Climbing ropes need to be organized to hang freely, without knots. When a rope gets humid or wet, it is important to let it air dry completely and away from the sun to avoid mold.

Climbing carabiners often get dropped or rub up against rock formations when we climb, so it is important we remove debris from them and properly inspect them for damage before or after every use.

Chrome Shelving Works Great for Climbing Gear Storage

Here we have some climbing gear store ideas that can help you in deciding how to organize your own.

Chrome shelving offers the benefit of having adjustable shelving, which is great to store plastic containers, large bags, climbing shoes, boxes and even your chalk bags. Almost everything I have on shelves is inside of a plastic container. Containers protect the shelving and my equipment. They also make it easy to slide items in and out of the shelves, for quick access and storage.

Side hooks, made specifically to be used with the chrome shelving, offers even more storage opportunities. Side hooks, are great to shore pace with one or even two side hooks. They are optional detachable add-on that works great to hang all your gear; harness, carabiners, quickdraws, trad rack and even small water packs you use frequently.

There are many alternatives when choosing the right storage design that works for your equipment. Some people have specially designed closets, others use wood shelving in their garages. The point is, you have options.

What works for some people, may not work well for you. Before you decide what storage equipment to use for your gear, make a list, carefully analyze the space you will need to store it efficiently and leave extra room. Leaving extra room in your design, will make it easier to store additional items once your list of equipment grows.

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What does UIAA stand for?

The abbreviation (UIAA) comes from its French name Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme, which stands for International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation. The international federation was founded to be in charge of researching and finding solutions to all problems related to climbing and mountaineering.

What is a UIAA Certified Harness?

It is imperative, when purchasing your climbing harness, that it has a certified UIAA Safety Label attached.

What kind of climbing harness should I get?

First and foremost, the type of harness you need will need to meet the requirements of the type of climbing you will be doing. First lets go over some general basics, then we will break down to more specifics.

There are two types of comfort; a harness that is comfortable while standing and another that is comfortable while hanging. If you are climbing mostly in a single pitch environment, then you should go for the harness that fits more comfortably while standing. If you are climbing mostly multi-pitch routes in which your body will be hanging, then is best to get a harness that serves that purpose. Now, each harness is designed to be comfortable for its purpose, so each sacrifices the alternative; a harness comfortable while standing may be uncomfortable while hanging and vise versa.

Finding the right size and best fit to your body can be a challenge. No matter how much or little padding you see on a harness, it will not be comfortable if it does not fit you well. Harnesses are designed and built by different distributors (brands), therefore made for different body types. Go to a local gear shop and try several brands on, this is not something you can eyeball on the internet and shop for.

Harnesses do have a wear indicator, threads or strips of nylon that are inside of the external layer of a harness. When this layer wears out, it shows the indicator thread or strip as a warning that the harness needs to be retired. Usually the lower tie-in point (attached to the leg loops) tens to wears out first, since it is the one that gets the most friction while walking. Regardless of if your harness is not showing these warnings, you should read the manufacturer’s recommendation on when the harness should be replaced; in other words, just because you climb three times a year and your harness is looking pretty good, does not mean it will be safe to use after 20 years. Read the manufacture details and keep track of when you first purchased your equipment, to give you a better idea of how long you’ve owned it and if needs to be retired.

How can I check if my harness is UIAA Certified?

Use the following link to verify that your equipment is certified by the UIAA.

Have safety concerns over recalls?

Use the following link to verify what recalls are currently in place. You can search equipment by brand, year, name or part number.

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