Trad climbing nuts and hexes. Unless you’re Alex Honnold or Cedar Wright carrying the bare minimum, a ‘standard rack’ changes from area to area. Friends share racks. Trad climbing requires a What's trad climbing? We break down how trad is different than sport climbing and introduce you to types of active and passive pro. Apr 20, 2023 · Trad climbing, short for “traditional climbing,” is a style of climbing that involves placing removable protection such as nuts, cams, and hexes into cracks and other features in the rock to protect against falls. . But I don’t want to carry two racks of nuts, so I choose offset. For a new outdoor A trad rack, your personal assortment of climbing gear, is what allows you to safely ascend routes that lack fixed protection (pre-installed bolts and anchors). " What Climbing Nuts Should You Buy? Trad Climbing: Unique & challenging routes around the world Famous Trad Climbing Routes: The Ultimate Test of Skill & Adventure Traditional (trad) climbing is one of the purest and most demanding forms of climbing, requiring removable protection gear—like cams, nuts, and hexes—that climbers place and remove as they ascend. Building your first trad rack made simple and easy. Hexes Climbing hexes are large hexagonal shaped wedges of metal that you slot into constrictions in wider cracks, to provide protection when traditional climbing outdoors. When I started trad climbing I used to carry a few hexes to round out my rack before I could afford doubling and tripling up on some Hexes clean as quickly as a nut that you need a nut tool to get out, often times quicker. Ready for your next mountain adventure or day at the crag. Tailor your rack to suit each climb. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Jul 21, 2015 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Feb 20, 2021 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Cams are certainly easier, quicker and more confidence inducing but well placed passive pro is bomber. 5” for six-sided hexes. What Is Passive Climbing Protection? Climbing protection, or “pro” for short, is any kind of removable gear that you slot into the rock to catch a fall. Learn how to place traditional protection (cams, nuts and hexes) and build gear anchors. Honestly, I appreciate the history of passive protection, and would like to stay passive. Jun 13, 2014 · Before taking your first trad climbing steps you will need to get kitted out correctly. It involves the climber placing removable gear, such as nuts, cams, and hexes, into cracks and crevices found in the rock. These anchors are essential in traditional climbing where climbers must place protection rather than relying solely on fixed gear. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Jul 10, 2025 · Climbing Course TCS Anchors & Trad Climbing This course combines instruction on both advanced anchors and the basics of traditional lead climbing. Nuts Buying Guide Double Cap Read Time - 9 minutes May 2020 Standard nuts are the backbone of any traditional climbers rack. Remember to check out our selection What are the 3 Types of Protection in Trad Climbing? Trad climbing: short for traditional climbing, it’s a style of rock climbing where climbers place their own protection, such as cams, nuts, and other devices, into natural features of the rock to protect against falls. Neil Gresham gives us a masterclass in the basics of placing nuts as Trad climbing protection. If you place gear properly and choose routes that are easy to protect, trad climbing can be just as safe as sport climbing. Trad climbing can be a huge amount of fun, but the nature of the protection makes the leader entirely responsible for his or her safety. 3” for wedgeshaped nuts and 3. Dec 25, 2016 · Hey guys, I am a fledging trad climber. However, they do have advantages over cams in certain situations. In this update, we purchased 7 of the best sets and slid them into cracks of all sizes across the United States. In addition to your harness, shoes, helmet and chalk bag you will also need: a belay device, slings, quickdraws, camming devices or karabiners, nuts, hexes, a nut key, screw gate karabiners and a climbing rope. The common denominator is that they are removable, as opposed to fixed gear that is permanently secured to the rock (such as bolts). Apr 23, 2022 · Nuts, Hexes and Tricams for Rock Climbing https://rockclimb. The trad rack you need will vary from one climb to another and most definitely from person to person as each has their own way and preference when it comes to climbing. JB Mountain Skills 32. Nov 14, 2019 · Trad and Sport are forms of both Free Climbing and Lead Climbing Trad Climbing is an older style of climbing, focusing on adventure. We used each while ascending wind-blown alpine Oct 28, 2016 · From cams to nuts to hexes, learn the basics of trad gear with tips for buying your first rack. We have been climbing for a while, guiding professionally Jun 24, 2025 · An instructor's complete guide to trad climbing gear — from buying your first trad climbing harness to choosing the best climbing helmet. There are many different types of trad pro, including cams, nuts, hexes, Tricams, Ballnuts and more. It teaches participants the various types of rock protection, including passive protection (nuts, hexes) and active protection (cams); and how to place and incorporate the pieces of protection into anchors. Nuts are an essential for every trad climber. > Cams aren't "more useful", sometimes they are needed on a route, sometimes (especially on beginner routes) they are not needed. Apr 14, 2021 · So, looking at these estimates above, we are looking at $745 for a basic trad climbing rack with a set of nuts, a handful of the most used cams, a safe number of alpine draws and some equipment to build anchors and a nut tool. May 1, 2022 · On the other hand, trad racks for lead climbing consist of quickdraws, runners and slings for clipping pro and building anchors, and an assortment of protection devices (cams, nuts, hexes, and so on), a cleaning tool, and more. Every major style of climbing, from mountaineering to sport climbing to traditional climbing, requires a climbing rope and some way to securely attach it to the rock, snow, or ice. A beginners guide to the placement of Nuts, Rocks and Wires for protecting trad rock climbing. Learn about nuts, hexes, cams and other equipment you may need. Jan 24, 2023 · Trad climbing involves a wide array of gear, including nuts, hexes, cams, Big Bros, and more, to ensure climbers stay safe. Hexes, tricams, ball nuts and big bros could be either essential or useless depending on the area. This set is a light and affordable way to add larger protection to your trad rack. 3 days ago · Climbing nuts are one of the first pieces of trad protection climbers will purchase. Jan 8, 2024 · I started trad climbing during the pandemic, the advice is now split between 'official' articles recommending hexes and people commenting 'don't waste money on hexes, you'll end up buying cams anyway'. Elevate your climbing experience with our expert range of Climbing Nuts & Climbing Hexes. Moved PermanentlyThe document has moved here. Most of the force is transferred in the direction it is being pulled (in most cases, down and slightly outwards from the rock). They are made of a flexible wire which is threaded through a hard 'nut' of metal. An introductory look at how to place passive protection during a traditional rock climb. But if you’re new to trad climbing, how do you make sure that you’re getting the best climbing nuts? With climbing experience, you build your own personal preference. Apr 27, 2022 · In the 1920s, British climbers carried pebbles in their pockets, slotting them into cracks and tying them off (with hemp cord) for pro. 25” wide—and go up to about 1. Course will consist of 3 lectures and 3 Nuts, hexes, and tricams are lightweight, simple to use, and crucial for building safe gear nests on sketchy trad routes. It's for this reason that they Shop for Nuts at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. According to climbing data, approximately 70% of trad climbers use removable anchors extensively during their climbs. Trad climbing is often praised for its freedom and flexibility Jun 23, 2024 · From traditional nuts and hexes to modern camming devices, climbers now have a wide array of tools at their disposal to navigate challenging routes. Ranging in size from the thickness of a matchstick to the size of your clenched fist, nuts (also called chocks, wires or stoppers) and hexes are inexpensive pieces of trad protection. I have about 60 nuts and hexes going up to Camalot #3, but no cams. Nov 23, 2016 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Probably the most confusing part of trad climbing is how such seemingly simple pro can be put in the rock quickly and easily removed, while also being strong enough to hold a big fall. Nuts & Hexes Climbing nuts and hexes are essential pieces of passive protection gear for trad climbers, providing secure placements in cracks and fissures where other protection may be limited. Sport climbs ascend Roofs and Vertical walls. These pieces are relatively inexpensive because they feature no moving parts. Sep 27, 2021 · The ‘standard rack’ in trad climbing refers to a standard set of cams and nuts that most people carry. Learn the skills to stay safe and have confidence when climbing. “Passive pro” is a subcategory that includes climbing nuts or stoppers, hexes, and Tricams—basically anything designed to catch you by wedging itself in place in the event of a fall. (You don't have to tell me how Apr 10, 2020 · The aim is to get maximum surface area contact between the side of the nut/hex/cam-lobes and the side of the crack its placed in. Feb 25, 2021 · Hexes and cams would revolutionize trad climbing