What to wear on a climbing wall: climbing shoes and clothing. Great Workout or Dangerous Fun: Is Rock Climbing Good for Kids? Climbing equipment. Cloth

When choosing clothes and shoes for climbing, the first criterion is comfort. However, there are still a lot of nuances that should be taken into account in order to accurately understand what things are required for sport climbing.

A universal set for the first visit to the climbing wall - these are comfortable loose things, a replaceable set of shoes. But if you are used to choosing clothes with responsibility, then you need to follow certain recommendations in order to choose the right equipment for classes.

Everything will depend on where the training takes place. If you are doing sport climbing on a climbing wall, then there is always a warm temperature. Therefore, you can choose suitable pants or shorts, and girls can choose high-quality leggings that will stretch perfectly and will not interfere with movements. For the top, just take an ordinary T-shirt or T-shirt made of breathable materials.

For natural rocks, the situation will be completely different. Due to unpredictable weather conditions, take a set of warm clothes that can provide protection from wind and cold air. To avoid injury to your legs, wear long, loose-fitting trousers made from special materials. The best option is special climbing pants with a special cut. They are equipped with knee pads to guarantee a high leg lift without obstacles, as well as pockets.

What is the difference between special sports climbing clothes and ordinary sports suits?

• Made from durable materials. For example, T-shirts are made from fabric that dries quickly and “breathes” so that there is no hypothermia during training.
• Has a special finish. Trousers loose with thickening at the knees.
• Textiles for climbing clothing do not fade due to prolonged exposure to the sun, and therefore retain an attractive appearance.

The order of prices will be as follows:

• Climbing jackets come in handy in outdoor conditions. The cost of a jacket in stores will cost from 5 to 30 thousand rubles, depending on the thickness of the material, brand.
  
• Sweatshirts for sports climbing cost from 3 to 10 thousand rubles.
• Pants and shorts will cost from 3 to 20 thousand rubles. There are several categories found in online stores. These are warm pants like inflated sports trousers, as well as ordinary trousers made of dense materials, light shorts, and high-quality leggings are relevant for girls.
  
• T-shirts can be purchased from 800 rubles to 3-4 thousand. Here the main selection criterion is the natural or synthetic material used for manufacturing, as well as the brand.
  
• Thermal underwear is an essential attribute for climbing on natural rocks. Top or bottom separately will cost from 1 to 5 thousand rubles.
  

  How to choose special climbing shoes

  Experienced athletes often purchase several pairs of rock shoes at once. A universal option is basic shoes, but, in general, the choice depends on the discipline of sport climbing you have chosen, the features of movements. It is recommended not to allow the complete wear of rock shoes, as your safety depends on it, among other things.

  Depending on the type of training, choose climbing shoes for:

  
  

  What is the cost of special climbing shoes? Children's climbing shoes can be purchased from 4 thousand rubles. Adult climbing shoes are bought at points of sale from 5 to 13 thousand rubles.

  Brand overview includes manufacturers such as Scrapa, Five Ten, Evolv, La Sportiva, Black Diamond, Mad Rock, Tenaya. Most models are quite rigid, but still stretch a couple of sizes. There are also options that are more adapted to the characteristics of the foot. For example, these are La Sportiva models, which are very different in terms of stiffness.

  Total Cost Calculation

  So, if you prefer to purchase your own set of sport climbing clothes and shoes, you can calculate the average total cost.

  For classes on the climbing wall, it will be like this:

  • Pants or shorts ~ 5 thousand.
  • T-shirt ~ 2 thousand.
  • Skalniks ~ 10 thousand.

  Thus, you will have to spend approximately 17 thousand. rubles.

  When it comes to outdoor sport climbing, the total price is:

  • Jacket ~ 10 thousand.
  • Thermal underwear ~ 6 thousand.
  • Sweatshirt ~ 5 thousand.
  • Pants or shorts ~ 5 thousand.
  • Skalniks ~ 10 thousand.

  On average, the total cost reaches 36 thousand. rubles.

  Remember that if you have no intention of climbing for a long time, you can get by with clothing and equipment that is available for rent at the climbing wall. But for serious training in nature, you should take care of the availability of high-quality reliable things.

  Overview of online stores

  Where can I buy climbing clothes and shoes online?

  • Tramontana online store - https://tramontana.ru
  • Alpindustria online store - https://alpindustria.ru
  • Online store Sport Marathon - https://sport-marafon.ru
  • Online store Planet Sport —

• How and where choose clothes for climbing and mountaineering (from socks and shoes to glasses and puff),
• what to pay attention to upon purchase, and
• what are inexpensive alternative options ... And even -
• what you can sew yourself and what can you do without climbing (and don't waste money)...

Introduction. Why do climbers need so many different clothes for all occasions?

The first thing that becomes incomprehensible to a beginner in mountaineering: why do you need several pairs of thermal underwear, gloves, socks, different hats (warm and not very warm)?

The fact is that in the mountains you will experience different weather conditions for several hours.

For example:

• you start from the base camp (for example, from Azau on Elbrus) in May: sun, +25, heat, no wind. And we start walking along a wide dirt road. After 3-4 hours we arrive at the Mir station: there is already wet snow, the temperature +5, pulling the breeze, which is just waiting to purge your sweaty body and dump you with a banal cold for a few days, crossing out all further training and ascent.

• Then we go up to the ice classes. We leave in the morning, 0 degrees, but a breeze- you need to close so that it does not blow through, for example, the neck, lower back, ears, head.
  While we are walking, the sun flares up, reflected from the snow, and becomes +10. We reach the Pastukhov rocks: a rocky ridge hides us from the wind, a small cloud covers us - we are in a yellow fog, temperature +20, very hot- you need to throw off excess clothes, take off your hat; the sun is not visible, but, in fact, it is scattered in this fog, and without sunscreen we will burn.
  We climb a little higher, where the wind drives the fog away, and we need to get dressed right there, because +5 and wind.
  After some time, leaving behind the protection of the Pastukhov rocks, we find ourselves in a windy place, the temperature -10, wind, we dress again, change the thin hat to one that is warmer, and hide our hands right in thin gloves in the “tops”. And if a cloud covers us here, then we will get into the real blizzard!
  We go back, we go down a little, and blizzard slowly turns into rain- lower temperatures are higher, and the snow turns into water on the way to the ground. We change into waterproof clothes, we hide backpacks under waterproof covers so as not to come back down with a bucket of wet things in a backpack.

• By the way, a climb itself even in summer, for example, it can start at -5 at night, continue higher at -20 with wind, there will be sun at the top, -15, and a strong wind, when descending from the top, the temperature will gradually rise to +20, instead of snow, a dirt road will appear, and we will go down to the base camp when the sun sets and there will be green grass around, but +5, because it is evening.

Yes, mountaineering is also endless dressed - undressed - dressed - dressed. This is the ability to feel any cooling or overheating of any part of the body and immediate response to this, to prevent possible problems soon. This is the ability of a fakir to snatch the necessary piece of clothing from the backpack from behind the back, and put it on without stopping and without removing the backpack!

This understanding in which order you should be dressed which layer of clothing follows which one, so that, either by removing extra layers from oneself, like from cabbage, to go through the heat, or, throwing on the necessary layers for warming, go with pleasure and in comfort through a blizzard.

What to buy? Ah ... buy it?

The modern professional clothing industry has made incredible strides forward in recent decades. Soviet climbers went upstairs in felt boots and quilted jackets, which, when wet, became very heavy - several kilograms of extra weight! And climbers of those years died very often due to the fact that they simply froze in such clothes. Or supercooled in wadded sleeping bags, which, even when dry, were much heavier than modern downy ones, but warmed much worse.

Modern manufacturers, of course, have made life easier for a climber by an order of magnitude. Clothes and sleeping bags are now so warm and light that, with the right equipment and the right behavior in the mountains in summer at altitudes up to 6,000 meters, it will even be very, very difficult to freeze. And on programs for beginner climbers (to receive the Russian Mountaineer Badge) - it’s impossible at all (we don’t take beginners to extreme conditions).

We start from what many of our participants go to the mountains for the first time. Most people think - that the only one ... Ah, looking at the price tags on professional clothing - even experienced climbers are breathtaking!

In this case, we think that optional to buy many very expensive professional things at one time, if

1. can be taken in rental the same for little money, or
2. buy(albeit lower quality) analogues
3. find for a couple of weeks by friends-acquaintances
4. and even something sew yourself.

Paragraph 1, RENTAL: we consider the cost of rental, we estimate how many times we may need this thing in life. We wrote about each item below, whether it is applicable in everyday life, or is it a purely professional item that will take up space on the shelf 11 months a year.

Point 2, ANALOGUES. We act like this with analogues: we go to a professional, expensive store, everything feel, consult with the seller make a list, and then looking for the same in the markets, or in cheaper stores (albeit with crooked seams).

Point 3, FRIENDS-ACQUAINTANCES. Ascents are made in the summer, and some of the things from the ski wardrobe, for example, your friends will not need until the next winter. There is no conflict of interest. Another option is to ask all your friends if they are in the immediate environment climber. There are few climbers, they usually respect each other, although they may be afraid that you will lose something, break it, spoil it ...

More, according to our programs

Thermal underwear thin

This is your "second skin" in the mountains. You will walk in it all the time - in the morning put it on yourself, on top of clothes, depending on external conditions, and forward. It will remove excess moisture (sweat) from the body, and you will always be dry, warm and comfortable. It will always come in handy in life, and it will not be demolished! Be sure to buy one set!

1 set top and bottom.

Professional thermal underwear can be washed in a typewriter for several years almost daily, and it will be like new (it will be possible to go jogging, go to nature in it).

Alternatively, you can look for thermal underwear in regular markets, it will be several times cheaper. Crooked seams of the mountain will forgive you. And when the seams open, sew with a needle and thread.

Thermal underwear medium

Roughly, there are 3 gradations of thermal underwear: thin, medium, thick. Here we need a middle option. We need thermal underwear for active sports - it removes sweat from the body (the opposite option - for fishing, for example - we do not need it. And thick thermal underwear is used only on winter ascents). The latest developments are thermal underwear made of wool with a polar - it is especially pleasant for the body.

Below is a cheaper option:

And the most inexpensive alternative, confirmed by Soviet climbers (for example, for climbing Elbrus from early May to September inclusive) - thin thermal underwear, a fleece jacket, and a puff on top ... So we consider a fleece with thin thermal underwear an alternative to warm thermal underwear ...

Fleece sweater

Fleece, polartec-200. You can use a fleece jacket - it is more convenient because sometimes you can unbutton it and not take it off, but look for one with a high neck.

Fleece is as warm as wool, but at the same time soft, pleasant to the touch, almost does not wrinkle, dries quickly, and can be washed easily and repeatedly.

Polartec 200 (this is also a fleece) is almost weightless, perfectly retains body heat (for example, twice as warm as sheep's wool). Unlike wool, it doesn't store, but wicks excess moisture (your sweat) away from your body as you move, keeping you comfortable.

Warm socks (wool or polar)

Again - if some get wet (and not necessarily from rain or sleet - for example, feet sweat too!), We change into spare, dry ones. Wet socks steam the skin of the feet (what it is like after a bath, remember?), the skin becomes tender, and any friction on the shoes causes scuffs and blisters that will not allow you to go further. You will immediately turn into a visual aid for classes on transporting the victim ...

Socks Boreal TREK MERINO GRAY B665, 1.170 rubles, you can.

Socks BASK PSS-SOCKS, 1.000 rubles, - especially recommended (see below)

Alternatively, just woolen, but thin (from fine wool, but dense) socks.

Extra warm socks
to climb Elbrus

Alternatively- we put on ordinary "polars" on simple socks. You do not need to buy these socks one size larger than others, they stretch themselves.

Great Alternative option- thin socks + "basques" from the previous example.

Socks warm woolen or downy
for sleeping in the mountains

They will always be waiting for you in the tent/house. Clean and dry. In the mountains, you will understand what a special happiness it is to put on dry and clean linen and socks for the night. 1 pair.

