| you have started climbing and feel comfortable in the | | | | For a harness, you will need a little more experience |
| indoor settings you have been practicing in, it will be | | | | and a better idea of what kind of climber you plan on |
| time to start working on your toproping. Toproping is | | | | being. For beginners, it is actually best to rent or |
| the first and most essential skill you will learn as a | | | | borrow a harness for now so you can get a feel for |
| climber, and because it is both easy and safe it should | | | | what you will need when you make a purchase. Alpine, |
| not be too intimidating for a beginner. | | | | Sport, and Trad climbing will all require that you choose |
| Recently, because of the growth of indoor climbing | | | | a different type of harness, so start practicing now |
| gyms and bouldering courses, you can learn to toprope | | | | and make a purchasing decision only when you are |
| inside, where it is much safer and you can find | | | | sure of which style you will go with. |
| instruction from paid professionals who have been | | | | Toproping Technique |
| climbing for years. | | | | When you start toproping, you need a rope that has |
| Gear You Will Need | | | | been run through a carabiner and affixed to an anchor |
| For toproping, you will need a few basic pieces of | | | | at the top of the wall. If you are in an indoor gym, this |
| equipment first and foremost, including climbing shoes, a | | | | should already be affixed to the climbing wall. If you |
| belaying device, a harness, a locking carabiner, chalk | | | | are practicing your toproping outside, you will need to |
| and a chalk bag. You can rent most of this equipment | | | | set this up with the help of a more experienced friend. |
| if you are still a beginner and want a feel for the sport, | | | | That friend can then tie into one end of the rope and |
| but it will save you money if you buy your own sooner | | | | the belayer and take up the slack on his end using his |
| than later. | | | | belayer. When he reaches the top, the belayer will |
| For shoes, look for something inexpensive and | | | | block the rope and allow the climber to lean back on |
| effective. You have yet to develop the necessary | | | | the rope and then lower themselves down the cliff |
| foot technique to keep your shoes from being ruined in | | | | backwards. It sounds complicated, but in truth it is a |
| a few climbs and expensive shoes will only force you | | | | procedure that requires specific instructions in real time. |
| to waste money. Find a good pair that will be tight | | | | You will need to learn how to tie each of the |
| enough to hold your foot without being too tight to feel | | | | necessary knots, handle your harness, handle the |
| uncomfortable. | | | | belaying equipment, learn the belaying technique and |
| For a belay device, your choice will depend on what | | | | the descending technique, and finally how to walk |
| kind of climbing you eventually plan on doing. If you plan | | | | down a cliff. |
| on climbing outdoors only, an ATC device is best. For | | | | Start with the basics and ensure you have an |
| beginners, auto-blockers are good choices as they will | | | | experienced climber who can help walk you through |
| block automatically to thwart mistakes. Be wary of | | | | these steps. If you learn to toprope outside, make sure |
| auto-blockers though. They can result in bad habits | | | | you are very clear and well versed in all of these |
| developing in which you simply rely on the blocker to | | | | instructions and have good, quality safety equipment |
| keep you from falling. You should never do this if | | | | first. With the right preparation, you can learn to and |
| possible. | | | | succeed in toproping in no time. |