Rappelling as an activity requires that you bring the right gear with you to ensure your safety and comfort. I’ve put together the following guide so you know what to bring with you when you go!

To rappel, you’ll need the following gear:

A rope
A harness
A rappel or belay device
Carabiners and Slings
Clothing
A helmet
Gloves

In the following guide, I’m going to go more into detail about all of these to break down what you should be looking for if you’re buying gear, some of my personal recommendations, and what you want to avoid.

Rope

Function: It hangs from an anchor and allows you to lower yourself

Best rappelling rope:

Other trusted manufacturers: Petzl, Black Diamond, Sterling Ropes, Mammut, Edelrid

Price: $150-300

Can I buy used? No. I would 100% recommend buying your rope new

Your rope is maybe the most important piece of gear that you’re going to buy. You’re going to be quite literally dangling your life from it, so you want to make sure that you make a good buying choice.

The most important thing when talking about ropes is that you should never buy used. The reason behind this is that, if you don’t know the history of a rope, it can be very difficult to tell if it has been damaged in the past or not. Ropes are designed with an inner core that gives it strength surrounded by a protective sheath. This sheath, while serving an important function, makes it more difficult for you to visually examine a rope, so you won’t know if there are weak spots in the core that could lead to rope failure later on. For the above reasons, I would recommend always buying your rope new (and from a reputable manufacturer).

So, what do you want to look for in a rappelling rope? I have a more comprehensive guide here, but the important thing while rappelling is that you use a rope that is at least 7.7mm in diameter and designed for rock climbing.

The diameter of the rope is important because, like I said, your entire life is going to be suspended from this one piece of equipment. When something is that essential to stopping you from falling, you want to make sure you build in a sufficient margin of error in case anything happens. So, while you can probably safely rappel on ropes 5mm or less in diameter— after all, rappelling is mostly a static activity— I would recommend buying a bulkier rope for the peace of mind and added safety that it’s going to provide.

There other problem with thin ropes is that they make it harder to control your rappel. The thinner a rope is, the easier it’s going to pass through your rappel device, and the faster you’re going to go in a downwards direction. This can be good if you’re an experienced climber who knows how to control the momentum, but it can also add unnecessary risk to an otherwise safe activity.

The next big question when buying ropes is if you want a static or dynamic rope. To help break this question down, it’s first important to understand the distinction between the two:

Static ropes are built for hauling gear or swinging off of— activities where you are NOT going to take a fall and stretch the rope. Because of this, they’re designed to not have any give in them.
Dynamic ropes are designed out of interwoven fibres that will stretch when they are placed under load. This allows the rope to temporarily lengthen, which makes them much safer for climbing as they will soften the impact of a fall.

Either will work for rappelling. There are some advantages to using a static rope: they’re cheaper, easier to pull through anchors once you’re done, and will wear less when you pull them over edges. However, the problem with a static rope is that they’re much less useful in their functionality. If you’re going canyoneering or caving and you know that there’s no chance you’ll take a dynamic fall on the rope, it’s okay to bring a static line. If you’re rock climbing, or if you’re just looking to buy one rope and use it for everything, you’ll want to purchase a dynamic rope.

Check out my guide to the best rappelling ropes!

A Harness

Function: A harness allows you to safely attach yourself to your rappel device

Best Rappelling Harness: Edelrid Orion

Other trusted manufacturers: Petzl, Black Diamond, Arc’teryx

Price: $60-$200

Can I buy used? No, I wouldn’t recommend it

Your rope may be your lifeline, but your harness is what allows you to connect yourself to your lifeline in a safe and comfortable fashion. Because of this, it’s also extremely important.

Similar to your rope, I wouldn’t recommend buying a harness used. You just never know what kind of stress it’s been under, what may have happened to the webbing, or what type of environment it’s been stored in. Plus, harness can be fairly affordable, with the most introductory ones starting at around $60. Because of that, it’s a good call to buy your harness new.

Just about any climbing harness will do for rappelling, but there are still some things you should consider. I’ve broken it down into three categories:

Comfort
Durability
Additional Features

Comfort of Fit

Comfort is probably the most important criteria when you’re looking for a rappel harness. Most— if not all— of the time, you’ll be in a hanging position with your weight distributed between the hip and leg loops. Staying like this for long periods of time can easily get uncomfortable, and a sub-par harness will make it difficult to truly enjoy your rappel.

For a harness to be comfortable, you want to make sure that it evenly distributes your weight on your thighs and allows you to achieve a good sitting position when you’re hanging in it. There should be no hotspots on your waist or hips.

You also want to worry about fit. Harnesses usually come in small, medium, and large; you want to be able to tighten the waist and hip belts until you’re secure, to ensure that you don’t fall out if you go inverted.

