 If you start climbing, you will probably feel puzzled about all the different gear and the strange names some equipment have. In this section, we will give an answer on all this. After reading, you should know the difference between nuts and cams, friends and carabiners etc. Belay Device
The Belay Device is a Mechanical device used to hold the rope of a climber. There are many version of this, but probably the most common used device is the ATC device
CamSpring Loaded Camming Devices (SLCD), or in short, cams are probably one of the most versatile protection you can probably imagine. Cams are also often called Friends the name given to them by their American inventor, former aerospace engineer, Ray Jardine, way back in the winter of 1973.To use cams, just pull on the handle which makes the head narrow, and then place it into the crack. When the friend is in place you release the pressure on the handle and the head cams back out to fill the crack, therefore securing itself to the rock. 
There are units with double axles, double stems, triple cams, and even dual cams, all claiming advantages over the original single stem, single axle, four cam design. CarabinerThere are many different types of carbiners, and they are used for many different things in climbing. For example, an HMS Carabiner is mainly used for securing yourself when you are top roping and also for belaying. These little clippy devices snap closed and the screw is tightened closed to secure them.Other carabiners, are D- or the Oval Carabiners and Snap Carabiners, that you an both use for several purposes.
Draws or Slings Draws or Slings are used to carry gear if the gear loops on your harness are not sufficient anymore. In addition,
slings are usefull to function as an extender.
HarnessA harness forms a chair when you tie-in. A good fit in the waist and leg loops is critical. In our Harness Buyers Guide you will find a more detailed description of the harness.HelmetA helmet is a wise investment for climbers of all ability levels. Not only will a helmet protect you from injury in falls, but more often will it protect you from falling debris when you are climbing. To read more about it, view our Helmet Buyers Guide.Hexes
Hexes are sometimes difficult to place, but once they are placed they are really safe.
In addition Hexes also are lighter and cheaper than cams. Hexes are mainly used for large cracks and can be applied to the rock in a similar way to nuts, placing them in side ways at the back of a crack and then fiddling with them until they are secure.
Nuts Nuts are cheap, light, and placements are common. Most leaders carry between 15 and 20 nuts.
The idea behind nuts are that when you are climbing you place the head of the nut into a crack in the rock. As a crack get wider the further back, they go into the rock, which works out really well. So when you put the nut in and pull on it, it won't come out because the crack is narrower towards the surface of the rock.
Rock Climbing ShoesTime invested in finding the right type and size of your rock climbing shoes is very important. To learn what you should look out for, read our Shoe Buyers Guide.RopeYour rope is probably the most important thing in climbing. In our Rope Buyers Guide you will find the ins and outs.Tricams Like nuts tricams come in many different sizes and styles. To use them you roll the head of it back until its rests on the material. Keeping it in this position you place it into a wide(ish) crack and pull on the end of it until it tightens. This happens because as you pull on the end of it, the head tries to unravell from the material and expands (cams out) so it gets stuck.
Beware, that tricam can be hard to remove and also that they are quite hard to place if you are not experienced.
A Special Thanks To ABCs of Rock Climbing |
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