Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

When climbing gear is maintained and used correctly, it is extraordinarily strong and dependable. Most manufacturers of climbing equipment adhere to the stringent safety standards of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA). You can tell if a piece of gear meets UIAA safety standards by checking the label for the UIAA symbol.

UIAA standards include a variety of tests for strength, endurance, slippage and so on, depending on the type of gear.

The strength of a piece of climbing gear is measured in kilonewtons, abbreviated kN. Newtons are the metric units of force, named after – you guessed it – the great Sir Isaac Newton. A piece of gear rated to one kN will hold approximately 220 pounds. Climbing gear is usually rated to between 15 and 20 kN, meaning able to hold several thousands of pounds.

Remember, though, that even if a piece of gear has been maintained well, it should still be put out to pasture after reaching retirement age or being involved in any potentially structure-compromising incidents.

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