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Rave About Your Rack Please do not post retail SPAM.

Topic Date User

Beginners Trad rack recommendations? 4-Feb-2013 At 9:15:59 AM rolsen1

Message

On 31/01/2013 mikllaw wrote:
>On 31/01/2013 kinglukexiv wrote:
>>Cheers everyone for the advice and store recommendations from everyone.
>> I've decided to go for the following:
>
>Practice placements with some solo toprope protected (knots or grigri)
>aiding

Whilst I totally respect Mikl's opinion, and I've heard him recommend this before, has anyone actually done this as a means to learn and gain competence with placing gear? If so, how many hours/routes did you do?

Also, is this method really better than just doing mileage on easy routes? The plus out of Mikl's way is that you'll know for sure that the gear is good, the minus is that you won't get much variety in the types of placements maybe leading (excuse the pun) to a false sense of security and experience. On the other hand, leading lots of different easy routes will give you experience in finding placements but not much experience in knowing what will hold. Additionally top rope/aiding won't give you experience in how rope drag effects placements, leading will do this. Also the aiding seems more likely a solo experience where leading (lots of) easy routes gives you a chance to have learning conversations about your placements and your partner's placements.

Not trying to start a slanging match, just interested in people's thoughts on this.