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what equipment is needed to start

Original Post
Kateri · · Montreal, QC · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

My son has been climbing and competing indoors for a while. I want to get him started with some equipment for outdoors. What does he need to get started? He already has a harness, shoes and belay device.

Thanks

Trasgo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0
Kateri wrote:My son has been climbing and competing indoors for a while... What does he need to get started?
a beanie and 12 quick draws
DaveB · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 1,075

Mature, qualified, and competent instruction.

Andrew Blease · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 470

+1 on what Ben said.

As far as climbing gear it depends on what kind of climbing your son likes to do. If he is a hard core boulder guy get him a good crash pad. If he likes rope climbing then a 60m dynamic rope, some quick draws, some locking carabiners and a couple 4ft runners will get him started sport climbing. You definitely need to find him some good instruction in the form of a climbing mentor. Trial and error is not the best or safest way to learn how to climb.

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

Like DaveB said, qualified and competent instruction from a person/organization that focuses primarily on outdoor climbing would be where you start. Outdoor climbing takes place in a much less controlled environment than indoor, so there's a good bit more to go wrong.

How old is your son? Is he interested in bouldering (no ropes, close to the ground, either not falling far enough to get hurt or relying on strategically placed pads), sport climbing (ropes and quickdraws needed, but relying on pre-placed bolts to clip into much like in the gym) or trad climbing (place your own anchors, much equipment needed, level of safety depends on your ability to place gear as well as your climbing ability)?

Presumably whoever takes your son out trad or sport climbing the first few times will have rope, draws and protection (stoppers, cams, etc.), so your son could get started with just the equipment that he has.

Andy Maguire · · Estes park, CO · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 65

A helmet is a great piece of equipment to promote the right attitude towards the sport.
A nice backpack capable of carrying survival gear and extra layers is always a plus in a mountain environment!

Will Copeland · · Driggs · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 25

Send him on a NOLS climbing course. He'll have a great base of trad knowledge and know everything he'll need to know for sport and top roping. He'll also get a fantastic introduction to climbing outdoors plus all that leadership stuff.

Julius Beres · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 364
Andy Maguire wrote:A helmet is a great piece of equipment to promote the right attitude towards the sport.
Definitely a helmet! I'm surprised it wasn't the first thing mentioned.

I don't really think he needs much else for the time being. If he hasn't climbed outside before, he should go with someone experienced, and that experienced person will likely have all the other gear needed. (aside from the stuff he already has plus a helmet).

Once he goes out a few times you will have a better idea of what kind of gear is needed depending on what style of climbing your son does and the options in your area.
NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60

I would second the idea of getting instruction from a qualified and experienced guide. I would also be wary about getting "outdoor" instruction through a gym. Some gyms offer a "gym to crag" course. Although some of these gym sponsored courses are taught by great instructors with peerless credentials and abundant experience, some are taught by young adults with a SPI cert and limited time spent climbing outside. My experience has been that credible outdoor guide services are more often staffed by more experienced individuals. In the SE there are a few guide services that focus on instruction, and do a great job at it. I am sure that there are similarly focused guide services throughout the country. My point is that instruction is great, but you need to do your research; not all "instructors" are the same.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

instructions from a guide or someone who knows what they are doing

that person will let you know what youll need ...

Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420

As far as instruction goes, he probably has met people in the gym that he can tag along with to the crag who have all the necessary equipment (except a helmet, buy him one of those to start with). After a few rounds of this, he'll know what he needs. The NOLS course was a good suggestion, too.

Matt Marino · · Georgetown, MA · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 10

I'll echo a few of the obvious points above before I give you a list. A helmet is absolutely essential and obviously he needs shoes and a harness.

About instruction I took a couple courses from Vertical Adventures in Joshua Tree and it really sped up the learning curve for me. Especially in getting me to lead and feel safe and comfortable placing gear. If you can afford it it's money well spent. And as a Father you'll probably feel a lot better knowing he learned the basics from an experienced instructor and not someone that may or may not be the best teacher. A lot of great climbers aren't great teachers. Not taking anything away from them but it's just the way it is. Not everyone can teach.

So besides possibly taking some classes and finding a good mentor here is a list I got a few years back from an instructor. It's divided into 3 areas. The first is for top roping off nature features without gear. The second is for setting up gear topropes, and the third is for lead climbing. I'm not saying to go out and by all of this at once as each group builds upon the others so that you can acquire it slowly (unless you want to go blow about $3K) and obviously all this is for Trad climbing.

