CWA Blog Archive-Gear I Love As A Routesetter

Gear I Love As A Routesetter

Pdf Summary

Andrew Carter Smith takes a familiar, overplayed topic, climbing gear, and refreshes it by skipping the obvious shoes and harnesses in favor of five practical, non-obvious items he always keeps in his bag as a routesetter and coach. The framing is that some tools are timelessly useful regardless of how technology evolves, and these are the quiet workhorses that make the job smoother. At number five is the wrist magnet, which he calls simple but game-changing. Anyone who's juggled a tool belt or stashed bits in a pocket while setting will get the appeal immediately. Wrist magnets hold bits securely without the constant worry of dropping them, and they stay out of the way enough that you can still climb. His one caveat is practical and characteristically honest: the material doesn't breathe well, so it gets stinky for sweaty setters, and periodic shoe spray or airing out helps. The article continues through the rest of his list in the same spirit, favoring the overlooked items that save time and frustration over the marquee gear everyone already talks about. The tone is conversational and experience-based, aimed at routesetters, the managers who oversee them, and the people who control budgets, since small tool purchases can meaningfully improve a setter's workday. He ties the list to the CWA's Routesetting Guide, which offers a best-practice-based equipment list as a more formal companion. The takeaway is that outfitting setters well isn't only about the expensive, obvious equipment. The little things, a magnet, the right small tools, add up to smoother, safer, less frustrating setting days.

Asset Caption

Andrew Carter Smith skips the obvious shoes and harnesses to share five practical, overlooked items every routesetter should carry. Number five, the wrist magnet, holds bits securely so you're not dropping tools mid-set. The takeaway: outfitting setters well is often about the small things, not just the marquee gear.