So here is the list Rachel gave me for starting outdoor climbing...This is also MY opinion, if you follow it blindly, I have some other great advice for you.
For some silly reason Shel Busey came to mind, so here is the list...Godd, Better, Best!
| What | Good (will work, but don't screw up) | Better | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection | |||
| Harness | One-size-fits-most rental style | Fixed Leg Harness | Adjustable Harness |
| Helmet | Basic Plastic Camp Helmet | Foamy (side impact) | Plastic outer with foam inner |
| Climbing/Belaying/Rappeling | |||
| Climbing Shoes | Runners | Blue Lace-up 5.10 rentals | Something that fits great and is comfy |
| Belay Device | Gri-Gri | ATC style without multi-pitch loop | ATC style with multi-pitch loop |
| Locking Biners* (for belaying) | 2x medium biners | 2x large biners | 1x large biner and 1x large belay biner |
| Prussiks | none, who needs them? | 5mm x 1.5m | 6mm x 1.5m |
| Escape | |||
| Quicklink | 1/4" aluminum | 1/4" stainless steel | 3/16" stainless steel with extra wide mouth |
| Safetys and Anchors | |||
| Safety | 60cm sling | Daisy Chain | PAS |
| Locking Biner* | Large biner | Medium biner | |
| Sling | 60cm sling | 120cm sling | both so you can choose up there |
| Anchor Biners | 4 wiregates -OR- 3 wiregates and a cow htch | 4x lockers | 2x oval lockers, and 2x D lockers |
| Other things to get as you get better | |||
| Quickdraws | Go shopping, you need a minimum of 6 in the bow valley, and 10 is pretty much the max. I have since been informed that 10 is good, but there is one route in Cougar Canyon that needs 13. I vote you find a friend to bring theirs. |
||
| Rope | Go shopping, I can't help you. Minimum length of 60m. | ||
| Rope Bag | If it covers your rope, unrolls into a tarp, and doesn't rip, it's good. | ||
| 1" Tubular webbing (Tree slings) | 1x 2m | 2x 2m | 2x 3m |
| Prussiks (Rescue/Ascending) | 2x 4mm x 5m | 2x 5mm x 5m | 2x 6mm x 5m |
| Extra locking biners | 1x medium biner | 1x large biner | 1 large and 1 medium biner |
*Do I care if they are auto-lockers, or screwgates??? Not really, whatever works reliably for you. Actually, this applies to everything (ice axes, harnesses, shoes, books, accents, sex).
**But screwgates can be vibrated open. Yes, but thats why there are 2 on the anchor and opposite facing. I've have auto-lockers roll against the cliff face and open too.
Some locking biners I like are:
- Large: Petzl William
- Large: Brasovia D biner
- Large: Brasovia Twistlock biner
- Medium: DMM Belay Master 2
- Medium: Wild Country Neon