SPORT CLIMBING GEAR GUIDE
There are a bazillion options out there and anything rated UIAA is going to be super good enough. These are our recommendations for if you are just starting out, don’t have anything yet, and don’t want to fall down the gear rabbit hole.
QUICKDRAWS
A quickdraw consists of two carabiners attached to each other with a sewn textile sling, often called the dogbone. Sport climbing quickdraws have a wall side carabiner dedicated to clipping bolts and a rope side carabiner dedicated to clipping the rope. The wall side carabiner can move freely on the dogbone. This helps prevent carabiner cross loading and other gear failure. The rope side carabiner is fixed to the dogbone to provide stability while clipping. Longer quickdraws can help mitigate rope drag on wander-y routes or steep routes. Quickdraw length is measured by the length of the dogbone, and not the overall length of the draw. Thicker dogbones are easier to pull on, but weigh more. Here are three of our favorite all around quickdraws for sport climbing.




Spirit Express Quickdraw
Tier benefits:
Tier benefits:
The Petzl Spirit Express quickdraw is our favorite solid gate quickdraw. These quickdraws come in 3 lengths, 11cm, 17cm, and 25cm. The 25cm Spirit Express is the longest sport climbing quickdraw we sell, which makes it a great option for extremely steep routes. Wide dogbones make these exceptionally easy to pull on, saving you energy when projecting hard routes. The recently redesigned Spirit carabiners are extremely light for a full size solid gate carabiner while still being very comfortable to clip. They are certainly not the cheapest quickdraw, but we think their higher price is wholly justified and are a true joy to climb on.
Pros
- Great length options. Curved gates for easy clipping. Thick dogbones make pulling easy.
Cons
- Expensive. Heavier than other options.
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Orbit Wire Express KS
Tier benefits:
Tier benefits:
The CAMP Orbit Express KS wiregate is our cheapest sport climbing quickdraw option, making them fantastic for newer climbers. A 6-pack of 11cm quickdraws is only $89.95, a full ten dollars cheaper than Black Diamond’s equivalent offering. While slightly thinner dogbones and marginally smaller gate clearance make these slightly less comfortable than more expensive options, we never really noticed a significant difference. If anything, the rubber stopper on the rope side of these quickdraws does a better job than many other brands.
Pros
- Inexpensive. Rubber stoppers hold bottom carabiner very stable.
Cons
- Smaller gate clearance and thinner dogbones.
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HotForge Hybrid Quickdraw
Tier benefits:
Tier benefits:
The Black Diamond Hotforge Hybrid is our favorite mid-priced quickdraw. These come in 12cm and 18cm lengths, and feature a straight solid gate carabiner on the wall side and a wiregate carabiner on the rope side. This means no snagged noses when cleaning steep routes while reducing the overall weight and cost of the quickdraw. The carabiners have very deep baskets, making clipping fat ropes without catching your fingers in the gate a breeze. As an added bonus, there are two great color options letting you look cooler than everyone else at the crag.
Pros
- Huge gate clearance.
- Vibrant colors.
Cons
- Thinner dogbones make pulling slightly harder.
Ropes
We recommend buying a rope that is in the 9.5-10.0mm range. These ropes provide the best ratio between cost, durability, and handling. You can use a thinner rope, but they will likely not last as long and cost more. The length you choose is best informed by the places you climb. For many crags, 60m is plenty. In other places, 70m is becoming standard. Do some research about the places you want to climb to find out what length is best for you.







Velocity 9.8mm Xeros
Tier benefits:
Tier benefits:
The Sterling Velocity 9.8mm rope is our pick for a high-end workhorse rope. These ropes come uncoiled from the factory, saving you the hassle of untwisting a fresh rope. They come in 40m, 60m, 70m, and 80m lengths, each of which comes in a variety of colors. In our experience, the Sterling Xeros dry treatment holds up better than other brands. This means your rope will stay cleaner and wear slower than other ropes. Marginally lighter weight than other options and supple feel in hand make this rope a joy to both belay and climb with.
Pros
- Fantastic Dry Treatment, durability, and handling. Not factory coiled. Bi-pattern available.
Cons
- Expensive.
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Boa Eco 2R
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Tier benefits: