Canyoneering is amazing, beautiful, and challenging. With the right gear, knowledge, and skill set, you'll be able to confidently descend the most picturesque canyons around. Christian Weaver, a Liberty Mountain employee, shares his list of what makes up the ideal kit for canyoneering:
1. EDELWEISS CANYON ROPE
I prefer a lighter, thinner, dental floss-like rope--keep in mind that this will require a specific belay device that increases the friction on rappel. The dry treatment and polyester blend sheath on this rope repels water so that you are only carrying the weight of the rope and not water out of the canyon.
2. BEAL STATIC TRAIL LINE
Keep your pack light by carrying a pull cord instead of twice the necessary length of a rappelling rope.
3. EL DIABLO BELAY DEVICE
When rappelling on "dental floss" you need a rappel device that allows you to add friction mid rappel. The El Diablo wins here with its multiple configurations.
4. GRIVEL MEGA TWIN GATE LOCKING CARABINER
Look Mom, it’s a locker but without the annoying screw gate that always gets jammed with sand. It is also great for novices who may forget to lock their gate – Click-it and forget-it.
HYDRATION KIT
5. NALGENE WIDE MOUTH 1 QT WATER BOTTLE
Why take a chance with a hydration bladder that could rupture. Naglene bottles can handle the wear and tear that canyons dish out on your gear.
6. HIKER PRO MICROFILTER WATER FILTER
Don’t drink the water. If you are going to go light a good water filter is a nice way to reduce your team weight as long as you have access to pumpable water.
WATER PROTECTION
7. NEOSPORT 3/2 MM WETSUIT
Nothing can ruin a good canyoneering trip faster than getting cold. Be prepared with some neo.
8. SEIRUS NEOPRENE SOCKS & 9. BILBAO MERINO WOOL SOCKS
I like to use a combination of a wool sock inside of a neoprene sock for wet canyons. The neoprene sock retains the water and the wool helps retain the warmth. The neoprene also helps keep the sand out of your sock and prevent blisters.
10. OVERBOARD DRY TUBE
No one likes a wet sandwich or a water logged camera.
POTHOLE ESCAPE / ANCHOR KIT
11. KONG DUCK ROPE CLAMP ASCENDER
The ideal lightweight emergency ascender. The Duck can also be used as an emergency pulley with a progress capture.
12. CMI CLIMBING STIRRUP
13. CYPHER TUBULAR WEBBING
Great for building anchors and many other impromptu situations. I always carry 50 feet of webbing for every canyon I enter.
14. MAILLON RAPIDE STEEL QUICK LINKS
I always carry a few of these on every trip to use as a rappel ring when setting up an anchor.
BOLT KIT
Always try to avoid placing a bolt at all cost. However, a bolt kit is essential for that last ditch effort.
- 15. FIXE ROCK HAND-DRILL
- 16. POWERS 3/8" X 6" CARBIDE TIPPED DRILL BITS
- 17. FIXE BOLT HANGERS
- 18. POWERS 3/8"X 2 1/4" 5P BOLTS
- 19. KONG SPELEAGLE HAMMER
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Its very concerning that you consider a bolt kit to be part of a cayoneering kit; this demonstrates novice and ignorance of skills and a real lack of understanding of canyoneering techniques. Please encourage people NOT to bolt our beautiful canyons and to learn other skills.
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