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Bolt Bags?
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Any recs on ditty bags / bolt bags / racking+carrying techniques for all the odds and ends? How do you carry your box wrenches / spinner tools / drill bits / quick links / bolts / hangers / anchor chain / brush / blow tube / patch putty / small brushes / spare batteries / etc? Duct tape and paracord and rack all of it on your harness? Massive multi-compartment tool bucket? Anyone got a system that they really like? |
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My friend Lisa Ellerin has made some custom bolting bags for myself and friends before. Could hit her up for the design I bet |
bmdhackswrote: For me it is all about work flow process. If I am on a steep wall, which is mostly what I bolt the process is bolt->scrub moss/trundle->final clean/anchor/chain saw/belay area. So when I go up and bolt I only bolt and maybe partly trundle. I use a general work bag, which has multiple pockets like you would get at lowes. I put low use items in the pockets (like extra drill bits).I carry a socket, crescent wrench, hammer, bolts, concrete screws, drill in the bag. When I clean I will have brushes on cord, crowbar, sledge hammer. If I plan to do both in a day I will attach all of it to another rope that I pull up. The final clean I will bring leaf blower, clean brushes, hammer, anchor hardware, shovel, chain saw. I have cord on almost everything (caulk gun included). Also stash as much stuff in buckets as you feel like you can (some days I will just haul up huge back packs and organize everything either at the top or bottom of the wall). If I am rebolting I only bring the rebolting tools then repeat the process from above or I start with cleaning if that is possible. Sometimes I will just spend the entire day bolting multiple routes rather than bolting one route and cleaning so I don't have to bring up everything each day. I generally think of developing a whole crag rather than each individual line, no one wants a 4 star route with nothing else to climb around it. There are a lot of other reasons to do this, it makes it way easier to trundle the whole wall, you can clean way more thoroughly, you only need your drill for half as many days. The last two days I have rebolted we extracted 60 bolts. We will then place all the glue ins in one go. I so far have bolted maybe 20 climbs this winter and placed maybe 150 bolts. In two days, I was able to bolt two 15 bolt climbs climb them in october with this approach. Leland (the probably second most prolific developer in WA) goes probably a third as fast as I do when bolting because he brings everything. The real master of efficiency is Braden, if you are down in Seattle you should see him work. I think Michal does cleans first then bolts in index, which is obviously possible since it doesn't overhang a ton. I know you are out at CB, which might not have a ton of moss, but using a drill with a grinding wheel is way better for very fine moss than a brush. |
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Fish for stuff sacks. Metolius" 5gallon bucket" bag for all things neede for rebolting. |
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A beefy thrift store computer brief. Organizer pockets for tools and hardware and the padded case protects the drill |
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These are great for bolting/ rebolting. Especially since they are about $10 each. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5-in-10-Pocket-Utility-Sack-Tool-Bag-HD50200-TH/312387474 |
Dan Bachenwrote: I use something similar but with no rigid components. Just a beefy cordura bag with internal slots for tools/bits and outer loops for clipping stuff to (link here). I try to minimize what I bring with me - cleaning gear for the initial run up or down the wall, then bolting gear for putting in bolts. I can pretty comfortably clip everything I need to my harness or over the shoulder slings plus the bolt bag tied around my waist with a piece of webbing. |
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I like using several of the free stuff sacks that come with BD harnesses. They also come in handy on walls for organizing things like toiletries, snacks, etc. You just have to remember to save them! |
Princess Puppy Lovrwrote: That's amazing. I'm much slower and methodical because I don't have the same eye for lines. I've only been climbing a decade, and I just don't have the eye like some guys have. Instead I clean a lot of space and TR the line ticking bolt locations then bolt after I've climbed it already. I like this method because if there's a crux that I didn't anticipate being so hard, I can contrive the easier moves below and above to match the grade better. Meanwhile Benjit just walks out and points 100ft up the wall and describes the crux moves and grade perfectly. Thanks for describing your process though, it's cool to get a feel for how everybody does it. I know you are out at CB, which might not have a ton of moss. Oh... we have moss.  *EDIT* - That Home Depot bucket is dope, I'm getting one for sure |
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Unfortunately most bags have the dreaded "black hole bag syndrome" where its difficult to find small parts inside them, as they are often black fabric inside and out. |
Desert Rock Sportswrote: Can confirm his see through bags are dope. Little pockets for bits and everything. The little ones are good for missions, the big ones are good for wars. |
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If you think of doing another run of bags I'm down for one. |
 Bonus points if you wear Carhartt gear |
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I use an old A5 bag for my drills, bulb, brush and wrenches, and, heavier anchors. Chalk bag for hangers and bolts. |
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I pick up heavy duty bags from military surplus stores when I see them. They’re usually pretty durable, cheap and have some way to close them up so you don’t drop stuff while swinging about, which is important. |
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Functional yet fashionable. This bag held my junk like a champeen for a couple seasons! I highly recommend them but they're, of course, quite rare these days.  |
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bmdhackswrote: You just gave me the best belly laugh I've had in a while. Cheers!!!! |
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Seriously though, I have liked my Beal Pro a lot. The plastic waist buckle sucks, and has long since been broken but I don't wrap it around my waist anyway. I just hang it from my harness. I really like the snap open and close feature of the pockets and gear loops. I've used it two full seasons and for all but the buckle it is really durable.  |
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My go to for low-key bolting:  My go to for rebolting or high-key bolting:  |