Look for grandmothers knitted in the market :))

Hygienic lipstick

It will take not only girls, but also men, no choice! Pharmacies sell hygienic lipsticks - they are colorless, it is better to buy medicinal ones. In the mountains, lips are constantly dry (the humidity around is different), you just need to lick your lips once (drink tea in the wind) and voila - a very painful crack will prevent you from smiling and talking, and will spoil your mood every minute (but your clenched lips and an attempt to save stone face will constantly make others laugh and provoke them to jokes). But you won't be laughing at all! Moreover, if further measures are not taken in the form of already healing lipstick, the situation will only worsen, and you will go down the ascent already with lips of the most terrible kind (excised and almost ulcerated).

In addition to healing, look at the UF filter, if possible, take lipstick with sun protection. You can search in any cosmetic stores or pharmacies. Ordinary hygienic (without a therapeutic effect and without solar filters) is also suitable.

Sun cream in a small tube
at least 30 defense points

Your face will be in the open sun all the time, and in the mountains the ultraviolet is much harsher than below. On the snow, the sun is generally reflected from everywhere, even the chin below and the tips of the ears protruding from under the cap are sunbathing! You will tan in any case, no matter how you hide from the sun. And without a cream - just burn like firebrands, it will hurt, your face will burn, you will not sleep well at night, there will be no joy in life. Therefore, in the morning, immediately after washing (rubbing with snow) - we smear ourselves with cream.

Factor SPF 50- generally good (this one is often marked as "for children" - they run for hours in the sun).

We don't need big tubes take a small because only the face will need to be smeared (maybe the hands).

It is important for girls who do not want to have a ski tan in the summer (in vain, of course, because your face will be a walking advertisement of your "feat" and an occasion to tell everyone about it!) ... So, if you absolutely do not want to have traces of a hat on forehead and from glasses (masks) on the face - then look for a cream from tan or cream against sunburn either barrier cream from sunburn.

On the spot, in the Elbrus region (at least until recently), they sell not the most aesthetic cream, similar to the Ballet foundation from the Soviet Union. If you don’t remember this, then imagine a mixture of clay and petroleum jelly ... Therefore, it’s better to look and bring the cream with you ...

Cheaper Options

In addition to markets, sports, fishing stores, "Sportmaster", you can also look at the "" store - participants in our 6th and 7th shift in 2017 found a puff there for 10,000 rubles. and many other useful things!

Update from 11.2017: however, after the program, some of the participants decided not to save on such things anymore...

20% discount on clothes and equipment

For members of our programs the BASK manufacturing company has a 20% discount on clothes and equipment (in the Moscow store and when ordering through the website on the Internet). The company has 2 websites: bask.ru and baskcompany.ru, and many stores throughout the country. We ask our members ask us for discount promo codes.

Take normal clothes with you

Review the list in advance - if something is missing, you will need to have time to buy it!

Thin socks

It is not always possible to wash socks upstairs. There is often no water, and even wet socks may simply not dry. And there may also be bad weather, which will not allow you to dry your socks for several days. 4 pairs is usually enough. These are your regular socks that you wear in your daily life. The only thing is that we don’t take short ones (up to the ankle, like “footprints”)! Need socks just above the ankle.

Cotton shirt or T-shirt with long sleeves

They walk in it everywhere on the approaches: either only in it (where it is warm), or they put it on top of thermal underwear. The raised collar of the shirt covers the neck from the sun (unlike a T-shirt), the sleeves cover the arms so as not to burn out. In it, you will sit in the evening near the fire, or in a cafe.

2 pieces: better 1 shirt, 1 t-shirt.

Beanie (fleece)

Unlike windblock, it is thinner, ordinary, blown by a strong wind, suitable for low temperatures. In life, the necessary thing, for sure there is one in your wardrobe. Required for the duration of the program.

In the clothing markets it will cost much less.

Scarf (panama hat or cap)

It will be needed at the camp and at the preparatory classes downstairs. There is a lot, a lot of sun in the mountains! Without a hat, we'll get heatstroke.

T-shirt and shorts

In the base camp during the day in summer it is usually +20+25.

Need 1 set.

Swimsuit or swimming trunks

You will need it for a bath, for swimming under a waterfall, maybe for sunbathing. Take it!

Underwear set
for hiking and sleeping

Need 3 sets. Again, for those cases when there is no way to wash / dry. For example, in the mountains we can get into such heat that we sweat up to our shorts. We will come to spend the night - it is already cold, and, for example, it is raining outside. How to dry underwear? And here we will be saved by a spare set.

Special climbing clothing:
buy or rent

Why rental? The cost of a new one bites, and it will be especially disappointing if, during the process of using it, you realize that you have bought something completely different from what you need ... Many of our participants specifically rent clothes in order to "feel" them in action, and upon returning knowingly choose what you need in the store (simply mountaineering is addictive ... One peak will be followed by the next) ...

The cost of everything indicated further in this section (as of 11.2017) - from 120.000 rubles. The cost of the whole package in our rental is up to 30,000 rubles. on 2-week programs, up to 40.000 on 3-week programs. The rental works only for the participants of our programs. There are discounts for early payment on rental, as well as on the programs themselves.

If you rent a package of climbing clothes from us and you don't have time, you don't have to read further...

The rental price already takes into account what and how many days you will use (double boots, for example - only on Elbrus, and a jacket and membrane trousers - all days).

Our rental is issued in one package (everything that is indicated in this section of special climbing clothing), you can only take double boots separately for now.

If you already have much of the rental specified in the package, then you can only "get" something "in bulk" in local (third-party) rentals. We present the average prices of Elbrsk rentals on this page below.

Important! There is no rental in Digoria! (before it was, but it was ... taken away).

Jacket without insulation with a hood to protect against rain and wind. Better - membrane

The membrane is a fabric consisting of 3 layers (it removes sweat from the body through microscopic holes, but does not let rain in - a drop is larger than the size of the holes and is not blown by the wind).

In ordinary urban jackets in the mountains, at the most unexpected moment, the locks “wedge” (cloth gets into the “zipper”), the pockets in them are narrow - mittens, you can’t quickly put glasses in them, they still let water through the seams and become heavy ...

We need a gore-tex jacket, this is a bologna type fabric. This is your raincoat when will it rain. Such a jacket should be 1 size larger than your usual one so that it can be easily put on both a down jacket and other clothes. At what temperature it will be - it does not matter, the main thing is that it is waterproof and windproof.

It may not be insulated at all.(only the outer layer of waterproof fabric), the main thing is protection from rain.

Such a jacket (if you buy it later) you will need later in nature. Especially if it is without insulation and a size larger. In the summer you can throw it on from the rain (and it won’t be hot), in the winter you can throw it on your clothes from the wind. Often she lives in a normal life in a car with an umbrella, in the summer she was thrown over a jacket, and went out in the rain, in the fall she was thrown over a fur coat, and went out into the wet snow.

Rental - about 400 rubles per day, it is needed for all days of the program.

Just in case: a cape, for example, is only good for walking downstairs, it is not suitable for climbing (if there is wind, it will begin to “sail”, close the view and interfere, and your hands will be busy with an ice ax ...).

9.000 rubles, - this is, in fact, a raincoat, breathing properties are ordinary ... But a very compact, and stylish thing for life.

Jacket BASK GRAPHITE GELANOTS, 19.000 rubles, breathes better, water resistance is better than in the previous version. For those who plan to use such a jacket in life a lot.

The fabric of a good jacket is soft, it feels like ordinary fabric to the touch, but try to blow it through - it will not work!

In our rental, we mainly use jackets with parameters 20.000 waterproof and 20.000 vapor removal from the body. Steam removal at 5.000 is too small, on a warm day you will sweat from the inside ...

There are alternatives for 1.500-2.000 rubles in fishing/hunting stores (even for a jacket + trousers set). But they will still get wet in the rain, and due to the fact that they are "not breathable" - sweating, you yourself will get wet. But in general, they will fulfill their task.

Pants-membrane
to protect against rain and wind

These are not sweatpants! Ideal - from membrane fabric to such a jacket that was described above.

What is the meaning: you go on business in the mountains (for example, to the library), it's hot, you are in thin pants. And then comes the rain. Take these membrane pants and throw them right on top of your pants! Since they are without insulation, it is not hot to walk in them, but the rain rolls down them, and your feet remain dry. The rain is over - right in front of all of them you drop, and, voila - you are left in your usual pants!

Then we go to the ascent, along the glacier. We are already wearing thermal underwear, ordinary, "running" pants, in a backpack - membrane trousers. The higher we climb, the lower the temperature, the wind pulls, it becomes cool. And again we grab our magic trousers from the backpack, put them on top, and the wind stops penetrating to our feet! It becomes warm, although on top there is such a thin, seemingly, additional layer of fabric. These pants are really expensive...!!! But they justify themselves! Try them in our rental, and you will understand what a convenient thing it is! In the mountains, simply irreplaceable!

These trousers will also come in handy later in nature (for example, when fishing - they put them right on top of their pants, and you won’t get wet).

Self-throwers and semi-self-throwers are an order of magnitude more convenient than ordinary pants. You can put them on and throw them off right along the way, stopping a bit. In ordinary pants, you have to cook until the camp itself, or until the rest stop, which occurs every 40-60 minutes (remember - the temperatures there can change a lot every 15 minutes?). You can put on both self-dumps and half-dumps directly without taking off your shoes! This is important in the mountains.

Semi-self-resets are more convenient than self-resets in that you do not need to try to get into the zipper in the wind, and you do not need to keep the belt open in the wind while tightening the Velcro. The latter, by the way, hold worse over time ...

Bib pants are better than regular pants. Pants with straps (over the shoulders) are better than pants without straps.

Rental: trousers - 300 rubles per day, membrane trousers - 400. They are needed for all days of the program ...

6.500 rub.

15,000 rubles, there are no self-dumps for sale yet (as of July 27, 2017), only half-dumps ...

or you can use the following semi-self-resets:

Or - fishing and hunting shops (as described above).

Gloves suitable for climbing rope

These are well replaced by cheap construction and household gloves of off-white color (preferably without blue pimples). Take a few pairs. They are well suited for training on simple (small, don't be afraid!) rocks below.

Gloves warm windproof, suitable for work with a climbing rope

We need these at altitudes up to 4,000 m, where there is snow, ice and wind. See the mark "windblock" - these do not let the wind and water through.

Option - ordinary woolen gloves (or such

2.000 rub. or

1.300 rubles, and on top of the top made of windproof fabric. BUT! There is a better option!

Mittens

Suitable for a gloved hand, with elastic bands for attaching to the wrist (waterproof).

Their need depends on what kind of windproof gloves you bought ...

Insulated mittens (down/synthetics)
on a gloved hand (top)

They are only needed for climbing. That is, we put on our gloves, and on top - also mittens! Then the hands will definitely not freeze, even if on the ascent (and we start at night!) It can be -20 ° with the wind for several hours.

Fur mittens cannot be used in mountaineering! The fur gets wet and later turns into a terrible ice.

The mittens we need can be rented for 5-6 days, they cost about 150 rubles. per day.

Advice of an experienced Soviet climber: instead of all gloves, you can take 2 pairs of construction gloves, 1 warm woolen mittens (a little looser in size, not too tight) and white canvas "overalls" for windproofness. The combination of these 3 options will also solve all problems, at a price of up to 500 rubles. for all.

Construction gloves are blown by the wind (and do not always fit). But the wool, even wet, warms, but the "tarpaulins" are windproof. You can’t belay in woolen gloves (hold the rope - it will slide in your hands), but if you put on canvas gloves, you can.

Important! You will have to take off and put on canvas mittens very often. For convenience, they must be sewn on rings from ordinary gum., so that they can be thrown off the hand, and they continued to hang on the wrists (so as not to poke / get them endlessly in / out of pockets). Another option is to sew an elastic band about half a meter long to them so that you can pass it through clothes (remember, in kindergarten, mothers did this to us so that we would not lose our mittens?). But simple rings are more convenient (mittens can be easily hidden when they are no longer needed).

Beanie (polar, windblock)

Small, dense, it is not blown by the wind. How to check that the fabric is windproof, despite the fact that it looks like a regular one? Try to blow this fabric with your own lips, unlike the usual one - you will not blow this fabric.

We need it for a couple of days to climb. In non-alpinist life, it is rarely used (on the ski slopes in harsh winters), so you can rent it for 5-6 days (although it is not always available at rental offices). But an alternative option is a thick woolen hat + a puff hood for windproofness from above (but muffles the sounds from the outside).

Face mask (balaclava)
to protect against strong winds

You can also ask friends, especially skiers, snowboarders, snowmobile enthusiasts. Only thin summer we do not need. In extreme cases, you can replace fleece, but windblock fabric is better.

