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Gear sling: right or left shoulder

Original Post
pfwein Weinberg · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2006 · Points: 71

For those of you who wear gear slings, do you wear it over right or left shoulder?  (I understand many if not most climbers don't use gear slings these days--no reason to point that out unless you're really bored.)
I usually do use a gear sling and wear it over my left shoulder. I'm right-handed and like having the gear hang down to my right. My climbing partner (who doesn't use a gear sling) told me I'm wearing it on the "wrong" (or at least unusual) side -- upon reflection, I have no idea which way most people do it.
Guitar players wear the strap over left shoulder (if they are right-handed), so I feel like I'm in good company, but curious as to what others do. (And while I'm def right-handed, some things that most people do right-handed seem a little off to me, like in swinging a baseball bat, it sort of feels the same to me either way, not obviously better one way. Although I golf right-handed and left-handed would feel completely wrong, so maybe I'm just a bit of a right-left hand oddball.)

(If people feel compelled to dis on slings, my general thoughts are (1) I often carry a lot of gear so hard to get it all on harness, (2) generally faster to switch with partner when swapping leads, but that only works if partner uses sling, (3) while I like to have much of the rack weight on my harness, using a sling allows me to take some weight off waist, which I prefer, (4) quicker way to store my standard rack and just start to climb without always transferring all gear off and on harness, (5) nice to be able to switch shoulders in chimneys or similar features, (6) I'm just very used to using a sling, even if it's not the "best" way.  And I don't always use a gear sling--depends on what's going on.)

Garry Reiss · · Guelph, ON · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 6

Depends on the route. I carry mine on whatever side will be more accessible and even then often have to switch.

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

Usually on left shoulder, unless route dictates otherwise.

Bill Lawry · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,812

Right handed and right shoulder here ... unless route dictates other side.  

By the way, my shoulder sling is super simple as in no loops or anything to segregate gear. Otherwise, it’d probably be hard to reach with right hand to gear under my left armpit. 

Norm Larson · · Wilson, Wy. · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 70

Historically when pitons were used right handed climbers wore the sling over their right shoulder with pins on the left  so that their hammer was easily available on the right.
Now I’d say most wear it over their left but some like me prefer the right. Doesn’t matter whatever feels right to you. It is nice to have a gear sling when the route doesn’t allow access to gear on one side or the other As it’s easy to switch sides quickly. 

pfwein Weinberg · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2006 · Points: 71

Thanks all for your responses.  Not a huge amount of data, but I'm thinking it's common to wear it over either shoulder regardless of handedness, and all us sling users see an advantage in being able to use it over either shoulder when the route dictates it.

Norm Larson · · Wilson, Wy. · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 70

I think it's safer to re-rack on a route with a gear sling because you don't have to hand over every piece of gear when swinging leads, just what was used on the previous pitch. 

PTR · · NEPA · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 5

Left shoulder so that it hangs on my right side.  I still wear most of my "shoulder-length" slings on top of the gear sling and over my right shoulder; a few go on the harness (left side).

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
Bill Lawry wrote:

Right handed and right shoulder here ... unless route dictates other side.  

By the way, my shoulder sling is super simple as in no loops or anything to segregate gear. Otherwise, it’d probably be hard to reach with right hand to gear under my left armpit. 

actually, the separated gear loops are really handy for this purpose.  when you pull the sling around the gear doesn't just slide along the sling like it does with an open sling, it pulls over with the gear loops.  in particular, on overhanging climbs and roofs you can easily pull the gear around in front of you.  i have really bad shoulder flexability and this has been super helpful.  my wife racks on her harness and is always doing the behind-the-back-reach-around to get gear.  it makes my shoulder hurt just watching it.

Bill Lawry · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 1,812
slim wrote:

actually, the separated gear loops are really handy for this purpose.  when you pull the sling around the gear doesn't just slide along the sling like it does with an open sling, it pulls over with the gear loops.  in particular, on overhanging climbs and roofs you can easily pull the gear around in front of you.  i have really bad shoulder flexability and this has been super helpful.  my wife racks on her harness and is always doing the behind-the-back-reach-around to get gear.  it makes my shoulder hurt just watching it.

Trying the loop kind once, I do recall a partner saying I probably just needed to pull the whole sling around when needed. 

So maybe my loop issue just chalks up to old habits. Well, that and me not climbing many overhanging routes these days. :)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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