Basic Rock-Climbing equipment

Rope

The climbing rope is the main component of a safety system. Modern nylon climbing ropes use a ‘Kernmantle’ design, meaning they have a thick ‘kern’ or core, providing most of the strength, plus a thin ‘mantle’ or sheath, to protect the core.

Webbing

Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile component used in climbing & slack-lining.

Climbing Shoes

A climbing shoe is a specialized type of footwear designed for rock climbing. Typical climbing shoes have a close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth, sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber rand.

Helmet

The climbing helmet is a piece of safety equipment that primarily protects the skull against falling debris (such as rocks or dropped pieces of protection) and impact forces during a fall.

Belay Devices

Belay devices are mechanical friction brake devices used to control a rope when belaying. Their main purpose is to allow the rope to be locked off with minimal effort to arrest a climber’s fall

Carabiner

Carabiners, or often called, D-Rings by military professionals, are widely used in rope-intensive activities such as climbing.

Chalk

Chalk is used by nearly all climbers to absorb problematic moisture, often sweat, on the hands. It is stored as a loose powder in a special chalk bag designed to prevent spillage, most often closed with a drawstring. It is then hung by a carabiner from the climbing harness or from a simple belt worn around the climber’s waist.

Hexes

Hexes are the oldest form of active protection. They consist of a hollow eccentric hexagonal prism with tapered ends, usually threaded with cord or webbing. They are frequently placed as a passive chock.

Quickdraws

Quickdraws (often referred to as ‘draws’) are used by climbers to connect ropes to bolt anchors, or to other
traditional protection, allowing the rope to move through the anchoring system with minimalf
riction.