Trad climbing hexes. This article teaches you how to place stoppers and cams.
Trad climbing hexes For extra points, place your nuts (and hexes) in the wider orientation so the side exposed to the rope is rounded instead of a 90° angle. Each one is hand-assembled by the climber, a custom collection of pieces designed to accompany them on vertical adventures for years to come. Their shape means they can be used in multiple orientations, giving you a wide range of placement options with every piece. With a subtly asymmetrical cross-section, flat sides and slight end-wise taper, they offer three different widths when turned on their axes and another when placed end-wise. Hexes are an old type of climbing protection that are seldom seen on climber's racks since the introduction of cams. This equipment is also called protection, or “pro,” because it protects you from hitting the ground in a fall. 3 lectures, 3 field days Prereq is Intermediate A combination of the best ideas behind the trusty old Hexentric with Rock geometry. How to Place Climbing Nuts, Hexes, and Tricams The lowly climbing nut is proof that there’s not just beauty in simplicity; there’s safety, too. com My favorite use for hexes is building gear TR anchors, since they won't walk like cams. ly/3clZ1pcAt last! I’ve been waiting to do Passive camming. As early as the 1920s, British climbers had carried pebbles in the pockets of their knickers, slotting these stones into wide spots in cracks and tying them off—with scary-looking hemp cord—for pro. This article explains everything about using climbing nuts: placing, racking and removing them. A trad climber’s trad rack can be their entire collection of trad gear they’ve collected over the years. For summer Trad climbing I love tricams and use them frequently, hexes I carry but rarely use. Jan 24, 2023 · Trad climbing involves a wide array of gear, including nuts, hexes, cams, Big Bros, and more, to ensure climbers stay safe. They’re easy to use and contract to fit a variety of crack sizes. Nuts are passive protection devices, meaning that their holding power comes from their wedge shapes, cleverly placed in Learn to trad climb. To be safe when trad climbing, the leader must focus on finding gear placements and then select the right piece of gear to fit. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! A beginner guide to placing hexes and tri cams for protecting trad climbing. Learn to lead safely & unlock new adventures. Climb much easier routes than you are used to climbing in sport. The micros are DNM dragonfly size 5, and one of the reds is a DNM as well. Good places to stand and place and fiddle with a hex are good places to break an ankle. Thanks for your support! May 29, 2020 · New to trad climbing? Our Beginner's Guide to Trad Climbing breaks down everything you need to know to get started trad climbing today. All gear is As-Is. With a good understanding of trad climbing skills, you can branch out from the indoor walls and sport crags to reach unique places that would May 31, 2020 · Want to buy me a coffee or the boy a dog treat?! http://bit. Feb 20, 2021 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. For those at the beginning of their trad-climbing journeys: a “rack” refers to Gear up for your next trad adventure with affordable used climbing equipment. Jan 8, 2024 · I started trad climbing during the pandemic, the advice is now split between 'official' articles recommending hexes and people commenting 'don't waste money on hexes, you'll end up buying cams anyway'. A typical trad rack will contain 10-12 nuts and maybe one or two mid-size hexes. Trad climbers carry an assortment of these devices and skillfully place them into cracks and fissures in the rock, creating their protection as they go. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. This 'hexes' article is part of the book - Trad Climbing Basics. Cams are certainly easier, but I'll take a well placed hex over any cam placement anyday. True Feb 25, 2021 · Hexes and cams would revolutionize trad climbing around the world, removing the necessity to hammer pitons into the wall and potentially cause damage to the rock face. Except one of the green ones is an old BD c3. Learn how to use nuts and hexes. Here’s what you need to know about trad gear and tips to build your first trad climbing rack. Practice!!! Apr 27, 2022 · This article originally appeared in Climbing in 2013. What Is Trad Climbing, Really? Trad climbing is a style of climbing where climbers lead routes by placing their own protection. Jan 22, 2010 · When I first started trad climbing all I could afford were nuts, hexes, and tricams. Hexes Climbing hexes are large hexagonal shaped wedges of metal that you slot into constrictions in wider cracks, to provide protection when traditional climbing outdoors. It teaches participants the various types of rock protection, including passive protection (nuts, hexes) and active protection (cams); and how to place and incorporate the pieces of protection into anchors. Up until about a month ago I had to borrow other people's gear if I wanted to use cams. A guide to racking up for trad climbing to help with the efficiency for placing gear when lead climbing. We used each while ascending