Light is right when it comes to聽big-wall endeavors. Presenting our favorite gear for multi-pitch climbs.
Black Diamond Big Gun ($120)
Taking on multi-pitch climbs often means spending hours in your harness. Black Diamond鈥檚 is the most comfortable we鈥檝e found, and the stacked gear loops make it easy to rack and organize all your equipment.
Petzl Reverso 4 Belay Device ($30)
笔别迟锄濒鈥檚 belay device lets you swap leads efficiently when tackling the southeast buttress of Cathedral. V-shaped grooves in the aluminum body increase braking power during long rappels.
Metolius Ultralight Master Cams (from $60)
Twenty percent lighter than before, the cams are the sveltest on the market. We like that Metolius kept the color-coded slings and red-yellow-green range-finder system, which lets you know you鈥檝e got the right size.
Marmot ThermalClime Pro 1/2 Zip Midlayer ($60)
Even in summer, early-morning starts and after-sundown finishes get cold. The midlayer keeps the bite at bay. And because it鈥檚 woven with Polar-tec, it鈥檒l keep you dry as you sweat, too.
Petzl Meteor ($100)
A helmet works only if you wear it. And you wear it only if it鈥檚 light, comfortable, and well ventilated. 笔别迟锄濒鈥檚 fits the bill.
Outdoor Research Ferrosi Summit Hooded Jacket ($165)
Yes, there are lighter hard shells out there. But for the money, a bomber soft shell like the hooded jacket pulls double duty: it breathes while you climb but shields against wind and weather well enough for a summer belay.
La Sportiva TC Pro ($180)
If you get only one climbing shoe for the Valley, make it La Sportiva鈥檚 . It was designed by big-wall machine Tommy Caldwell, so it excels in cracks and on dime-size edges, but still maintains enough bouldering cred to take a stab at Midnight Lightning on a rest day.
BlueWater 9.1-mm Rope (from $170)
叠濒耻别奥补迟别谤鈥檚 is dipped and set in a Teflon mix-ture, making it more durable than many ten-millimeter cords. But at just 55 grams per meter, it鈥檚 still plenty light.
Prana Geo Chalk Bag ($22)
A simple elliptical shape and straightforward drawcord closure make the chalk bag a streamlined classic.
Black Diamond Creek Pants ($99)
Black Diamond鈥檚 are constructed with a stretchy nylon-Cordura blend, so they move with you while also standing up to the rigors of dirtbagging at Camp 4.