Lead Climbing Gear

Are you the trained and experienced Adult Lead on this outing?  If so, you already know what you need.

Lead Climber Gear

In Scouting America, Lead Climbing is limited to Venturers and is NOT conducted at at Troop Level.  Trained adults with lead climbing skills may need to set up top rope anchors.  If so, they already know what gear they need.  This list is to give you an idea of what is needed for a climb. 

• Helmet

• Harness

• Climbing shoes

• Chalk bag

• Cellphone Tether

• Rappelling Gloves

  • Really nice to have for Belay

    • Keeps hands clean

    • Allows you to grab onto rapid moving rope without need to let go

  • Required for Rappelling

• Dynamic Climbing Rope

  • Ideally 70m

• Rope Bag

  • 60m+ Rope

  • IKEA bag is popular for carrying rope

  • See our Climbing Ropes Page

• 9x Quick Draws

• Belay Device

  • +1 Locking Carabiner to rack it and lock to belay loop

  • Petzl Grigri is preferred

  • See our Belay Devices Page

• Personal Anchor with Locking Carabiner

  • Petzl Connect Adjust - Best overall

  • Petzl Dual Connect Adjust - Best for two-arm applications

  • Black Diamond Link - Best sewn-loop option

  • Knotted sling - Simple alternative

  • Climbing rope with clove hitch - Backup option

  • See our Personal Anchors Page 

• Anchor Kit

  • • Anchor Kit generally consists of a cord and 2-4 carabiners

      • Single Anchor Kit for Single Pitch

        • Anchor Cord

          • 21 feet of 7mm accessory cord

        • Locking Carabiners

          • 2 Autolocking 

          • 2 HMS

      • Second Anchor Kit for Multipitch

      • Additional Cord and Carabiner for Rescue per climber

    • See our Anchor Kits Page 

• 2-3x Extra Locking Carabiners

  • 1 Triple Locking Carabiners

    • Petzl Sm'D Triact-Lock 

  • 1-2 HMS Carabiners

    • Petzl Attache

• Belay Glasses

  • Optional

Rappelling Gear

If you might rappel:

• ATC-Guide or Petzl Reverso

• 1 locking carabiner for rappel device

• 1 smooth HMS locking carabiner for rope

• Rappelling gloves

• 1 Prusik loop or Sterling HollowBlock

• 1 locking carabiner for friction hitch

• Personal anchor system or appropriate tether

• Headlamp

See our Rappelling Gear Page 

Crag Bag - For Single Pitch

A dedicated Crag Bag will help you keep your gear organized, stored and clean. 

• Belay Jacket

• Real First Aid Kit

• Headlamp

• Knife

• Waterbottles

• Real snacks

Multipitch Gear- For Multi Pitch

Be prepared for wind, weather and possibly darkness if the day goes a lot longer than planned

• Small lightweight pack if you can't rack gear and snacks

• Top Down Belay Device

  • Carried by Lead Climber

  • Black Diamond ATC Guide or Petzl Reverso

  • Extra locking Carabiner for ATC/Reverso for use in Guide Mode

  • Spare ATC with carabiners recommended

• Second Anchor Kit

  • Cord and Locking Carabiners

  • See our Anchor Kits Page 

• Rescue Cordelette

  • 21 feet pf 6-7mm Cordelette

• Seasonal clothing

  • Sun shirt

  • Windbreaker

    • Patagonia Houdini is considered the best

  • Puffer

  • Beanie 

    • Must fit under helmet

• Headlamp

  • Must be able to mount on helmet

• Radios

  • Rocky Talkie recommended

• Water Bottle that can be clipped to belt

• Snacks

See our Multipitch Climbing Page