Aid Climbing

Aid climbing brings together many facets of climbing and mountaineering and requires a great deal of familiarity with climbing equipment combined with logical thinking, not to mention a fearless disposition! The gear required is scattered about throughout this site, but if you have no idea where to start then you are probably not ready yet. Major areas to check out are Pitons, Skyhooks & Peg Hammers, Ascenders and Bandoliers.

Here are a few pieces of specialised aid gear. We do not stock all of these items but can generally obtain them to order - but please don't leave it until the last minute!

Pegs & Pegging Stuff

Pegs (aka Pitons), Peg Racks and Peg Hammers.

Skyhooks

Skyhooks are designed for direct aid on flakes and edges that will not take any other sort of protection. However, many trad climbers carry a skyhook to assist retreat and even for use as a runner.

Fifi-Hooks & Cow's Tails

Fi-fi Hooks are commonly used on Etriers and also on Cow's Tails, these latter then form a link between the climber's harness and the aid point.

Ripstop Extenders

Ripstop Extenders (or Screamers) are specialist extenders for marginal placements of the sort usually encountered whilst aid climbing.

Etriers

Etriers (or Aiders) are tape ladders used in aid climbing.

Daisy Chains

Daisy Chain slings can be useful for quick adjustments to the length of a rope set up but most should only be used for static loads and aid climbing.

Miscellaneous Aid Gear

Various aid climbing oddities.

Ascent

Ascending & Self-Belaying Devices, Prusik Loops.

Pulleys

Pulleys, Specialist Karabiners & Crevasse Rescue.

Self-Belay

Climbing on your own without dying.

Taping Up

Taping up is not much practiced in the UK where gritstone jamming scars are worn with pride, but is common in the USA where several hundred feet of hand-sized granite crack is the norm.