Via ferrata rungs - what do you use?

I'm working on a new crag that could greatly benefit from a via to access ledges at the base of the good climbing. What do you use for via rungs, do you buy actual rungs or just bend rebar, diameter, length, bending tool used, etc.?

Sounds like a really bad idea to me

Jay Goodwin wrote:

Sounds like a really bad idea to me

Why? Lots of climbing areas have fixed ropes or ladders for access - why is this so different?

I would consider messaging a developer at one of the cliffs that has a via ferrata. It’s rumoured there is even a tree a ferrata out there!

Given that Doug's location is Seattle, I'm guessing he's developing at Index. It's not uncommon for crags there to have a few via ferratta rungs installed here and there for access. It's not particularly an access worry if done thoughtfully there.

I source stainless steel rungs from Europe or Hong Kong. Teamtough sometimes has them in stock, but I buy them out as they appear.

https://www.team-tough.com/via-ferrata

I have thought about making my own with stainless bar stock, but I use them so infrequently. We have rebar rung approaches in the greater Spokane area and they work 

Due to the material and freight cost it is uneconomic to ship them to the USA, to get a rebar company to bend and galvanise some would be cheap enough or you can source steps which are installed in sewer systems.

Just hang up a fixed cable and chisel steps into the rock 

Why? Lots of climbing areas have fixed ropes or ladders for access - why is this so different?

A concrete stairway would be very nice, maybe some hand railings too?"

In addition to the Team Tough ones linked above (out of stock currently), here is another rung supplier, based in Hong Kong:

https://climbingboltsupplies.com/product/via-ferrata-ladder-rungs/

As Jim Titt said, shipping to the USA drives the price quite high, but could be justifiable if you only need a few. 

I've spent a few decades installing monitoring equipment in sewer systems and manhole rungs used to be made out of rebar (1/2 to 3/4" diameter?) but now are metal encased in thick plastic or poly for protection from corrosive sewer gases, which makes for a huge and expensive rung/step. 

We are considering talking to rebar companies or machine shops but I would love to hear from someone who has bent their own. I am very familiar with the ones at several PNW crags, but would prefer to use stainless.  

Doug Hutchinson wrote:

In addition to the Team Tough ones linked above (out of stock currently), here is another rung supplier, based in Hong Kong:

https://climbingboltsupplies.com/product/via-ferrata-ladder-rungs/

As Jim Titt said, shipping to the USA drives the price quite high, but could be justifiable if you only need a few. 

I've spent a few decades installing monitoring equipment in sewer systems and manhole rungs used to be made out of rebar (1/2 to 3/4" diameter?) but now are metal encased in thick plastic or poly for protection from corrosive sewer gases, which makes for a huge and expensive rung/step. 

We are considering talking to rebar companies or machine shops but I would love to hear from someone who has bent their own. I am very familiar with the ones at several PNW crags, but would prefer to use stainless.  

Climbingboltsuupplies in Hong Kong is my Asian distributor, the shipping to there is even worse.

I've used bent rebar steps/via ferrata rungs for access ladders with great success. (Without getting too much into politics, it's a much more sustainable option than treated lumber ladders. which are the alternative in this case. The areas are privately owned by climber LCO's with no potential access issues.) #5 or 5/8" rebar ought to do the trick. We don't paint ours and they are still going strong with just surface rust 15 years later, if you wanted, a nice black enamel paint would keep them looking fresh for a long time in most environments.  Here's a link to a good bending tool or as Jim said you could find a shop with a bender and be able to do larger diameter sizes.  https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bon-Tool-3-Pin-Rebar-Bender/5001463957?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-bdm-_-ggl-_-PLA_BDM_210_Concrete-Block-_-5001463957-_-online-_-0-_-0&gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uM7-gwwIjQXK8bYmyYLeVGRsOvRl1gzdKpvnBt058SPt6Ib-rCG56ahoCUHUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds You could try using 1/2" 304 round stock if you really want to go SS, I'm not sure if the linked bender would be sufficient or not and they would be much more slippery to use than regular rebar. Keep in mind that bridges and other large scale infrastructure last for 50-100 years with just painted steel. Here's a good source for SS round metalsdepot.com/stainless-s…

Why? Lots of climbing areas have fixed ropes or ladders for access - why is this so different?