around the world, removing the necessity to hammer pitons into the wall and potentially cause damage to the rock face. Feb 16, 2023 · We dive into Kouba's collection of trad climbing stoppers, covering everything from micros to hexes, offsets to Abalaks. Each of these are described below. Up until about a month ago I had to borrow other people's gear if I wanted to use cams. Mar 8, 2017 · Passive protection devices—nuts / stoppers, hexes, and tricams— form the basis of any trad climber's gear rack. A beginner guide to placing hexes and tri cams for protecting trad climbing. Getting into leading trad routes? Learn how to choose types of passive protection, such as chocks, nuts and hexes. There are plenty of great placements for normal nuts on all the routes I climb. Jun 23, 2024 · Traditional climbing, also known as trad climbing, is a style of rock climbing where climbers place their own protection devices, such as nuts, cams, and hexes, into cracks and crevices in the rock as they ascend. But "relatively inexpensive" in climbing is still "pretty expensive. Explore our collection of trad climbing gear and protection including nuts, cams, hexes and abalaks from Kouba Climbing. Don't underestimate the staying power of passive protection, equip your rack with these for confidence and control on every climb. Dec 14, 2024 · Traditional climbing, often referred to as "trad" climbing, is a style of rock climbing that involves the use of removable protection devices to create anchor points for protection. Looking to get into trad climbing? To get started, you’ll need to learn the Tools of the Trad, what kit you need, and how to use it. We also cover placing gear on traditionally protected climbs, backing up suspect placements, and selecting your climb. Oct 7, 2014 · In reply to jkarran: >You can get by on a lot of routes with nuts/hexes rather than cams and a lot of people will suggest you should but really cams are more useful. Get the best deals on Nuts/Rocks Climbing & Caving Carabiners & Hardware when you shop the largest online selection at eBay. Nuts and hexes all have a curved side, this is for camming them in, a fall will cam them in harder. A guide to racking up for trad climbing to help with the efficiency for placing gear when lead climbing. We cover how to inspect bolts, when to retire carabiners, best practices when clipping to avoid big falls, and managing risk. But in trad climbing areas there are no such permanent placements – instead the rock usually has natural features – cracks, holes, gaps and protrusions – that not only serve as hand and/or foot-holds, but can serve as handy places to put temporary protection such as cams, nuts, hexes and slings. Learn how to place, remove and rack climbing hexes. Your set selection of items will also be dependent on your climbing environment so we provided gear suggestions for favourite climbing routes in Australia. He probably has enough kit to equip the whole of Jun 27, 2023 · In this article, we cover the main principles of safety when lead climbing—both when clipping bolts and learning to place cams, nuts, hexes and tri cams. Trad uses removable protection like cams, nuts, and This 'hexes' article is part of the book - Trad Climbing Basics. An alpine climbing rack should be pretty small and light, you shouldn't have maybe more than around 5 cams and a set of nuts, so carrying a #4, #5, #6 even a #3 seems like a lot of weight and pretty big gear to carry for that type of climbing. Sep 23, 2024 · What is Trad Climbing? Traditional climbing, or trad climbing for short, is a type of rock climbing that requires a unique blend of physical and mental skill. Mar 31, 2024 · Trad climbing, also known as traditional climbing, is a style of rock climbing that involves using natural features of the rock such as cracks, crevices, and pillars for protection instead of relying on pre-placed bolts. video ---------- Although "Rock Climb" will have more than 100 videos (7 hours+ of content), the program is designed to include maximum Oct 25, 2022 · Unless you are free soloing, your climbing will involve some kind of system to protect you from long falls and serious injury. Sport climbing is designed to push the athletic envelope of the sport. We tested each through a wide range of fissures, scar pins, parallel-sided cracks, around blocks, and the like. You’ll also get to practice placing gear while climbing and get personalized, real-time feedback in a Nov 30, 2017 · Rock Climbing for Beginners: Placing a Hex Whilst many experienced climbers have turned away from hexes in favour of camming devices they are still popular with people starting out and winter climbers. What do you like about hexes? What are your favorite hexes? What features do you look for? I am interested in them and want to learn from people with experience (and no one I know is into them or uses them). Over the course of two days, you will learn