Climbing with wedding ring on?

For some reason, my wedding ring is getting harder to remove and put back on. (I haven't gained weight; maybe the knuckles are swelling with age and pitch-miles. Does that happen?)

Anyway, it's getting to be enough of a struggle that the process itself can cause a bit of temporary swelling and make it that much harder. So, my question--

Is it insane to climb with my ring on? It's a very narrow, simple, almost wire-like band, too thin for any pattern or ornamentation.

We've heard the horror stories about stuck rings and violently ripped fingers. Truth or legend? Maybe they're about burlier rings with more chock-stone potential than my simple band?

Do any tradclimbers out there leave the ring on and prosper even on finger cracks?

Help, please!

Yes,it is insane to climb with your ring on ;) People have broken/lost fingers after shoving their fingers in cracks and falling. I'm not kidding. My married friends usually wear thiers as a necklace of sorts. Also, after climbing it is natural for your fingers to swell *slightly*.

Calirado wrote:Truth or legend?

Warning! Don't click the link below if at all squeamish.

Google search

I haven't worn mine for years due to a tough time getting it off one day out climbing. I fortunately have never gotten flack from my spouse. Those photos look unpleasant!

Calirado wrote:For some reason, my wedding ring is getting harder to remove and put back on. (I haven't gained weight; maybe the knuckles are swelling with age and pitch-miles. Does that happen?) Anyway, it's getting to be enough of a struggle that the process itself can cause a bit of temporary swelling and make it that much harder. So, my question-- Is it insane to climb with my ring on? It's a very narrow, simple, almost wire-like band, too thin for any pattern or ornamentation. We've heard the horror stories about stuck rings and violently ripped fingers. Truth or legend? Maybe they're about burlier rings with more chock-stone potential than my simple band? Do any tradclimbers out there leave the ring on and prosper even on finger cracks? Help, please!

Never mind that you will eventually destroy the ring, but loosing a finger is even worse. I've personally seen my sister's finger peeled like a banana. The righ gets bent out of shape, then when you are more or less anging from it, and it si stretched thin enough, it cuts through you like cheeze wite. They call it "de-gloving." I've partially degloved a finger when I got it caught in gear- in my case a stopper wire, but it's all I need to know. Take the ring off.

Some friends have mentioned wearing it on a chain around the neck instead.

It's also called a "ring avulsion". Unless you want to see the meat come off your finger like a short rib I would strongly suggest taking the ring off.

I have also seen this happen, it is not a legend.

Take it off. Now.
Put it on a piece of leather around your neck.

Before I knew any better, I once went climbing with a very cheap, thin, tin ring on my pinkey finger. The climb was overhanging and my feet popped off, swinging me out. As my hand lost its grip, the ring snagged on the rock and broke, but it was still a pretty hard jolt on my pinkey. Luckily it was such a crappy ring or I may have lost my finger.

Although I haven't seen your ring, I am inclined to think that the small, narrow rings are even more likely to get snagged on small features. Don't do it!!!

Our friend the silversmith made our rings- moke magame, like damascus steel, but in silver. I was young and inexperienced, I thought putting it on a locker on my harness would be an adequate safeguard. When I heard the tinging as I sat back on the ledge it didn't even occur to me that it could be the ring...

Every time this conversation or kind of thread appears, I get squeamish just thinking about it.

For the love of God, take your ring off because I don't want to read about or see pictures of your finger degloved. Thanks.

By now you've probably gotten the message: NO! I see people's finger joints that have gotten larger with age all the time. It's usually arthritis in the joints. Whenever I hike or go to higher altitudes my finger swells a bit from increased circulation and that by its' self can make the ring harder to remove. It might be easier to take it off the night before you climb. You can try cold water and/or Windex for lubrication - won't leave a residue. Have it sized up if you need. They also make rings that are hinged so you can 'unclasp' the whole ring like a bracelet if the knuckle gets super big.

Degloving aside, take a look at your carabiners and then imagine how a gold ring would hold up in a finger crack.

I leave mine at home when I go climbing...one less thing to worry about ruining/losing.

Just don't take it off at the crag, leave it at home if you can. When I was about seven my dad had the family out and my brother lost his ring.

Jason: Uhh..... dad I think I dropped your ring...
Dad: Yeah, what did it sound like?
Jason: TINK........TINK....tink.tink.tink.tink

followed by a long series of words I had never heard before

Like everyone else has said, get it resized and don't wear it climbing. When I sized mine, I was climbing quite a bit and it fit fine, a little snug. Now (and I'll let you decide whether getting married is to blame), I rarely get out and the thing is pretty loose on my finger. I can't even imagine climbing a finger crack in one. That would have to trash both the ring and the finger.

Imagine what would happen if you blew a pulley with a ring on. Granted it would be like taping i guess. Think your fingers swell during normal climbing. Serious finger ingury with a ring on... could that mean possible amputation?

Most ERs can cut a ring off but I've heard titanium rings are problematic.

Lost mine climbing. Couldn't afford to replace it at the time and had to get it tattooed on. Much cheaper.

+1 for leaving it at home. I do not want to lose a finger, damage or lose my ring. It would be expensive all the way around.

I once wore a watch climbing. It was destroyed by the end of the route. BAD IDEA to wear anything nice up a climb, especially on your hands.

The "degloving" photo link above should be enough motivation to not wear a ring! Also, if your finger starts swelling, it could cut off circulation. I was a paramedic and had to cut off several rings over the years.

And for the response that said to put it on a ring on a piece of leather around your neck... ouch! Any necklace should be "break away" so that during a fall you don't snap your neck or create a choking situation.

Funny... we were having this conversation last weekend.

A buddy of mine lost his while we were climbing at Thrillseekers. We spent A LOT of time rummaging through the foam scraps on the floor to no avail. Based on that experience alone, I would not recommend climbing with one. Not to mention the finger ripping potential...