Durability

If you’re spending money on a harness, you want to know that it’s going to last. This can obviously be difficult with climbing gear, because you spend a lot of time around rock and other materials that can rip, tear, and snag your gear. Durability means more than just saving you a few bucks, however. When a harness is suspending you hundreds of feet above the ground, you don’t want to have to worry about whether or not it’s going to break.

Durability will usually coincide with price, but not always. Some high-end harnesses, such as the Arc’teryx FL 365, are designed for alpinism and built with lightweight material that will reduce the durability. Weight is a lot less important if you’re just using the harness for rappelling, so I would recommend getting something slightly more durable.

Features

Features aren’t as important for rappelling, but they’re still something to consider. Things like gear loops, haul loops, breathable webbing, and packability can all make a difference in the comfort of your rappel.

One final word about harnesses: some people will tell you that you can make makeshift ones out of paracord, webbing, or other non-harness materials. This is strictly true, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Whatever makeshift system you manage to concoct, it’s going to be less comfortable and far less safe than a real harness.

A Rappel or Belay Device

Function: Create friction within the system

Best rappelling device: The Petzl PIRANA

Other trusted manufacturers: Black Diamond, Edeldrid

Price: $35-150

Can I buy used? You can, but you need to have enough experience to recognize if you’re buying a damaged piece of gear or not.

You’ve now got something to rappel down (your rope) and something to hold your body while you’re rappelling (your harness). This thing that ties them both together is your belay device.

The core function of a belay device is to create friction so that you can control your rappel. You pass the rope through it in such a way that it becomes possible to control how quickly the rope is moving through the device. This allows you to chance your speed as you’re rappelling.

Belay devices come in all shapes and forms. Just about any belay device will function for rappelling, although you need to be careful because some options won’t work as well for others. The Petzl gri-gri, for example, is great for sport climbing and those who are just learning to belay. Because of its narrow cam system, however, it’s not a good device for rappelling and you can only perform single-strand rappels on it.

Because there’s so many options out there, choosing which belay device you want can be tricky. There are a few criteria you should look for:

Durability: as with any climbing-related gear, it’s important that your device be able to withstand not only the test of time, but also some of the knocks and scrapes that come with using it around rock.
Auto-locking: If you’re a beginner, or not as strong of a rappeller, the ability for your device to lock off may be extremely important.
Versatility: Climbing? Mountaineering? Using it as a backup? It makes sense to purchase a device that can do everything you need it to do, or it may be smart to have multiple devices to serve different functions.
Weight: Sometimes when climbing, every ounce matters. How heavy your device is going to feel when strapped to your waist is a legitimate concern.
Specificity: Opposite to the criteria above, you may want a device that’s built for a specific purchase, such as caving or canyoneering (if it’s the latter, check out my review of the best canyoneering devices)
Cost: Rappel devices vary widely in terms of how much they’ll cost you. Price can be an important factor when looking for climbing gear
Safety: This is the most important criteria. No matter what I say, the best device for you is the one that you feel you can most safely use. Nothing else is more important than this.

Check out my guide for the best rappelling devices!

Carabiners and Slings

Function: connect you to your belay device, build an anchor, act as a backup, and much more

Trusted Manufacturers: Black Diamond, Metolius, Petzl, Mammut

Price: $5

Can I Buy Used? No, I wouldn’t

Carabiners, slings, and all the extraneous gear that help you rappel are just as important as the above pieces that I’ve mentioned (in fact, they may be even more important: check out my article on how to rappel using only carabiners). They come in all shapes and sizes, and they serve so many purposes in terms of safety and function that it’s worth it to bring a couple of extra pieces with you everywhere you go. Plus, they’re cheap to buy, so there’s no reason to not have a health supply of these.

Slings are pieces of webbed cord with the ends stitched together so that they form a loop. They can come in several different lengths and are designed to take static force of up to 10 kilo-newtons. Slings have no dynamic stretch in them, which means that they’re not meant to catch fall or act as a substitute for your rope.

It’s hard to define what a sling does because they’re so multi-functional, but in the simplest terms that I can think of, slings hold two things together. They create a link between two pieces of gear (such as your harness and a haul bag that you’re trying to lower) and they do so in a way that’s safe and secure.

The uses of your sling are wide-varying, but a few common ones would be:

Building an anchor: Slings are great for creating anchors to rappel from. They can help you equalize between two points of contact in the rock, secure to a tree/boulder, or create a backup to whatever primary anchor you’re using.
Securing you to the wall: Sometimes while rappelling, you’ll need to disconnect yourself from the rope. Slings are great for securing yourself to rappel rings or any other type of anchor that may be present.
Carrying a haul bag: Rappelling with a haul bag can be a cumbersome process, butt slings make life a lot easier. For a complete guide on how to do this, check out my article here
Extending your rappel: Sometimes you don’t want to attach your rappel device directly to your harness. In this case, you can use a sling as an intermediary step to give you better rope control.

