Climbing Course Gear Lists
gear ·

Climbing Course Gear Lists

Signed up for a climbing course with a local guide company? Before you show up without the right gear, let us help you arrive fully prepared. Most guide companies will provide a gear list ahead of your course—and we're here to help you work through it. Whether you need everything on the list or just a few missing pieces, we've got you covered.

In this article, we'll walk you through the standard gear you'll need for most courses—gear that you'll want to have for your future climbing days too. We've connected with local guide companies to compile a comprehensive list of recommended gear. You or one of our shop staff can pull up this list from our website to help guide your shopping experience.

While each guide and company may have their preferences, the essentials generally fall into a few key categories. We've linked to each of these gear groups so you can easily browse ahead of time and feel confident heading into your course.

The Basics

Personal gear is required for every guided course. While this list isn't specific to any one course, it forms the foundation for any day out climbing. Make sure you have these essentials:

  • Climbing Harness - Choose a harness that suits your climbing style (trad, sport, alpine, etc.) and fits your body properly.
  • Rock Shoes - Match the shoes to your climbing style (crack, face, etc.) and ensure they're snug but comfortable.
  • Approach Shoes - Sturdy footwear makes getting to the crag easier and safer.
  • Helmet - Must be properly fitted for safety.
  • Chalk Bag + Chalk - Helps keep your hands dry and improves grip.
  • Pack - A 35-50 litre pack is ideal for carrying your gear.
  • Men's Apparel / Women's Apparel - Dress in layers suitable for varying weather conditions—be prepared for both rain and shine.
  • Personal Effects - Bring water (plus a bottle or bladder), snacks or meals, sun protection (hat, sunscreen), any necessary medications, and a basic first aid kit.

ROCK COURSES

1. Introduction to Rock Climbing Course

First time out on the rock? Start with the basic gear list above, and add the following items:

  • 1 x Rope - Single, dynamic, 60m or 70m. Optional: dry-treated and with a middle marker.
  • 4 x Non-locking Carabiners - Straight-gate or wire-gate (avoid bent-gate carabiners for anchors setups).
  • 1 x Locking Carabiner - HMS (round stock preferred).
  • 1 x Classic Tubular Belay Device - Preferably with an auto-blocking guide mode.
  • 1 x Cordelette - 7mm x 5m (ideally 3mm smaller in diameter than your rope).

2. Top Rope Anchors Course

The next course teaches you how to build your own anchors so you can safely climb with friends. Bring the basics gear list, plus the following:

3. Sport Climbing Course

Clipping bolts offers a step into the world of leading and builds solid skills before branching into the traditional world. An amazing discipline to push your limits, build endurance, strength and movement skills. Bring the basics gear list above, plus the following:

4. Sport Multi-Pitch Skills Course

Building off sport climbing is a set of skills allowing you to head up the walls with bolts and bolt anchors. Knowing these skills open doors to longer routes. Bring the basics gear list above, plus the following:

5. Traditional Lead Climbing Course

Learning to place natural protection—typically cams and nuts—in Squamish, while assessing the quality of gear placements, allows climbers to safely ascend routes without bolts by following crack systems commonly found in most rock formations, especially in Squamish. Bring the basics gear list above, plus the following:

  • 1 x Rope - Single, dynamic, 60m or 70m. Optional: dry-treated and with a middle marker.
  • 4 x Locking Carabiners - 2 HMS (round stock) and 2 D-shaped.
  • 4 x Non-locking Carabiners - straight-gate or wire-gate
  • 1 x Classic Tubular Belay Device - Preferably with an auto-blocking guide mode.
  • 1 x 120cm Nylon Sling
  • 1 x 120cm Dyneema Sling
  • 4 x Alpine Quickdraws - 60cm sling plus 2 lightweight carabiners per draw
  • 1 x Traditional Climbing Rack - A standard rack: Cams and Set of Nuts

    • A standard Rack (SR) of cams generally refers to a single set of cams from 10.5mm to 115mm (or 0.5” to 3.5”). This covers thin fingers to fists, or a BD Z4 Yellow #0.2 to a grey Camalot C4 #4, and will allow you to protect the majority of routes in Squamish. Most climbers choose to double up cams of certain sizes.

