What's the best way to mark your gear ?

aclayden wrote:

Wow, hard to believe that folks have such a hard time keeping their gear separated from others' that you'd need to fugly up all your equipment with spraypaint. What's wrong with just keeping tabs on the gear as you climb during the day or using one person's rack so there's no mixing? For the creek, just use some nail polish on a low wear place on the cams if needed.

+1

Never found the need to mark gear in order to tell it apart from others'.

I'm all in on the nail polish suggestion. Couple of bright colors, and if you're ambitious a distinctive marking. I do a large patch of a metallic pink with a dark blue stripe through the center.

Automotive engine enamel. Not the spray paint stuff. 

Alex Kowalcyk wrote:

Never found the need to mark gear in order to tell it apart from others'.

Then you obviously haven't been in a situation where 6 people are pooling gear.

I use theatre spike tape, similar to electric tape but more of a fabric feel. Also seems to hold up better in the heat.

Be very cautious about applying sharpie or anything chemical to non-metal. 

Fingernail polish comes in an an infinite array of colors, and is available at the dollar stores.

Electrical tape

Cross Check Torque Seal paint. It never comes off by deign. Used to mark every bolted torqued in industry and works like a charm on aluminum and fabric. 

Phil Hofmeyer wrote:

Cross Check Torque Seal paint. It never comes off by deign. Used to mark every bolted torqued in industry and works like a charm on aluminum and fabric. 

The product description calls it a "brittle film". Does it hold up well on metal gear. Or does it scrape of flake off easily when rubbed against other metal gear or rock?

Dremel tool.  Buff the anodize off with your initials or last name.

I hate peeling tape off leaver biners....

the little bottles of touch up paint for your car work better than sharpie metal markers or nailpolish

Scuff an area with low grit sandpaper and paint with nail polish. It will adhere much better if the metal is sanded. 

+1 on the reflective tape. Gear visible early morning or night and easy to pick out when combined with partners gear. If you inspect your gear, there should be no issue of it falling off unexpectedly.  

Just to be sure- THE MARK doesn't exist anymore, right?

adeadhead wrote:

Just to be sure- THE MARK doesn't exist anymore, right?

Not that I was ever able to find. There was one site that had it listed, but they cancelled my order, saying it was out of stock. When I emailed for clarification, the response indicated that it isn't available any more.