New to NC, Rack Upgrade Suggestions

After moving to NC from Madison, WI - I want to make sure I have adequate gear for around here and at least a "Standard NC Rack." I've found a few threads on here about what comprises a standard NC rack, but it was all over the map.

Here's what I've got:
1x Set of Wallnuts
1x Set of Peenuts and Offsets
1x MC Purple to Orange
1x C4 .5-3 with doubles of .75, 1 and 2
1x Pink and Red Tricams

Now, I hate carrying that much gear - at Devils Lake I'd normally only carry half a set of wires and 6 cams and be able to sew most of the easy and moderate climbs up pretty well.

What should I add to this and what don't I need? Also, how many of you opt for a pull cord for rapping instead of lugging up a second rope?

Set of metolius TCUs from grey to red, maybe a couple extra alpine draws, maybe a #4 BD for some routes

You're fine on nuts. I would carry half those wires with an emphasis on the mid-size. You will use nuts more or less depending on whatever crag you frequent. The rock is pretty diverse here.

You're probably going to want to get doubles in the blue #1 MC, yellow #2 MC, orange #3 MC, and the .5 C4. The orange mastercam/.4 C4 and the .5 C4 are by far my most used pieces. I personally typically carry 3 of each and only carry a single #2 C4. You will be placing cams from blue or yellow mastercam to .5 C4 all the time.

Eventually you might want to pick up a single grey 00 Master Cam. Maybe eventually a #4, though you can stay busy for years without it. I carry 10 60cm runners.

I use a 6mm cord as a second rope for rappels when necessary.

That's pretty good and should see you through a lot of NC routes. Maybe fill in some doubles on the C4s, .5-2 or just borrow stuff from your partner as needed.

Worth noting that most NC routes are a lot longer than Devil'ss Lake routes so you will be carrying more.

Barrett Pauer wrote:Set of metolius TCUs from grey to red, maybe a couple extra alpine draws, maybe a #4 BD for some routes

I've got a crapload of alpines and a bunch of double lengths, but why specifically TCUs when I've got tiny 4CUs in the exact same range?

Do you just like doubling up on small cams and having a 3CU option or do TCUs actually just fit much better than the other options like C3s or micro 4CUs? Are offsets a worthwhile alternative to TCUs?

I just borrow friends big gear if I know I'm going to need it, though I'm sure I'll but some bigger C4s eventually.

Brian Abram wrote:You're fine on nuts. I would carry half those wires with an emphasis on the mid-size. You will use nuts more or less depending on whatever crag you frequent. The rock is pretty diverse here. You're probably going to want to get doubles in the blue #1 MC, yellow #2 MC, orange #3 MC, and the .5 C4. The orange mastercam/.4 C4 and the .5 C4 are by far my most used pieces. I personally typically carry 3 of each and only carry a single #2 C4. You will be placing cams from blue or yellow mastercam to .5 C4 all the time. Eventually you might want to pick up a single grey 00 Master Cam. Maybe eventually a #4, though you can stay busy for years without it. I carry 10 60cm runners. I use a 6mm cord as a second rope for rappels when necessary.

Thanks! No matter where I climb I think I place my Yellow and Orange Mastercams more than anything else. Plus those tiny cams are so light so I don't mind the doubles. Just gotta find some of the older style ones in good shape.

I also carry 10 single length runners and 1 or 2 double length runners (or 2 more if bolted anchors), so I'm all set there.

Glad to hear about the pull cord - I use a 6mm too and was thinking the clean granite domes would be perfect for that without getting anything stuck.

Most of what has been said is good. My normal go to is single 00, 0 Master cam, double aliens green to red (blue to orange Master cam), red tcu, BD .75, double #1 and #2, single #3. Single set of offsets and BD regular nuts from #3-#10? Gets almost everything done. I'll bring a #4 or extra #3 if I know I need it. Tricams can be handy on belays or for keeping a rack light on easy routes.