Carabiners are metal loops with openable gates that are used to quickly and reversible connect two pieces of equipment. In climbing, they’re used for clipping into things, be it your rappel device, a bolt, the anchors, or a sling. It literally never hurts to have a few spare carabiners on you; on the other hand, getting caught in a position where you need a carabiner but don’t have one can lead to some pretty unpleasant outcomes.

Some of the most common uses of carabiners are:

Connecting yourself to your belay device
Connecting your PAS to rappel anchors
Backing up a rappel
Attaching gear to your harness
Building an anchor

When buying carabiners, there are two types: locking and non-locking. Locking carabiners have some type of cover that slides over the gate and makes it impossible to open until you move the cover. This adds a level of safety to your carabiner, as it makes it ensures the gate will stay closed.

Everyone has their own preferences as to when you use a locking carabiner, but there are some situations that I think you should always have one:

Attaching your harness to your belay device
Connecting your anchor to a rappel ring
Creating a blocking mechanism for a single strand rappel

I would suggest always carrying at least four locking carabiners on you and at least that many in non-lockers as well. They can really help you out if you find yourself in a pinch, and it never hurts to have a few extra.

Proper Clothing

Function: To keep you warm and comfortable (while staying decent)

Trusted manufacturers: Not something you need to worry about too much. Patagonia, The North Face, Black Diamond, and Arc’teryx are some of big names in the climbing clothing category, but if you want to save money, you don’t need to buy from them.

Price: Can widely vary, but anywhere from $10-$100, depending on what you’re buying

Can I Buy Used? Yes, I highly recommend it!

Clothes are another big thing to consider when you’re rappelling. It won’t have as much of an impact on your safety, but it can play a big part in your comfort and ability to enjoy the rappel. I have a full guide on what to wear rappelling here, but I’m going to go over some of the key points below.

One thing I want to mention is that outdoor clothing companies make a lot of money selling lightweight, durable clothing that allows for breathability and freedom of movement. While their gear is high-quality, it’s often also very high price. If you have the money I’m not going to dissuade you from buying from these companies (I do most of my shopping at MEC), but don’t feel like you need the latest Arc’teryx tee just so you can go rappelling.

Another thing I want to talk about is used clothing. Buying second-hand clothes is actually one of the best ways that you, an individual consumer, can reduce your environmental impact (while also saving a lot of money!). Thrift stores and online shopping are great places for buying used gear. Some companies, such as Patagonia Worn Works, actually sell their own used clothes if you’re looking for a more organized shopping experience.

So, what types of clothes are you looking for when rappelling? You want comfortable gear that allows freedom of movement without being too baggy, as this can cause it to get caught in the rope or snag on nearby rocks. I’ve broken it down into categories below.

Shirts

Aside from stopping you from flashing everyone around, your shirt serves two purposes when rappelling: protecting you from the sun and preventing your harness from chaffing your skin.

In terms of sun protection, you can choose whether you want a long-sleeve or a short sleeve shirt, but long sleeve will obviously offer better protection. Some shirts are now SPF rated, which can add an extra layer of protection.

For preventing your harness from chaffing, the big thing is that the shirt be long enough to tuck underneath your harness. This can protect your skin and make the entire experience more enjoyable.

Sweaters and jackets

Shivering, cold, and wet are not ideal conditions to be trying to perform a rappel under. Ensuring that you have the right type of clothing to keep you warm and dry while rappelling can be a huge benefit.

Wool is great at combining warmth with water-repellent features, so a wool sweater could be perfect to bring along with you while you rappel. In terms of fit, you want to avoid medium-length garments. Your sweater should either be short enough not be in the way or long enough to tuck under your harness. This will prevent the hem from getting caught in any ropes or clips.

Pants/Shorts

The decision between wearing pants or shorts comes down to weather and preference. Personally I prefer pants, because I find they fit better under the harness and offer more protection against the rock. People in warmer climates, however, may find that a pair of shorts better suits their needs.

In terms of material, you want something durable yet comfortable. Denim can be stiff and restricting, while other fabrics such as sweatpants tend to bunch up under your harness and may also be uncomfortable. Therefore, this is one area where I would actually recommend spending a little bit extra on a good pair of hiking pants, because they’re usually flexible and comfy while still remaining durable.

Shoes

There are three things to consider when selecting shoes to rappel in:

Grip: your shoes will need to have enough friction so that you can control your body by placing your feet on whatever surface you’re rappelling down.
Weight: holding your legs horizontally in front of you can become tiring, especially over long periods of time.
Protection: Working with hard stone and rockfall hazard can give you a whole array of injuries, from scrapes and bruises to crushed toes. Make sure you have sufficient footwear on.

So, under those criteria, what’s the best shoe to rappel in?

