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You've spent winter sport climbing indoors, working on your endurance and getting used to falling. You've done all the hard work and planned a trip to Portland, Cheddar or maybe Horseshoe Quarry in the Peak District. But what should you actually bring? And what will be different to climbing indoors?
If you've been sport climbing indoors, you should have a harness, chalk bag, shoes and belay device already, but you will need a few extras once you start climbing outdoors. We put together a basic list of what you should bring. This is based on our experience of climbing outside for years, and everyone's different, but we think this is a good place to start.
We have some affiliate links to our favourites below but it's worth shopping around to find the best deal!
Helmet
Don't be an idiot, always wear a helmet. Head injuries are no joke, and scary falls and falling rock can be dangerous for both climber and belayer. The Mammut Skywalker is a great option, but buy one that's comfortable and that you think looks good or you probably won't ever wear it.
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Rope
A 60 meter rope will be more than enough on most UK routes. The ends of the rope wear more quickly so you can always cut the last 5 meters on each side and still have a 50 meter rope. I'll warn you that based on personal experience, this is a very upsetting thing to go through. We buy Mammut ropes and tend to go +9.5mm thickness.
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Quick Draws
In most cases, 12-15 quickdraws will be enough, but you can always share with friends and your climbing partner. The Mammut Workhorse is a great option.
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Locking Carabiner
When you are threading the top bolts, you will need this to clip yourself back into the rope. The Mammut HMS Screwgate or similar is what you are looking for.
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Petzl Connect Adjustable Lanyard
Once you get to the anchor the Petzl Connect lets you clip and then adjust so you're in a good position to clean the route. You can do this with a sling and a locking carabiner, but the Connect will make your life a lot easier as it's adjustable and reduces faff.
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Clipstick
This one is very much optional, but some of the first bolts can be quite high up, especially in places like Portland. A clipstick lets you clip the first bolt before you even start to give you and your partner some peace of mind. These are highly useful in places like Portland.
Buy NowIf there's a group of you, try to split the load and agree in advance on what you are buying/bringing. Whichever way you split it, just check who is bringing what before you leave. There's nothing worse than turning up to the crag and realising everyone thought someone else was bringing the rope…
Cleaning a Route
Everyone says it's simple, but the first few times always feel pretty scary! It's also an easy one to get wrong when you're tired and pumped at the top of the route with pretty serious consequences. So take it seriously and watch the BMC video below and practice as many times as you need to before you get out.
How to Clean a Sport Route
BMC
The essential guide to safely cleaning a sport route. Watch this before you go, and practice as many times as you need to.
Lastly, before you leave, always check climbingforecast.co.uk for the conditions, and which is the best crag to go to!