Rock Climbing Gear

What is a 'carabiner' and how is it used in rock climbing?

A carabiner is a piece of hot-forged steel which is used for connecting yourself to anchors or connecting pieces of equipment together to construct anchors. They're used in belay systems and placing gear on routes. It's a very versatile piece of equipment with a flexible gate which allows you to clip in and out.

Do I need chalk for rock climbing?

Most climbers nowadays use chalk because it keeps your hands from sweating and it gives you a little bit more purchase on small holds. It's probably more important in sport climbing than it is in traditional or mountain climbing. You should use it, try it, and see what you think. I definitely use chalk if I'm going out locally but probably not going to bring it to the mountains.

Should I wear a helmet when rock climbing?

I am a firm believer that helmets are a indispensable part of your climbing rack. If you are in a toppeler situation or bouldering it probably isn't super necessary because you aren't going to take the kinds of falls on your head. However, if you're doing any sort of lead climbing, I do believe that helmets are really serious.

What's the difference between dynamic and static ropes in rock climbing?

Dynamic Rope has a stretch in it. Usually an elongation of 10-15% depending on the manufacturer and the diameter. Which means that if you are using it for lean climbing especially, the Rope itself will absorb some of the shock of the fall. Which is an advantage because it puts less stretch on your anchor points and it also puts less stress on your body. If you are using a Rope only for moving down rock, for example of repelling, or even in very mild top Roping situations, you can use what is called a static Rope which means it does not have a lot of stretch to it if any. Meaning that the Rope itself is static, as it would imply. You are not going to want to use a static Rope for any sort of lean climbing because it will put too much stress on your anchor points and it could pull your protection. And it is also, if you take a long fall, it has been known to cause some amount of internal bleeding, if not just pain.

How much weight can my rock climbing rope handle?

Ropes are rated well beyond any amount of stress you could probably put on it. Most climbing gear is rated above 20 kilanewtons. Kilanewtons is measure of force which is roughly equivalent to about 2,000 pounds so if you think about the force of the fall and how much you weigh it's unlikely that you would even exceed a kilanewtons probably at any given time in your climbing career. So ropes are going to be rated 20 or more times the amount of weight or stress that you could possibly put on it.

How long should my rock climbing rope be?

Most standard climbing ropes are about 60 meters which is almost 200 feet. Some people prefer to have a 70 meter rope which allows you to use it on long top rope climbs or on very long pitches and multi pitch climbing and some people that are going a little bit lighter can get away with a 50 meter rope. Personally, I've got a 30 meter that I take to the mountains sometimes if I don't anticipate roping up for very long sections. But your standard climbing rope that you are going to find on the shelf in a shop is going to be 60 to 70 meters.

What are some of the different knots used in rock climbing?

Really for rock climbing you only need to know 4 or 5 knots, and different deviations of them, and how to use them with different mediums in different situations. I think a lot of books and instructions probably overcomplicate the knots that you actually should be using in rock climbing. The most basic knot is the figure 8, which is used in a follow-through version for tying in. It's also a great way to equalize anchors. You can also use an overhand knot where you'll be equalizing anchors, but an overhand follow-through isn't a great tie-in point. Some argue that you can use a bowline follow-through for a tie-in point, however I don't use it personally. You're going to want to know a Double Fisherman's knot, which allows you to turn a single piece of rope into a sling, which is what you use to build anchors. You're probably also going to want to know some basic knots for rescue situations, like a prusik, which essentially turns a sling of rope into an ascender, or perhaps a Klemheist, which is a version of a prusik knot. Also, there are different knots that you might use that aren't truly knots, they're more like hitches. For example a girth hitch is a great way to attach gear to your harness, one way to construct anchors. I think at the basics it's the figure 8, the double fisherman's, and maybe an overhand.

What is the overhand knot in rock climbing?

The overhand knot is, essentially, just take a bite of rope, and it wraps around itself. It's more of a hitch than a knot. It's not as strong as a figure 8, which is essentially an overhand knot with an extra twist in it, which you can also use in a follow through or a bite. But it's just your most basic way of attaching rope.

What is the 'figure-8' knot used in rock climbing?

The 'figure-8' knot is used in a follow through version as your tie in knot when you tie in to the end of rope before you start climbing. It also can be used to tie in to the middle of the rope if you are using it as a bite. And it is also a way to equalize multiple anchor points at a buoy station by pulling two or three strands of rope together. It is a bite essentially at that point.