You want something closed-toe, lightweight, and with a good rubber sole to provide you with grip. Hiking shoes, and especially ankle-high boots, are often too heavy and will be a pain to hold in front of you. Climbing shoes technically fulfill all three criteria, but they can be uncomfortable when worn over long periods of time and don’t present the best protection.

A pair of approach shoes will probably fit the best. They’re sturdily constructed and have good soles for hiking/climbing, so you won’t have any worries about their inability to grip the rock. If you don’t have a pair of approach shoes, every day runners will probably also do the trick.

Check out our complete guide on what to wear rappelling!

A Helmet

Function: To protect your head from falling rocks, ledges, walls, and other unforgiving objects.

Best helmet for rappelling: The Black Diamond Half-Dome

Trusted Manufacturers: Petzl, Mammut, Edelrid

Price: $70-$250

Can I buy used? 100% no

Helmets are one of the most important things that you can bring with you when rappelling.

It goes without saying that your head is a pretty important thing to protect. Making sure you don’t sustain any severe and permanent damage needs to be a primary safety concern for you when you go out into the mountains, so make sure to always bring your helmet along and actually wear it!

A helmet is one of the pieces of gear that I would say you absolutely need to buy new. The thing about helmets is that they’re not designed to resist repeated trauma. In fact, it’s actually the opposite: your helmet is designed to break upon heavy impact. This acts like the crumple zone on a car, absorbing some of the impact and protecting your brain/neck.

However, this also means that once you take one good whack, your helmet needs to be replaced, as the cushioning systems within the helmet may have been damaged. Like everything else, when you buy used, it’s impossible to know what invisible damage may have been done to it.

So, what are you looking for when you go to buy a helmet? Just about any helmet aimed at climbers will serve, although there are some criteria that are worth considering.

The first is the design of the helmet. Rappelling is a fairly static activity; you’re usually in control of your body, and you’re therefore at a much lower risk of swinging into the wall at a weird angle (like you are when you go climbing). This means that the primary risk you need to contend with is rockfall.

Because of that, I would recommend helmets that are primarily designed to take impacts from above, not ones that are tailored towards climbing or alpinism. The Petzl Sirocco, for example, has a foam perimeter that is designed to protect your temples and the back of your neck from impact. On the top, however, it only has a thing strip of plastic to stop any rockfall hazards.

Compare this to something bulkier, like the Black Diamond Half Dome. The Half Dome is made entirely out of sturdy, ABS plastic, which is designed to deflect and distribute the force of any impacts. While it doesn’t give you the same coverage on the sides of your head, it will do a better job protecting your skull from anything coming above. That makes it a better choice for rappelling-specific activities.

Some other criteria you should keep in mind when looking for a helmet:

Fit: You need to make sure the helmet fits on your head and stays there even when you’re moving and swinging around. It should be decently comfortable, too, so that you won’t mind wearing it all day.
Durability: While I did say that helmets can only take one good hit before they should be retired, it should be able to get banged around a little bit without breaking, be that accidentally scraping it on the rock or just having it packed away in a tote bag.
Breathability/weight: This plays into the comfort element that I mentioned above. The easier it is to put up with having your helmet on, the more likely you are to wear it consistently when you’re in the mountains.

Check out my review of the Half Dome here!

Gloves

Function: Making it easier for you to grab the rope.

Trusted manufacturers: Black Diamond, Metolius, Outdoor Research

Price: $30-$60

Can I Buy Used? Yes, gloves are a good thing to buy used.

These ones are more of an optional piece, but they’re still worth wearing if you are going to be rappelling for long periods or you’re working in colder temperatures.

Gloves often get overlooked as a safety or practicality feature for climbing, but if you think about it, they can make your life a lot easier. When rappelling, your entire body is suspended by a strand of rope, and the only thing keeping you from plummeting down that rope is your brake hand.

When you’re cold, pumped out from a climb, or just physically tired, gripping a centimetre-thick piece of rope with enough force to keep you attached to it can become difficult. Rappel gloves make this easier, and therefor make your entire experience safer.

So what’s special about a pair of rappel or belay gloves? There are a few features that set them apart:

Double-padded areas: Rappel gloves will often have extra protection in high-friction areas to increase their lifespan.
Fingerless design: this allows for more dexterity when you’re tying knots or working with rope.
Better material: The fabric will last longer and will be better at gripping ropes than other gloves.

The above materials can make it worth it to buy a dedicated pair of belay or rappel gloves if you think you’ll need it. If you’re only going to use them every now and then, or if you want to save a little bit of money, an everyday pair or gardening gloves will also work fine.

Conclusion

So, there we go! That’s my total guide on what to wear while rappelling. Head over to my Recommended Gear section for more detail and specific product reviews, or check out some of my other articles for more in-depth looks at some of the stuff we talked about above.

As always, make sure to stay safe and have fun!

What Gear Do You Need to Rappel?