Overlooked Cragging Essentials for a Perfect Climbing Day

Climbing chalk is mandatory during warm, humid conditions or when climbing difficult moves because it keeps your skin dry and prevents you from greasing off holds. Over the years, a number of boutique chalk brands have entered the market, and yet, Super Chalk continues to be the top climbing chalk in the US since it was released decades ago. The reason for this success is simple: Super Chalk works, and it’s affordable. Get yourself a couple of bags and start sending your projects.

This versatile pack is purpose-built for challenging routes where low weight is critical for success. Black Diamond specs a BD X-rip 210d fabric with UTS coating that delivers exceptional abrasion resistance without excessive weight. The pack also features a slim profile ensuring unencumbered movement when climbing. The Speed 40 is also fully strippable (removable waistbelt, lid and frame sheet), allowing climbers to customize the pack for their particular objective. This specialized no-compromise climbing pack is an absolute steal at this price.

Constructed with a unique composite pole material, the Metolius Roll Up Stick Clip is the most compact stick clip on the market today. In its rolled-up form, it measures just 95mm x 115mm (3.75”x 4.5”). When fully deployed, it gives climbers an additional 3 m of reach (just shy of 10 feet), allowing for easy clipping of first bolts. While these numbers are impressive, what makes the Roll Up Stick Clip really shine is the high level of stiffness at full extension, which allows for effortless draw installation and removal – something that can’t be said of whippier stick clips. Set-up and storage literally take less than a minute, and the Roll Up Stick Clip can be easily shortened (just roll up the end) if you don’t need the full 3 m. Metolius also includes a Camera Mount Adapter that’s compatible with a GoPro (or similarly threaded camera), making it easy to document every second of your glorious redpoint ascent. If you frequently fly to climbing destinations, drive a small vehicle, or simply want the most compact stick without compromising function, look no further. Yes, it’s not cheap, and I would avoid tossing it around as I would with a cheap hardware store painter pole stick clip, but beyond that, there is no alternative that provides this level of compactness and function.

This sticky cotton-polyester blend tape is ideal when you’re taping up for crack climbing or want to protect a tweaked finger pulley. Unlike some tapes, this one is sufficiently supple to easily conform to your hands, while the sticky adhesive does a good job of ensuring the tape stays put during a long day of cragging. Metolius also includes thorough tape-glove instructions on the packaging for those who are new to the sport. Finally, the tape’s 1.5-inch width allows climbers to tear off custom-width strips to support tweaked finger pulleys and tendons.

Inspired by traditional haul bags, the Creek 50 combines an easy top-loading design and generous carrying capacity with a plush back panel and a sophisticated suspension system. The result is a pack that comfortably carries large trad racks, additional clothing, extra draws, and food for long climbing days in the backcountry or the local sport crag. BD specs surprisingly robust materials for exceptional durability, but what sets the Creek 50 Pack apart from conventional haul-bag style packs is the full-length zipper. The zipper allows for instant access to all your gear without compromising the easy packing of traditional top-loading haul-bag style packs. The addition of a zippered organizer pocket and a rain hood flap that serves double duty as a helmet/rope holder makes the Creek 50 a supremely versatile climbing pack.

If you frequently travel to climbing destinations or are simply tired of lugging around a painter’s-pole stick clip to your local crag, you should consider Trango Beta Stick EVO. This versatile multi-segment stick clip extends 3.66m (12 feet) when fully deployed yet packs down to a very reasonable 74cm (29 inches). Trango has wisely chosen to add a channel to the pole segments, which not only prevents spinning but also increases rigidity. Finally, Trango includes a unique draw-holding head that securely grips solid and wire gate biners. This is a very reasonably priced and highly functional compact stick clip that should be on every travelling climber’s list.

While the old-timers will fondly remember bulky tape gloves and the skill it took to tape up properly, the rest of us might want to simply purchase a pair of BD Crack gloves and get on with the climbing. Constructed with a thin yet durable synthetic suede and using a sophisticated 3-dimensional pattern, the Crack Gloves offer a hand-hugging fit without restricting the dexterity required when placing gear or grabbing small holds. The back of the gloves and thumbs feature a 0.6 mm thick (or should I say thin?) rubber film that seamlessly blends into the synthetic suede. This savvy construction minimizes the chance of the rubber edges catching on rock crystals. These are an excellent performance-oriented alternative to tape gloves or some of the other bulkier crack gloves on the market today.

Stick clipping the first and occasionally even the second bolt when sport climbing has become standard practice for a good reason; no one wants to break an ankle trying to install the first draw. Thankfully, the simple-looking Metolius Superclip Stick Clip excels at not only installing quickdraws, but can also be used to remove them, as well as clip the rope to an existing draw. The Superclip threads onto any conventional painter’s pole and is made from a durable stainless spring steel to withstand the normal use and abuse it will likely encounter over many years of use. This is mandatory kit for every climber.

With its rugged suede upper, shock-absorbing dual-density EVA midsole, and grippy Vibram Megagrip outsole, the Scarpa Crux is the perfect shoe for challenging climbing approaches. The shoe is built on a board last that creates a solid platform and provides the required stability and protection when carrying climbing packs on difficult trails. At the front of the shoe, Scarpa adds a rubber rand for increased abrasion resistance, while the to-toe-lacing allows climbers to fine-tune the fit when moving on fifth-class terrain. This is a solid, rugged, and versatile approach shoe ¬¬– check it out!

With its 400-lumen maximum light output, the Spot 400 is perfect for use around camp or for approaching backcountry routes before sunrise. The headlamp features six light settings and also has a unique PowerTap feature that allows you to jump to the brightest mode with one touch. A simple two-button control system simplifies cycling through the various brightness and beam options, and the three-bar power gauge takes the guesswork out of when you need to change batteries. Speaking of batteries, the Spot 400 is compatible with three AAA batteries as well as a rechargeable Black Diamond Li-ion battery.

Products reviewed in this article: