Keeping alpine draws tidy in the pack

Pulled my usual mess of alpine draws out of the pack today, and wondered if anyone has any tricks for keeping them from getting tangled in each other. A gear sling can definitely help, though they still usually need to be evened out and whatnot

I just clip them to a loop of accessory cord or a webbing loop that I use for racking gear and they're usually fine enough. I can't imagine what else you would do with them.

I clip mine to a large metal O-ring which keeps them manageable. Something like this:

https://amzn.to/3oFSEoq 

Another friend made a small bag, in the style of a rope bag with a tarp, that she uses to store certain trad gear in her pack. She sells them. Direct message me if you are interested and I’ll connect you with her. 

c c wrote:

only thing I’ve found that seems to work is wrapping each draw individually in tinfoil. it seems ok to reuse the tinfoil if you wash after each sesh and dry in the microwave

have a good weekend

10/10

I don't usually bother, but one trick that works reasonably well is to extend one of the draws and use the sling to wrap the others up.

I keep my draws in a bag that came with one of my harnesses, it's another thing to carry and keep track of but it pretty much perfectly fits all my draws and keeps them completely seperate from all the grabbing bits on cams and the nut tool. Although I may have to try the lockers on both ends solution, that sounds pretty slick.

Before getting on the trail, single length draws with two biners get tripled.  Then I’ll clip four other draws to the biner of one draw making bundles of ~five.

Double length draws also get tripled, twisted and the two biners clipped together. They are included in the above bundles of five. Usually have just two bundles of five.

Single length draws with one biner are left open, grouped together and tied together by girthing  one different-colored sling through / around the group. (At the end of the day, this is how most slings end up in the pack whether they have one or two biners.)

Draws usually go in bottom of pack with harness on top.  Rack goes in next and is moderately separated from slings by the harness.

A friend once gave me a big light-weight ring to clip draws to. But I don’t see any extra advantage over the above for my typical approach / exit on a climb day.

Bryanwrote:

I just clip them to a loop of accessory cord or a webbing loop that I use for racking gear and they're usually fine enough. I can't imagine what else you would do with them.

this^^

I rack them onto a single length sling and throw them into the bag. Never had an issue with them tangling.

Starch 

Do them along with your shirts.

It matters where you pack them.  If you clip them all by one of the biners to a gear sling (triple looped in the usual way first of course), and then put them in the pack first, layed along the bottom, and then pack other stuff, shoes harness fluid, extra clothes, etc on top, they will come out just as neat as you put them in.

Essentially seconding what Phylp and Bill said, I have found preparing your draws as Bill described, laying them horizontally in the bottom of your pack, and putting a buffer layer of not cams on top of them (harness, jacket) then your other odds and ends on top of that will let you unpack the whole bit with no fuss, no muss. Not sure about foil, steel rings, and special wraps, as that seems like a lot of superfluous overhead I'd rather neither pack in nor buy, but that's just me!

Bro:  Get a few RackCaddies

I use RopeX for draws.  It’s not available to the public yet but the prototype works great.  

Kevin Mokracekwrote:

I use RopeX for draws.  It’s not available to the public yet but the prototype works great.  

Oh, bro, you clearly haven't seen the SlingX yet. Next time we climb...

I throw my alpine slings in one of those little nylon "backpacks" that are given out left and right at sporting events, job fairs, etc. You know, the ones with a couple little drawstring straps? They never tangle inside that. Any stuff sack would work, I'm sure. 

Check out the new DrawX by RopeX

Simply clip a one side to a hole then the other side to a corresponding hole of correct length. Each DrawX can hold up to 4 draws which then stack neatly in the new BucketX for tidy carrying to your next alpine adventure.

The BucketX can be in turn used to pre fray the rope for use with the RopeX by turning around the outside and using our special fraying gun.

Kevin Mokracekwrote:

I use RopeX for draws.  It’s not available to the public yet but the prototype works great.  

Every thread…

Just how tangled are they getting anyway?   I can’t imagine a scenario where it wouldn’t take any more than a minute tops to sort yer draws.   I just throw all my draws in a medium size Metolius nylon bag, I clip all my alpine draws and regular draws together in groups of 5 so I can easily grab what I need and I can get a quick count at the end of the day.   Easy peasy 

Johann Millerwrote:

Every thread…

Heck yes!!! Until RopeX gets the attention it so rightly deserves.  

I feel your pain. Nothing like seeing a nice new pick in your dyneema sling from a biner or cam!  I too like using the small mesh bags that come with BD harnesses. They make good snack bags too for short days.

The DrawX and BucketX were great comedy this morning!!

Stuff them in a harness bag. Works great. 

I also like to use one of those slippery, durable, reusable grocery bags for my rack. Super easy to slip into and out of my pack and keeps my gear more organized and clean at the crag.