setup, cams are great (and almost necessary) for aspiring climbers to practice with them as soon as possible. A cam is essentially a chock that can expand or contract to fit a variety of crack widths. They perform the same function as chocks, although they are much more sophisticated and offer great flexibility of use.
9. Buy an instruction book. There's no substitute for climbing instruction from a qualified guide, but you can learn a lot while sitting on your couch. Purchase a book that covers the basics, including a section on climbing terminology and etiquette. Most important, make sure the book has a section on rock-climbing knots, and practice whenever you can.