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Offset steps vs ladder style aiders

Original Post
JK- Branin · · NYC-ish · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 56

Beginning aid climber here...

For your aiders do you prefer ladder style or offset steps? Why?

George Foster · · Durango, CO · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 12

Ladder if using only 2 aiders (which you should.) You'll find that you want to step in the right step with your left foot and get all out of sequence depending on how high your next piece is. Ladder eliminates that flow issue.

Kauait · · West is the best. · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

Hard aid, (etrier) 2 sets. why? For stability and comfort. Easy stuff, (Ladder style), 1 set. why? For simplicity and Less cluster.

dindolino32 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 25

i only use 2 offset stepped style aiders. I still cant comprehend bringing 4 total. With this style, sometimes the next step onto the other aider is a left footer and I am stepping right (with my right foot) I just twist it 180 degrees and go. I like that style because they clip up and fold out of the way when free climbing. They are also easier to buy. If you do get them, I would recommend shorter aiders with 4 steps. I got the 5 steps and the bottom step would get caught far below me when I was above it. With 4 steps I just bounce on the daisy quickly and then step on it. If I am on a bolt or rivet ladder, I just hang on the daisy, throw my foot in the bottom step and go if its a big reach. Keep in mind I don't really aid higher than c2+, almost always in Yosemite, and I would rather french free or free climb if I can since it's faster.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

I use ladder aiders as they are easier to climb and simpler to use (which means faster). However, if I was doing a climb that was mostly free and had a tad of aid (e.g. climbing the Nose in a day as a 5.11+ climber), I would bring Dyneema offset aiders to save weight.

Kauait · · West is the best. · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

On longer routes that are mostly free. A set of adjustable aiders stored in a pouch works great.

Kevin Mokracek · · Burbank · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 342

Two ladders. A pocket aider stuffed in your bag as a backup. No need for more than two.

Ryan Hamilton · · Orem · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 5

I've never used the offset, but I really like the ladder style. Yates Big Wall ladders to be specific. They are beefy and the spreader bar at the top is REALLY nice to have.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Big Wall and Aid Climbing
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