On this page, you will find our suggested general equipment list for ice climbing. Please see the individual course page for your course’s specific gear requirements, as some specialty courses may require additional equipment. If you own ice climbing equipment, feel free to bring it so you can practice with your gear. Please see below for UMA-provided gear and equipment available for rent.
Gear List
- Non-cotton top and bottom base layers
- Puffy overcoat and/or insulation layer (fleece, synthetic or down, preferably with a hood)
- Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket and pants
- Waterproof snow gloves and mittens or spare gloves
- Warm hat, balaclava or such for under your helmet
- Sunglasses and/or clear, protective eyeglasses (optional)
- 1-2 liters of water (thermos of tea optional)
- Lunch and quick energy snacks
- Backpack (25-45 liters)
- Crampon-compatible, warm mountain boots with rigid sole
- Gaiters (to protect pants from crampon punctures – optional)
- Vertical, water-ice crampons (12-point recommended)
- 2 water-ice tools
- Harness
- Belay/rappel device and locking carabiner
- Helmet
Recommended Books
Ice Climbing Utah by David S. Black
Beehive Ice by Nikki Smith and Andrew Burr
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills by The Mountaineers
Local Gear Rentals & Retailers
Salt Lake City is a mecca for the latest and greatest, with access to top-notch gearheads. While we prefer UMA’s rental gear for certain circumstances that benefit traveling guests, we encourage guests to demo or rent from local retailers because there are so many great options to try out, and everybody’s gear preferences vary. We recommend connecting with local gearheads at Backcountry.com, Black Diamond Retail, Wasatch Touring, IME Utah or REI to learn about your rental or buying options.
UMA-Provided Gear & Rentals
NOTE: UMA DOES NOT rent boots. We highly recommend renting or purchasing boots elsewhere (see local rental locations).
If you need to borrow or rent gear from UMA, please reserve it through your account in the UMA portal.
To borrow or rent from UMA, log in to your account and navigate to “Trips”, then select the specific trip and choose the items you need. Please indicate the size, if suggested, and be sure to save your entries.
Your guide will deliver and adjust your UMA rental gear for you on the morning of the trip. All guides conduct a gear check at the trailhead or meeting place to ensure everyone has what they need. Please arrive prepared with everything on the gear list. Guests are expected to provide their own lunches, water and snacks.
Safety & Belay Devices
First things first: safety equipment. UMA can provide a harness, helmet, belay device and large carabiner at no charge.
Harness: Black Diamond Vario Speed or Singing Rock Harness
Helmet: Black Diamond Half Dome
Belay Device & Large Carabiner: Black Diamond ATC
NO CHARGE
CRAMPONS
Crampons: Black Diamond Cyborg-Stinger
Our water-ice crampons come with two vertical front points for better stability for learning.
$15/ per day
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