Best trad climbing protection Apr 20, 2025 · Best Passive Protection for Trad Climbing Buyer’s Guide Ah, trad climbing! A delightful cocktail of fear, adrenaline, and earth-hugging gratification. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Nov 14, 2019 · Trad and Sport are forms of both Free Climbing and Lead Climbing Trad Climbing is an older style of climbing, focusing on adventure. We really hope you find it useful. This equipment is also called protection, or “pro,” because it protects you from hitting the ground in a fall. Sport climbing is regularly done in a climbing gym, though it is often done outdoors as well. Aug 22, 2024 · So, with that out of the way, here are some of our top trad climbing essentials for the fall of 2024. This is in contrast to sport climbing, where you rely on The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Competent Person course is a Petzl compliant program run by AAI for professionals that work in environments that require ropes, fall protection, harnesses and other equipment. Anchors can be made of bolts pre-placed in the rock, or climbers can place their own “trad gear” to construct a removable anchor. The challenge and skills involved in installing protection, finding the optimum line and juggling this with the actual act of climbing makes trad climbing so enthralling. A climber should be just as concerned about faulty equipment, clipping hazards, fixed hardware, and making informed choices in a traditional environment as at a sport crag. Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. As you consider your options, remember that the right pair of climbing shoes can significantly impact your grip, comfort, and overall climbing experience. A PPE Competent Person provides industry best practices for the management of equipment work-at-height, SAR, high-angle rescue, climbing schools, and rock climbing gyms. Apr 5, 2018 · This article answers the question "What's trad climbing?" by covering the history, style, and ethics unique to trad climbing. Description The DMM IMP Brass Micro stoppers have now carried the baton previously held by the RP's as the best trad climbing protection for micro seams in hard rock. If you’re planning on ascending the vertical world with minimal disturbance from gravity’s clutch, then this guide is your new best friend. It is then removed by their partner when Jun 27, 2023 · In this installment of Know the Ropes, we will present perspectives and concepts designed to consolidate best practices in the implementation, evaluation, and reliance upon a lead climb- er’s protection. Initially made from actual machine nuts with the internal thread drilled out, they have undergone several stages of development in the last few decades, resulting in the wonderful colour-coded super-strong designs we have today. Whether you're building your first trad rack or just need a piece or two to round things out, here's the best trad harnesses, helmets, protection, and more. For more on this, check out this Nov 29, 2016 · “My best advice is that when you are learning, practice placing and testing your pro a lot. Here’s what you need to know about trad gear and tips to build your first trad climbing rack. Nov 29, 2016 · “My best advice is that when you are learning, practice placing and testing your pro a lot. Learn more about climbing helmets. We will cover the two main genres of rock climb- ing: sport climbing and traditional climbing. Are you a beginning climber trying to put together a trad climbing rack? Climbers are asking all the time what pieces of trad gear should I purchase first? TRADITIONAL CLIMBING, ALSO CALLED TRAD CLIMBING OR JUST “TRAD,” is a particular style of roped climbing that involves placing your own protective equipment as you move up a climb, then removing it when you’re done. This is Helmet A climbing helmet is the first thing you should buy when you start trad climbing. Trad climbing's a type of climbing in which the lead climber uses only hands and feet on natural surfaces of the rock to move upwards, and carries and places all necessary protection. Black Diamond starts with a polycarbonate crown and adds an ALUULA Composites insert. SPORT CLIMBING Aug 8, 2022 · This article originally appeared in our print magazine in 2013. Trad climbing is nearly always done outside on real rock where no preset bolts exist. The main thing is Apr 4, 2025 · If you plan on trad climbing, cams are essential. Mar 13, 2019 · Climb on! How do I use a climbing personal anchor system (PAS)? Rock Climbers use personal anchor systems to directly attach themselves to “anchors” atop climbing routes. At GearLab, our roots are in rock climbing, as the website