Mammut Mips Climbing

Match the harness type to your climbing style

• Sport or indoor climbing harnesses tend to be stripped down for fast travel and feature minimal gear loops.
• Trad climbing harnesses include 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 harnesses are designed for long approaches and all-season versatility.

Key features:

• Adjustable leg loops: Fit different body types and clothing layers.
• Gear loops: Range from two to five loops to rack your gear.
• Waistbelt padding: Thicker padding or broader surface area helps distributes pressure, adding comfort.

Women-specific harnesses

Many climbing harnesses are available in unisex models, but some are designed to better fit a women's body. Pick a women-specific harness if it better matches your body type.These harnesses typically feature a higher rise, a larger leg-to-waist ratio and a shaped waistbelt.

Locking vs. Non-locking 

Locking carabiners have gates that can be locked to prevent accidental openings. Use them for belay/rappel devices and critical protection placements. Choose between: 

• Screw-lock: Requires manual twisting to close. 

• Auto-locking: Automatically locks when the gate closes. 

Non-locking carabiners are lighter, quicker to clip or unclip but can accidentally open. Ideal for racking gear or for quickdraws. 

Shape

• Asymmetric D: Most common design; lightweight with a large gate for easy clipping. Great for sport and trad climbing.  

• D shape: Strongest shape, excellent for most kinds of climbing. Ideal for racking trad gear. 

• Pear shape: Designed for belaying, rappelling and anchor points. Heavier and more expensive.  

• Oval shape: Smaller gate opening and affordable. Ideal for aid climbing or racking trad gear. Not as strong or light as other shapes.  

Gate Types 

• Straight-gate: Durable and easy to use. Good for various purposes and sport-climbing quickdraws.  

• Bent-gate: Makes rope clipping easier. Generally used for quickdraws.  

• Wire-gate: Lightweight, less likely to vibrate open during a fall or freezing shut.  

• Locking: Most secure; required for use with belay/rappelling devices and critical protection placements.  

Key features of backcountry snow shovels:

• Material: Because of its low weight and high strength, aluminum predominates. Plastic shovels aren't suited to avalanche rescue.
• Comfort: Low weight and a comfortable, ergonomic grip will make a shovel easier to use.
• Length: Longer, extended shafts may give you better leverage to scoop snow faster while shorter shafts cut down on weight.

Types of snow shovels:

• Fully flat blades are best for snow study, such as creating smooth snow-pit walls.
• Scooped blades are less likely to spill snow off the sides during shoveling.
• Serrated blade edges can be used to bust up ice.
• Blades with holes in them can be used (with a length of accessory cord) to build snow anchors; holes also make a shovel slightly lighter to carry.

T-grip vs. D-grip handles:

• T-grip: Grasped between the fingers, this is a lightweight design that works well; can be awkward when wearing mittens.
• D-grip: Slightly bulkier and heavier than a T-grip, it is relatively easy to use while wearing mittens.