wind-blown alpine Will it Whip??? Stacked Hexes - unconventional trad climbing protection 391 Dislike 17 Nov 19, 2025 · Selling all my trad protection. This includes spring-loaded camming devices, commonly called cams, passive gear, either nuts or hexes and all the material that will be used to connect Apr 20, 2023 · Trad climbing, short for “traditional climbing,” is a style of climbing that involves placing removable protection such as nuts, cams, and hexes into cracks and other features in the rock to protect against falls. Jul 10, 2024 · What is trad climbing? We consider what separates trad from other climbing disciplines, along with where you can do it and what equipment is needed When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This is in contrast to sport climbing, where you rely on Learning how to place trad gear is an essential skill as you progress as a climber. They may seem a bit antiquated now, with advancements in active protection (cams), but for slippery limestone climbing some people prefer them to cams, which rely on friction for their holding power. Shop cams, nuts, hexes, and more—everything you need to build a solid, reliable trad rack without breaking the bank. I have specifically been looking at hexes for the very purpose of using instead of big cams for alpine climbing and I think it's a totally solid plan, and in the event that I ever need to bail on large gear I would much rather leave a big hex than a #4 cam. , which are inserted into cracks and crevices as they go. The trad rack you need will vary from one climb to another and most definitely from person to person as each has their own way and preference when it comes to climbing. Guidebooks and climbers are reluctant to define a standard rack is because, well. A trad rack is the term given to your collection of trad climbing gear. com. Hey! By the way… this page contains affiliate links. I bought it at the end of the summer and just have barely ever used it, it’s all pretty much brand new. Your complete guide starts here! Will it Whip??? Stacked Hex and Cam (Wild County)- unconventional trad climbing protection 864 Dislike 26 Apr 14, 2021 · As climbing guide in Red River Gorge, I often get asked “What is the best trad rack for climbing the area. But don’t underestimate the benefits of their counterpart: the nut. Sep 17, 2024 · Place a hex (okay, fine, a nut) at the apex of a roof or when the angle mellows out to keep the rope running smoothly. Jan 31, 2023 · Trad rack is a term used by climbers to describe the collection of equipment they use for trad climbing. Ultimately, your rack will reflect your favorite routes, treasured climbing areas, and unique personal style of climbing. Just exactly what is trad climbing? When I Mar 8, 2017 · Passive protection devices—nuts / stoppers, hexes, and tricams— form the basis of any trad climber's gear rack. However, they do have advantages over cams in certain situations. it is subjective. Or the smaller rack they intend to bring up a specific climb. Climb a trad route on top rope while placing your gear as you ascend. Before the nut there was… Climbing nutcraft evolved in Great Britain about a half century ago, but its roots go back even further. Apr 14, 2021 · We have written up a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to build your very first rack for trad climbing, what you should consider and how much all this might cost you. " What Climbing Nuts Should You Buy? Consensus favorites: Black Diamond Stoppers and DMM Wallnuts Black Diamond Stoppers 4-13 Pretty… Jul 21, 2015 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. I started climbing trad in the 90s, but didn't buy my first cam until 2014. Nov 1, 2023 · On the other hand, trad climbing hinges on the use of removable protection gear, such as cams, nuts, and hexes. These iconic pieces were the backbone of protection in the golden age of climbing—and they still hold a nostalgic (and functional) place on the rack today. Vintage Chouinard Hex Hexcentric Trad Rock Climbing Pro Nuts #10-#4 Pre-Owned · Black Diamond $85. Slings Slings are simply strongly-sewn loops of nylon or dyneema tape. We tested each through a wide range of fissures, scar pins, parallel-sided cracks, around blocks, and the like. Also frees up my cams if I'm setting an anchor for my friends and then leading something else. In this update, we purchased 7 of the best sets and slid them into cracks of all sizes across the United States. But "relatively inexpensive" in climbing is still "pretty expensive. 