Climbing - Protective Gear
One of the most important pieces of gear you'll need for mountain climbing isn't actually a single device, but a family: the so-called 'pros' or protective gear.
Cams are spring-loaded devices that the climber places into a crack or hole to provide protection against falling. They're inserted, then pressure causes them to expand and grab against the surfaces.
They come in a variety of shapes and materials. Some are long and thin, others are shorter and thicker. But they all serve the same purpose: to provide a 'toe-hold' to which you can attach a carabiner. A 'biner' is a ring-like device to which your ropes and harness are also attached.
A 'nut' is one of the most basic types of pro, as climbers say. They're small, usually metal alloy, and often in the shape of a nut. Threaded through the hole is a cable to which you attach another piece of equipment, often D-rings. 'D-rings' are one type of biner. They're ultra-strong and (provided the rock holds) can keep you from falling if you slip or another hold gives way.
Nuts, like other gear, require some training to use properly. How to place them in the crack and how to judge whether that's the right crack to put them in takes experience and practice. They cost around $8-$10 and you can expect to have to buy a few.
A hexentric or hex is another common piece of so-called 'passive' equipment. This means they don't have moving parts like spring-loaded cams and they don't (you hope) change position when you use them. As the name suggests, they're six-sided and typically barrel-shaped. They're designed to be used in parallel-sided cracks.
Here again, placement requires some skill to use properly. And, any piece of gear that isn't used properly can be worse than not using it at all. They can cost anywhere between $10-$30, but they're essential to the climber's kit.
Runners are another highly used piece of gear for climbers. These days they're almost all made of some kind of nylon, but often have small amounts of other materials incorporated into the design. They're short to medium-length loops or straps used to sling around a tree branch, an outcropping of rock or other structure.
Pitons are one of the most widely recognized pieces of traditional climbing gear, because they're what always give way in the movies as the hero is climbing. These spike-shaped tools are hammered into place to provide a stay for a rope. Unlike the movies, fortunately, pitons actually work reliably almost all the time. Getting them freed after use is more often the problem.
Pitons today come in a huge variety of shapes and composites, from the typical looking 'railroad' spike to a fat wedge. Some are even hook-shaped or look like an old-fashioned, miniature oil well pump. They cost around $10 and you'll want to have at least a few because (as in the movies) they do sometimes come loose and fall or get permanently stuck.
Learning to use pro will become second nature. Starting with quality gear will speed up that process.
