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ukjason

sexist pig
May 14, 2006
1,617
0
leicester uk
Does anyone go climbing on here as im thinking about giving it ago, plus i work in a outdoor store so i can get all the gear at staff price,
any advice would be welcomed.
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
well what do you want to know?

i'd start out bouldering at the local rock gym, you don't need a partner and it's fairly safe and easy to figure out.

aside from your harness(when roped climbing), shoes are the most important part of your climbing gear. try as many shoes on as possible before buying a pair, everyone's foot is shaped differently so what works for one person may not be the best shoes for you. i'd also advise against sizing down too much when getting shoes, both of my pairs are about my general shoe size and i don't think i could go that much smaller in shoes. as for brands, 5.10 and la sportiva seem to be at the top, i'm quite partial to 5.10 as i have a pair of the pitons and the anasazi velcros.


also listen to anything and everything that experienced climbers tell you. don't go over your head and always put safety first, as this is a sport where if you **** up, you are going to regret it.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
all you really need to start is shoes and chalk. maybe $100 to get both (and a decent pair of shoes). And comfy/loose clothes.
 

Stray_cat

Monkey
Nov 13, 2007
460
0
Providence
Find a good group of people you like climbing with! It sucks climbing with people who only care about the ratings, or are unsafe. A good enjoyable group of people will go along way. I'd imagine at the outdoor shop you work at you could talk some other people into it.
I'd get a harness too, that way your not limited to just bouldering.
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,519
7,066
Colorado
I climb daily. My gear is a pair of shoes and a chalkbag. $120 in gear max.
I used it as a means of rehab for my back because I needed to add strength to my core. It's great cross trainig for riding because you will develop the ability to function with heavy arm pump, additional arm strength, and great core strength. When I was climbing heavily (2-3 hours/day) I lost about 20# and bulked up (but lean) pretty heavily.

Donnie-To rehab a knee, you will want to top rope primarily, because it will allow you to come down controled. If you fall bouldering, it's a heavy impact (if injured) on your knees.
 

BMXman

I wish I was Canadian
Sep 8, 2001
13,827
0
Victoria, BC
I climb daily. My gear is a pair of shoes and a chalkbag. $120 in gear max.
I used it as a means of rehab for my back because I needed to add strength to my core. It's great cross trainig for riding because you will develop the ability to function with heavy arm pump, additional arm strength, and great core strength. When I was climbing heavily (2-3 hours/day) I lost about 20# and bulked up (but lean) pretty heavily.

Donnie-To rehab a knee, you will want to top rope primarily, because it will allow you to come down controled. If you fall bouldering, it's a heavy impact (if injured) on your knees.
it's my ankle that need the rehab but thanks that's exactly what I was looking for.. I need to develop strength and flexibility in my ankle again as well as overall core strength....D
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,519
7,066
Colorado
I have a knee injury that I have babied by climbing down instead of jumping. Upside is I have much better strength and core because of it.
I would toprope more if the fiance' could belay me. Given that I am double her weight, it gets interesting...
 

loosecannon

Monkey
Feb 29, 2008
182
0
San Diego
Find a good group of people you like climbing with! It sucks climbing with people who only care about the ratings, or are unsafe. A good enjoyable group of people will go along way. I'd imagine at the outdoor shop you work at you could talk some other people into it.
I'd get a harness too, that way your not limited to just bouldering.
I'm at the gym daily and you'll find that when you climb with good, fun people that your session will be way more enjoyable and you'll end up climbing higher ratings but won't be as concerned with it. Some of the guys at the gym are total douchebags and think they're hot sh!t, but those are usually the guys who go home at night with their five fingered friend cuz their egos are bigger than their wangbones. The better the people you climb with=the better climb will be. Check out http://www.Klimeonline.com it's a small clothing company my cousin started out in AZ and I'm helping it grow here in socal. The time you take to check out the site is much appreciated. REACH for your goals.
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,519
7,066
Colorado
Wow. That smacks of brilliance right there. Have you ever climbed anything?
SS is a very experienced climber in the truest sense. Search the archives for stories and pictures of his multi-day climbing expeditions on major peaks.
 

badphish

Monkey
Feb 28, 2008
294
0
buy and read Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. in fact, read it twice or more.

buy shoes, a harness, chalkbag, a big locking biner and a friction device. Get a scrap piece of rope and learn how to tie knots.

