The Complete Kit: Cragging Yosemite
Ten essentials for going vertical
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Light is right when it comes to big-wall endeavors. Presenting our favorite gear for multi-pitch climbs.
Black Diamond Big Gun ($120)
Taking on multi-pitch climbs often means spending hours in your harness. Black Diamond’s Big Gun is the most comfortable we’ve found, and the stacked gear loops make it easy to rack and organize all your equipment.
Petzl Reverso 4 Belay Device ($30)
Petzl’s Reverso 4 belay device lets you swap leads efficiently when tackling the southeast buttress of Cathedral. V-shaped grooves in the aluminum body increase braking power during long rappels.
Metolius Ultralight Master Cams (from $60)
Twenty percent lighter than before, the Metolius Ultralight Master cams are the sveltest on the market. We like that Metolius kept the color-coded slings and red-yellow-green range-finder system, which lets you know you’ve got the right size.
Marmot ThermalClime Pro 1/2 Zip Midlayer ($60)
Even in summer, early-morning starts and after-sundown finishes get cold. The Marmot ThermalClime Pro 1/2 Zip midlayer keeps the bite at bay. And because it’s woven with Polar-tec, it’ll keep you dry as you sweat, too.
Petzl Meteor ($100)
A helmet works only if you wear it. And you wear it only if it’s light, comfortable, and well ventilated. Petzl’s Meteor fits the bill.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Summit Hooded Jacket ($165)
Yes, there are lighter hard shells out there. But for the money, a bomber soft shell like the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Summit hooded jacket pulls double duty: it breathes while you climb but shields against wind and weather well enough for a summer belay.
La Sportiva TC Pro ($180)
If you get only one climbing shoe for the Valley, make it La Sportiva’s TC Pro. It was designed by big-wall machine Tommy Caldwell, so it excels in cracks and on dime-size edges, but still maintains enough bouldering cred to take a stab at Midnight Lightning on a rest day.
BlueWater 9.1-mm Rope (from $170)
BlueWater’s 9.1-mm rope is dipped and set in a Teflon mix-ture, making it more durable than many ten-millimeter cords. But at just 55 grams per meter, it’s still plenty light.
Prana Geo Chalk Bag ($22)
A simple elliptical shape and straightforward drawcord closure make the Prana Geo chalk bag a streamlined classic.
Black Diamond Creek Pants ($99)
Black Diamond’s Creek pants are constructed with a stretchy nylon-Cordura blend, so they move with you while also standing up to the rigors of dirtbagging at Camp 4.