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16 signs that it is time to retire your climbing gear

Original Post
Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

1. Marilyn Monroe once admired its bleach job.

2. You can remember that you bought it during the Carter administration bacause a friend sold it to you to get money for a speeding ticket after the federally mandated 55mph speed limit took effect.

3. Yvon Chouinard still has one hanging from his harness.

4. You repurposed it back into climbing gear after it was repurposed as a woven rug for your dog to sleep on.

5. A midwest climbing gym has one in a display case along with a wooden handled, wrought iron ice axe and a pair of Boreal Fires.

6. Ray Jardine referred to its design for prior art when applying for his patent on a spring loaded camming device.

7. When rigging a top rope anchor for your teenage kids, you recall that you bought the webbing just before your first child was born.

8. The company that made it no longer exists.

9. Its narrative could last thru one whole beer and part of another.

10. Freedom of the hills only has a picture of it in the first and second editions.

11. Those stupid punk kids at the local crag refer to you as that old dude with that strange gear hanging off your harness.

12. You refer to climbing protection as friends and chocks.

13. Yvon Chouinard wouldn't climb with it.

14. Herb Conn loaned it too you.

15. You cant tell if the original colors were either based on the German flag or the Miami Dolphins.

16. Yvon Chouinard made it ..... (personally).

Jody Jacobs · · NE, GA · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 210

#8 nailed it for me.

Still using Kinnaloa chalk bags and just had to give up my Megalith climbing pants. Both companies long gone now.

Good post.

hikingdrew · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 38

#17 Those colors haven't been seen since the 80's (purple and teal and hot pink)

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

18. Your name is Todd Skinner.

Sorry,

David Gibbs · · Ottawa, ON · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2

19. It's older than you are... and you're not a punk kid.

Jon Nelson · · Redmond, WA · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 8,196

20. Climbers you haven't met give you their gear.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

The whole list made me yawn. Predictable, cliche, and formulaic.

Alex Whitman · · Chattanooga · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 440
nicelegs wrote:The whole list made me yawn. Predictable, cliche, and formulaic.
Pot. Kettle. Black.
coldfinger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 55
Mr. Wonderful wrote:18. Your name is Todd Skinner. Sorry,
21. Book by its cover---Your pic looks like a scrawny ass Rock Spings tweeker!

Meth lab + nylon? (or its all stolen?)

That was a dick post btw.
Wade T · · Grants Pass, OR · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 0

Your new wife won't climb with you until you buy new gear.
Oh geez! Half my stuff says "Chouinard" on it!

Brett Purchase · · Seattle, Washington · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 10

Todd skinner comment is pretty poor taste.

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10
coldfinger wrote: Your pic looks like a scrawny ass Rock Spings tweeker!
I shoulda known the kids wouldn't get it. Shame on me for hanging around the playground. Try a closer look. or google images.
Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50

Funny.
I have gear that's older than the stuff on display at the Teton Mountaineering store in Jackson, WY (I don't still use it, however).
I do still use a J-Rat chalk bag.....

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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