| As a rock climbing beginner there's so much to learn. | | | | The bottom line is - if wearing a helmet will give you |
| I know when I started out I found the amount of | | | | more confidence whilst climbing then most definitely |
| equipment mind boggling! It needn't be. Here's my | | | | buy one and wear it. |
| handy guide to the 6 essential pieces of equipment | | | | 4. Climbing harness |
| you'll need as a rock climbing beginner - what to buy, | | | | Like most of the equipment you'll need as a beginner, |
| what it's used for and how much you should expect | | | | you'll most definitely be able to borrow a harness to |
| to pay. | | | | start with. |
| 1. Rock climbing shoes | | | | The harness attaches you to the climbing rope. You |
| If you only buy one piece of rock climbing equipment, | | | | put your legs into 2 leg-hole loops and tie it around |
| make it a good pair of specialist climbing shoes. They | | | | your waist. Harnesses are generally very comfortable |
| make climbing safer, easier and more enjoyable. | | | | indeed, the more expensive ones including more |
| Climbing shoes are typically a very snug fit which | | | | padding. |
| might feel a bit uncomfortable at first if you're not | | | | A beginner's harness should be nice and light and |
| used to it. If you can, go to a local climbing | | | | could last you around 3 years or so. Expect to pay |
| equipment store and try on a few different pairs | | | | around $110. |
| from different manufacturers. They all produce | | | | 5. Belay devices and carabiners |
| slightly different fits so, for example, a size 9 from | | | | A belay device allows rope to pass through easily but |
| one manufacturer might feel very different from a | | | | will also stop you in the event of a fall, in much the |
| size 9 from another brand. | | | | same way as a car seatbelt works. A carabiner is a |
| While they should be as tight as possible - to stop | | | | metal ring that has a spring-loaded gate. This 'gate' |
| your feet slipping around inside them - don't be | | | | means you can clip yourself to the rope really easily, |
| tempted to buy a pair that just plain hurt! They will | | | | and just as easily unclip yourself too. |
| stretch a bit, but do make sure they feel | | | | As a beginner, while you can always borrow them to |
| comfortable. If they hurt when you buy them they'll | | | | start with, get a belay plate with an auto-locking |
| only become more painful as you climb. | | | | carabiner when you're ready to buy your own. They |
| You should expect a good pair of climbing shoes to | | | | should last a long time - around 10 years if you look |
| last a couple of years and maybe cost around $100 | | | | after them - and cost approximately $50. |
| or so. You can beg or borrow the rest of the | | | | 6. Quickdraws |
| equipment you'll need, but your own climbing shoes | | | | A rock climbing quickdraw improves speed and |
| are essential. | | | | safety in clipping the rope and yourself to the wall. |
| 2. Climbing rope | | | | You clip the rope to the quickdraw. The quickdraw is |
| It's vitally important that you use properly maintained, | | | | then clipped to bolts in the rock or climbing wall. |
| good quality climbing rope, for obvious reasons! | | | | A quickdraw is a strong sling about 10cm long. It has |
| Modern climbing rope is extremely strong, light | | | | a carabiner on each end. They usually come |
| enough to carry and store easily and stretches on | | | | pre-attached to indoor climbing walls but for outdoor |
| demand. This means that if you fall (and you will fall | | | | climbing walls you'll need to bring your own, at least |
| at some point) the rope will stretch out to smooth | | | | 10 or more. |
| out the fall. | | | | As with all this equipment, you can borrow |
| Obviously the more you pay, the better the rope | | | | quickdraws for your first few climbs. |
| quality, but even budget rope is very safe. | | | | A quick word about all-in-one climbing racks |
| As with shoes, the range of different types of | | | | You'll see that many climbing equipment stores sell |
| climbing rope for different purposes is staggering. As | | | | all-in-one 'climbing racks', which contain all the |
| a beginner, buy a single sport climbing rope around | | | | equipment you'll need. Some of these are aimed at |
| 11mm in diameter. Get the longest rope you can | | | | beginners. |
| afford, at least a minimum of 50 meters long. | | | | My advice would be to beware. In my experience |
| Your rope should last around 3 years or so if you | | | | you often end up paying for equipment you don't |
| look after it. Look to be paying around $150 or so. | | | | need just yet or don't know how to use. You're |
| 3. Climbing helmet | | | | better off buying the appropriate individual pieces of |
| Should you wear a climbing helmet? There's an awful | | | | equipment yourself, as and when you need them. |
| lot of debate in the climbing world on this subject and | | | | That way costs are kept to a minimum and you'll get |
| there's no one definitive answer. | | | | the most of the equipment you own. |
| Certainly if you're climbing indoors there may not be | | | | Now get out and climb! |
| much point. The rope and harness will keep you safe | | | | There you have it: the 6 essential pieces of |
| enough indoors. Outdoors there's a risk of falling | | | | equipment you need to know about as you start |
| debris from above which makes wearing a helmet | | | | your journey into the exciting world of rock climbing. |
| more important. | | | | Remember, if nothing else you absolutely must buy a |
| My advice: while you're learning to climb indoors you | | | | pair of your own climbing shoes. The rest you can |
| don't need a helmet. When you graduate to climbing | | | | borrow as you improve and become more |
| outdoors you should still be able to borrow a helmet | | | | experienced. |
| for the time being. You can then look to buying a | | | | Now get out there and climb! Enjoy. |
| helmet of your own once it's really required. | | | | |