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Beginning Aid and Ladders

Original Post
Marty Wells · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 15

I'm sure this has been asked before. But what are some good beginner aid ladders?
I was looking into the Metolius 8 Step 1 in ladder. But wanted to get some opinions from others.

Scott O · · Anchorage · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 70

No such thing as a "beginner" ladder. I like Yates.

Wilson On The Drums · · Woodbury, MN · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 940

+1 for yates. i got the big wall ladders as a gift. they are color coded for easy identification (left/right), they have a spreader bar at top to keep them easy to step in and doubles as a bar to pull up on, they have the sewn runner to pull up on as well. the biggest plus are the elastic straps under each step that you can loop over your foot to keep it in place while jumaring.

they are also way easier to use compared to the black diamond aiders i've tried.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

FISH

Scott O · · Anchorage · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 70
john strand wrote:FISH
Every new wall climber should waste at least 12 hours of their life at the Fish website.

fishproducts.com/

Then waste another 12 hours once you have some walls under your belt.

I love my Fish ledge, and their wall bags are money.
Kevin DeWeese · · @failfalling - Oakland, Ca · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 981

Any ladder with a spreader bar will work. No spreader bar = sad times for you on an aid-intensive pitch.

Insert name · · Harts Location · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 46

Best explanation on a climbing website

but you better bring a Bivy Sack or you will probably die in a storm. Ya hear that...? Yer gonna' DIE!

courtesy of: fishproducts.com/

Kevin DeWeese · · @failfalling - Oakland, Ca · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 981

Why don't you like the spreader bar Jeremy? Adds to the cluster?

marcin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 140

I made my own from webbing. They were ok but were very cumbersome and were hard on the feet. Then got the Yates. Awesome product. World of difference.

Moof · · Portland, OR · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 25

The best ones are ones you borrow to make sure you really want to get into this crap, and see what your preferences are like. Borrow what you can, or tie some webbing up and go do laps on something at your local crag until you figure out the systems. Get proficient at as many variations as you can tolerate (adjustables vs. not, 2, 3, or 4 aiders, etc). If you are still liking this aid crap at that point, then go for it and you'll know pretty well what works best for you.

Yates are my favorite aiders, and I wish I had gotten the "speed" version that is a little lighter and less bulky, but the standards are just great.

If you go with Yates, add a few wraps of duck tape on the webbing right at the spreader bar, as this is a high wear spot with the spreader bar grinding the webbing into the rock.

Ted Reed · · Springfield, VT · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 55

I like using Metolius 8 step aiders (2), adjustable daisies (2), and the Kong adjustable Fifi (1). The Yates are overkill IMO.

Eric Klammer · · Eagle, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 2,070

Watch out for that there 8-Step...

Review from amazon.com

Met. 8-Step Amazon review.

"Get a real ladder"!

Moof · · Portland, OR · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 25

If going with just 2 ladder style aiders, I strongly recommend a spreader bar style (Fish or Yates, and some Euro ones). Walking up a single aider without a spreader bar makes it really hard to get into the top couple steps without lots of wrestling and frigging your foot in.

Jace Mullen · · Oceanside, Ca · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 10

Definitely go ladder style with spreader bar. Fish's kick ass and look stylish as all hell (and rule #1 is always Look Good).

The etrier style did nothing but piss me off as they need to be oriented correctly every time or else everything gets fugged up.

Go Fish. Go ladders. Look good.

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

^^^

Doubling up on that advice as it is SOLID!

FISH/ladder style is the ticket to ride!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Big Wall and Aid Climbing
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