Black Diamond Climbing

Skin material

• Blend: A combo of nylon and mohair, these skins balance grip, glide, durability, weight and price
• Synthetic: Typically nylon or polyethylene plastic, synthetic skins are durable, provide great traction and are more affordable than mohair
• Mohair skins: Offer excellent glide, solid grip and are lighter than nylon skins

Climbing skin width

• Skins are sold in 5mm width increments
• Wider skins provide better traction, narrower skins save weight
• Maximum coverage: Choose skins about 5 mm narrower than the widest part of your ski.
• Save weight: Choose skins about as wide as your ski’s waist

Climbing skin length

• Skins are sold in length ranges to match ski sizes  
• Use the tail attachment system to fine-tune fit

Best uses

Most climbing harnesses are versatile enough for indoor climbing or outdoor multi-pitch routes, while some are more specialized for mountaineering or ice climbing.

• Sport or indoor climbing: Stripped down for fast travel and feature minimal gear loops.
• Trad climbing: More gear loops since climbers place their own protection. Comfort and padding are key, as you may spend hours on a route or hanging in your harness.
• Mountaineering: Designed for long approaches and all-season versatility
• Ice climbing: Designed to perform in winter conditions

Key features:

• Padded waist: Thicker padding or a broader surface area helps distributes pressure
• Adjustable leg loops: Fit different body types and clothing layers
• Gear loops: Typically two to five loops for racking gear
• Droppable leg loops: Leg loops unclip at the back for easier bathroom breaks

Women-specific harnesses

• These typically feature a higher rise, a larger leg-to-waist ratio and a shaped waistbelt
• Choose a women-specific harness if it better matches your body type.

Gate type

Since each quickdraw has two carabiners on it, a quickdraw could have a combination of gate types.

• Straight-gate: Easy to operate; common on many carabiners and on the side of the quickdraw that is clipped to a bolt
• Bent-gate: Curved shape makes it easier to clip a rope
• Wire-gate: Lightweight, a wire loop creates its own spring mechanism as it pivots

Sling length

• Short-length  (10-16cm long) work in most situations when the route is relatively straight
• Medium-length (17-18cm) are useful for reducing rope drag in longer routes or if the route isn't straight
• Long-length (25cm+) help keep the rope running in a straighter line, especially on routes that wander or have overhangs