It is only needed for climbing. And not the fact that it will be needed! But if the weather requires her presence, then it will become difficult to live without her: maybe for several hours the wind is 100 km / h at a temperature of -20 with dry, cutting snow that cuts the face ...

The rental is about 100 rubles per day, it is needed for 1-2 days, but since all the rentals are far below (half a day one way), you will need to rent a rental for all 5-6 days on the slopes.

Fleece balaclavas are everywhere, incl. in fishing shops.

Down jacket with a hood
(Puff for mountaineering)

The first question is why a down jacket? Why not just ski?

The ski jacket is very heavy (although you didn’t notice it before), the weight is given by the zipper, the lock, the pockets, it has a heavy and poorly folded outer windproof fabric. And the ski jacket does not warm, but only protects well from the wind: it is designed for active movement, when sweat needs to be removed from the body.

But the down warms, while the fabric at the puff is windproof. The puff is very light, does not restrict movement, allows you to move completely freely. And she Takes up very little space in your backpack, rammed into a small "bun", with a volume of about 4 female fists (look at how much space your ski jacket takes up). In principle, a necessary thing in life (except for the inhabitants of the south, perhaps), because even city dwellers someday get out into nature in winter (for example, barbecue, fishing), and in the city in the cold winter, it will help out a lot. Everyone will bounce in the cold (for example, celebrating the New Year on the street), and you will be warm and cozy.

Returning to mountaineering - at altitudes of about 5,000 meters, a puff is needed. For Elbrus we need an average, approx. -20°.

You don't need a jacket at -40° on Elbrus in the summer (not on winter ascents), otherwise you will get a boiled climber! Downy shirts (the other extreme) we don't need either!

By the way, about the puff on −40°... This is a marketing overkill! Of course, the manufacturer will be happy if you buy two or, even better, four powder puffs from him! So, the temperature of -40 ° can easily withstand puff at -20°, it’s just that you will have not 3, but 4 layers of clothing. Here you go with us to a height of 7,000 meters, or to any winter ascent - there we will clearly tell about it.

Small conveniences in a climbing puff: an inner pocket in which the battery on your mobile phone (or a walkie-talkie) will not freeze, a ribbon on a button, or on a button, connecting the back and front bottom of the jacket (between the legs) so that it does not blow out during a snowstorm ( and did not ride up during sleep) and inner half-mittens, which are removed inside, and, if necessary, put on hands, and it becomes very warm, because it does not blow inside. But there should not be external pockets, or they should be closed with valves: so that the snow does not fall in, and you do not cling to the ledges of the rocks.

However, if we take into account the cost of this "anti-freeze", then ... a puff rental on Elbrus costs an average of 350 rubles per day, we will need it for 1-6 days. But remember that the skates are far below, you won’t be able to run there, so we take a puff for all the days of our stay on the slopes of Elbrus.

Alternative: any down jacket (it was from climbers and polar explorers that they once came to ordinary life). Important - the seams in the jacket should not be "cold", which means through: that is, under or above each seam there should be a layer of fluff. As in construction, the bricks are laid "overlapping", blocking the seams.

Down must be only waterfowl: eider, swan, duck, goose (given in descending order of quality and price). Chicken fluff won't work! It cakes, and as soon as it gets wet, you can throw the thing away (after drying, we will get pieces of caked cotton wool inside the jacket). There is a little water-repellent fat in the down of waterfowl, thanks to which it does not cake (does not stray into lumps, between which cold will then penetrate), and after wetting it dries up and restores its properties.

The jacket should be below the buttocks, but above the knees: in an emergency, it will allow you to sit on it on a stone, snow, in very serious adventures it allows you to spend the night in a tent in it.

In Soviet times, climbers sewed their own jackets, one takes 800 gr. duck down (and swan, or eider even less).

Double climbing boots

For a successful climb to Elbrus and Kazbek, you need good mountain boots made of thick leather with a minimum of seams with a membrane (but then also shoe covers) or, more reliably, two-layer ones. Boots should be comfortable, well-worn, waterproof, warm, one size larger than usual in order to put on an additional warm sock.

Why do we need double boots? For example, on climbing Mont Blanc, single boots are used - there are enough of them.

And double ones are a plastic boot into which a second one is inserted, soft and warm. The fact is that Elbrus is very high, and there, at this height, it is very cold, in summer it may well be -20 and an icy wind, and so during few hours climbing. Legs will begin to freeze - and write wasted - rescue work is provided to the entire department. But we're not going to Elbrus for such adventures, are we? And also (we take the most extreme, terrible option), regardless of your desire, the situation may turn out to be that you have to spend the night on a slope in bad weather without reaching the tent ... The instructors will dig a snow cave, and in a down jacket you can survive this night, but here it will be fundamentally important what kind of shoes you have on your feet.

If you have "very, very, very good single boots"...

In 90% of cases, such boots are not warm enough for Elbrus (the remaining 10% is when the ideal weather sets in, but it is customary for climbers to always prepare for the worst). If you go in single, then you need to buy and measure on a thick knitted woolen sock (but not on a modern thick thermal sock). At the same time, on the toe of the boot of average thickness, it should be tightened with lacing and not “slosh”. Perhaps, at the same time, it is necessary to provide an additional insole. If in such boots there is no possibility of attaching hard crampons, then you can wear soft crampons, soft crampons are enough for Elbrus. That being said, you definitely need to buy shoe covers for extra warmth!

Another problem is that if these boots (in fact, for heavy trekking) are worn with a thick toe, then for the first 7 days of the training and acclimatization program (when around +15 + 25) - they will be hot in them, or they will hang out on the foot. And if you take shoes of your size, and ram a thick sock into them on Elbrus, the blood flow in the foot will be disturbed, the leg will become numb and freeze. That is, buying 1 pair for all days (for all 2-3 weeks) on Elbrus (and Kazbek) will not work ...

Back to double boots.

Boots for climbing Elbrus are much warmer than heavy trekking boots, and do not get wet at all. These can be rented for 5-6 days. Why rent? Just because the price of new...

So, new ones in stores usually cost 25,000-65,000 rubles. Moreover, they take up a lot of space in luggage and weigh almost 2 kilograms... The chance of not getting into your size is also high (trying on with warm socks, you need to walk up and down a special slide - sensitively listening to the sensations so that nothing nowhere rested and did not rub).

Renting good shoes on Elbrus: 500-1.000 rubles. per day, you will need to take them for 5-6 days.

Shoe covers

Needed if you have single very warm boots (such inflexible, similar to ski boots, but simpler - without plastic). Shoe covers will be needed for snow activities and when climbing Elbrus - they are recommended to be worn over the boot to cover the entire boot, keep warm and protect the shoes from getting wet, they may be needed in the spring and autumn on the 1st week.

Shoe covers for rent at local rentals on Elbrus cost 150 rubles per day, we will need at least 5-6 days. Shoe covers are not needed if you have double boots.

Gaiters ("FLASHLIGHTS") for shoes

“Flashlights on the legs” - this is what the Soviet climbers called this piece of clothing (it has nothing to do with light)! Gaiters are protection against water, snow and debris getting into the boot. And what will happen without them? Walk 3 steps in deep snow (above the knee) - and pick up full boots of snow (snow lies at altitudes of 3.100 meters). Having melted, it will get inside the shoes, and we will get wet feet, scuffs, blisters and the risk of frostbite ... As for the garbage, we walk where there are no paths and roads ... Fine loose powder is crushed stone, sand - if you need to walk on it up, then they strive to get into the boot ...

Rental in Elbrus region: 100 rubles/day. Required for all days of the program.

Alternative!

If you have a sewing machine, you can sew "flashlights" yourself from a light tarpaulin, parachute fabric or bologna. Or even simpler - from a denser fabric: cut off the trouser leg of old jeans, bend the cut edges and sew, you can use your hands, without a typewriter, cut a hole, insert an elastic band, like on shorts. At the bottom of the front, you definitely need to sew on a hook to hook the gaiters to the lacing of your boots, then they will definitely not rise from walking on coarse snow.

Mountaineering goggles with protection factor 4

There is a lot, a lot, a lot of sun in the mountains. Even before the snow, during the first acclimatization trips - imagine summer, a lot of blue sky, and a piercing sun on it! We sometimes forget about it at office work, but even at the base camp there will be a lot of sun. And on the pure, whitest snow above, which has never been touched by smog, nor soot, nor the wheels of cars, which is sprinkled a little every few days with fresh and dazzling white - it is absolutely impossible without glasses.

Beach goggles do not suit us! We need special, glass or plastic ones that do not transmit ultraviolet light. Climbing goggles have leather protection around the outer side of the lenses, and the holes in this side skin (for ventilation), the holes should be oblique (not "holes" at right angles) - they do not give glare points on the glasses.

Very good if goggles will have nose protection: despite all the strongest sunscreens, it is the nose that burns in the sun first, the skin on it then peels off.

Alternative is impossible! That's what, what a glasses can not be bought on the market! With a limited budget, either hire, or look for climbing friends.

Ski goggles that you have ski mask - will not fit! On the glacier it may well be +20! (exactly a plus!), your mask will fog up ... Well, try sitting in a sauna in a ski mask to get the full picture ...

Rent about 200 rubles per day, glasses are needed for all days.

Spare goggles or ski mask
with protection factor 4

Spare glasses are definitely needed, because yours (no matter how you take care of them) can be lost or broken. An alternative option is to ask your friends - there will surely be skiers from whom you can borrow glasses or a mask for the duration of the trip.

It would be nice to take a spare and a mask - it will be indispensable if we get into a small snowstorm (imagine, summer, and you send SMS to friends about a snowstorm :). And constantly using a mask (even on the slopes of Elbrus) is inconvenient, because it will be hot in it.

There are masks for rent, 200 rubles per day (3-4th degree of protection). We need it for 5-6 days.

Headlamp + spare batteries

It is better to buy - a useful thing for those who plan to sometimes go out into the countryside with an overnight stay. Another flashlight lives well in ordinary life in the glove compartment of a car - if you need to look at the engine in the middle of the night, or drive someone else's cat out from under the car at night - this is where it will come in handy. Still needed by joggers, especially in autumn and winter, when it gets lighter late and darker early.

In the markets they cost from 100-300 rubles for a simple model. But in simple models, something quickly breaks, for example, plastic fasteners for rubber bands on the side - for example, when you tamp the flashlight into a backpack and then sit down to rest on top.

Rental costs about 100 rubles per day. You will need a flashlight for the days of climbing and for the days of spending the night in a tent.

Additional Information

Things, which have optional(we will provide), but if you buy yourself, then pay attention to this:

Backpack (male 80-90 l., female 70 l.)

Necessarily with a hard back, a wide belt with a clasp, height-adjustable shoulder straps, comfortable! Check that all fastexes (fasteners) work, zippers close, there are whole seams. The backpack should have attachments for trekking poles and an ice ax (these are such loops on the outside of the backpack).

It is good if there is also rain protection on the backpack.

Shoes for high-altitude mountaineering

such shoes are required for climbers from about the 2nd sports category, that is, they are definitely not needed for beginners (and they will not need another 2-3 years of mountaineering). These shoes are designed for mountaineering at very high altitudes (for example, for mountains 7,000 meters high, or for mountains lower, but on winter ascents, where temperatures drop below 40 or even 60 degrees!). Such shoes are used at extremely low temperatures (as on Everest, for example) and on technically difficult terrain. Such boots are higher, the material is more rigid, a cat welt is required. Such shoes also weigh more than ordinary mountain shoes. The outsole is hard, almost unbending, specially for hard crampons ("automata" - such crampons are used mainly on a vertical ice wall).

In no case no need to buy high-altitude shoes for "beginner" programs! We will not climb vertical ice walls, but walking in such shoes will be much harder for you: try to tie a plank to your feet and walk when the foot does not bend. Add here the fact that shoes are designed for -40 degrees, and imagine what will happen to your feet at +20 (well, it's like walking in a sauna in a fur coat and a rubber swimming cap). So we don’t need additional complications, and don’t blindly believe everything that they tell you in stores :)

Clothing for outdoor activities - whether it's just going out of town, climbing in the mountains or a multi-day hike - obeys the principle of layering, or, in other words, the theory of three layers. In its classic form, it looks like this: first, thermal underwear is put on the naked body, insulated clothing, such as a fleece or a thin jacket made of down or synthetics, is put on top of it, and a membrane jacket on top that protects from rain and wind. And the same with the lower half of the body. If necessary, all this is complemented by a more impressive down jacket.

