Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

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

Pack It In: Gear Essentials for Climbing

Austin Parker
By

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.

Recommended Videos

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
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…
Ditch the GPS: How to navigate using a map and compass
Don't worry, it's really not that difficult to find your way or location the old-school way
Fingers holding a map and compass in the outdoors

GPS devices and GPS apps for your phone and even navigation watches with GPX files are nearly foolproof today. But what about when you run out of battery or your waterproof device isn't as waterproof as you had hoped? Even worse, what if you spend your entire trip with your head buried in your GPS without taking the time to get to know your surroundings?

Here at The Manual, our number-one backpacking essential for every outdoor adventure is the humble map and compass. It's no use just buying these items and stuffing them into your backpack. First, you need to learn how to read a topographic map and know what all the twisting bits do and what the numbers mean on your compass. It can all look quite confusing, so we're going to demystify the art of how to navigate using a map and compass and let you go old school, ditch the GPS, and get to know your surroundings intimately.
Know the parts of the compass

Read more
A beginner’s guide on how to read a topographic map
Learn how to read and navigate with a topographical map from an expert
Reading a topographic map

Before you’ve packed your bags and before you’ve gassed up the wagon, there’s the little issue of figuring out where you’re actually going to go and -- more importantly, if you're going to be outdoors -- the type of terrain that's there.

One of the best ways to do that is to peruse a map of the region that goes a little further than just showing you a layout of the park. A topographic map introduces you to the peaks and valleys and gives you an understanding of how difficult the terrain might be in the area where you’re headed. It was originally developed as a way to depict counties and cities before the U.S. military used it in World War I.
Where to begin

Read more
These are the essential outdoor knots every outdoorsman should know
A well-versed arsenal of knots is a must-have for any outdoorsman
A reef knot is tied against a tree

There's almost no end to what you can achieve armed with a length of rope and an arsenal of outdoor knots to tie it together. If heading into the backcountry, you should always be prepared for survival. While part of that is carrying the right gear, you must know how to use it effectively. You wouldn't take your woodcutting axe without giving it a few practice swings at home, so why would you expect to tie the right knot without practice?

There is an adage among those who don't know what to do with rope: if you can't tie knots, tie lots. If you don't know what you're doing, keep tying until your rope feels secure. It works, sometimes. But in a significant way, these people are missing out. Knots, like backcountry navigation skills or making a fire, are part of being an outdoorsman. Outdoor knots come in different shapes and perform various tasks; some are quick, some secure, and others are designed to be untied quickly. These eight are the essential outdoor knots to learn first, so grab a rope and upskill your outdoor self.
Bowline knot

Read more