If you’re a boulder venturing into the realm of rope climbing, or new to climbing overall, you may be wondering how to prepare yourself.

Look no further, this article will cover the main points you’ll need to ensure a smooth first time top roping!

What is top rope climbing?

Top rope climbing is a sub-category of sports climbing where you are climbing up a wall/rock surface with a rope running up to an anchor (a hook at the top of the route) and a belayer on the other end of the rope. This rope system is typically used as a form of safety instead of crash pads when climbs are more than 5 metres in height (up to ~30 metres in height). Most climbing walls in Singapore are typically 8-12 metres in height. The entire rope system (anchor, rope, belay devices, and harnesses) acts as a pulley system to take your weight, and can take the weight of up to two hippopotami!

Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?

All climbing gyms will need you to fill out a waiver form before you start climbing. Most gyms will have a link to fill this out online before you arrive – we advise doing this to make your experience at the gym smoother and so you can get straight into the fun part!

However, if you haven’t filled it out beforehand, that’s fine too. You’ll just need a few minutes to fill it out there.

Do I need to buy equipment?

Top-roping is similar to bouldering in that you will require climbing shoes and chalk, but you’ll also need a harness. All pieces of equipment can usually be hired at the gym.

If you’re a boulderer, you may notice that top-ropers use a small chalk bag around their waist. This is different to the chalk pots/buckets used by most boulderers. Waist chalk bags are helpful as you always have chalk with you, even when you’re 12 metres off the ground.

So… How do I use the harness?

Most gyms will have a safety briefing for new-timers where you go through how to fit your harness, clip/tie into the rope system, and how to belay. Your harness will be used in each of these stages.

When fitting your harness, ensure the waist loop is fitted snuggly and has no twists in it. The waist loop should be sitting above your hip bone, and you should not be able to pull it down when tightened. The leg loops should also be snug without twists. There are different sizes to harnesses and pretty much all have adjustable straps. Make sure you get a size that can be adjusted to fit snuggly. Check here (https://youtu.be/v5WpeMStpf0) for a visual guide.

Once that is done, don’t daydream during your safety briefing – it’s essential you know which loops to clip or tie into! Tying into the wrong loops can be dangerous, as only certain loops are designed to take your weight when you fall. The same goes for knowing which loop to use with your belay device.

We won’t go through the details of which loops to use or how to belay here, as it’s a very visual and practical thing to learn… we’d probably confuse you if we tried to explain it. If you’re curious, familiarise yourself with these diagram of a harness and belay steps to start off with.

What do I wear?

Anything you’re comfortable moving in, so long as you feel comfortable working up a sweat in them. Do keep in mind that you’ll probably get some (or a lot of) chalk on your clothes, but it comes off easily with a normal wash.

Keep jewellery to a minimum, especially things like rings, watches and bracelets. These tend to get damaged while climbing (don’t want to scratch that brand new apple watch). Necklaces and earrings generally don’t cause too much problem as long as they are not too long or dangly. They can, however, be dangerous with a risk of getting caught in a hold as you fall, so best be safe and keep them while you climb.

I’m scared of heights and/or falling!

First of all… Good on you for stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new – that takes guts! Just know you’re not alone. In fact, a lot of people don’t realise they have a fear or falling until they are half way through a climb and look down.

There are a few procedures to ensure your safety while top rope climbing. As mentioned previously, you will be wearing a harness which will be attached to the belay system. The belay system is a rope pulley system controlled by your trusty belayer at the other end. This system is designed excellently for climbing because it is safe, takes off strain from your belayer and is highly mobile (it doesn’t restrict your movement).

More specifically, a pulley system multiplies the strength of your belayer. This means you can trust your belayer to take your weight, even if you fall. You will usually be paired with a belayer roughly your weight or heavier so they can use their own body as a counter-weight. When you start climbing you will be trained on how to belay safely. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to carry someone else’s weight!

Fun fact:
The fear of heights and the fear of falling are distinct from each other. You may be fine chilling at the top of a 12m wall, but still be terrified of that stomach-dropping fall. And vice versa, you may hate the feeling of hovering so high in the air, but the sensation of falling may not freak you out that much (you’re probably the type who loves free-fall rollercoasters). Learning to manage your fear and stress responses is a huge part of climbing. Overcoming a really scary climb does wonders to build self-confidence and your sense of achievement, so don’t be put at the start! Like anything, with a bit of practice you can get better at managing and overcoming your fears.

Note: different gyms may use different belay devices or systems. Make sure you are familiar with the system they use before starting a climb.

What is an auto-belay device?

An auto-belay device is a mechanical system of belaying, as opposed to a person pulling in the slack – this means the rope/cable you clip into is coiled around a spool using a mechanical system (usually magnetic or friction based) as you climb. This system will control your fall and will lower you down slowly.

It can be freaky using an auto-belay for the first time. If feels different, sometimes doesn’t take up slack as tightly as you prefer and can be scary not having a friendly face to control your descent. The benefit of the auto-belay is that you don’t need to find someone to be your belay buddy (perfect if you’re not in the mood to talk to anyone). Auto-belay devices are becoming more and more common, so getting used to them will allow you access to more climbs.

To Sum Up

Your first climb may be a little scary and intimidating, but things will make more sense once you give it a go. The most important thing to remember (as cliché as it sounds) is to have fun! Get ready to fall a bunch of times, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to look a little silly while doing it!