Cherokee Nunes wrote:

A concrete stairway would be very nice, maybe some hand railings too?"

Why is it necessary to make the huge leap to the utterly ridiculous?

Doug Hutchinson wrote:

In addition to the Team Tough ones linked above (out of stock currently), here is another rung supplier, based in Hong Kong:

https://climbingboltsupplies.com/product/via-ferrata-ladder-rungs/

As Jim Titt said, shipping to the USA drives the price quite high, but could be justifiable if you only need a few. 

I've spent a few decades installing monitoring equipment in sewer systems and manhole rungs used to be made out of rebar (1/2 to 3/4" diameter?) but now are metal encased in thick plastic or poly for protection from corrosive sewer gases, which makes for a huge and expensive rung/step. 

We are considering talking to rebar companies or machine shops but I would love to hear from someone who has bent their own. I am very familiar with the ones at several PNW crags, but would prefer to use stainless.  

I've bent my own out of rebar with a blowtorch to heat the metal and a vice. Never ended up installing it, but was fairly simple to get a reasonably quality looking rung.

Like a broken record in my posts I'll encourage people to again think about what the impact truly is, not just think all bolts (or holes) are bad, but why are they to be minimized, and not all bolts or holes have equal impact (e.g. a bolt/hole in an obvious location near a trail has more impact than one at the end of a 30 minute hike that only other climbers going there will see). The rock is an inanimate object; rock destruction doesn't hurt it. It's impacts to other people or ecological impacts you need to think about.

You should compare the alternatives and think why are they different and what's best. Things like: No fixed pro - nothing permanent. A fixed rope - will often have bolts at the top. Turn into tat. Be perhaps more visible. And could be less safe if unmaintained and someone starts up a rope they can't see the top of. A lumber ladder - is likely more visible, has a limited lifespan. Could tip over. Via ferrata - permanently alters the rock which may bother other climbers or user groups, have visual impact, if they rust it will look like crap. 

I'm a believer that if you are putting something in you put the best thing in you possibly can. I want my work to last a long time, be well thought out, usable, and then I can be proud of it. So I'd likely lean towards SS (if I decided rungs were the best solution for the situation) knowing they will not rust, look cool, feel good on my hands, or painted rebar if I couldn't afford SS, etc.

Why is it necessary to make the huge leap to the utterly ridiculous?

Because encouraging random people building convenience STRUCTURES on public lands is a very bad idea.

Kevin DeWeese wrote:

Probably because someone else had already responded seriously to your post

Yes, and I agree with your response. The OP never outlined the extent of what he's considering. There's a lot of difference between a full-blown VF with holds every foot of the way vs a few rungs here and there, so we're commenting with an info deficit.

Cherokee Nunes and abandon moderation for the win. If proposed installation is on public land, this would be a great way to get a climbing area closed.

Jay Goodwin wrote:

Cherokee Nunes and abandon moderation for the win. If proposed installation is on public land, this would be a great way to get a climbing area closed.

Nah, the powers that be see no difference between sport climbing and via ferrata because there isn’t one.

Rebar works but subject to climatic conditions, can rust thereby leaving highly visible and parallel rust streaks down rock faces. Our rungs are manufactured in Hong Kong using marine grade stainless steel.

https://climbingboltsupplies.com/product/via-ferrata-ladder-rungs/

Doug Hutchinson wrote:

In addition to the Team Tough ones linked above (out of stock currently), here is another rung supplier, based in Hong Kong:

https://climbingboltsupplies.com/product/via-ferrata-ladder-rungs/

As Jim Titt said, shipping to the USA drives the price quite high, but could be justifiable if you only need a few. 

I've spent a few decades installing monitoring equipment in sewer systems and manhole rungs used to be made out of rebar (1/2 to 3/4" diameter?) but now are metal encased in thick plastic or poly for protection from corrosive sewer gases, which makes for a huge and expensive rung/step. 

We are considering talking to rebar companies or machine shops but I would love to hear from someone who has bent their own. I am very familiar with the ones at several PNW crags, but would prefer to use stainless.  

Thanks Doug, glad you were able to sort something out.

Cheers