Kid ready to climb!

Kids Gear

The Kids Gear section is a list of links to gear that is sorted into Helmets, Harnesses and Rock boots.

The harnesses section is split into full and sit/chest. Full harnesses are more appropriate for kids with little hip definition as this means they are less likely to slip out of the harness. You can approximate the same thing by buying an adjustable sit/chest harness combination which may be more expensive intially but more cost effective in the long run.

Choose one of the links in the menu to go to the gear you're interested in. These lists are restricted to where you find kids climbing gear in the UK only and are occasionaly updated. Rock boots and particularly harnesses should be suitable for the height and weight of the child, so don't just buy hoping they will fit. If you have a local supplier, bring your child to try them out first.

If your child is younger/older/bigger/smaller, by going to these sites you may find other gear that might be appropriate.

We have a Reviews section - contact me if you can write a short review of any of the gear featured. Thanks!

Not specifically for kids, but you may find this rock climbing gear buying guide useful.

You can find gear on sites in Europe and the States, but I've chosen to show only those available in the UK because of potential language/shipping difficulties. If you would like to see listings of kids gear in other locations, please contact me. I found a search on Shopzilla and Bizrate of American equipment and suppliers.

Renting versus Buying and a Compromise

Renting
Of course you don't have to buy your child's gear, you could rent it every session at your local wall. This has the advantage that if they lose interest, you're not out of pocket, also you get some experience of what works and what doesn't. It can end up being very expensive in the long run though.

Buying
Buying gear is relatively more expensive in the short run, but a rental of £5 per session soon mounts up and brand new gear is quite reasonably priced for kids. The down side is that kids have a tendency to inflate at an alarming rate, and soon outgrow any item of clothing you buy for them. A good tip is to buy one size too big and have the child wear a pair of socks to make a good fit, then remove the socks as they grow into the boots.

Compromise
A compromise is to try to find second hand gear, which for kids should be in very good condition as they usually outgrow before they wear out any equipment (especially rock boots). You could ask at your local wall or stick a postcard on the noticeboard.

WARNING! As with all safety equipment, buying secondhand does not guarantee that the equipment has been tested for safety, even if it looks brand new. This particularly goes for helmets, harnesses and ropes. Remember the life you risk when buying second hand is your child's!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Noticeboard

26 August
Many thanks also to Alien Rock Climbing Centre in Edinburgh for donating £10 to our Just Giving charity. See their entry on the Kid-Friendly Climbing Walls/Club page.

25 August
Big thanks to Kent & Sussex Climbing for donating £10 to our Just Giving charity. See their entry on the Kid Friendly Courses page or.

9 July new stuff.
New online climbing games added!
Climbing robot added to Videos page.

3 July 2010 new stuff.
Simpler Grades Guide in Technique/Safety page. The old one was a bit too complicated!
Also Swanage topo page link in Kidrock page with thanks to Mike Swann.

03 July 2010 Outdoor/climbing kit for sale:

Rockboot image
Boreal rock boots

Walking boot image
Walking boots

IMPORTANT NEWS! All companies with links to their sites from the Kidsclimbing pages please note - although we don't charge for a link, it would be appreciated if you donate to my current charity the Children's Trust by using the link in the left hand menu on a regular basis. After all you're getting free advertising and they would benefit greatly from any donation.

When Paul Kellagher, one of our parent visitors had a problem with an order recently, Walkhigh Mountaineering quickly resolved it for him, and generously donated £10 to our current charity. Thanks Walkhigh!

Mountain weather reports added on 26 June 10.

Like our cool cartoons? Thanks to our fantastic artist Abi for creating them especially for Kidsclimbing! Look at more of Abi's excellent work at Greencreepers.co.uk.

Visit Greencreepers now!

I came across this useful link recently to the UK Children's Directory - it's a comprehensive web directory of children's activities and services throughout the UK.

Any parents⁄carers who have second hand⁄outgrown climbing/walking boots please contact me and I'll post it up on the noticeboard.

If you've got any comments or questions about this site or you can write a review of any of the gear, please contact me.

Visit the UK Climbing site