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Rave About Your Rack Please do not post retail SPAM.

Topic Date User

Putting together a rack 21-Jan-2008 At 3:09:06 PM ajfclark

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I've been climbing in the gym for somewhere around 2 years and leading there for about 12 months but I'm new to this whole outdoor climbing thing. I've just spent a weekend at Mt. Arapiles (with guides borrowing their racks) and I'd dearly love to get a bunch of kit together so I can pursue this further, initially just top roping but moving on to lead at some point not too far away.

The question I've got is, where do I start? I realise this is a horribly broad question but as I haven't really started climbing I'm not sure what I'm up against. I currently have nothing beyond shoes, a harness, a belay device and a 60m dynamic rope.

From talking to the few people I know that climb outdoors, thus far I've put together a list something along the lines of: a helmet, 1 or 2 sets of nuts, possibly a set of hexes, a bunch of cams (cost permitting), a bunch of slings, a nut tool and enough snap gate karabiners and/or quick draws and then a few bits and pieces (static rope, screw gates) for top rope anchors.

Does that seem like a reasonable list? Have I missed something? Is there anything you'd steer clear of, a specific brand or some style of equipment in general? Any ideas on the most useful range of sizes for cams? Any thoughts on RPs/mirconuts? Any clues on how many karabiners to buy, 1 for 1 against kit or is more better? Any and all advice is welcome.

[Edit: I've got somewhere up to around $1500 to spend at this stage I think. There could be more or a little less depending on what's suggested]