A climbing harness is a padded waist belt and leg loops that secure a climber to the rope and distribute the force of a fall. The rope ties into the harness's tie-in points and the belay device clips to its belay loop, making it the central attachment in any roped climbing system.
Belaying is the technique of managing a climbing rope to protect a climber from falling. A belayer uses a belay device and the friction of the rope to hold a fall, lower the climber, and feed or take in slack as the climber moves. It is the core safety system of roped climbing.
A quickdraw is two carabiners joined by a sewn fabric sling, used in sport and lead climbing to connect the rope to protection. The climber clips one carabiner to a bolt or piece of gear and the rope into the other, letting the rope run freely while reducing drag.
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing done on short walls or boulders without ropes, using crash pads and spotters for protection. Routes, called problems, are usually under six metres and emphasize powerful, technical movement. It is the most accessible and social way to start climbing.
Rock climbing is the sport of ascending rock faces using hands, feet, and specialized safety equipment. It spans styles from rope-protected routes to ropeless bouldering, both indoors and outdoors, and routes are rated by difficulty. Climbers progress by building technique, strength, and risk management.
A carabiner is a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to connect parts of a climbing system quickly and securely. Climbers use them to attach the rope to protection, build anchors, and rack gear. They come in locking and non-locking versions and in shapes optimized for different jobs.
A clove hitch is an adjustable friction knot that climbers tie directly onto a locking carabiner to attach themselves to an anchor. Its key advantage is that the length can be fine-tuned with one hand after tying, without untying the knot, making it the standard way to clip in at a belay station.