subject: Equipment Needed For Rappelling [print this page] Ropes! My favorite part of adventure racingRopes! My favorite part of adventure racing. That is normally the highlight of the race and I think most racers agree. It is a time to reflect and rest, thought not too much!
The biggest rappel I have done is in Primal Quest Utah at 450 feet. I am actually a little afraid of heights (well I used to be) and that one was scary. I enjoyed that so much however and love to talk about that one.
The ATC is your friend when rappelling. The ATC is going to be your brake as you head down.
Rock climbing, caving, cayoneering or mountaineering also use rappelling frequently. Since some mountains, slopes, and cliffs are too steep to walk down and up safely, rappelling has become a very popular technique to get down and sometimes up these steep places. For example, rock climbers must abseil when getting back to the base of a climb or getting to a point to follow a new path.
So what equipment do you need to abseil safely?
A helmet is need for rappelling. You may be surprised at why you need a helmet. You wear a helmet to protect you from falling rocks. It is also nice to have a mount for a light on you helmet.
Gloves are also very important as they protect the hands from rope burn and any hits against the hard surface that may occur. It is important that the gloves are form-fitting so to speak, so they do not get caught in the descender. You can even use leather work gloves though I prefer PMI gloves. This is a must. I burned my hand to the bone one time...not pretty!
Good shoes such as tennis shoes, rock climbing shoes, or adventure racing shoes work well. You want them to be sticky. I had to rappel in bike shoes once, that was not good.
It is necessary for to have ropes, a harness, and a descender.
Be sure your harness fits correctly. You want an expert to help fit you and talk with you about a descending device. There are several including the ATC and figure 8. Be sure to find out which is best for you.
Sign up for some instruction and have fun descending!
