Backpacking and climbing gear may seem somewhat complicated. From understanding the R-value on your sleeping pad to the difference between sport and trad climbing, we’re here to help you sift through the jargon and to get the most out of your equipment.
Whether you’re camping near your car or deep in the backcountry, you need to be comfortable sleeping outside. Understanding the technology behind your sleeping bag and pad will help you be better prepared and more likely to enjoy your time in the outdoors.
The seven principles of Leave No Trace encourage low-impact behavior while in the outdoors to help ensure that everyone is able to enjoy public lands while reducing negative impact.
Grading systems are used by climbers to communicate the difficulty of a route for future attempts. If you are climbing in a gym or outside, it is helpful to understand these ratings and know which climbs are within your ability level.
The term “sport climbing” refers to using protective bolts that are fixed into the rock to ensure falls are not too dangerous. While not necessarily competition-based, sport climbing is a component of world cup and olympic climbing competitions.
The term “trad climbing” refers to the traditional style where climbers place their own gear in the rock for protection instead of relying on bolts already placed along the route. The protection pieces are placed in openings in the rock—so trad routes tend to follow lines with cracks or seams.
Climbing can be a pretty gear-heavy sport. The kit isn’t that extensive for gym climbing; but for climbing outside—especially trad and longer routes—an assortment of specialized gear is necessary.
Following good climbing etiquette in the outdoors helps create a space for everyone to enjoy climbing as safely as possible. The choices that you make can have a rippling effect within the entire climbing community.