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Traditional Climbing Gear List

Beginners Rock Kit: (Climbing Wall only)

Rock Shoes
Chalk Bag
Harness
HMS Screwgate Karabiner
DMM Bug Belay plate

Beginners Rock Kit (easy / short crags)
Wild Country Rocks on Wire (Set 1- 10)
Wild Country Rockcentrics (3,5,7)
DMM Quickdraws (wiregates) x 4
1.2m dyneema slings x 4
2.4m dyneema slings x 2
Nutter
Standard Karabiners x 8
Accessory Karabiners x 2
Prussik Loops x 2

Additional for longer routes
Additional rocks on wire
Additional quickdraws x 6
Cams ("Friends") sizes to suit rock

and of course... either

Single 10.5 or 11mm rope (50m or 60m)
or...
twin 9mm ropes (50m or 60m)

Everyone seems to have different preferences and ideas as to what constitutes a sensible traditional or "trad" rack (the range of kit you need to climb with). As a beginner I have found that (a) If you go out to the crag you need to commit to begging / borrowing or buying quite a bit of kit, and (b) that the gear you may need in somewhere like for example the Peak District (where many climbs are single pitch), differs from the amount you will need somewhere like Wales for example.
We found this the first time we went climbing in Wales. We ended up running very short of gear quite quickly halfway up the crag. After we got down we went into Betws y Coed and bought several more slings / nuts and especially quickdraws.
So here I have listed what I've got so far based on other experienced climbers suggestions and from the books I've read.I've included pictures because, like me when I started, if someone said "do you want wiregates" or "plaingates" I wouldn't have had a clue what the difference was!

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The Petzl Ecrin Roc helmet in my opinion is an excellent helmet. It's not cheap, but then neither is your head. I love the adjustment. Two knurled plastic wheels at either side of the helmet adjust headband and head strap quickly positively and easily....and it takes of course the Petzl headtorches. My torch of choice - the Petzl DUO

DMM Bug

Plain Gate
Karabiner

Select Gear
Using the buttons

Bent Gate
Karabiner

Wire Gate
Karabiner

Cheap, good gate clearance. Costs about £4.50 each. Used for runners (running belays), clipping gear to the harness.

Easier to clip rope. Costs about £4.50 each. Used for runners (running belays), clipping gear to the harness.

HMS Screwgate
Karabiner

Used for attaching belay device to harness. Pear shaped to allow rope to be clove hitched twice to it. Screwgate for safety. £6-£10

Light. Good gate clearance. Lasts longer than the spring mech on the other types. Cheap £4.00 approx. Same uses.

Petzl DUO

Ecrin ROC

Nuts on Wire

Slings

Harness

HMS Krab

Rock Shoes

Used for setting up belay anchors at a stance The screwgate ensures it cannot accidentally come undone. £5.00

DMM Bug. One of many belay devices. I like this one as it is good for double ropes, smooth and can be used to abseil. £12 - £14

D Type Screwgate
Karabiner

DMM Bug Belay Plate

Harness

Personal One Off Equipment

Attachment Devices

Quickdraw

Rockcentrics

Used to attach the rope to the protection. Although you could use a single karabiner, having a sling between mean less chance of the rope pulling out the protection. £8 - £14

Slings

Climbing Gear

Nutkey

For indoor use you don't need too many gear loops but if you intend to use it outside - ensure it has at least 3 or 4 (or even 5) gearloops.
Adjustable leg straps are useful if you use it in the winter outside - with lots of layers a fixed elastic leg loop version tends to be a bit tight.
Tend to be around £35 - £60

Chalkbag

Nutkey - (nutter / proddler) whatever you call it. Necessary for removing protection when climbing outside. Not needed at a climbing wall obviously.
About £3 ish

Chalkbag. Used extensively indoors as the holds tend to get a bit slippery. Used outdoors t on harder routes or when you are sweating.
I use chalkballs "goolies" which are chalk held in a fine muslim bag.
About £10 +£2 for chalk

Helmet

Often the last bit of gear people buy. Some people won't use them. But for mountaineering or outdoor climbing I think my head is worth protecting. not just for falls but dropped gear and falling rock.
About £25 - £45

Protection

Rope

Protection tends to be divided up into Static and Dynamic protection. Static protection are Nuts / Hex's / bongs etc - Dynamic protection are devices that have some form of moving action - the main one being Technical "friends" or "cams".
Cams are more expensive than nuts, but have a greater range of operation and are ideal for parallel cracks or pockets where a nut would be useless.

Nuts on Wire

Hex's

Cams

Slings - either nylon or Dyneema (which is lighter and smaller) are invaluable for setting up belays and extending runners (running belays)
£2 to £10

DMM Wallnuts / Wild Country Rocks on Wire - they are all similar. Passive protection that is the bread and butter of Belays and Runners. Sizes 1 to 10 - at last one set. Long routes may need more. £55 / set

Bigger nuts. I have sizes 3, 5 7 and 8. I use tem for belays if possible - they do make you feel good if you can find a good placement. You could hang a car of them. £30 ish for set of 4

Expensive but bloody excellent protection. They have worked for me when nothing else would and needed protection fast. I carry flexible friends - sizes 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. Prices £25 - £70

For simgle rope use I use a 10.5mm rope with drycoat coating to stop it absorbing too much water. All ropes have gradings and it is important to ensure the rope you are using is appropriate for te use you are putting it to. I will not go into it here - far to complicated and you should read an appropriate book on the subject.
I would buy a 60m rope next time as I prefer mountain routes rather than short technical climbs. An 11mm rope is heavier but more resilient to wear. Ensure you look after it - it needs to look after you.

Price £65 - £120

50m 10.5mm

Rock Shoes

Rock shoes have a sticky sole that gives you more friction that you thought possible.
Essential that they are comfortable and allow you to "feel" the rock.
About £35 - £75

Use the Gear Selector above to find out more about the basic bits of gear. Click on the ... buttons to change the display.