Buy the material in a physical store or online?
It will depend a lot on how easy it is for you to do it one way or another. If you have enough knowledge to not need advice (although it is always recommended), it is always more convenient to do it through the website of a store specialized in scalding materials; But it is equally advisable to go to a store and exchange opinions with a specialist in this type of sports.
But as with everything, it depends on how much of a perfectionist or "exquisite" you are. If you are looking for very specific items such as stainless steel screws with plastic plugs to prevent them from rusting or oversized carabiners, it is highly recommended to go to a trusted place and assess in person if it is the material you are looking for.
This does not mean that the best option is to go to an industrial (or even neighborhood) hardware store, as it is a controversial topic within climbing. This is due to the approvals that such equipment needs more than anything, because although it is understood that a material built to support weights such as iron beams or concrete will not break with a person, it will It is true that the material used for climbing must be approved according to the requirements in the load and breakage tests, so they are not the same.
Are they approved materials?
The materials used for mountain sports must be adapted to the weather and/or wear factor, that is, friction, wear due to friction with the rock, humidity... Therefore, they must have a specific composition, beyond the approvals and standards that these have, so that in the end, you have safe material, which is what really matters.If you ask any mountain technician specialized in sports of this type, they will tell you that the option of going to a non-specialized store is a complete mistake. Not because it will not guarantee security in your practice, but what you will have is reliable equipment but much heavier than an equivalent one in climbing.
It is true that less specific climbing equipment can be found in almost any sports store, but also in a web store, especially if you do not have to carefully evaluate said element and you are clear about what you want ( brand, model, what you are going to use it for...). You may find discounts but in the "small business", if you don't mind spending a little more, they will advise you on all the options you have for your practice.
For example, if what you want is to purchase a rope or know if it is necessary to change it after a few years, a physical store will be able to help you in the best way, asking all the questions you need and knowing what the perfect thickness is for what you need. you want to do Although the rope is 3 years old, it is well cared for, care has been taken not to leave it on the ground (the sand acts as small blades with the threads) and it has not had many falls, it may not even be necessary to replace it, but the experts would advise you about it.
Continuing with this example, they would give you advice on the diameter of the rope. If what you are going to dedicate yourself to is climbing, the most recommended are ropes of between 10-12 mm maximum since they have an excellent relationship between dynamism, number of factor 2 falls that they support, weight, durability and handling. A thicker rope becomes a boat rope and a thinner one will last less time and you should be (or recommended) an expert climber when belaying or rappelling with them. />
Do you know the best brands?
The Beal brand is one of the best. They are the most dynamic strings and have a very good weight. In addition, the waterproofing system it has, the rope, is excellent. They are worth it even if they are more expensive. Another option is the Edelrid ropes, very good value for money, not as dynamic, but they last quite a long time. In any case, always opt for a rope that is 70 meters long.Another of the climbing elements that you will need to buy is the belay device with braking assistance. The GriGri to date is among the top positions of the one that sells the most and is known worldwide, but it is not the only one since there is the Eddy from Edelrid that curl the rope less like theSum by Faders.
Above all, you have to take into account that the rope does not give you problems with either the cricket or the cinch. Ultimately everything will depend on the experience you acquire with practice and the techniques you adopt.
In short, the options are simple. Buy in traditional stores where you can benefit from discounts on the list price for belonging to a club/federation or, as has always been done, for being "known to"; or purchase climbing equipment in department stores or online stores where they give such aggressive discounts that it is impossible to refuse them (in some cases you can find materials for almost 20% less).
We offer you another infallible alternative: climb and let yourself be advised by the best. In Spain you will find a multitude of options for this. Just by click here you will discover all the possibilities you have for climbing both rock and climbing wallin our country. Companies specialized in this type of sports always have sports technicians who, without a doubt, are the best option to learn and get advice.
