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adkeditor
Aug 31, 2009, 3:47 AM
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Are rock-climbing gloves used for anything other than belaying or rappelling? I soloed a slab today. As I ascended, I wondered what would happen if I slipped. I thought the friction of hands and feet would slow my fall. It occurred to me that if I had gloves, I would generate more friction and save my skin in the event of a slip. Does this make sense?
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coastal_climber
Aug 31, 2009, 4:31 AM
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You don't need gloves to climb slab better. More slab climbing = better slab climber.
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rhythm164
Aug 31, 2009, 4:49 AM
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adkeditor wrote: Does this make sense?
nope
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Peasley1
Aug 31, 2009, 3:14 PM
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adkeditor wrote: Are rock-climbing gloves used for anything other than belaying or rappelling? I soloed a slab today. As I ascended, I wondered what would happen if I slipped. I thought the friction of hands and feet would slow my fall. It occurred to me that if I had gloves, I would generate more friction and save my skin in the event of a slip. Does this make sense?
I somehow suspect that if you fell during a free solo that some raspberries on your hands will be the least of your worries.
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josiahdood
Aug 31, 2009, 4:57 PM
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If anything, not using gloves *while* climbing will increase your performance, thus making it less likely you will fall.
If you are really that worried that you may fall while soloing, maybe you shouldn't be soloing.
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adkeditor
Aug 31, 2009, 5:02 PM
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I am sorry I asked. Apparently, you can't get a simple answer to a simple question here.
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gmggg
Aug 31, 2009, 5:20 PM
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rhythm164 wrote: adkeditor wrote: Does this make sense? nope
It doesn't really get any simpler (or more correct) than that.
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budman
Aug 31, 2009, 5:23 PM
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Usually see them used in aid climbing, that is fingerless gloves. Have never had to use any sort of glove belaying or rappelling, but that is me.
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josiahdood
Aug 31, 2009, 5:39 PM
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adkeditor wrote: I am sorry I asked. Apparently, you can't get a simple answer to a simple question here.
The answers have been given:
- The advantages of not wearing gloves while climbing outweighs wearing them (if there are any advantages to wearing gloves while climbing).
- If you did fall, I'd be more worried about other parts of your body.
- Gloves are also used for big-wall climbing as your hands get wrecked pretty quick up there.
If the answer you were looking for was "Yes, maybe wearing gloves might help slow your fall if you were freesoloing on a slab," well then there.
Many people make "tape" gloves for climbing cracks, but these mostly just cover up the back of your hand - your skin grips to the rock better than a glove would.
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fresh
Aug 31, 2009, 5:48 PM
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adkeditor wrote: I soloed a slab today. As I ascended, I wondered what would happen if I slipped.
In reply to: I thought the friction of hands and feet would slow my fall.
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Peasley1
Sep 1, 2009, 1:41 AM
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adkeditor wrote: I am sorry I asked. Apparently, you can't get a simple answer to a simple question here.
obviously hasn't read to many of the threads on this forum
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karmiclimber
Sep 1, 2009, 1:44 AM
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Take it to the ladies room pls.
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unrest
Sep 1, 2009, 6:35 PM
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adkeditor wrote: As I ascended, I wondered what would happen if I slipped.
Seriously? Quit climbing. That simple. Soloist never think about falling. If you do soloing ain't your thing.
John Bachar, "I'll climb my entire life. I'll never fall soloing."
He fell. He was pretty good or so I hear.
Let me be the first.
/Troll/
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bill413
Sep 3, 2009, 2:56 PM
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adkeditor wrote: Are rock-climbing gloves used for anything other than belaying or rappelling? I soloed a slab today. As I ascended, I wondered what would happen if I slipped. I thought the friction of hands and feet would slow my fall. It occurred to me that if I had gloves, I would generate more friction and save my skin in the event of a slip. Does this make sense?
Your hands, as has been said, do a better job of gripping than gloves will. So, I think the plan you should follow is to bring a long a pair of gloves, but climb barehanded. When you slip, quickly put on the gloves, and then slow your fall with your hands.
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tradrenn
Sep 28, 2009, 3:48 AM
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Rule #1 of slab climbing: Don't fall.
Rule #1 of soloing: Don't fall.
Gloves will not help you at all, be cool, be relaxed and just simply keep moving, the moment you stop and start thinking to much or start hesitating you are done, don't let your brain do that to you.
One think that I think might help you with slab climbing is to use one of your hands palms down, just like with mantling, I find it very helpful to do just that with my left hand, you will get way more friction having your whole hand against the rock than you ever will trying to crimp some crystals.
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adkeditor
Sep 28, 2009, 4:47 PM
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Yes, I use the palms a lot in slab climbing. Just to clarify ... the slab I referrred to in my original post is not that intimidating; I had little fear of falling. Nevertheless, this being my first free solo on a class 5 route, the thought crossed my mind. Hence, the question about gloves. Since the slab is not that steep, I thought I could slow or arrest a slide through friction of my shoes and hands (gloves). Didnt seem like a stupid question at the time and still doesnt. It's just a question.
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johnwesely
Sep 28, 2009, 5:24 PM
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Why ask the question if there is only one answer you want to hear? The Gloves will not arrest your fall, and will make you more likely to fall in the first place.
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adkeditor
Sep 28, 2009, 6:00 PM
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Where do you get the idea I want to hear only one answer? I accept that the gloves won't help slow or arrest my fall.
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tradrenn
Sep 28, 2009, 11:08 PM
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About falling off of slab I can tell you that it starts slow then you pick up momentum, it's like gravity kicks in after about 5 seconds and then you just falling full speed and nothing will stop you unless you are roped up and you have a good belayer. That's all I know after falling off 2 times, so far.
Rock climbing gloves are a must in a first 2 years of learning crack climbing, IMHO.
HTH
V.
P.S. Don't worry whether your question will be taken as stupid or not, just get all the info you need and the hell with all the idiots that don't get it.
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marc801
Sep 29, 2009, 12:20 AM
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adkeditor wrote: Where do you get the idea I want to hear only one answer? I accept that the gloves won't help slow or arrest my fall.
adkeditor wrote: Since the slab is not that steep, I thought I could slow or arrest a slide through friction of my shoes and hands (gloves). Didnt seem like a stupid question at the time and still doesnt. It's just a question.
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dingus
Sep 29, 2009, 12:35 AM
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marc801 wrote: yet, even in retrospect, you still think "It's just a question." Gee, might that be the reason someone might think you only want to hear one answer?
No that someone would have to be dumber than a bag of dirt to jump to such a conclusion.
DMT
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cilohabmilc
Sep 29, 2009, 1:18 AM
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In reply to: Your hands, as has been said, do a better job of gripping than gloves will. So, I think the plan you should follow is to bring a long a pair of gloves, but climb barehanded. When you slip, quickly put on the gloves, and then slow your fall with your hands.
I think your worries are legit... I heard of a non-climber scrambling up a 5.3-ish slab only to slide 40 or so feet backwards dragging his hands along the way. When rescuers got to him his hands were nothing but tendon and bones with a few pieces of flesh flapping around.
Gloves would definitely keep your skin safer in the event of a slide, but would be just as un-helpful while attempting to ascend the route... The health care system doesn't need your money so in my opinion, just use a rope.
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brisboy
Sep 29, 2009, 1:30 AM
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what are you doing soloig if your asking stupid questions like this.
Seriously have your head screwed on if your going out soloing.
Most people that solo have been climbing for years and can answer their own questions from experince.
If your asking something as trivial about goves. Most people that have top roped a few times would know better!
Stick to roped climbing or gym climbing so fellow climbers don't have to scrape your body off the ground.
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adkeditor
Sep 29, 2009, 2:49 AM
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In reply to: Since you "...accept that the gloves won't help..." yet, even in retrospect, you still think "It's just a question." Gee, might that be the reason someone might think you only want to hear one answer?
No, that would not be the reason the poster thought I wanted to hear one answer, since he posted his comment before I posted my reply. That's usually how it works.
(This post was edited by adkeditor on Sep 29, 2009, 2:52 AM)
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