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Jim T
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Jul 6, 2015
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Colorado
· Joined Jun 2012
· Points: 469
Recently at a climbing gym I saw a guy take a good fall when a hold broke. The hold ripped free of the bolt, leaving a gaping hole in the hold where the small bolt hole used to be. It was a large hold, so probably put quite a bit of force on the bolt, and the plastic just failed. It was the first time I've seen this, and was just wondering how often people see this happen.
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Luc Ried
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Jul 6, 2015
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Batesville, AR
· Joined Mar 2014
· Points: 440
At my home wall and local walls I've lost 3-5 handsholds, and 2 footholds over 3 years, so its not all too uncommon
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Shea B.
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Jul 6, 2015
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Unknown Hometown
· Joined Apr 2015
· Points: 0
Unfortunately, this happens regularly at the gym I go to. I think it's the resin holds that have to be put in just so, otherwise they just break to bits, and quite easily, too. On the other hand, I blew a clip, once, fairly close to the ground. I would have decked if my rope didn't get caught on one of these holds.
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Michael Brady
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Jul 6, 2015
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Wenatchee, WA
· Joined Jul 2014
· Points: 1,362
One time I saw a guy rip off a whole chunk of plywood and thick texture coating. It was pretty funny.
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Eric LaRoche
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Jul 6, 2015
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West Swanzey, NH
· Joined Aug 2011
· Points: 25
I've had a Metolius hold just about explode on me. There were many pieces that went flying.
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Gee Monet
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Jul 6, 2015
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Las Vegas, NV
· Joined Jul 2010
· Points: 732
"Geologic time includes now."
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Eric Chabot
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Jul 7, 2015
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Salt Lake City, UT
· Joined Jul 2011
· Points: 45
I heard that blue route is more like green-minus now that the hold broke.
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David Gibbs
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Jul 7, 2015
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Ottawa, ON
· Joined Aug 2010
· Points: 2
Older holds, or ones where someone has over-tightened the nut are more likely to go, but it does happen. Not common, I'd even say rare, but nowhere near unheard of. Most people who done a lot of climbing in a gym will have had a hold or two break on them. I've definitely had it happen a couple times to me. I think I've had real rock break more than I've had gym holds break, though.
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Gunkiemike
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Jul 7, 2015
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Unknown Hometown
· Joined Jul 2009
· Points: 3,492
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Bapgar 1
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Jul 7, 2015
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Out of the Loop
· Joined Oct 2007
· Points: 90
As hold technology has progressed I'd say it happens less often these days. Gyms don't want to spend a bunch of coin on fancy holds if they're brittle and need replacing often. The newer materials going into holds tend to flex a little better and not shatter. Like David said, most folks who've climbed in gyms for long enough have probably broken a few holds. I've snapped 2 or 3 in the last 10 years, all of them being "older" generation holds out of more brittle materials. I'm sure the bigger guys out there would agree w/ me that spinning holds is far bigger concern and can mess w/ your head a little depending on the situation.
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Eliot Augusto
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Jul 7, 2015
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Lafayette, CO
· Joined Dec 2013
· Points: 60
^ I'd rather a hold broke off on me than spin like a top when I grab it. The spinning has tweaked my wrist in the past on a bouldering wall, whereas the real rock holds I've broken just cause a fall.
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