Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Pack It In: Gear Essentials for Climbing

Pack It In: Climbing
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Maybe you caught some of the Psicobloc Masters Series broadcast this year. You might have even stumbled on Chris Sharma’s mind blowing cave climbing in Oman. You know that you want to get started on your own vertical limit project (just please, don’t ever watch the movie), but you don’t know where to start. If you’re lucky enough to live near a local climbing gym or crag, you can easily head out and start scoping out gear and training tips, but not all of us are that lucky. For the beginning climber, we’ve put together an essential list of gear to stuff in your day pack for a day of pulling on steep rocks.

Miura 45 The new Arc’Teryx Miura 45 is the perfect daypack for hauling your gear to your favorite climbing spot in the mountains, or the neighborhood bouldering gym. Its design is borrowed from the venerated Arc’Teryx LEAF (law enforcement and armed forces) line of Khard packs. Full length zippers allow it to open flat so you can organize gear and rope, and unpack it for your climb easily. The harness system is perfect for hauling heavy loads of gear on long approach hikes.

Beal Top Gun To get up the wall, you’re going to need a sturdy rope (unless you’re a little crazy and prefer to free solo like Alex Honnold). Our favorite rope for any climb is the Beal Top Gun II. Most climbing ropes are woven with a core that holds your weight, and a sheath that protects the core. Beal’s line of ropes combines these sections into a combination “unicore” weave, increasing the strength, and more importantly, decreasing the weight. With the Top Gun rope, you’ve got the perfect all season safety line so you can feel just a little more in control, even when you take a twenty foot whipper.

La Sportiva Miura
Image used with permission by copyright holder

From long sport climbing hauls to insanely overhung bouldering problems, the La Sportiva Miura is a go to shoe for legions of climbers. The sole and rand are made of ultra sticky Vibram XS Edge rubber, helping you stay on even dime-edge toe holds. The shoe is just aggressive enough that it performs on any rock in and out of the gym, and the fit is forgiving enough that you won’t be squeezing your toenails off after a couple of climbs.

Prana Zion Pant You’d be surprised how fast sandstone and granite not only destroy your shoes, but pretty much everything you wear from your helmet to your favorite hiking shorts. Climbing and yoga brand Prana solves this problem with their Zion Pants. Featuring a burly rip-stop nylon and spandex material, our pair has been up thousands of feet of desert sandstone and still looks brand new. They’re also treated with a Scotchgard coating, so they shed water when you’re hiking, and that beer your buddy is going to spill on you at the bar afterwards.

Black Diamond Drop Zone If bouldering is more your style, rather than a rope you’re going to need a crash pad to save your ankles, knees, and back when you inevitably blow off of a steep problem. Our current favorite is the Black Diamond Drop Zone. it is made of a dual layer closed cell foam throughout the main body, ensuring durability for years of falling. The cover is a 600-denier polyester that is coated in a molded abrasion resistan and water proof PU material. The best part? It folds into a convenient backpack so you can easily haul it between climbs.

Editors' Recommendations

Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Learn to tie the clove hitch for when you need a secure, adjustable knot
The clove hitch is one of the most useful knots to have at your disposal in the outdoors
A clove hitch tied to a fixed point

The clove hitch knot is among the most useful outdoor knots you can learn. This fully adjustable bind has endless uses and can be tied either freestanding or around an object. Being fully adjustable means you won't have to completely retie the knot in your system if you want to adjust the tension of your rope.

Read more
8 healthy benefits of hiking you need to know
Start hiking and enjoy the mental and physical benefits right away
Two people hiking together

Hiking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the U.S. However, it’s more than just a full-body workout; it’s also an excellent opportunity to spend time in nature, clear your mind, and improve your sense of well-being. In addition, hiking is a fully adjustable workout, and you can start on an easy trail and work your way up to full-blown mountain hiking no matter how long your progress takes!

It’s an activity that can be done just about anywhere. Because the prime hiking season in the national parks around the U.S. varies based on climate and affordability, you can easily adjust your hiking plans to match the seasons and see some beautiful areas throughout the country. It’s a great way to meet nature at its level and a perfect excuse to shut out the noise of the modern world.

Read more
ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 is the first real off-grid AC and it’s discounted right now
Zero Breeze Mark 2 real off-grid AC being carried

Last summer, and most of last year, really, was one of the hottest on record. This year looks to be just as hot, so you'll need a reliable way to cool down. The problem with that is that air conditioners are expensive. They're expensive to install and run, and if you're living off-grid, you can pretty much forget about AC at all — until now, anyway. ZERO BREEZE has introduced the first truly off-grid air conditioner that's ultra-portable — at only 16.5 pounds — and battery-powered. The 24-volt battery can last up to eight hours in sleep mode, perfect for extended off-grid use or van-living. You can even connect solar panels or plug it into DC or AC outlets to boost battery life, if and when available. The handheld and lightweight design works exceptionally well for easy transportation and travel, so you can bring the Mark 2 wherever your adventures take you. Use code SPRING15 at checkout through ZERO BREEZE for a limited time to get 15% off your purchase — good from March 15 to March 21.
Buy Now
 
What can the ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 do for you?

Summer can be hot and clammy, and it can even get miserably wet if you live in a humid climate.  One of the trade-offs of staying off-grid is that you're living more efficiently, which also means you're interested in cutting down on power usage and comparable utilities. Even if that's not your goal, and you're just out for an adventure, you'll have to make the same concessions. The wilderness is, well, the wilderness. But with the Mark 2, a portable, battery-powered AC unit, you can cool off anytime, anywhere.

Read more