Beginners climbing gear...

...did Pipet's Ridge with a friend who is an experienced lead climber last Sunday, had done Howling a few years back and have done some snow and ice climbing.

Wouldn't mind getting a few bits and pieces together. Some carabiners, slings, nuts, cams, helmet, nut key, belay device etc. Unfortunately missed out on this...

http://www.donedeal.ie/camping-for-sale/rock-climbing-gear/9531377

Anyone know of a second hand site that might be good for gear? Or do Petzl or any company have good offers on beginners kits with a bit of everything? Don't want to keep borrowing from the friend.

sparrowcar

Try the climbing UK forum. I sold and bought things over the years. Sometimes you need to persuade the "British" to post to Ireland on these type of forums but if you cover the postage some good deals can be had.

Carawaystick

If you have a harness and belay device and appropriate footwear, that's half the battle.

You need to differentiate between the stuff that wears out - ropes slings etc, with the stuff that lasts much longer. I'd never buy these second hand.


Consider the type of climbing you plan to do. If the climbs are short, you won't need as many quickdraws.

It's a big leap to get a working rack, if you climb with the same partner, you can share gear, so you could buy stuff they don't have that would suit the location you climb in.

What I got starting out was :
a rope
a set of nuts
2 hexagonals
a "Dalkey" tricam
4 slings, 2 short, 1medium, 1long.
10 quickdraws
2 screwgate karabiners.

I justified it by saying the gear'd last forever, which it has.

One point to know about climbing helmets. They're only designed to protect against stonefall, not you banging your head in a fall or while climbing. Thats why nobody in Awesome walls is using a helmet.

Carawaystick

Carawaystick wrote: »

If you have a harness and belay device and appropriate footwear, that's half the battle.

You need to differentiate between the stuff that wears out - ropes slings etc, with the stuff that lasts much longer. I'd never buy these second hand.
...
One point to know about climbing helmets. They're only designed to protect against stonefall, not you banging your head in a fall or while climbing. Thats why nobody in Awesome walls is using a helmet.

Would be the types of routes described in Declan Lynch's "Munsters Mountains", around the Reeks, Brandons, Hungry Hill etc.

Might pass on the helmet alright, other fellow is the lead climber so I wear his for rockfall while he's climbing.

BarryD

Deleted User wrote: »

Would be the types of routes described in Declan Lynch's "Munsters Mountains", around the Reeks, Brandons, Hungry Hill etc.

Might pass on the helmet alright, other fellow is the lead climber so I wear his for rockfall while he's climbing.

I wouldn't skimp on the helmet if you doing mountain routes or any sort of traditional climbing. Stones & rocks can come down on you regardless of whether you're leading or seconding. I think Carrawaystick above was talking about sport climbing at indoor walls, bouldering.. that type of thing.

Edit to add: I think your fairly safe buying second wired nuts and footwear as you can visually see if they look worn or damaged at all. Other second hand climbing gear, I'd be wary of. You just don't know how it's been treated, cared for unless you know the seller well. Ropes and slings will all wear, can be damaged (without obvious visible signs), ditto for tapes on larger nuts and hexes etc. You could buy the latter and replace the tape/rope. Ditto for krabs - how do you know that someone hasn't dropped them down the crag and they may have some invisible damage?? You can or used to be able to buy sling material off a roll and make up your own slings - use a tape know and secure loose ends. Save a few bob on premade slings etc.