You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Well actually climbing gear for Via Ferratta
The missus absolutely loves it and I want to get her a harness with carabiners, helmet and the pulley thing that you clip on to do the zip/fox lines...
Any help appreciated
grazie tutti
That's about all you need apart from a route book and strong soled boots for the ladders or climbing shoes for the tricky stuff
[url= http://www.v12outdoor.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2745 ]These[/url] are superb. My girlfriend got one this summer - elasticated webbing (greater reach between wires, less tangle) with the slack held in a pouch (not catching on anything like my petzl zyper). Absolutely brilliant. I've not seen anything better, although there are plenty of other options.
Harnesses - worth getting her to try a couple on. If it's only for via ferrata then you don't particularly need anything fancy. Maybe look at adjustable leg loops as via ferrata are the sort of thing you can happily do in all weathers. If she does a bit of trad climbing too then look for at least four gear loops (although you're looking at pretty specialist harnesses before you don't get this). The shop should help you out.
Helmets. I use a petzl elios, my friend swears by a black diamond half dome and lots of people I know use camp rock stars. And the new wild country stuff looks good. Again, get her to try some on. You want something with a hard shell for via ferrata as you're in big mountains and stuff could well be coming down from above.
Hope that helps.
Check out Andy Kirkpatrick's [url= http://www.psychovertical.com/ ]psychovertical[/url] site for some good advice on this sort of stuff.
Cheers Brown
She has done a few runs now in the Mercantour National Park but always hired the gear.
I may buy from a shop anyhow as its a christmas present so she can at least exchange it if it doest fit
Cool! But be aware that some shops are funny about exchanging climbing gear (it's personal protective gear and all that. When I worked in one, officially we weren't allowed to change it - I would, (provided no-one above me was around) and I was happy it was unused), so get the size right!
For helmets, if you're buying without her and aren't sure of the right size (just check bike helmet size for a rough idea)look at something like a petzl ecrin rock - they're massively adjustable, albeit slightly weighty.
Have fun!
Can't add much more to what has been said. Gloves are a good idea, especially for dainty hands on rock, metal ladders and rope. Normal outdoors gloves you will probably destroy in one trip, TBH workwear gloves from B&Q are best, otherwise, leather palmed/fingered ones by the usual outdoors manufacturers. Both are good, the only difference is you pay no more than £10 at B&Q for 'workwear' gloves and much more than £10 for branded "mountaineering specific" gloves, but both will do the job IMO. It depends how fashion conscious you are (or your mrs) or how big your pockets expand.