|
dalfollo
Apr 7, 2007, 8:24 PM
Post #1 of 28
(2345 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 9, 2006
Posts: 46
|
Do you all have any suggestions for either homemade gear that you made yourself (considering the safety factor was acceptable to you) or other gear that is easily/cheaply found that can be retasked as climbing gear?? Any suggetsions? Here are a couple to get the ball rolling:
- 2 or 3 liter gatorage bottles that now have a bomber handle built in and good for climbing with
- stuff sacks, bolt bags, or ther non-safety organizng bags
- Harbor Freight has 3-4" aluminium carabiners (not for climbing) that can be used for organizing and not safety hanging
Any other suggestions out there?
(This post was edited by dalfollo on Apr 7, 2007, 11:16 PM)
|
|
|
|
|
cintune
Apr 7, 2007, 8:49 PM
Post #2 of 28
(2328 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
|
Err...how do you climb in a Gatorade bottle?
Toy biners are not a good idea. You don't want to get them mixed up in your gear, and they'll tend to fall apart pretty quick when used for racking. I do use a big non-climbing kayak paddle keeper biner to rack slings and cords, though.
I've cut up old bicylce tires to use as sharp edge rope protectors and disposable hand-crack mitts; that's about all.
|
|
|
|
|
drzaous
Apr 7, 2007, 9:07 PM
Post #3 of 28
(2320 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 27, 2005
Posts: 97
|
I made some tied aiders one time, and sewed step stiffeners and a clipping point reinforcement to them.. They worked just as good as completely sewn ones too.
|
|
|
|
|
coastal_climber
Apr 7, 2007, 9:35 PM
Post #4 of 28
(2312 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 17, 2006
Posts: 2542
|
cintune wrote: Err...how do you climb in a Gatorade bottle?
Yeah, how do you?
|
|
|
|
|
sky7high
Apr 7, 2007, 10:05 PM
Post #5 of 28
(2302 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 15, 2006
Posts: 478
|
if you're a real dirtbag, (like me) you can use nuts (those that go on bolts) for pro; people actually used them in ancient times... not that I would ever do that though.
What I do use are hardware store-maillons for bailing, always carry one with me.
I also decided to make a gear sling out of 2-inch webbing stuffed with cotton, some cord and plastic tubing, it's a lot cheaper!! besides, you can use it as an emergency sling if the cordalette is thick enough.
|
|
|
|
|
colemanizzle
Apr 8, 2007, 2:06 AM
Post #6 of 28
(2241 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 25, 2005
Posts: 36
|
I have a gear sling made out of about two feet of seatbelt and some cordelette.
|
|
|
|
|
miavzero
Apr 8, 2007, 3:11 AM
Post #7 of 28
(2206 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 8, 2005
Posts: 624
|
on the wall you drink water from an old gatorage (gatorage?) bottle.
Ive made chocks from pieces of hard wood before I had big cams. I also made a set of tube chocks from a "discarded" park service sign pole. Ever hear of the stove leg cracks? You can make gear from all sorts of things.
Once on a trip to indian creek, I had my new mocs stolen from my campsite, so I climbed several days barefoot or in my buddies thrift store aqua shoes. I've also seen a noob doing 5.10+ friction climbing in wrestling shoes.
|
|
|
|
|
stymingersfink
Apr 8, 2007, 4:58 AM
Post #8 of 28
(2164 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 12, 2003
Posts: 7250
|
back when i was a smoker I (on occasion) re-tasked an empty beer can into an herbal smoking receptacle.
now THAT'S handy! not necessarily recommended, however
|
|
|
|
|
cintune
Apr 10, 2007, 7:38 PM
Post #9 of 28
(2019 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 10, 2004
Posts: 1293
|
Here's one. These things:
make good nut-tool lanyards, and to keep a pair of ascenders tied together.
|
|
|
|
|
nb_boarder16
Apr 13, 2007, 9:53 PM
Post #10 of 28
(1894 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 28, 2006
Posts: 45
|
I run my anchors through lengths of fire hose if I have to hang them over a sharp edge. Works great and local fire departments always have an old length of hose laying around.
|
|
|
|
|
anykineclimb
Apr 14, 2007, 4:53 AM
Post #11 of 28
(1871 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 3593
|
cintune wrote: Toy biners are not a good idea. You don't want to get them mixed up in your gear, and they'll tend to fall apart pretty quick when used for racking. I do use a big non-climbing kayak paddle keeper biner to rack slings and cords, though.
I've found toy biners at the dollar store in a 4 pack. Nice for clipping your shoes or keys or nut tool or...
|
|
|
|
|
e_free
Apr 24, 2007, 8:55 AM
Post #12 of 28
(1700 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 12, 2004
Posts: 388
|
My dad started climbing when he was 16, and told me that he and his buddies stripped some regular nuts and threaded webbing through them for pro, and climbed in a modified horse harness... you do what you gotta do, I guess! 
As for the gatorade bottle, you can use some cordalette or webbing and ducttape to make a loop and clip it to your harness/pack. My brother's had the same ones for years...indestructible. OR, you could buy the $8 nalgene... 
