Racking lead climbing gear (Part 1)
Since we are having a fairly dry summer with plenty of opportunity for rock climbing, and a fair number of you have been out climbing with me of late, I thought I’d pass on some tips on how to rack climbing gear on your harness. There is no single right or wrong way to rack gear on the harness – it’s a very personal choice based on experience that you have gathered. Indeed, not everyone will agree with the suggestions I have, and that’s fine. But this is what works for me.
Above all, the most important thing is to have a system and then stick to it, rather that racking your stuff haphazardly. By all means adapt and change that system as you come across new ideas or see what others do. But have a system, whatever it is. That way you always know where to find something by touch alone.
On to the specifics and first, the belay device, which almost everyone will have. Put this on one of the gear loops towards the back of the harness. This will reduce the chance of accidentally belaying off your gear loops, since you will have to make a conscious effort to remove and re-attach the belay device to the belay loop at the front of the harness.
I’ll continue this theme next month looking at what else to rack in different areas of the harness.
