Climbing Gear

Mountaineering and Trekking – Choosing the Right Equipment
By Benjamin Gorelick

Mountaineering novices (and, for that matter, experts) are presented with an astonishing and bewildering array of equipment to choose from. Getting geared up is a big investment, so how do you find your way through all the hype and arm yourself with your first set of gear that is good quality, suitable for your needs?

One important thing to keep in mind is that fancier is not necessarily better, especially when you are a beginner. The sad truth is that it’s not your gear that’s holding you back. A good reliable item is, in fact, sometimes preferable to the “high end” choices, which are sometimes made so light that they’re not durable enough for beginners to use. So don’t be talked into buying the latest greatest climbing axes when what you really need is a good versatile mountaineering axe.

Once you get more experience, and you get to try out other peoples gear, you will realize what you really like, and what you’re really good at. That’s the time to go back and seriously reinvest in more specialized gear.

This is not to say that you should buy cheap gear. Gear is important, very important, so buy good stuff from reputable brands. Shop around, talk to the staff. In most outdoor shops there is a huge continuum of knowledge, from bored kids working the weekend to total gear heads who love to talk gear and who have a genuine interest in getting you set up with gear that’s right for you. The good gear heads are like gold, so support them.

And don’t worry about buying the ‘wrong’ model or whatever. Mountaineering is a constant learning process, that’s one of its lasting appeals. You may buy a bit of unsuitable gear, and learn a bit. You can sell it on Ebay and buy something else…

Benjamin Gorelick is the owner of The Patagonia Mountaineering School. The Patagonia Mountaineering School has more than 50 years combined expertise providing incredible instructional mountaineering and trekking expeditions in remote Patagonia, Chile.

For those who have dreamed of climbing peaks around the world, the Patagonia Mountaineering School offers world class mountaineering training. Our expeditions are designed to foster independence and confidence in remote mountain environments, no matter where you climb in the world.

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