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Danger_Mouse
May 17, 2011, 7:04 PM
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I've been climbing for a short while, currently climbing indoors bouldering and doing routes. I've got my harness,stickies,belay device,karabiner and chalk bag.I'm still a beginner but my friend who's in the Army is an instructor been boasting about his climbing skills for years.But as I'm getting better,he's gone quiet. I know he thinks indoor is a waste of time and sticks to outdoor. Another friend of mine is always saying it's worth having your own quickdraws and investing in some rope.
So what gear do I need?I'm hearing one thing,reading another going around in circles.I've not needed anything else at my local wall but as I'm trying new places and possibly doing a bit of outdoor when I've increased my skill level.So what do I need?
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redlude97
May 17, 2011, 7:11 PM
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Well you need a partner first of all, preferably with a rope and draws already
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lena_chita
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May 17, 2011, 7:13 PM
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Assuming sport climbing, gear is pretty straightforward-- rope and draws will supplement the gear you already own.
But you don't need gear so much as you need someone to climb with -- someone who knows what they are doing, so they can answer these questions for you and show you in person how things are done.
If that friend of yours really is someone who has been climbing for years, and hwo is climbing outside a lot, then there's your opportunity.
if not, ask at the gym. Someone working at your gym should be able to point out experienced people to you that might be willing to take a beginner along. Also, a lot of gyms have group trips organized specifically for beginners. You wouldn't know unless you ask someone.
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michael1245
May 17, 2011, 7:31 PM
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Danger_Mouse wrote: I've been climbing for a short while, currently climbing indoors bouldering and doing routes. I've got my harness,stickies,belay device,karabiner and chalk bag.I'm still a beginner but my friend who's in the Army is an instructor been boasting about his climbing skills for years.But as I'm getting better,he's gone quiet. I know he thinks indoor is a waste of time and sticks to outdoor. Another friend of mine is always saying it's worth having your own quickdraws and investing in some rope. So what gear do I need?I'm hearing one thing,reading another going around in circles.I've not needed anything else at my local wall but as I'm trying new places and possibly doing a bit of outdoor when I've increased my skill level.So what do I need?
besides what you already own, don't buy anything yet.
get a guide to take you to the local climbing area and ask what they use. maybe it's sport, so you may only need a handful of draws. if it's trad, you might want to find out the exact peices of gear needed before you blow a fortune on peices you're not going to use. or, maybe it's all TR and tree anchors and all you need is some cord and slings.
someone who knows the area will be able to tell you in detail exactly what you'll need and show you how to set it up.
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Danger_Mouse
May 17, 2011, 7:35 PM
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I've made a few climbing buddies this week,so I should hopefully learn a more as I go on. The one thing that concerns me a little is would you let a complete stranger belay?that's a whole lotta trust for a stranger-I wouldn't trust my girlfriend to belay because she'd probably drop me on purpose lol
I can picture it now-I've just dropped 30 metres,I look up and see her face and she says "that's coz you didn't take the bins out!"
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MarcelS
May 17, 2011, 8:28 PM
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Danger_Mouse wrote: I've made a few climbing buddies this week,so I should hopefully learn a more as I go on. The one thing that concerns me a little is would you let a complete stranger belay?that's a whole lotta trust for a stranger-I wouldn't trust my girlfriend to belay because she'd probably drop me on purpose lol I can picture it now-I've just dropped 30 metres,I look up and see her face and she says "that's coz you didn't take the bins out!"
As for strangers belaying you, it is of course a hard one. I would not let a complete stranger belay me before being very confident in the fact he/she is an experienced climber, but as you said it is a matter of trust.
If you meet them in your gym it is very easy to see if they can belay well of course. And what I do with a new climbing partner is "forgetting" the partner check. If they forget it too, I get a bit worried. Another test is to simply have someone watching, or climb an easy route and watch how they belay during the first meters.
Oh.. I have my gf belay me once in a while, so she keeps her knowledge (she belays me in the rocks on our holidays). And I never take the bins out... you made me think!
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herites
May 18, 2011, 7:21 AM
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Registered: Apr 10, 2011
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As others said, you need an experienced partner first. Since he's experienced, he has the gear. The "gear" you'll have the most use of is beer/gas, so you can offer something in return for using your partner's gear and time. Buying your own rope can be a strong bargaining factor though, also buying a quickdraw to practice clipping wouldn't hurt either.
The gear you really need is: harness, shoes, chalk! (don't get the habit of "chalk is free" and using other's chalk all the time), chalkbag, belay/rappel device, prusik cord, a few biners and some webbing (or you could use quickdraws to anchor yourself at the top while rigging your rappel)
This gear will be enough for single pitch outdoor sport climbs.
(This post was edited by herites on May 18, 2011, 7:22 AM)
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