Hey all, i'm throwing this out there and i'm hoping/expecting there to be a diverse range of answers to my question: what is the best way to mark your hardware? for-metal paints and enamels? duck tape? electrical tape?

I use fingernail paint usually. Electrical tape works really well too.

I have used electrical tape in the past. It only stays on for a short time though. For slings, I color the TAGS ONLY with a permanent marker, being VERY carefull not to get it on the sling itself. As for the hardware, I have seen many people use nail paint, or a paint pen. Not entirely sure if this does any damage to the metal itself. I would like to say that, if you can touch the paint to yourself, you should be OK. But laquer thinner/paint thinner can clean paint off your hands, I definatley would not want it touching my gear. just a thought.

borrow somebody's most garish nail paint.

electrical tape takes longer to apply and doesn't last as long, as well as gumming up your gear.

Paint pen. Pick one up at a craft store.

I had tape for a while. Didn't really like it– you're limited to where it can go, and I found it to be an eyesore. For some reason my partners always poked fun about my rack, saying it was all new and shiny. Once I took all the tape off those comments stopped. It also falls off easy and is kind of a mess.

I much prefer the fingernail polish method. Two different colors and brush it on the head of the cam (on top, in between the middle lobes). Low key and stays there. Also much easier to apply on biners that have a deep "I-beam" groove. Don't try and make it go around the biner (aka make it look like a piece of tape). That's a waste of time and hard to do– just do the sides. Stoppers- pull the nut down the cable like 1/4" and dab some on top of the nut and slide it back up once dry. Slings– never cared that much I usually just stuck to one brand/color and counted them when done.

yeah it sounds anal and time consuming but it's pretty fun on a rest day lounging around camp..

I use Trango Rack Tags which work pretty well.
www.trango.com/paraphernalia/Rack_Tags
I bought these after electrical tape did not stay on and left a sticky mess...

I just wrapped some electrical tape around some new crabs but the shit is coming off already and I haven't even used them. Guess I stretched the tape too tight for the adhesive to hold. I'll probably buy some nail poland now.

+1 for rack tags. Two differences I've notices from tape is that 1) no stickiness left behind and 2) the material chips or flakes away more so than tape which tears easily and then falls off.

Another good option is called Mark It (I believe that's the proper name) they are located in Boulder and can easily be found with a google search. I have not used them but my friend mark does and he has said good things about it.

Electrical tape works great if you don't get the cheapest tape. Spend extra for the brand name tapes.

When you apply it you have to tension it as you wrap it around the piece of gear. You don't put it on like regular tape.

I use spike tape which is similar to gaffer's tape. In 8 years I have never had a single piece come off.

Trango tape... me too...

heat shrink tubing, you can slip it over a biner and shrink it on the back side, comes in multiple colors, lasts way longer than tape, if it gets shitted up, slice it off, put a new piece on.....

I use a paint marker. It doesn't last as long as I'd like. Remnants of it are still visible, but areas that get a lot of metal on metal, even hanging in the closet come off more easily than I expected. I've heard the dots of nail polish thing works pretty well. I may try that. I've also heard of people putting a couple shallow gouges in their stuff, like light engraving. I've never seen it in person though.

I too use nail polish. I like to paint over the lettering on biners. the nail polish sinks into the recesses and does not wear off in those spots as the raised metal protects it from abrasion. On other gear, I mark where the piece is least likely to touch anything, such as the top of the cam that sits between the lobes. I try to select a color that is not commonly worn or a combination thereof.

I've had electrical tape on my gear for years. Never had any of the problems other folks are describing. Maybe it was just good tape *shrug*

i use glitter because i find it most permanent. its all over all my shit

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Kidding, you glittery stripper magnet, you. Got your water bottle and Andy's biner from Bodiddly, we'll resched our project soon, my phone died at work out of town this week.

Nail polish. Cause I had lots already.

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