started as an offshoot of SuperTopo. Traditional climbers use both active and passive gear for protection. We’ve tested the best options for beginners, lead climbers, sport climbing, alpine climbing, trad climbing, and more. We used each while ascending wind-blown alpine Jan 31, 2023 · What is Trad Climbing? Trad climbing, short for traditional climbing, is a style of free climbing that does not rely on fixed gear, like bolts on a sport climbing route, to protect a rock climb. But don’t underestimate the benefits of their counterpart: the nut. Original 13. Like many things in the climbing community, preference for passive protection is based on what usually amounts to personal opinion. They are cheap, strong, durable and relatively easy to use. Sport Climbing – Free Climbing using metal bolts and hangars that are already pre-placed in the wall for protection. Nuts are passive protection devices, meaning that their holding power comes from their wedge shapes, cleverly placed in Jul 24, 2025 · Trad climbing gear is a big investment, so it’s important to know what options are available before you buy. Feb 23, 2023 · These spring-loaded camming devices revolutionized climbing protection and opened routes and trad climbing areas that were previously unthinkable. Oct 1, 2020 · The very best trad climbing shoes are fantastic for trad, but really not so great for other kinds of climbing, especially steeper sport or boulders. From cams to carabiners, nuts to nut tools, there are so many options for traditional climbing gear that it’s hard to know where to begin. Jul 10, 2024 · Trad climbing differs from the popular pursuit of sport climbing, where the protection is already installed, or bolted, into the rock. Want to learn more? Read our climbing jargon explained Jun 5, 2025 · We found the best climbing harnesses of 2025. They’re easy to use and contract to fit a variety of crack sizes. If that is not an option for whatever reason then I use whatever slings I have available on my harness. Jul 17, 2025 · Finding the right harness for traditional (trad) climbing is essential for both safety and comfort. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you get to grips with the right gear. . After all, traditional climbing is just rock climbing without bolts. Nov 24, 2025 · Below, we compare 27 pairs of the best climbing shoes for men, covering options for everything from gym and sport climbing to bouldering and long trad routes. Sport climbing is designed to push the athletic envelope of the sport. Traditional Routes follow Cracks and Slabs. Jul 28, 2022 · The Gear You Need for Trad Climbing That’s a lot of gear! Traditional or “Trad” climbing involves placing your own protection as you climb. Mar 13, 2018 · Climber’s Best Friend | The first camming device ever made for trad climbing newly redesigned for the modern vertical world. Sep 12, 2024 · Complete Guide to Trad Climbing Gear Trad climbing is one of the most historical forms of climbing, shaped over the years by different approaches, gear, and ethical guidelines. Climbing protection, “ pro ” as it's called, doesn't come cheap. Apr 20, 2025 · First things first, if you’re looking for nuts with a little more personality, Hexes are the way to go. Consider me your virtual climbing buddy, sharing a chalky-fingered rundown of the best passive Oct 18, 2021 · Trad Climbing – Free Climbing using gear placed while climbing the route. Instead of clipping bolts, you are looking for natural features, cracks, or constrictions to place traditional climbing equipment like nuts and cams. ) and also from your head hitting the rock if you fall. For trad, however, much lighter draws work better—featherweight biners on thin, supple slings to reduce bulk and weight and provide a more flexible attachment to nuts (think Black Diamond Oz). Blending edging power, precision, and comfort into one versatile package, it's well-suited for any type of roped climbing. However, when you cast off on a trad route, you may encounter some bolts or old pitons. Reviews, ratings, and price comparisons covering 10+ climbing protection. Our expert team has a combined 40 years of climbing experience and has field-tested the best climbing gear since the inception of our site May 18, 2024 · A trad climbing harness is an essential piece of equipment for traditional rock climbing, also known as trad climbing. Protection Protection or "pro" is the mainstay of trad climbing. When many people start trad climbing, cams become their new best friend. Getting into leading trad routes? Learn how to choose types of passive protection, such as chocks, nuts and hexes. In this article, we discuss the best cam sets for trad