• Identify Your Needs: Types of Climbing

• Buy Climbing Essentials

• Size Your Climbing Harness and Shoes

• Find Climbing Equipment on eBay Singapore

• Buy Climbing Equipment with Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Identify Your Needs: Types of Climbing

Identify Your Needs: Types of Climbing

Before you start shopping for climbing equipment, it’s a good idea to have an overview of the different types of climbing. The climbing environment plays an important factor in determining what equipment you will need.

Indoor climbing

If you’re just starting out, indoor climbing is a great option. By scaling artificial climbing walls in a controlled environment, you will be able to concentrate on your climbing technique. Seasoned climbers can also benefit from indoor climbing facilities, which provide a close, convenient place for them to maintain and improve their skills.

Indoor climbing gyms typically provide the essential climbing hardware (harnesses, belay devices, and so on) and rental equipment, like helmets and climbing shoes. If you are a frequent climber, however, you might want to buy and bring along your own equipment.

Bouldering (boulder climbing)

Bouldering involves the climbing of small boulders and rocks without the use of a rope. It is an increasingly popular climbing option and also suitable for beginners, because boulders aren’t that far off the ground.

Part of the reason for the rising popularity of bouldering is that it needs only minimal equipment. When you head out to the rocks, take with you your climbing shoes, climbing holds, a chalk bag, a climbing helmet, and a crash pad or bouldering mat.

Sport climbing

Sport climbing, like bouldering, is a fast growing segment of climbing. Climbers make use of anchors and bolts that have been permanently embedded in the rock. Basic sport climbing equipment includes climbing shoes, a climbing harness, climbing rope, a rope bag, a climbing helmet, and a chalk bag.

Traditional climbing

Traditional climbing requires ropes and more climbing equipment which allow you to scale larger formations (for eg: crags and peaks). It involves climbers using removable protection devices as they climb, which they can insert into cracks and crevices, and also using their rope to ascend higher.

A traditional climb will require some more advanced equipment. Besides climbing shoes, a climbing harness, and climbing rope, you will also need protection devices such as camming devices (cams) and nuts, carabiners, belay devices, a climbing helmet, and a climbing bag.

Ice climbing

Ice climbing involves scaling ice formations, including frozen waterfalls and glaciers. Not for the faint hearted, ice climbing is for true adventure seekers. 

Ice climbing, more than any other form of climbing, naturally requires the most specialised equipment, including: mountaineering boots or ice climbing boots, climbing rope (specifically dry rope, which is treated with a water-repellant coating), ice crampons, warm winter clothing, ice climbing tools and climbing axes, ice pitons, and ice screws. Some more typical climbing equipment you also need include a climbing harness, belay devices, carabiners, a climbing helmet, and a climbing bag.

Buy Climbing Essentials

Buy Climbing Essentials

As with all other sports, having specialised equipment and apparel is extremely important. Some popular brands that you might encounter while shopping for climbing equipment include Petzl and Black Diamond.

• Climbing shoes and boots : Climbing shoes are a necessity for any type of climbing. The stiff rubber soles on climbing shoes offer the support and traction you’ll need.

• Climbing rope : Climbing rope is available in various lengths, strengths, and diameters. There are two common types: single rope or double rope (also called half rope). You can also purchase rappelling rope, rope bags, cords, and slings.

• Climbing h arnesses : Climbing harnesses link you to your climbing rope and fit around your waist and legs, offering safety and support You will discover harnesses of different sizes and shapes.

• Climbing helmets : Helmets importantly offer protection not only if you fall but from falling objects as well.

• Climbing bags: You will need a climbing bag to carry all your equipment. Chalk bags hold rock climbing chalk, which is frequently used by indoor and rock climbers. They can usually be clipped onto a harness for easy access.

• Belay devices: A belay device controls a rope’s movement. Used for ascending and descending, it acts as a brake by applying friction.

• Camming devices (cams): Spring loading cams are inserted into the cracks or pockets of a rock. A cam, actually consists of two, three, or four cams, which are mounted on an axle. When this protection device is inserted, you pull the axle; the cams are then spread farther apart, locking into place.

• Carabiners: Rope runs through these metal loops that have spring-loaded gates. Carabiners are connectors which attach rope to a fixed anchor, such as a cam or nut. Quickdraws consist of two carabiners connected by a short loop of webbing.

• Climbing holds: Climbing holds attach directly to a climbing surface, providing a better grip.

• Nuts : Nuts consist of small metal wedges that are threaded on a wire, and are another protection device inserted into the cracks of a rock.

• Climbing apparel and clothing: Buy yourself some appropriate clothing for climbing whether it be winter clothing for ice climbing, or shorts, shirts, pants, and sunglasses. eBay Singapore has a huge range of men's sports and fitnesswear and women's sports and fitnesswear. 

Size Your Climbing Harness and Shoes

Size Your Climbing Harness and Shoes

Two of the most important pieces of climbing equipment you will buy include climbing harnesses and climbing shoes. Make sure they are sized properly so that you have a safe and secure climbing experience.

Harness your climbing potential

A climbing harness should adhere to the shape of your body. They are avilable in various sizes from extra small up to extra large, and are suited for specific body types. Exact sizes will depend on the manufacturer and different brands will fit differently.

Two most important considerations when it comes to sizing are the fit of the waist belt and the fit of the leg loops. The waist belt should sit right above your hip bones, snug enough that it can’t be pulled down over your hips. Likewise, leg loops need to fit snugly.

Women can purchase women's climbing harnesses, which are designed specifically for a woman’s body. There are also climbing harnesses designed for children. If you’re shopping for a harness for ice climbing, make sure you choose one that will fit you while you are also wearing heavy winter clothing.

You may come across special climbing harnesses made for specific climbing activities, including: multipurpose, alpine, and big wall.

Climbing shoes

Climbing shoes serve as a valuable climbing aid, allowing you to better secure your feet on a rock’s surface and ensure maximum precision and sensitivity.

Your shoes should fit snugly allowing you precise footwork as you climb. However, make sure that a shoe doesn’t fit too tightly as you do not want to be in pain!

Bear in ming that your climbing shoe size and your street shoe size might not necessarily be the same. Shoe companies will use different measurement standards (AU, US, UK, European). Familiarise yourself with a brand that you like, and then get to know that company’s sizing system.

A note about stretching: unlined leather climbing shoes will stretch around a centimetre or so with wear, while lined leather and synthetic shoes will remain closer to the size at purchase.

Find Climbing Equipment on eBay Singapore

Find Climbing Equipment on eBay Singapore

Once you know what type of climbing gear you need, go to eBay Singapore's Sports portal, click on Sporting Goods and start searching for items.

• Keyword search: Search eBay Singapore title listings for specific words. For example, if you want to find a climbing harness, simply type "harness" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Singapore's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, or saving a search on My eBay and eBay Singapore will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Climbing Equipment with Confidence

Buy Climbing Equipment with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Singapore and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it is sent.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Singapore (with a bid or Buy It Now). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Singapore are not covered by eBay Singapore protection programmes.

• Never pay for your eBay Singapore item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Singapore sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Singapore and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to US$1,000.

• eBay Singapore Security Centre: Visit the Security Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Singapore's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Singapore veteran with just the information you're looking for!

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

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