| For those of you that think of exercise and | | | | you buy fits as well as possible. You might be faced |
| immediately cringe at the thought of those spinning | | | | with the decision of what kind of gear to purchase |
| machines and treadmills in a stuffy gym, try | | | | and which pieces are most important. First of all, |
| expanding your mind and the definition you use for | | | | everything is equally important, but one thing many |
| what exercise is. While the weather's nice and the | | | | people don't pay quite as much attention to is the |
| trees are full of life, why not take the initiative and | | | | importance of rock climbing shoes. The grip they |
| enjoy an outdoor activity like rock climbing. What | | | | offer is second to none and you'll need every bit of |
| most people don't realize is that these kinds of fun | | | | grip when climbing a sheer rock face and your life is |
| outings are just as much if not more physical activity | | | | on the line. The rest of your gear is largely |
| than anything you can do inside. The best part is that | | | | self-explanatory, but taking a good class and |
| when you're busy scaling a crag-filled rock wall you | | | | spending your time in a store front is vital to making |
| likely won't think to yourself, "wow, I'm exercising". | | | | sure you don't forget anything. You'll want every bit |
| It's too much fun for that. The only difference | | | | of rope, clasp, harness, and hook you'll need when |
| between those indoor grind sessions and the great | | | | you set out or you might find yourself in danger |
| outdoor rock climbing sport is that when you get | | | | when there's no need to be. Another important |
| ready to climb a rock wall, you'd better be prepared | | | | aspect which has arisen in recent years when |
| for costs associated with the sport. It's not cheap | | | | choosing your gear is the environmental impact you |
| and that's mainly because of the safety requirements | | | | leave on the rocks you are climbing. There is a bit of |
| you'll want to see to immediately. If you don't you'll | | | | a push of late to move to clean climbing practices by |
| find yourself in a situation that might cause you great | | | | not drilling bolts or hammering pitons into the rock. |
| physical harm. And so, for any newly minted rock | | | | These important tools have long been used as |
| climbers out there, the first step in your great | | | | anchors for keeping you attached to that great big |
| outdoor adventure is the purchase of some new | | | | rock face above the ground. However, recent |
| gear. Not only is that gear built to hold your weight | | | | developments such as spring-loaded camming devices |
| and the pressure you're putting on it with your | | | | have made them less necessary. When you take |
| weight, it must hold for hundreds of feet and | | | | your climbing classes, make sure to ask about clean |
| hundreds of different climbs. Finding rock climbing | | | | climbing and the differences from plain old sport |
| gear is a simple task. Any major sporting goods store | | | | climbing. Rock climbing is a wonderful sport that |
| will have most of what you need. You can also get | | | | millions enjoy around the world every year. It's |
| online and find your gear from online outlets or | | | | effective in keeping you fit and fun all the while. |
| wholesale and discount storefronts. The price of your | | | | However, make sure when you set out that you |
| gear will likely range from as low as $30 for couplings | | | | know exactly what you need and the effect you'll be |
| to $1200 for high quality harnesses and tethers. | | | | having on the environment in the process. |
| Unless you're absolutely sure what you need and | | | | Tony Brian is a freelance writer for outdoor sports |
| what size you are, you should consider an in store | | | | magazines and a contributing writer for bob long |
| purchase first. You'll want to make sure everything | | | | paintball guns specializing in rock climbing,rock climbers. |