Three layers of clothes

1. First layer: thermal underwear made of wool or synthetics. This is the base layer, it allows the skin to breathe and removes excess moisture from the body. Thermal underwear is worn on the naked body and should fit snugly, but not press or cause discomfort. Therefore, it is advisable to try on thermal underwear before buying. Thermal underwear quickly absorbs odors, so it should be regularly aired and washed, but not ironed.
2. Middle layer: fleece, synthetic or down. This clothing retains heat by forming a layer of air around the body, but at the same time, like thermal underwear, it must be breathable, that is, allow the excess moisture that our body releases to evaporate to the outside. There may be several heaters depending on weather conditions.
3. Top protective layer. These are membrane clothing, for example, the most famous GoreTex membrane. The membrane does not allow wind, snow and rain to pass through from the outside, but at the same time allows excess moisture to evaporate, allowing the body to "breathe" under clothing. For example, a polyethylene raincoat also protects from rain, but in it you will instantly feel the effect of a greenhouse. Membrane jackets and trousers, despite all the myths, can be washed, and it is advisable to treat them regularly with special impregnations.

• Naturalness: the child has a desire to explore the world, for example, he begins to climb trees.
• Safety: if children climb high in trees, then there is a high probability of falling, but there is always insurance in climbing. This will prevent injury and relieve fear.
• Physical Culture: in this sport, the load on the body is distributed evenly, all, without exception, muscle groups work. At the same time, coordination, endurance and agility develop.
• Thinking: in this sport you can’t just train yourself for one activity, each distance requires the climber to come up with a strategy and find an original and quick solution to the problem. Thus, the mind and ingenuity develop.
• Communication: more often distances are covered in a team, and not individually. You need to work together, be able to trust the team and support the team. Since athletes go through difficulties together, with the help of rock climbing, a child will quickly and easily make new friends and improve communication skills.

Children love to climb garages, construction sites, trees, which is very dangerous to do. For this reason, it is preferable to send the child to rock climbing, where safety comes first. Strong, reliable and certified insurances are used, all equipment is regularly checked and controlled. Classes are conducted only by experienced trainers who have received the appropriate permits.

At what age do classes start?

Lasagna is one of the basic functions human body, along with running. Therefore, for full-fledged training, it is enough for the child to turn five years. For younger children, as the director of the Limestone climbing wall A.M. Kozhemyakin, create special groups climbing.

Photo 1. Children climbing in a special hall with a small lifting height and large bright holds.

Toddlers 2-4 years old develop gross motor skills and gradually get acquainted with this sport. IN adolescence you can also start rock climbing, this will lead to a healthy lifestyle and strengthen physically boys and girls.

Climbing equipment. Cloth

For a start, the child will suit ordinary sportswear.

For top:

• T-shirt- It is better not to wear a T-shirt, as the harness rubs the skin.
• Trowel- if classes are held outdoors, it is advisable to wear it so as not to freeze.

For bottom:

• Sports trousers- Stretching material is selected that will not hamper movement.

Important! The fabric should "breathe" and stretch well.

Subsequently, you will need special clothing for climbing. Its difference is that the fabric is sewn in a special way; when bending the limbs, it does not need to be stretched. Such clothes are more comfortable and do not restrict the movement of the child.

Shoes

Climbing shoes are an important attribute of an athlete. The choice of "rock climbers" must be taken seriously. Do not chase expensive and professional models. A shoe that is too hard will be uncomfortable and the child simply will not enjoy training.

When choosing climbing shoes, it is worth remembering that their structure is specially designed in such a way that fingers were going, and shoes fixed the leg. The optimal version of the shoes is not too tight, but not too loose.

Important! Many "experienced" say to take shoes a couple of sizes smaller. do it not worth it. Out of habit, this will cause severe discomfort, and rub the feet.

The purchase is made after trying on, the shoes are selected in size. Shoes should fit snugly without causing pain.

How do kids workouts work?

Climbing training usually takes place in three stages:

• On first Students are given basic knowledge of technology. Correct positions are being developed, safety precautions are being mastered. Students do not rise above two meters. Stage lasts 2-4 months.
• On second stages are taught a simple climb with a descent on a rope, new movements are mastered. She also occupies 2 to 4 months, depending on the learning and results of the child.
• Third stage includes more serious training. New routes, advanced equipment are mastered. Is being done emphasis on GPP (general physical training) and SFP (special physical training).

For the little ones exist individual groups in which children are taught the basics. They develop gross motor skills, and introduce them to the climbing wall and holds. As a result, their overall physical development is strengthened. At the same time, kids never get bored, because many climbing walls have funny and interesting colored holds that children look at with interest.

The first specific equipment that climbing begins with is this. You can at first do without everything else, but not without them. Of course, you can rent shoes at the climbing wall, but if you do it systematically, it will be expensive. In addition, the question of hygiene and convenience remains. You can and even need to wear your shoes without a sock. So they sit better on the leg and provide better sensitivity. No rental shoes will be as comfortable as your own.

Which climbing shoes to choose for a child? Choosing a model of children's climbing shoes.

For the youngest climbers, there are special children's models:

Climbing shoes La Sportiva STICKIT

Rock shoes Edelrid Crocy sahara

Rock shoes Scarpa LIGHTNING

The size in children's shoes is regulated within two adjacent values, in contrast to adult models, where the step is half a size. Some models have an additional leather insert at the heel to add dimension. It is attached to the rock shoes on a sling and is easily pulled out. When the leg grows, the insert in the rocker can simply be cut off. In other models, the allowance for leg height is made due to the elastic insert on the sides of the shoes in the heel area.

For older children, from 33-35 sizes, you can already choose something from simple adult models. Look for rock shoes with the most comfortable last and the least degree of asymmetry.

Size of children's climbing shoes

Many adult climbers, in pursuit of maximum terrain sensitivity, buy shoes 1-4 sizes smaller, knowing that climbing shoes tend to stretch. This story does not work for children! No need to injure a growing children's foot. , or even a little more, the main thing is that they do not fly off and when the toe is loaded, the child feels the holds with his fingers.