00 Free shipping Sep 11, 2025 · A combination of the best ideas behind the trusty old Hexentric with Rock geometry. Keep in mind that many wired stoppers are only rated to 5-6 kn. Building your first trad rack made simple and easy. Jun 13, 2025 · Aid climbing flips that on its head: gear is essential for climbing up, as you weigh it directly. Learn how to place trad gear, build trad anchors, climb a multi pitch, belay in guide mode and much more. There are various types of climbing hexes available in many different brands, colours, shapes and sizes. Some of the smaller hexes were originally intended to be slung with 6mm perlon cord (powercord wasn't invented yet) and they worked fine. In the beginning of your trad climbing career you should focus on building a solid nut rack and learning to place them well. When many people start trad climbing, cams become their new best friend. May 1, 2022 · On the other hand, trad racks for lead climbing consist of quickdraws, runners and slings for clipping pro and building anchors, and an assortment of protection devices (cams, nuts, hexes, and so on), a cleaning tool, and more. Trad climbers use the term rack frequently. The Rockcentrics are brilliantly light, easy to use, offering plenty of placement options and come with a colour co-ordinated Dyneema sling that helps keep them firmly wedged once placed. This can include nuts, hexes, cams, etc. This small yet essential piece of traditional “trad” climbing equipment is built to be slotted into constrictions in cracks. But it also doesn't mean they are worth carrying for anyone that is climbing trad in 99. See full list on rei. Have an instructor or experienced friend inspect your placements. Understand what is trad climbing & how it differs from sport. Oct 31, 2024 · Our climbing experts have been testing the best climbing nuts and stoppers for over 10 years and over 15 different sets. The red and gray (1&4) BDs are ultralight, and the sets of nuts and hexes are the normal ones you can buy put together. This will teach you far more about trad climbing strategy, placing gear and the intricacies of placements on different rock types and routes, than When trad climbing, the leader must place their own gear in the rock. . From cams to carabiners, nuts to nut tools, there are so many options for traditional climbing gear that it’s hard to know where to begin. May 24, 2025 · Your Introduction to Trad Climbing: The Art of Placing Your Own Protection. Nuts are an essential for every trad climber. Once I started climbing on gear routes that physically challenged my climbing ability the rapid placement of a cam became welcome [1]. Get the best deals for Trad Climbing Hexes at eBay. Ballnuts are new to me in the last year of owning, but I'm finding I love them. 9% of the world AND when the primary consumer of the gear are new climbers on easy routes, it starts to paint a clearer picture of why they are laughed at. Explore the gear, self-sufficiency & unique challenges. Classic, simple, lightweight, functional pro, Black Diamond Hexes shine in rapidly widening cracks where cams might walk out. TRADITIONAL CLIMBING, ALSO CALLED TRAD CLIMBING OR JUST “TRAD,” is a particular style of roped climbing that involves placing your own protective equipment as you move up a climb, then removing it when you’re done. Lightweight aluminium alloy construction means that despite their low weight, each Torque Nut has a 14kN strength rating. Here’s how it works. Moved PermanentlyThe document has moved here. Features User Manual Instruction manual_EN Decla May 17, 2024 · What you really need to know, and buy, to start trad climbing. Just like with any extreme sport, educating yourself about the sport of trad climbing is a great way to start. ” You’ll frequently hear that a particular route requires a “standard rack”, but no one one ever defines what a standard rack is. Classic, simple and light, these #4–10 Black Diamond Wired Hexentric hexes offer a wide range of placements across climbing conditions and shine in rapidly widening cracks where cams might walk out. Jul 17, 2024 · This course combines instruction from what was previously two different classes: advanced anchors and the basics of traditional climbing. Aug 8, 2022 · This article originally appeared in our print magazine in 2013. Three types of trad protection: Passive Active Natural Practice placing gear on the ground first. This article teaches you how to place stoppers and cams. Step back into the roots of trad climbing with this curated set of vintage Wild Country Friends and old-school hexes. Torque Nuts can be used to protect parallel sided cracks. Oct 28, 2016 · From cams to nuts to hexes, learn the basics of trad gear with tips for buying your first rack. This adds a technical and mental aspect to the route. The Rockcentrics are brilliantly light, easy to use, offering plenty of placement options and come with a color coordinated Dyneema sling that helps keep them firmly wedged once placed. Jan 31, 2024 · Essential Gears for Your Trad Climbing Rack What is a trad rack? Understanding what a trad rack is and how to build a trad climbing rack are the first things to understand. Dec 1, 2024 · Set of seven hexes serve as passive protection for trad climbing Unique hexagonal design allows four different crack configurations This set also includes Black Diamond's OvalWire Carabiner Item #BLD00N6 Nuts Buying Guide Double Cap Read Time - 9 minutes May 2020 Standard nuts are the backbone of any traditional climbers rack. So if you make a purchase after clicking one at no cost to you we may earn a small commission. These pieces are relatively inexpensive because they feature no moving parts. ly/3vhJwabOr buy a Sling Mountain T Shirt?! http://bit. Start here! Building a trad climbing rack is a labor of love. Learn how to place, remove and rack climbing hexes. Easy to rack and pla Sep 27, 2021 · Hexes are large pieces of passive pro that are placed in similar ways to stoppers.