I used to boulder barefoot or in tennies, before i bought my first set of climbing shoes. i also never used chalk, and had long nails. Somehow, i climb worse now, thought that's probably because i am out of shape and out of practise 
|
|
|
|
|
Dillbag
Apr 24, 2007, 2:17 PM
Post #14 of 28
(1643 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 9, 2007
Posts: 93
|
"anykineclimb wrote: I've found toy biners at the dollar store in a 4 pack. Nice for clipping your shoes or keys or nut tool or...
Yes, toy biners are nice for clipping nut tool, shoes etc... However, if you ever need that biner... to clip some pro, bail off a route, make a biner brake...
Well, then you're SOL... Sure they might be cheaper and an oz. or two lighter... but they are not nearly as versatile as the real deal!
(This post was edited by Dillbag on Apr 24, 2007, 2:18 PM)
|
|
|
|
|
crackers
Apr 24, 2007, 2:22 PM
Post #15 of 28
(1636 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 20, 2005
Posts: 416
|
i've heard that apples are better than cans for that...
|
|
|
|
|
forkliftdaddy
Apr 24, 2007, 2:38 PM
Post #16 of 28
(1621 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 3, 2003
Posts: 408
|
I had some toy BD wiregates that I used for keys for a while. One day after ice climbing I discovered one attached to a screamer. My partner swore he didn't do it as a joke. So I guess we clipped it all day thinking it was real. I threw those biners in the trash that night. IMO, toy biners anywhere near the rack (much less on it) are bad. Just use an tiny full strength biner instead.
|
|
|
|
|
binrat
Apr 24, 2007, 3:50 PM
Post #17 of 28
(1585 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: 1155
|
Lost your nut tool? go to the hardware store and get a $.89 shelving support. Just cover the end with some duct tape and you're in
|
|
|
|
|
reg
Apr 24, 2007, 4:08 PM
Post #18 of 28
(1569 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 10, 2004
Posts: 1560
|
Dillbag wrote: "anykineclimb wrote: I've found toy biners at the dollar store in a 4 pack. Nice for clipping your shoes or keys or nut tool or... Yes, toy biners are nice for clipping nut tool, shoes etc... However, if you ever need that biner... to clip some pro, bail off a route, make a biner brake... Well, then you're SOL... Sure they might be cheaper and an oz. or two lighter... but they are not nearly as versatile as the real deal!
EXCELLENT point - that is what was told to me as i came up.
|
|
|
|
|
Tree_wrangler
Apr 24, 2007, 4:45 PM
Post #19 of 28
(1542 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 8, 2007
Posts: 403
|
In reply to: i've heard that apples are better than cans for that...
You're damn right they are. It's the only thing my brother will use! And, once you're done with it, you eat the evidence! (except for the now, ultra-nasty core).
Keeps you happy, AND eating well!
|
|
|
|
|
on_belay_hombre
Apr 24, 2007, 5:28 PM
Post #20 of 28
(1513 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 105
|
I read an article once about a couple of guys with no money (surprise, surprise) headed up El Cap. They didnt have a bivy ledge and couldnt afford one so they set off to solve the problem. One guy came back with ballistic nylon stretched over PVC poles (not a bad idea) and the other had driven by a tag sale, bought a lawn chair for like 50 cents and used some webbing to make a bivy ledge. They hauled up and he slept in a lawn chair...on the cliff. Priceless...literally.
Along the lines of not-too-smart I've seen a nut tool used as an aid hook and rope tied in a monkey fist as a modified "nut" placement. I made a chalk bag out of duct tape once also...more for fun than functionality.
|
|
|
|
|
reg
Apr 24, 2007, 5:56 PM
Post #21 of 28
(1496 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 10, 2004
Posts: 1560
|
on_belay_hombre wrote: and rope tied in a monkey fist as a modified "nut" placement. .
usefull trick - if placed right could save your ass
|
|
|
|
|
on_belay_hombre
Apr 24, 2007, 6:00 PM
Post #22 of 28
(1486 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 105
|
I can't argue that, I am guilty of using a knot jam for back-up, not as a primary though...
|
|
|
|
|
SamScott
Apr 24, 2007, 6:04 PM
Post #23 of 28
(1480 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 9, 2007
Posts: 105
|
Only if you know how to tie the not.
|
|
|
|
|
forkliftdaddy
Apr 26, 2007, 2:20 PM
Post #24 of 28
(1399 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 3, 2003
Posts: 408
|
I've seen a aid climber hook mank with his nut tool, bounce test it, and then stand on it. Seemed pretty damn trick to me.
On Sunday of last weekend I saw a guy with a homemade nut tool. Apparently he and his partner had gotten to the crag without one (the weekend before). So one guy shortened one of his shoe laces and they tied and taped it to the fork. The tool looked a little thick and a kinda stubby -- insert joke here -- but seemed to work.
|
|
|
|
|
07mpshei
May 1, 2007, 3:44 AM
Post #25 of 28
(1265 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 19, 2007
Posts: 8
|
my buddy snagged one of his gear loops of his harness on a tree and ripped it off. when we got home we cut the brake line off an old bike and glued it on for a new loop... hasn't come off yet but i wouldn't trust it with too much gear
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
