Rock and mountain climbing is one of the most popular of the extreme sports. One of the things about rock climbing is the equipment which can cost a pretty penny but you do want to make sure that you are buying only the best because you want to be safe no matter what the cost. If you choose to use the equipment that is not of the highest quality you are allowing yourself to be put into danger because the equipment may fail when you are on the side of a mountain. This can be very dangerous to say the least.
The first and probably most important piece of rocking climbing equipment that you are going to buy is the rope. Most often people think that rope is rope but that is anything but true. Standard rope can not withstand the friction and pressure that is required for rock climbing. The standard for rock climbing rope is the type that is millions of strands of high tolerance fiber that are woven together and then fused with other woven bands of fiber. Once all is woven together you get the tinsel strength that is very important. The best thing about this type of rope is the way that it will stretch and accept the weight of the person that is being suspended.
A rope bag is another important piece of rock climbing equipment. An important part of rock climbing safety is to be sure that all of the equipment is keeping it all clean and dry. The rope is very important when it comes to keep clean. If you get the rope dirty with oil or what have you there is a very good chance that it can fail when it is being used. The rope bag is very good for helping to keep it clean and dry. The rope is fed into the bag and then it is pulled out once it is needed while climbing. This is also in place to make sure that the rope does not get tangled or knotted during the climb which can spell disaster for the climber.
Rock climbing shoes are also important. The shoes that should be worn for rock climbing are specifically designed for such things with soles that help the climber grip the rocks with their feet. In most cases they would recommend that the novice wear a lace up shoe. This is due to the fact that when you are new to the sport you do not want any kind of slippage. The lace up shoes also have a thicker sole which allows for more comfort and less pain on the rock. The experienced climber will most likely go with the slipper style of shoe which has an ultra thin sole. The thin sole allows the climber to feel the rocks with the feet as there are climbing, adding an extra bit of safety.
Carabiners come close to the top as far as importance goes with rock climbing equipment. The carabiner is a quick release anti-fail device that allows the climber to move the rope and also go up and down without a lot of hassle. The carabiners that are sold these days are fairly simple to use and the best ones are made out of high temperature steel. A cheap carabiner will most likely break and this can cause a fall from the side of the mountain.
Follow these guidelines, gear up for rock climbing, and you will surely have a great, fun and safe outdoor experience.
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