Recommended gear
Equipment — step by step
Before you buy
- Everything here is sorted by priority. Unsure what to buy first? Start at the top of each category.
- Categories stack: you need everything from the previous one before the next.
- Some products are a matter of taste and meant as suggestions. Bring alternatives and we can check together whether they fit.
- Write down when you bought each piece. Textile PPE (ropes, slings, harnesses) is often max. ~10 years from manufacture — sooner with heavy use, UV or damage. Manufacturer limits and visual checks count.
Step 2 of 4
Mammut Skywalker 3.0 climbing helmet1 per person
Edelrid Dyneema sling 11 mm — 120 cm1 per person
Wild Country Dyneema sling — 60 cm2 per person
Petzl Rocha Screw-Lock — small HMS carabiner2 per person
Petzl William Screw-Lock — large HMS carabiner2 per person
Petzl Reverso belay device1 per person
Beal accessory cordFor Prusiks when rappelling
Petzl Djinn Axess quickdraw set — 6 draws2 sets = 12 draws per party
Beal Booster III 9.7 mm climbing rope — 80 m1 per party
Crag — sport
Everything for a single-pitch party of two. Prerequisite: everything from “Climbing gym — sport” is already there.
Mammut Skywalker 3.0 climbing helmet1 per personEdelrid Dyneema sling 11 mm — 120 cm1 per personWild Country Dyneema sling — 60 cm2 per personPetzl Rocha Screw-Lock — small HMS carabiner2 per personPetzl William Screw-Lock — large HMS carabiner2 per personPetzl Reverso belay device1 per personBeal accessory cordFor Prusiks when rappellingPetzl Djinn Axess quickdraw set — 6 draws2 sets = 12 draws per partyBeal Booster III 9.7 mm climbing rope — 80 m1 per partyStep 3 of 4
Ocun Webee BigWall harness1 per person — big-wall harness with plenty of gear loops for long routesWild Country Dyneema sling — 60 cm5 (tether, anchors, alpine draws)
Petzl Spirit ExpressLong draws (25–30 cm) — 4 per partyPetzl Reverso belay device3 per party (1 per person + 1 spare)
Beal Cobra II 8.6 mm half rope — 2×60 m1 per party
Petzl Actik Core headlamp1 per person — long days often finish in the dark
Deuter First Aid Kit1 per party — including a survival blanket
Multi-pitch
Everything for a multi-pitch party of two. Prerequisite: everything from “Crag — sport” is already there.
Ocun Webee BigWall harness1 per person — big-wall harness with plenty of gear loops for long routesWild Country Dyneema sling — 60 cm5 (tether, anchors, alpine draws)Petzl Spirit ExpressLong draws (25–30 cm) — 4 per partyPetzl Reverso belay device3 per party (1 per person + 1 spare)Beal Cobra II 8.6 mm half rope — 2×60 m1 per partyPetzl Actik Core headlamp1 per person — long days often finish in the darkDeuter First Aid Kit1 per party — including a survival blanketStep 4 of 4
Black Diamond Camalot C4Start: 0.5–2, four pieces, double-axle. Wild Country and DMM work too.
Black Diamond Stopper SetNuts for constrictions — on limestone often more useful than a second cam set.
Petzl Micro TraxionOptional: progress-capture pulley — solo, hauling, jumaring a fixed line. Always with a backup.
Trad — cams & nuts
On top of multi-pitch when you need your own protection. Don’t buy used cams — axles and lobes wear out. Start 0.5–2, then two sizes down and two up.
Black Diamond Camalot C4Start: 0.5–2, four pieces, double-axle. Wild Country and DMM work too.Black Diamond Stopper SetNuts for constrictions — on limestone often more useful than a second cam set.Petzl Micro TraxionOptional: progress-capture pulley — solo, hauling, jumaring a fixed line. Always with a backup.Links go to Bergzeit, Bergfreunde and Amazon — no affiliate links, just where the gear is. Comparing prices is worth it. Same list as on reisen.rau.media, plus chalk bag, headlamp, first-aid kit and trad gear.