Climbing gears when used correctly allow the possibility for climbers to experience the dynamism and benefits of the sport of climbing without worrying about the obvious dangers. However, the ownership of gears are not enough. Knowledge of which gears that are suitable in every situation and an understanding of the mechanisms of the gears are vital in maximising the safety benefits that the various gears offer.
Many climbing gear designs evolved from the safety equipment technology of mountaineering and work-at-height equipments. Climbing gear manufacturers come out with ever improving solutions and innovations every year in their products that are more advanced, lighter, stronger and safer allowing climbing performance overall to increase.
When purchasing your personal climbing gears, only buy products that are certified and tested according to the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) & International Federation of Sport Climbing ( IFSC) standards. CIA climbing operates and manages gears base on these extremely high safety standards.

The type of gears that you need will depend on the type of climbing that you are doing. Here are some of the basic equipments needed to be able to climb in an outdoor climbing environment. The information here will be more angled towards beginners.

1. Climbing Shoes

   

   A pair of personal climbing shoes is needed for beginners who are picking up climbing. Having a good pair of shoes is vital in increasing performance and improvement during the learning phase. When buying your first pair of shoes, make sure that:

   • The size & fit of the shoe is the most important. The fit has to be tight but not to the point where you feel pain.
   • Browse through many brands and see which one is suitable for you.
   • Pick a hard-soled shoe for greater support and avoid professional performance shoes if you are a beginner. You could end up getting injured feet and ankles.

2. Chalk Bag & Chalk

     

   Chalk bags in climbing nowadays are more of a fashion statement. Pick a design that you are drawn to. Make sure the design that you pick is suitable with the size of your hands. Easy & quick insertion of your hands into the chalk bag is important especially when climbing difficult routes.

   • A choice of lose chalk or chalk ball is available. A mixture or both is ideal.
   • Check with your local gym if you are doing indoor climbing as some only allow chalk balls.

3. Seat Harness

   

   A good harness is a vital safety equipment in your personal gear collection. Make sure you choose a harness that is comfortable with enough padding, gear loops and a solid belay loop. Most new design harnesses come with auto-locking buckles.

   • As the strength of a harness holds your body weight. Good care is important. Do not store your harness in direct sunlight and near any kind of chemicals which could corrode the materials.
   • Cleaning of your harness should only be done with detergents that are designated by the harness manufacturer or just clean plain water.

4. Climbing Helmet

   

   There are various dangers in the climbing environment especially when climbing outdoors. Obvious hazards include falling lose rocks, hitting your head in a fall, awkward falls, etc. Therefore, wearing a helmet that is certified with UIAA, CE & EN12492 standards should be mandatory for both climber and belayer.

5. Belay Device

   

   Climbers should be equipped with a good ATC & Carabiner for belaying purposes. Figure of 8s are not suitable for belaying purposes.

6. Climbing Rope

   

   Dynamic ropes which absorbs most of the impact in the event of a fall is the correct rope type for climbing. We advice using a 10.2 or 10.5mm diameter rope and a 60m – 70m length which is the most suitable for normal climbing usage.

   • Just like your harness, a rope is your lifeline, therefore, do not store your rope in direct sunlight and near any kind of chemicals which could corrode the materials.
   • Cleaning of your rope should only be done with detergents that are designated by the rope manufacturer or just clean plain water.

7. Runners & Quick Draws

   

   Runners and quick draws is used when lead climbing. Correct usage and picking a suitable length for the situation is the most important when using this equipment. A set of runners and quickdraws should consists of 10 to 20 units with lengths that ranges from 15cm to 20cm. Depending on the climbing, ideal runners and quick draws should be light weight and preferably have a snag free opening.

8. Dasiy Chain & Backup Lanyard set

   

   This consists of a sling and a caribiner. This equipment is used during the point of setting anchors, getting into a resting position or during an emergency.

9. Gear Bag

   

   A good climbing gear bag with at least 20liters content space helps especially when you need to hike and trek to your climbing location. A good gear bag should be lightweight combined with strong stitching and have a duffel style opening for easy organisation, access and packing of gears.
   A climbing gear bag is also a style statement.

10. Rope Bag

    

    A rope bag consist of a flysheet to protect your rope when its on the ground. It is also ideal for packing and carrying the rope while trekking to the crags.