Stay Injury-Free with These Phenomenal Rock Climbing Tips

Any sport—basketball, rugby, or rock climbing—can be dangerous if you don’t have the right rock climbing gear, rock climbing tools, or tips to keep you safe from potential dangers. Check out this guide to injury-free rock climbing with these phenomenal safety tips!

Have the Proper Rock Climbing Gear

Want to stay and be safe? Always bring with you the proper rock climbing gear:

• Helmet: Rocks are hard. Your head is soft. Always wear a helmet to keep you safe and prevent injuries from falling rocks or falling impact. Plus, they act as sunblock if it’s a particularly warm day.

• Carabiners and Quickdraws: These chain-like devices secure your rope and line along the climbing path. They also keep your path straight, so there are no sudden changes in direction, making climbing easier. Bring 50 per cent more than the usual amount as a precaution.

• Rope: Always bring the standard 60-meter (197-foot) long rope. This length allows you to reach anchors, lower down along a route, or reach a belay ledge for safety. Always tie a stopper knot at the tail end of the rope to keep you from being dropped to the ground.

These rock climbing tools will keep your route safe and injury-free. Always bring them with you. Never eyeball these figures, especially with the quickdraws and rope.

Check Your Tools

Having the proper gear doesn’t mean forgoing safety checks are okay. Rock climbing tools still need double-checking to ensure they are in working order.

• Harnesses: Confirm that the climber’s and belayer harness buckles are doubled back and the leg loops are snug to prevent accidental slips and falls.

• Knots: As mentioned earlier, knotted ropes protect climbers from sudden falls. Ensure these knots are in a tie-in position—a figure-8 finished with a backup knot—for extra security and are threaded throughout the harness’s waist and leg loops.

• Rope: When leading a climb, the rope should be over your leg, not under it. The latter makes climbers prone to flipping upside down and hitting their heads on a hard surface. The former allows climbers to stay upright while still being able to anchor their position with their hands.

• Belay Device: If you’re leading, check that the climbing rope is properly looped inside the belaying device. Doing this ensures a smoother climb downwards after reaching the peak.

Pay Attention to the Climb Leader

If you’re not leading a climb, always draw your full attention to the climb leader as they’re responsible for bringing everyone up or down. This is equally important when belaying since a delay in the line will cause everyone to bump into each other and fall.

Unless the climb leader has secured his rock climbing gear and clearly announced it to the rest of the team mid-trail, pay utmost attention to them without any distractions.

Position Carabiners and Quickdraws Opposite From the Rope

Carabiners are chain-like metal loops with gates for securing rope and other objects. Their difference with quickdraws is that quickdraws look like two carabiners joined together by a piece of rope.

Whichever rock climbing tool you use between the two, always position opposite from the gate. If your rope is over your leg, that means the loop’s gate must be facing away from you. This arrangement locks the rope securely in place without the risk of unclipping and leading to a fall.

In Closing

Having the right tools and tips will keep rock climbing safe for everyone involved. Just be sure to check the equipment before you start a trail: tighten your knots, secure the ropes in your harness, clip them in the right directions, so you’re safe and secure even when midway through belaying or climbing!

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