Rock Climbing Equipment

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Rock Climbing Equipment
Many of the different climbing styles require their own type of equipment (aka. gear).



The harness (or pelvic harness, seen at the left) is used by adults in rock climbing styles that use ropes. The harness allows the climber to tie into the ropes while climbing. The children's full body harness (right) is used for children approximatly ages 4-9 years old. Children's waist can be smaller than their hips at this age and this may allow them to slip out of a pelvic harness.

Climbing shoes differ from sneakers, because sneakers flare out at the bottoms and climbing shoes hug your feet as much as possible. This allows the climber to stand on even the smalles holds.



Helmets (right) keep the climber's head safe from falling rocks, other climbers and the ropes.

Chalk bags (left) hold small bags of chalk dust, or chalk pieces. Climbers put chalk on their hands to increase their gripping ability of holds. Chalk bags can clip on your harness or come with a belt to tie around the climber's waist.



Camalots (aka Cams, right) are used in traditional style climbing make places to hook the rope into the rock so they do not fall as far.

Crash Pads (safety pads, left) are used in bouldering to provide a softer (safer) place to land.

A Carabiner (right) is used to tie ropes into other equipment. The screw latch provides more safety to ensure that it does not open while the climber is climbing.

The Belay Devise (left) is used by a belayer to take up the slack in a climber's rope, and keep them from falling.



A Quickdraw (right) is used by sport climbers to attach to their ropes and gear to the wall with predrilled bolts.

Rope (left) attaches the climber to their equipment and to the belayer. (indoorclimbing.com)

Reference

indoorclimbing.com. (2010). ''Climbing Gear. ''Retrieved from: http://www.indoorclimbing.com/climbing_gear.html

Kids Climbing Holds