Hook up with people that can show you the ropes, no pun intended. Get with the right people and you'll learn great techniques, easier ways at doing things, etc...

Trust your instincts. Like someone else said, be VERY careful. Double check everything you do and everything everyone around you does. Don't take it for granted that the people you are climbing with are safe. Read M:FotH and you'll know what kind of people you are climbing with. Take your time and learn the CORRECT way to do everything. Never become nonchalant. Remember, all it takes is one mistake.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
This thread is full of BS.

If you want to climb a mountain, just watch discovery channel. It's freaking easy.

Step1: Buy a bunch of high dollar north face crap
Step2: Hire sherpas to carry it all
Step3: Go up mountain

And that's the biggest mountain out there. Why even bother with these smaller ones?
 

Sinister17

Chimp
Mar 17, 2008
46
0
PNW
buy and read Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. in fact, read it twice or more.

buy shoes, a harness, chalkbag, a big locking biner and a friction device. Get a scrap piece of rope and learn how to tie knots.

Hook up with people that can show you the ropes, no pun intended. Get with the right people and you'll learn great techniques, easier ways at doing things, etc...

Trust your instincts. Like someone else said, be VERY careful. Double check everything you do and everything everyone around you does. Don't take it for granted that the people you are climbing with are safe. Read M:FotH and you'll know what kind of people you are climbing with. Take your time and learn the CORRECT way to do everything. Never become nonchalant. Remember, all it takes is one mistake.
Then, buy "Climbing Anchors" and "More Climbing Anchors", both by John Long. Excellent, excellent information, examples, photos, etc. Reading, and re-reading, these books (and repeatedly dipping back into FOTH) upped my anchor-building IQ by leaps and bounds.
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
Then, buy "Climbing Anchors" and "More Climbing Anchors", both by John Long. Excellent, excellent information, examples, photos, etc. Reading, and re-reading, these books (and repeatedly dipping back into FOTH) upped my anchor-building IQ by leaps and bounds.
those books are definitely good resources, but they are certainly no substitute for watching someone set up anchors and helping to build them under the supervision of someone who knows what they are doing.
 

Sinister17

Chimp
Mar 17, 2008
46
0
PNW
those books are definitely good resources, but they are certainly no substitute for watching someone set up anchors and helping to build them under the supervision of someone who knows what they are doing.
True, never said they were. Nothing is better than learning from more experienced partners.
 

ukjason

sexist pig
May 14, 2006
1,617
0
leicester uk
Thanks everyone for the advice i've managed to get a couple of other people from the store to give it ago also reps from companies like black diamond, petzl, madrock, evolv and metolius are hopefully going to take us out on a demo day
 

badphish

Monkey
Feb 28, 2008
294
0
those books are definitely good resources, but they are certainly no substitute for watching someone set up anchors and helping to build them under the supervision of someone who knows what they are doing.
just like college, the books are a good place to start, but you get real experience with the hands on stuff. Only with climbing, the hands on stuff with the wrong people can get you killed or seriously injured. So take the time to learn as much as you can with the books, so when you are out with people, you'll know whether or not they know what they are doing. That being said, there are different ways of doing things in different situations. Some are a matter of preference, some are more appropriate than others: tie in with a bowline or fugure eight; use a garda hitch, a reverso in the lock off position, or a grigri for hauling, etc. Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is something you don't understand.
 

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
Yep, just latch onto some good climbers and go with them as much as you can. The rest will take care of itself.
 
Yep, just latch onto some good climbers and go with them as much as you can. The rest will take care of itself.
:stupid: Don't dump a pile of money on gear until you have tried it. Find some sensible people who climb and go with them for your intro. For bouldering, fvck the gym, go out and find a boulder or scrabble up and down the lower portion of your friendly neighborhood cliff.
 

sneakysnake

Monkey
Apr 2, 2006
875
1
NC
Don't dump a pile of money on gear until you have tried it.


:stupid: I know one guy in particular who went out and bought a full brand new trad rack after his first lead. That was a year ago, I think that rack has been used maybe once. Thats easily more than a grand in gear, that decorates his closet.


Again, these are all good pieces of advice; listen to them, as well as those more experienced climbers that you do latch onto.