about all different kinds of rock protection (cams, nuts, hexes, and more), when and where to place them, how to evaluate the safety of pieces you place, techniques for leading efficiently, and the principles of building a safe trad gear anchor. Jul 10, 2024 · Trad climbing is a form of rock climbing that involves placing your own protection gear as you climb. If you want two racks of nuts? Do it. They are cheap, light and durable. Trad climbing 101 Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about trad climbing including the skills, gear, and popular destinations. At LD Mountain Centre, we offer a diverse selection of high-quality climbing nuts and hexes from trusted brands like Black Diamond and DMM. Apr 22, 2020 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. I am somwhat confused about the places of hexes in a modern trad setting. It is essentially a set of different types of protection devices, carabiners, slings, quickdraws, cams, nuts, hexes, pitons, prusik loops, and accessory cord or tape that climbers use to safeguard themselves while In the climbing world, your choice of passive climbing protection devices matters a lot. Shop Online at K2 Base Camp with Free Shipping. com. This gear acts as an anchor, preventing the climber from falling too far if they slip or fall. Don’t climb with a lesser setup if you don’t need to. In this style of climbing, climbers use a combination of gear placed in the rock, such as cams, nuts, and hexes, to protect themselves as they ascend up the mountain. Buy some nuts and hexes but borrow your friends cams while leading. May 17, 2024 · What you really need to know, and buy, to start trad climbing. Weighing out your comfort level to how much actual weight you want to carry. Aug 9, 2022 · A typical set of nuts, also called wires or chocks, consists of 10 to 12 pieces that start small—less than . In the beginning of your trad climbing career you should focus on building a solid nut rack and learning to place them well. 8K subscribers Subscribe Here’s how it is done. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you get to grips with the right gear. Traditional Routes follow Cracks and Slabs. We have all kinds of really cool cams, and other styles of chocks/nuts/whatever. Learn how to place trad gear, build trad anchors, climb a multi pitch, belay in guide mode and much more. 3 Sep 19, 2023 · Meaning of Rack In the context of trad climbing, a “rack” refers to the collection of gear and equipment that climbers carry with them to protect themselves on the rock. There are three main types of protection you can use: Active Protection: refers to devices that rely on mechanical Mar 3, 2023 · We love the DMM Chimera for a variety of uses while trad climbing, whether for extending cams or linking the rope up with nuts and hexes. Jun 23, 2024 · Traditional climbing, also known as trad climbing, involves placing removable protection devices such as cams, nuts, and hexes into cracks and crevices in the rock to protect against falls. Nov 1, 2023 · Furthermore, trad climbing fosters resilience, teaching climbers to confront fear and uncertainty head-on, transforming obstacles into stepping stones towards personal growth and accomplishment. Shop for Climbing Protection at REI - Browse our extensive selection of trusted outdoor brands and high-quality recreation gear. May 7, 2024 · Stéphane Pennequin has meticulously curated a museum of almost every type of nut, hex, wedge, plug and camming device in the world in his own home. Check which types are most commonly used at your chosen climbing area before you commit to buying a full set. Unlike sport climbing, where fixed bolts or anchors are pre-placed in the rock, trad climbing relies on the climber to carry and place their own protective gear as they ascend the route. In order to place trad gear efficiently and securely, you must Jan 22, 2010 · When I first started trad climbing all I could afford were nuts, hexes, and tricams. There are various types of climbing hexes available in many different brands, colours, shapes and sizes. Discover everything about it in our blog post. Shop for Climbing nuts, climbing hexes and nut tools at MEC. Here’s what you need to know about trad gear and tips to build your first trad climbing rack. May 4, 2020 · Choose the right climbing protection gear to get your started with trad climbing. Natural and placed protection includes using trees, boulders, threads, horns, cam’s/SLCD’s nuts and hexes (also known as trad gear). Aug 31, 2022 · rock climbing gear reviews climbing protectionMetolius recently added to their line of passive climbing protection with the simple and accurately named “ Metolius Big Nuts “. In this article, we will explore the history and development of sport climbing equipment, and how these innovations have revolutionized the way climbers approach their craft. Learning to spot and use good nut placements is a fundamental trad leading skill. Climbing nuts exert very little outwards force on the rock, unlike cams. Add to that svelte dyneema slings and you have a remarkably lightweight quickdraw. Placing nuts are intuitive, they are inexpensive, and will last you a long time. Most of The Mountaineers climbs - whether at the basic or intermediate level - involve trad climbing. Explore our nut sets and stoppers from Kouba including micros, hexes, brass nuts and offsets for any crack or break. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee How to place and judge trad climbing gear including Nuts, Hexes & Cams. Just use the sideways long end of the nut tool and smack the hex as hard as you can from the wire or sling side like your hitting something with a hammer. This will teach you far more about trad climbing strategy, placing gear and the intricacies of placements on different rock types and routes, than Sending a hard sport climb is satisfying, but trad climbing offers a feeling of accomplishment unmatched by clipping bolts. Read more about what gear you need to climb I'm still pretty new at trad climbing and I was a hex sceptic until the other day - I went climbing somewhere different to my usual haunt - a rather exposed cliff where the erosion had scooped out the most marvellous hex placements - absolutely bomber! Oct 6, 2023 · In the world of rock climbing few disciplines captured the essence of adventure and self-reliance like traditional climbing, often referred to as "trad climbing". Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. Trad climbing can be both mentally and physically challenging. Jul 17, 2024 · Climbing Course TCS Anchors & Trad Climbing This course combines instruction from what was previously two different classes: advanced anchors and the basics of traditional climbing. Learn how to place hexes; how to use them passively (like a nut) or actively so they cam into cracks. Learning to properly place protection is an essential skill as you progress as a trad climber. This article explains everything about using climbing nuts: placing, racking and removing them. Hexes are an old type of climbing protection that are seldom seen on climber's racks since the introduction of cams. Sep 10, 2023 · Definition of Trad Climbing Trad climbing is a style of climbing that emphasizes self-sufficiency and adventure. Helmets - even more essential than in sport climbing, as there is a higher risk of falling debris in the form of dropped gear (and trad climbing is more likely to take place on chossy rock) Speciality pro suited to the style of climbing at your preferred crag, such as: Offset nuts and cams - great for flaring cracks Micro cams - great for small Trad climbing nuts and passive protection to build up your trad rack. Mar 20, 2025 · This category includes devices like cams, nuts, and hexes. Can anyone tell me how to safely build a trad anchor out of only passive pro? I am assuming that only placing the nuts downward would be awful during a hard catch. Trad climbing is the purest form of rock climbing. Just like with any extreme sport, educating yourself about the sport of trad climbing is a great way to start. Gear up for your next trad adventure with affordable used climbing equipment. Get inspired gear, informed advice, 100s of brands – all backed by our Rocksolid Guarantee. Hexes are far cheaper than cams and there are also places where hexes will work better than cams. Learn to trad climb. Trad climbing is constant critical thinking and judgement calls. From cams to carabiners, nuts to nut tools, there are so many options for traditional climbing gear that it’s hard to know where to begin. Aug 8, 2022 · A typical set of nuts, also called wires or chocks, consists of 10 to 12 pieces that start small—less than . Explore Kouba's collection of trad climbing gear and protection including nuts, cams, hexes and abalaks ready for your next mountain adventure or chilled day at the crag. Oct 31, 2024 · Our climbing experts have been testing the best climbing nuts and stoppers for over 10 years and over 15 different sets. Shop cams, nuts, hexes, and more—everything you need to build a solid, reliable trad rack without breaking the bank. It’s a world that has two categories: active and passive climbing protection devices. Cams, nuts and slings are used at most climbing areas. Protection refers to nuts, cams, hexes, stoppers, and so on. We can achieve this best by looking for a constriction on a crack, placing trad gear in where the crack is wider and sliding it towards where its constricted or narrowing. The Chimera is constructed with two wire gate carabiners, which helps keep them from getting too heavy. In essence, trad rock climbing embodies the essence of adventure and exploration, marrying the natural world with human ingenuity and determination. gpwf tkeyev zcaahwual qxwvptg vxifbj wtrj ttlrpy tuonrj ezx seevmnv