disjoint thoughts

Climbing shoes are expensive! I never thought I would ever spend so much on a PAIR OF SHOES. To make it worse, they wear out much faster than regular shoes.

The best place to buy cheap climbing shoes, hands down, is the REI garage sale. Here in Phoenix, both of the REI stores have bi-annual garage sales where anything that was returned gets sold as ridiculous prices. Slightly used shoes are sold for $20. Almost new shoes are sold for $40. Now, when I say slightly used, I mean VERY slightly… you can tell they’re used, but they have probably 90% rubber left on them. And when i say almost new, I mean you cannot tell they were ever worn.

I’ll pick up 5 or 6 pairs of climbing shoes for the price of one new pair. You can’t be super picky on brands or models, but sometimes you’ll luck out with pairs of Katanas or Muiras. Most of the time, I’ll get lots of Evolv Evos and Deifys which I am totally happy with for the price!

There are plenty of pre-made personal anchors out there that you can buy. But why spend the extra money when you can make your own for a fraction of the cost.

All you need is two 48 inch (or 120 cm) slings.

From personal anchors

Tie three overhand knots in one half of each of the slings.

From personal anchors

From personal anchors

Put locking carabiners on the last loops.

From personal anchors

Feed the other end of the slings (the biggest loop) through your harness in a girth hitch. Make sure to feed it through both the leg and waist loops.

From personal anchors

From personal anchors

…and you’re done! Clip the biners to you gear loops and you’re good to go.

From personal anchors

Tips

• Use two different color slings, it makes it easier to tell the right personal anchor from the left.
• The slings will have a small hard sewn section which creates the loop, try to get this sewn section in the biggest loop but as close to the first knot as possible. This will keep it out of the way.
• Use small locking biners, when clipping the anchors you want to have as much space as possible.
• Use biners with key lock noses, this will make unclipping snag free which is nice when you’re trying to get onto repel.

Woot off starting tonight.

Starting tonight woot is having a “woot-off”. Once each deal sells out they put another one up instantly. No waiting, lots of good deals.