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Gear

Clothing
Essential Clothing
For each meet the following items of clothing are essential:

  • Boots - with a good, deep tread sole, the stiffer the better if you're going to be using crampons (can hire from outdoor shops)
  • Waterproof Jacket & Trousers - It does occasionally rain in scotland so don't forget these...
  • Warm Clothing - Hat, gloves + spare clothing

General Gear
General Gear
Here are guidelines for what to take...Most of these are essential for a safe and fun meet.

  • Rucksack - To Carry stuff!!!
  • Sleeping Bag - Makes life a lot more comfortable
  • Karrimat/Thermarest or some other type of portable bed
  • Headtorch (Days are shorter during winter, so these are essential.)
  • Survival Bag
  • Whistle
  • First Aid Kit - You never know...
  • Map and Compass - Ideally every member a party should have one of each. Knowing how to use it might be quite useful too!
  • Food and Drink - Spare food for excursions, a curry pot noodle for Mike's breakfast + food for weekend... Also a few beers for the evening if that's your thing.


Winter Gear
During some winter meets, certain equipment is often required for safe travel through the snow and ice. The club has a limited supply of the items listed below. Speak to our gear person, Ron before a meet if you wish to borrow (more about borrowing below) club gear. We also have a standard 15% shop discount with Cotswold Outdoors. The nearest one (where our gear man Ron just so happens to work!) is about 10 minutes walk from the main Uni down Dumbarton Road/Partick. Everyone should know how to use the gear in question. If you don't, then ask!!

  • Ice Axe - Essential for all those venturing above the snow line - Can save your life.
  • Crampons - For those slippery moments
  • Helmet - Your head is quite important!!

Climbing Gear
Climbing gear is very much dependent on where and what you are planning on climbing. If you're just starting out and trying some bouldering or indoor top-roped or lead sport climbing then you will probably need to get hold of:

  • Rock shoes, harness, large (HMS) carabiner, ATC or similar belay device and a chalk bag and ball.
  • For leading - a 50m dynamic sport rope (usually around 10mm) and between 6 and 10 quick draws.

If you're looking to go outside then you're likely to need in addition to the above list:

  • Two half ropes (usually around 8 to 9mm).
  • A rack of protection, including nuts/rocks 1-10, some hexes and a few cams.
  • Plenty of screwgate carabiners for setting belays/anchors.
  • A selection of dyneema or nylon slings or cordelette from 60cm to 240cm for general all-round use. Some 7mm prussik loops are always useful in anger (or a cheeky abseil) as well ;)
  • A nut extractor - a useful addition unless you want every pitch to cost you £68.
  • A complete inability to realise danger.

There are lots of sites on the internet offering advice on gear and how to use it, including:

 

Club equipment

Should you not have some of the items that are considered essential, the club owns gear that can be used by members. Should you damage or lose the item loaned you may be expected to pay for a repair/replacement. See Gear person for details.

Gear available:

1. Ice axes - walking
2. Crampons - strap-on for stiff boots only
3. Survival-bags - emergency use only
4. Helmets - For climbing / difficult scrambling
5. Climbing harnesses - Again, for climbing

 

Places to buy gear!

There are many places on-line and around Glasgow, where you can get hold of all the essential or highly desired gear you would want to get your hands on.  A couple of links to shops are included below.  Remember, you get your 15% GUM Club discounts at our sponsors, Cotswolds (which is also the closest to the Uni!).  A couple of the shops run gear nights for clubs, where, as a member of the GUM Club you can go along and get discounts up to 25% (some people hold on to their cash until one of these arrives, to save extra money for climbing!!)

 

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