climbing, backed by reviews from the climbing experts and the consensus of the climbing community. In top-rope you have a pre-built anchor at the top and in sport climbing you clip into pre-existing bolts. That being said, if you’re getting your first rack together Aug 19, 2025 · Our favorite choices for the best climbing quickdraws. Jan 21, 2021 · Trad climbing (short for “traditional” climbing) is climbing in which you place your own protection pieces as you climb. But some shoes are versatile enough to let you climb a variety of terrain, though they won’t have the features of a dedicated trad shoe, like high tops or toe padding. Climbing Gear and Equipment Climbing Hardware and Accessories Trad Protection 102: The Ultimate Cam Guide for All Climbers In this article Sort by: Best sellingAvailability TRADITIONAL CLIMBING, ALSO CALLED TRAD CLIMBING OR JUST “TRAD,” is a particular style of roped climbing that involves placing your own protective equipment as you move up a climb, then removing it when you’re done. Protection for Mountaineering & Ice Climbing Oct 31, 2024 · Our climbing experts have been testing the best climbing nuts and stoppers for over 10 years and over 15 different sets. Oct 28, 2016 · Trad climbing requires a large and somewhat complex set of gear that’s used instead of bolts to stop a fall. We tested each through a wide range of fissures, scar pins, parallel-sided cracks, around blocks, and the like. Unlike sport climbing where fixed bolts are used for protection, trad climbing relies on the climber to place removable gear, such as nuts and camming devices, into cracks and crevices for protection. Trad uses removable protection like cams, nuts, and Every protection failure that can occur in sport climbing can also occur in traditional climbing. They work so well because the Learn about the two main types of active climbing protecction (pro) including the ubiquitous cams and the less common spring-loaded wedges. Jan 24, 2023 · Trad climbing involves a wide array of gear, including nuts, hexes, cams, Big Bros, and more, to ensure climbers stay safe. We love the La Sportiva Katana Lace for sport and trad climbing. In this update, we purchased 7 of the best sets and slid them into cracks of all sizes across the United States. They might not be the flashiest kids on the block, but they get the job done with a wink and a grin. Whether you're sport climbing or mountaineering, we have you covered. Learning how to place trad gear is an essential skill as you progress as a climber. My favorite sling for multipitch trad anchors is the rope I am climbing on. Mar 13, 2024 · For sport climbing, you want full-size, wear-resistant biners on stiff, beefy slings (think Petzl Express or Trango Smooth draw). Shop for Climbing Protection at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. Cams are considered active protection because the cam lobes expand and contract when the thumb trigger is pulled. This protection, also called pro, is placed in cracks and fissures as you climb up, and then removed, or cleaned, when you’re done, so all you leave on the rock is a few chalk marks. View Learn the Fundamentals of Trad Climbing in Vedauwoo, Wyoming! Our Trad Climbing Course in Vedauwoo, Wyoming is a great way to learn the fundamentals of trad climbing systems and technique in one of the west’s best trad climbing areas! In this course you’ll learn how to place solid protection, build anchors, belay in a top-managed context, rappel, and use basic self-rescue systems. They protect your head from things falling on you (rocks, equipment, etc. Trad Protection The leader places trad gear (protection) in cracks and fissures as they climb up. Looking to get into trad climbing? To get started, you’ll need to learn the Tools of the Trad, what kit you need, and how to use it. Feb 2, 2024 · These origins and the heavily continued use of passive protection in England today, produce some of the best climbing nuts for trad climbing available today. Jul 27, 2023 · Don't sacrifice on protection or performance with top picks for trad climbing gear Nov 8, 2024 · Whether you want to fine-tune gear placement, anchors, or crush your first multi-pitch, this comprehensive guide to trad climbing has it all. Falling is fairly safe as bolts rarely fail. 75° Camming Angle | Proven performance places and cleans quickly and efficiently. Different styles of climbing use different kinds of protection devices. Whatever you call them, these wedges of metal are a key element in every trad climber’s protection system. Learn what to look for before you buy. This is in contrast to sport climbing, where you rely on Traditional climbing (or trad climbing) is a type of free climbing in the sport of rock climbing where the lead climber places temporary and removable protection while simultaneously ascending the route; when the lead climber has completed the route, the second climber (also called the belayer) then removes this protection as they ascend the Feb 23, 2023 · These spring-loaded camming devices revolutionized climbing protection and opened routes and trad climbing areas that were previously unthinkable. Pro is divided into 2 types: active (pieces that have moving parts) and passive (those without moving Feb 2, 2024 · Like most other gear for climbing, some tools are made for specific styles of climbing or made for certain situations as well as devices that are designed for general purpose use. Cams are some of the most expensive items a climber will buy, which is why we took great care to test all the top models for range, durability, walking, tight placements, and so on. It In Choosing Climbing Nuts, Paul offers some advice on what type to choose and how to rack them. Jun 9, 2023 · Jun 9, 2023 Choosing the Right Climbing Friends: A Guide for Trad Climbing Enthusiasts If it's true that when climbing as the first climber falls are an integral part of the "journey", it's also true that when practicing trad climbing you try to test the protections that you've managed to place as little as possible. You’ll Apr 4, 2025 · We've done our best to offer you solid recommendations for the best harness for the money, the best all-around harness, and the best for various climbing disciplines like sport climbing, multi-pitch and trad climbing, alpine climbing, and ice climbing. They’re like the Swiss Army knife of passive protection—versatile, rugged, and always reliable when the going gets tough. Nov 19, 2025 · In rock climbing, a cam (short for camming device), is a piece of trad climbing gear that is used to protect the climber during a fall. Independent climbing protection device reviews by real outdoors people. A large selection of nuts for a long trad route in Morrocco Nuts, wires, stoppers, chocks, wedges, whatever you want to call them, have been around for a long time. This article reviews the best adjustable harnesses designed for trad climbing, incorporating sturdy materials, ergonomic designs, and versatile features ideal for multi-pitch and sport climbs. Below is a summary of top picks to help you choose the perfect fit for your climbing adventures. May 1, 2022 · What is trad climbing? Is it safe? Expensive? Is it the best type of climbing? Discover the answers and get started. The crack is there to assist you on movements and offer protection during the climb. Nuts or wires, rocks or stoppers. May 24, 2025 · Throughout this introduction, we’ve touched upon the core principles of trad climbing, the essential gear that forms your lifeline, the intricate art of placing protection securely, the fundamentals of building bomber trad anchors, and the critical importance of risk management. Climbing cams increase your safety, acting as anchor points in cracks and crevices where bolts are lacking. This article teaches you how to place stoppers and cams. Trad climbing can be intimidating to break into. Falling can pull the protection out of the wall. Jun 12, 2025 · Conclusion In conclusion, selecting the best shoes for trad climbing is essential for enhancing both your performance and safety on the rock. Black Diamond’s Vapor helmet continues the tradition of offering exceptional impact protection while remaining at the forefront of ultralight design. Extendable Dyneema Sling | Extend trad placements on long, wandering routes for reduced rope drag. Aug 21, 2020 · Beginning Trad Rack: What to buy! Here is the long awaited update to one of my older blogs on buying and building a trad rack. Sport climbs ascend Roofs and Vertical walls. Instead, trad climbing involves placing protection into cracks to mitigate the risk of a large fall. In its most recent form—since the introduction and exclusive use of mobile protection—it has also been called "Clean Climbing," emphasizing the low-impact nature of this style, which avoids damaging or leaving May 29, 2020 · New to trad climbing? Our Beginner's Guide to Trad Climbing breaks down everything you need to know to get started trad climbing today. This is a pretty gear-intensive endeavor, and some of what you carry comes down to personal choice Oct 25, 2022 · The term climbing protection, or simply “protection,” generally refers to any type of gear that prevents a climber from falling and being injured. But trad climbing requires that you carry gear on your harness while being able to properly place different types of protection.