  • Crack Gloves - Sized correctly with ample hand protection

6. Traditional Multi-Pitch Skills Course

Once the art of placing gear has been learned this can be combined with multi-pitch and lead skills to open up the world of longer world-class routes. Bring the basics gear list above, plus the following:

  • 1 x Rope - Single, dynamic, 60m or 70m. Optional: dry-treated and with a middle marker.
  • 8 x Locking Carabiners - 2 HMS (round stock) and 6 D-shaped.
  • 8 x Non-locking Carabiners - 4 straight-gate or wire-gate, 4 bent-gate.
  • 2 x Belay Devices with an auto-blocking guide mode.
  • 2 x Personal Prusiks - Made from 7mm cord (1.5m), or pre-sewn (like Hollow Blocks).
  • 2 x 120cm Dyneema Sling
  • 2 x 240cm Dyneema Sling
  • 4 x Alpine Quickdraws - 60cm sling plus 2 lightweight carabiners per draw
  • 1 x Traditional Climbing Rack - A standard rack: Cams and Set of Nuts

    • A standard Rack (SR) of cams generally refers to a single set of cams from 10.5mm to 115mm (or 0.5” to 3.5”). This covers thin fingers to fists, or a BD Z4 Yellow #0.2 to a grey Camalot C4 #4, and will allow you to protect the majority of routes in Squamish. Most climbers choose to double up cams of certain sizes

7. Rescue Systems Course

Things don't always go to plan—it's better to be prepared than to simply hope for the best. Learning the elements of rescue, including decision-making and rope skills, will give you a broader set of tools in case something goes wrong. Bring the basic gear listed above, along with the traditional multi-pitch gear list and a few extras

MOUNTAINEERING COURSES

Want to explore beyond the world of rock? Stepping into the realm of snow and ice requires a new set of skills and tools. You'll still need to bring the basics—but that list expands to cover a wider range of conditions and potential exposure to mountain weather i.e Alpine Basics which we list out below.

For a very complete breakdown including specific gear recommendations with weight for different length objectives read our “What's Your Approach” article. This is an amazingly detailed breakdown piece by piece.

Alpine Basics

Personal gear is required for every mountain course. This list is the foundation for any day out in the mountains and will increase for multi-day trips. Make sure you have these essentials:

  • Climbing Harness - An alpine harness that easily goes over extra clothing and undoes to avoid going over crampons and fits your body properly.
  • Mountaineering Boots - Ensure they're comfortable, supportive crampon compatible sturdy, lightweight and durable. (Technical Ice boots are different - take whatever boots is critical for you trip)
  • Helmet - Must be properly fitted for safety.

Apparel (Dress in layers suitable for varying weather conditions. Be prepared for both rain and shine.)

Optional Extras (Especially on cold days or a Technical Ice course.)

Personal Effects

Bring water (plus a bottle or bladder), snacks or meals, any necessary medications, a basic first aid kit, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet kit, sunscreen, sunglasses, pack towel, bug spray, lighter, and sanitation.

Backcountry Camping

Once you commit to spending time in the mountains, trips often turn into multi-day adventures, as approaches and objectives can take many hours—or even days—to reach. In these cases, camping becomes the only option. You'll need to bring the following gear in addition to your alpine basics and apparel:

Backcountry Cooking

  • Cup - Lightweight
  • Bowl - Lightweight
  • Fork/Spoon (spork)
  • Knife - Small folding knife or multitool
  • Water Bottles (Ideally, 2 x 1L platypus bottles)
  • Stove - lightweight - canister, style (+ lighter)
  • Fuel Canisters - 100gm = 2 people for 2 days for overnight trips - Calculate based on trip length
  • Cooking Pot with lid + tiny scrubby, 30mls camp -suds
  • Bear Spray - depending on the zone
  • Trekking Pole
  • Food - Dehydrated meals are quick and easy to combine with snacks. Calculate based on trip length

1. Introduction to Mountaineering Course

Crossing glaciers, climbing ridges and sleeping in amazing locations is the name of the game. If you are spending multiple days climbing classic alpine lines you will need to bring the camping, cooking and alpine basics from above plus the mountaineering tools below:

2. Technical Ice Climbing Course

You've mastered rock climbing, and during the winter, you find yourself gazing at the frozen ice formations clinging to the walls as you drive by. It's time to take the next step and learn technical ice climbing. You will need the Alpine basics list and the apparel with extra warm layers and gloves and mitts plus some key technical item below:

Consider

Got any questions? Write a comment below or send us an email.

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