Gear used for rock climbing:

 

Climbing harness- the harness is an important tool used for almost every rock climber. The harness allows you to be safely connected to your rope in case of an accident. The harness also consists of two parts: the waist belt (sits over the hips of a person) and the leg loops (to help support your legs and secure the harness).

 

Rock climbing shoes- these shoes are an essential part of rock climbing. The type of shoe is directly related to the level of professionalism. Typically said the tighter the shoe the better the athlete. The shoes are only to be used for rock climbing because they are not able to support your feet in long walks and are very discomforting for the user.

 

 

Climbing helmet- this type of helmet is made specifically for rock climbing and is used to specifically provided protection from falling wrongs, debris, or in the case of a fall. The helmet should always fit snug and should not be loose anywhere around the head. If so, the helmet would not be providing its protection to full capacity.

 

 

Carabiners- this small metal ring is used to connect the rope to other pieces of climbing gear. It is typically said that, “You need at least a dozen carabiners on most climbs”( Bouchard). There are three basic shapes that they come in. The oval is the most basic and can be used for mostly anything. D-shaped carabiners are used to withstand more force. Asymmetric D- shaped carabiners are used to reduce the force and weight by sliding the rope to one end of the metal ring.

 

 

Belay device- this device is used to control the rope during a climber’s ascent. The belay device can also be used to catch a falling climber, lower a climber, and provide tension when needed.

 

 

Climbing rope- the hands down most important tool of a climber. There are two types of ropes that are used for two different uses. The first type of rope is a dynamic rope that is designed to withstand the force of a fall and has high elasticity. The second type of rope is a static rope and it is primarily used for rappelling and emergency rescues because it has a very low elasticity degree.

 

 

Chalk- chalk is used to provide better grip to the climber’s hands. The chalk absorbs the moisture produced by your hands during the climb and will help ensure that no slips occur.