If you are interested in climbing, you are going to need to have the right climbing equipment. Your life is literally dependent upon this equipment. Because of the nature of climbing, there is a lot of risk involved and a lot of training too.

Now, for climbing equipment, there are plenty of different options. However, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with the basic equipment first: karabines (carabiners or biners), rope harness, and ropes. There are the fundamental climbing pieces that are used for most kinds of climbing, with the exception of some of the more dangerous climbing sports like free climbing.

Karabiners can be had in different sizes. They are made from light and durable aluminum. There are basically two types of carabiners available: locking and non locking biners. Which type you use will depend on the type of climb and how much safety is required.

The non-locking variety are oval shaped and have a sort of clasp opening. These are used to connect the rope to the harness and other gear. You push the rope against the clasp which then enters the loop. The clasp is closed by a spring action mechanism.

Locking carabiners are almost the same as non-locking, but they have an extra layer of safety built into them. A sleeve on the clasp locks it into place once the rope is inside the biner. You can simply twist the locking carabiner to unlock or lock it. Some are even self locking.

Karabiners are specially designed to hold your weight. It’s very rare that they break – unless you are in extremely cold weather. You should always use two carabiners when attaching a rope to a harness — this can save your life.

Another important piece of mountain climbing equipment is the actual rope harness. The harness is what holds you when you climb. It connects you to the climbing ropes through the carabiners. There are different types of harnesses for different types of climbing.

A sit harness, for example, is used for rock climbing and is worn about the chest area and the shoulder area. There is a waist strap and two leg loops that allow you freedom to move.

A chest harness is another type of harness, but one that prevents you from flipping about and proves a bit more stabilization. A full body harness is basically a combination of a sit and chest harness. There is less freedom of movement, but this harness is usually preferred by beginners because it gives more of a sense of security.

Climbing equipment is your best friend when you climb, so make sure you understand what you need. Don’t cheap out on equipment either – your life is literally “hanging” on your equipment.