Firstly, this way you will not discourage the child’s desire to study, because not all children will like to endure pain from tight shoes. Secondly, small hooks are already comfortable enough for a small child's foot. A small climber can stand on holds even in loose shoes, and all the tricks with the accuracy of setting the feet in aggressive rock shoes are 4 sizes smaller than needed for adult professionals, whose feet are many times longer than the minuscule holds.

Choosing a children's bag for magnesia and magnesia itself

The second item of equipment that a child will need for classes is a bag of chalk. From the point of view of technical characteristics, there is nothing to say about the bags. It's absolutely a matter of taste. With or without a strap (on a carabiner), large or smaller, with a puff, Velcro or with a zipper - whatever the child likes in appearance and for the price, then take it.

Manufacturers offer children's chalk bags, which differ only in smaller size and design. In general, this is not essential. If the child will be bouldering (climbing without insurance at a low height), he may not even put the bag on his belt, but simply keep it close to the track. Another thing is, if the child will be engaged with a safety system, then the bag should always hang on the belt and it is worth choosing such a model to make climbing with it as convenient as possible.

And, of course, a chalk bag without chalk is meaningless. Magnesia for children is no different from an adult. Therefore, you have a wealth of choice - a ball or in bulk. Which is more convenient is again a matter of taste. Keep in mind that some climbing walls only allow liquid chalk.

Choosing a safety system for a child

The next step in rock climbing is going to a high climbing wall, where belay is carried out with a rope, and in order to buckle up to it, you need a children's safety arbor.

Most likely, if you did not attend to the purchase in advance, you will be given a universal system similar to Petzl Pandion

Such a harness is adjustable to almost any size, but has a couple of drawbacks - too long “tails” that get in the way, and not very soft lines that can crash.

Another significant point in this system is that it is not suitable for very young children. Because it is not adjustable for such a small size. And because of the structural features of the child's body, there is a danger that if it hangs and turns over unsuccessfully, it will slip, and the child risks falling out of it. Therefore, for the smallest (1.5 years - 5 years) you need to use the full system.

Safety system Petzl Ouistiti for children

For older children, you can choose a children's waist gazebo, which is similar in design to an adult, but is made in a suitable children's size. Please note that the waist belt may have two adjustments or one, depending on the model. Pergolas with one-sided tightening require more careful sizing. In any case, we strongly recommend that you choose a child safety system together with your child.

Descender and other hardware

Since we are talking about belaying with a rope, it is useful to take care of the means by which this belay is carried out.

The classic option for climbing wall belays is the Petzl Gri-Gri carabiner and belay device. It is also possible to use various kinds of baskets such as ATC-Guide from Black Diamond and similar or eights.

Petzl Gri-Gri carabiner and belay device set

But there is one BUT. We need to understand what age of the child we are dealing with. Entrusting insurance to a five-six-year-old kid is a very controversial issue! And it's not always about attention. Even if you use the Gri-Gri auto-blocking device, and even if an adult secures and carefully controls the actions of the child, children do not always have enough strength to pull through the belay device the thick, hard-wearing and worn types of rope that most climbing walls have. Therefore, in any case, a belay device with a carabiner will be needed for insurance, but most likely an adult, not a child.

Which carbine to choose - there is also a difference. The most common option is the so-called HMS carbine (this abbreviation often appears in the name, or there is a stigma on the back of the carbine - the letter H).

Safety carabiners for belaying

There are also special carabiners that are convenient for insurance. They are attached to the central ring of the arbor in the correct position, do not rotate and eliminate the incorrect location of the belay device. On the right in the picture below is the same type of carbine, but with one more advantage - an automatic clutch.

Why does it make sense to spend money on such a carbine? This is extra security. Probably the thinnest and weakest moment in all of child climbing. Any coach will pay most of his attention in the children's section to this aspect. Perhaps, at the beginning of training, even to the detriment of the actual climbing technique. Loose carabiners, improperly positioned belay devices are mistakes that can cost the health of young athletes. Therefore, extra details that increase safety are never superfluous.

Well, another type of carabiners that can come in handy is an auxiliary carabiner (pictured on the right), which is convenient to hang climbing shoes, a bag of chalk or a key to the locker in the locker room. Bright and weighs next to nothing.

The next stage in the training of climbers is going to the rocks, training on natural terrain. Perhaps there the child will get acquainted with the camping conditions of life and he will need bivouac equipment.

Children training on the rocks

However, what will be specific to rock climbing is the need helmets. Because any climbing wall, after all, is more or less safe for the head. What can not be said about the natural relief.

Which helmet to choose It's purely a matter of convenience. The most important thing when choosing a helmet that is already certified for mountaineering and climbing is its comfort when worn. All other differences are a matter of taste. You can choose a helmet with a pattern. or plain polycarbonate.

If you do not focus specifically on children's climbing helmets, then you can find a suitable model among adults. The small sizes of helmets often correspond to the sizes of junior-children's helmets.

Helmet Edelrid Kids Shield II sahara/oasis

Children's helmet Camp ARMOR ORANGE

Edelrid Ultralight Junior helmet for children

Equipment backpack

And, of course, the child will need a comfortable backpack to carry equipment for training. It is good if there are several compartments in the backpack so that you can separate the rock shoes with magnesia from the clothes. For climbers, it would be good to buy a bag for a change, put the magnesia in the same place, so the backpack will stay clean longer.

The optimal volume of the backpack is 12-20 liters, and more, especially if there are ties on the sides. It is easier for a child to put things in a free backpack. You may need a water bottle. But find out in advance, many climbing walls have coolers with water and cups.

Backpack Bergans XO Blue 25L

Climbing clothes for children

The child does not need special clothing. The requirements for a sports uniform are quite standard - clothing must be elastic, not restricting movement. The warm-up includes stretching elements. Shorts are more comfortable than pants, leggings are good for girls. Most bouldering climbing walls are quite warm, but spacious rooms with high ceilings can be cooler. Your child may need a fleece or sweatshirt until they warm up.

Separately, I want to warn about interchangeable shoes. Climbing shoes are not designed for walking on hard floors. Therefore, during the warm-up, the child may need sneakers. Often climbers warm up barefoot, then they take simple flip flops to walk around the climbing wall.

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