Top-Roping: For Bolts, Boulders, and Trees
1 10 - 10.5 mm dynamic rope: 70m
1 10 - 10.5 mm static extension rope: 70 Ft
1 5mm perlon rescue cord: 48"
3 oval non-lockers for master point
3 pear shaped lockers: large
1 Double Length Sling: 48"
1 7mm Cordellete: 120"

Top-Roping:Gear Anchors
8 Single Length Sewn Sling: 22"-24"
16 Wiregates (For Alpine Draws)
1 set Hexes, Black Diamond: 6,7,8,9
1 set BD Nuts: 4,- 13
1 Nut Tool
2 Oval Non-Lockers for Racking Nuts & Hexes
1 set Black Diamond C4's :.5 .75, 1, 2, 3
1 set Neutrino Wiregates (Racking Cams)
1 set Metolious Master/Powercams: 4, 5, 6, 7
4 Wiregates (For Racking Metolius Cams)
2 D Shaped Lockers
1 set Tri Cams: .5, 1, 2
1 Shoulder Sling
1 Oval Non-Locker for Racking Tri-Cams

Lead Climbing
1 set Metolious TCU's:00, 1, 2, 3, 5
1 set Metolious Master Powercams: .2, .3, .4
1 set Black Diamond C4's: 3,4
1 set Nuts, Black Diamond (in addition to already mentioned): .3-.8
12 Wiregates (For Racking Cams, Nuts)
2 Double Length Slings: 48in
1 Quadruple Length Sling: 96in

A lot of people will probably say this is overkill but I can say I've used everything on this list at one point (and then some). Hope this helps.

-sp · · East-Coast · Joined May 2007 · Points: 75

Curious, why non-lockers for the master point?

Kateri · · Montreal, QC · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

Thanks everyone

He's 13 and he's been gym climbing for 5 years (lead for 4 years). He will be taking a class outdoors with someone I know and trust. I just wanted to get an idea on what I will need to buy. He already has a harness and shoes. I guess I'll be buying him a helmet and some draws to start.

Oh, he already has a beanie ;)

Owen Darrow · · Helena, mt · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 1,790

+15 for a killer dad! You should go to the climbing course with your son, nothing bonds men better, haha. Enjoy

Steve Murphy · · Timnath, CO · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 20
Owen Darrow wrote:+15 for a killer dad! You should go to the climbing course with your son, nothing bonds men better, haha. Enjoy
Kateri
Personal: Lives in Montreal, QC, Female

I think the bonding thing will still work, though :)
Owen Darrow · · Helena, mt · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 1,790

Sorry but still, haha!

Matt Marino · · Georgetown, MA · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 10
-sp wrote:Curious, why non-lockers for the master point?
when setting up a TR I prefer to use 3 non-lockers (alternating and apposed) as it creates a smoother slide action on the rope since the pieces are always in line and do not invert. And with three it should be just as safe as 2 lockers. You're right though you could just as easily use the lockers and it would be virtually the same setup. Since I never toprope anything I use the ovals for racking extra nuts and offsets now anyway so it's best to think of this list as a suggestion with lots of opportunity to reassign gear to another purpose. I in no way think anything I say should be taken as Gospel.
Kateri · · Montreal, QC · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

Owen, I think that climbing probably bonds men better than it does a mom and her son. All it gets me is laughed at. My son laughs at me cause I can't send a 5.7 and he's sending 5.11c/d.

John Maguire · · Boulder, CO · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 195

If your goal is to get him sport climbing outdoors, I highly recommended NOT getting him any real instruction...Its really not that hard of a sport to do safely once you understand a select few concepts.

- How to clean an anchor
- Why not to backclip
- Don't fall before the first bolt

Get him a rope, some quickdraws, and a guidebook to the area. Get yourself into climbing too - it will be a great way to share time!

I wouldn't recommended getting him any trad equipment until he has a someone whose willing to be a mentor for him. Have him follow some experienced folks for a while before committing to that purchase.

Tyson Anderson · · SLC, UT · Joined May 2007 · Points: 126
John Maguire wrote:If your goal is to get him sport climbing outdoors, I highly recommended NOT getting him any real instruction...Its really not that hard of a sport to do safely once you understand a select few concepts.
Um...why not? I can't tell you how many little things I picked up from my mentor that I could not have learned from a book. True that sport climbing is much simpler than other forms of climbing but it can be just as disastrous if you make one mistake.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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