Rock Climbing Gear

There are a number of different outdoor sports that people enjoy. For those who enjoy adventure, Rock climbing offers the most challenging experience of all outdoor activities. An experienced rock climber knows how important it is to have good quality rock climbing gear.

A serious rock climber will always have safety on top of their list of priorities. Choosing the right set of rock climbing gear and equipment is the first step to ensuring a safe and successful climb. f you purchase gear that is inferior, you could be putting your life at risk.Rock climbing can be a dangerous sport. The participants start at the bottom of the mountain and climb to the top by using equipment that is powered by physical strength. It takes a person who is physically fit to perform a successful rock climbing expedition.

Rock climbing equipment can be found in any sporting goods store or can be ordered over the Internet. There are several wholesale and discount rock climbing stores across the country. By checking local directories and the Internet, you can find them easily.

The prices of rock climbing gear range from $30 and can go as high as $1200 dollars. There are wholesale and discount stores that offer huge discounts in order to retain your business. The majority of owners are either former or current rock climbers and can give you helpful advice.

It is recommended that you buy your rock climbing equipment in a sporting good store because you need to make sure that everything fits you properly. Your safety depends on it. It is possible to buy your climbing gear used, but it is not recommended. Especially your shoes. You need to you're your rock climbing shoes fitted to your feet, with used rock climbing shoes, the are already formed around someone else's feet. When you are climbing, the last thing you need to worry about is the safety of your gear.

When you first get started with rock climbing, there are specific recommendations for those who are new the sport. Taking a course in rock climbing will give you the instruction that you need to make your climb successful. Rock climbing shoes are possibly the most important piece of equipment you will purchase. Making the right choice is critical.

Ordinary sneakers will not afford you the grip that you need to ensure your safety. Rock climbing shoes are designed with special grip that are needed for this dangerous sport. A harness is your safety net when you're rock climbing. It can act as a pulley to get you over surfaces that are too horizontal for you to get around, and it can prevent you from plummeting if you lose your footing.
You may be hanging in the air until you can get your footing again, but you will not fall.

Ropes and chocks are also necessary in rock climbing, Ropes also protect you from falling, and chocks are the grips that create handholds as you climb the rock or mountain. All of this equipment, except for the climbing shoes, is sold separately, or it is sold in packs. When you buy it in a pack, you may pay less than you would if you bought it separately. Another item that is optional is a climber's toolbox. It is a box that you can put your rock climbing equipment in and makes it easily accessible. It is carried in your backpack.

There are many different types of rock climbing equipment available on the market today. It is crucial that you choose the correct rock climbing gear to suit your needs. There is even rock climbing equipment that is made especially for children. If you are not sure what type of equipment you will need, talk to an experienced rock climber. They can advise you of everything that you will need to have a safe but adventurous climb. You need to be dedicated to learning every aspect of it and train on simulated mountains before you undertake the real thing. This right rock climbing equipment could save your life.

How to Rock Climb - The Different Types of Rock Climbing

When learning How To Rock Climb these are the more common styles or types of rocks climbing.

Bouldering - climbing low routes that are relatively safe without the use of ropes. Components for safety may include a pad of some sort at the base of the climb and/or someone on the ground to direct a climber away from potential hazardous areas.

Top-roping - an anchor at the top of a route provides a point to run the rope through as it is tied from climber to belayer. The belayer then is responsible for making sure the climber does not fall very far. This is considered the safest type of rock climbing, and is ideal for the newcomer.

Traditional climbing - the climber or climbers place any and all required safety gear as they climb and remove it as they progress, when they have completed the climb, nothing is left behind. This form of climbing does not deface the natural rock and leaves no trace after the climbers are gone, therefore ecologically it is the best form of climbing, though perhaps not the safest.

Sport climbing - in sport climbing any and all safety gear is permanently attached to the rock along the determined span or route(s).

Scrambling - in scrambling the climber basically uses his hands and feet to accomplish a route. Scrambling is generally a free solo style, however protection and rope are used on advanced routes that are "technically", normally scramble routes.

Free climbing - a form of climbing where the climber may use safety gear as a backup to prevent injury, but only uses their strength, balance and ability to actually perform the climb. This is in contrast to aid-climbing where the climber utilizes the gear to help reach the summit.

Lead climbing - The leader will climb from the start point with his rope as the second climber belays him. He establishes or utilizes intermediate safety points as they progress through the climb. The second climber catches up to the lead climber at every point, and thus they belay each other as they go.

Aid climbing - as the climber ascends the route they place gear at intervals to assist or "aid" the climb. In this type of climbing the gear and rope may be used to directly help the climber reach each point in the climb.

Free soloing - the climber climbs alone and without the use of any safety gear. This type of climbing is probably the most dangerous and potentially lethal.

Rope soloing - a form of climbing where the climber starts a route with the rope tied off allowing them to belay themselves as they go. This could be done as free climbing or aid climbing or even a combination of the two.

Solo aid climbing - this type of climbing usually involves a harness and at least some safety gear or protection but no rope. The climber will free climb as much as possible and only use safety gear as required by the circumstance. The climber may or may not use the gear to "aid" in the climb.

Deep water soloing - this is a form of free soloing where a climbers route on the rock face is over a body of water deep enough to protect the climber from serious injury in the event of a fall.

Simultaneous (simul) climbing - this is climbing where two climbers progress up a route at the same time. Much like lead climbing except the roles may reverse at any given time. A form of traditional climbing, usually one climber places the safety gear and the other collects it as they go.