Marking Climbing Gear

Everyone's gear looks the same, especially at the end of the day when it's time to head home or to camp and there is a rush to pack up.  Mark your gear if you want to get it back. 

Marking Hard Items

It is essential that you mark your hard items.  Choose a color combo you like, since you might be stuck with it for a while.  Having a double color combo will make it less likely that you will have the same colors as someone else you are climbing with.  Bright and contrasting colors help...but are also often chosen by others.

•  Electrical Tape

  • Super easy to use and apply

  • Has a tendency to fall off and leave micro litter at the crag

  • If marking carabineers, mark side opposite of gate to limit rope rub

• Nail Polish

  • You don't need expensive polish

  • Some of the really cheap stuff rubs off easily

  • Easy to find in different colors and easy to apply

  • If used in low areas, it will last longer

    • If marking carabineers, mark side opposite of gate to limit rope rub

• Paint Markers

  • Vary in quality

  • You can get fancy with markers, but there is no need

  • Like nail polish, mark low areas

    • If marking carabineers, mark side opposite of gate to limit rope rub

• Permanent Markers

  • Seems like a great option, but rubs off surprisingly easily

• Athletic Tape

  • These get dirty fast

  • You can find them in different colors

  • You can easily mark them with a permeant marker 

• Decorative Tape

  • You can find these in fancy colors or with fancy artwork

• Etching

  • NOTE: This MAY weaken your climbing gear and make it more likely to fail

  • Can be done with a hand engraver

  • Can be done with a laser a professional finish

• Professional Labels

  • tagyourgear.com 

  • omniprogear.com

  • Made to order

• Labels and clear Heat Shrink

  • Combines easy and look of labels with durability

  • You can use vinyl tape or even reflective tape under heat shrink

• Colored Heat Shrink

  • More durable than tape

  • Easy to apply if you have a heat gun

  • Limited colors...but less used method

  • You can use 2 or more colors if you like

  • instructables.com/Marking-Climbing-Carabiners-with-Reflective-Tape 

Note that climbing gear gets pretty beat up and you will likely need to remark gear over time.  If you use paint or nail polish in recessed areas of your gear, it can last a long long time. 

Marking Soft Items

There is a concern that nail polish, paint and adhesives will damage your soft times.  Will it?  No one seems to really know, but nail polish seems like a really bad idea.

There are special markers (Beal rope marker) that are used on ropes.  These don't seem to weaken the ropes, but there is only so much you can do with black.

For ropes, you can mark the ends with tape.  For longevity, clear heat shrink (Beal Rope End Kit) can be used to seal and protect your tape.  Adding data such as your name, contact info and rope info may be helpful later.

Marking circular slings is a little tricker since you can get tubular heat shrink around them and because your marking or label will eventually come in contact with hardware. 

People use athletic tape or labels (tagyourgear.com) to mark their gear, but there is a concern than adhesives will muck up or damage soft goods or will get caught in hardware.

If using paint or nail polish, it is possible to mark the tags on your soft goods, but you will probably cover up important info on the tags.