 | | 
29.10.2020, 10:38
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: zurich
Posts: 509
Groaned at 46 Times in 25 Posts
Thanked 116 Times in 65 Posts
| | where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
I'm in Zurich and I want to do some VIA FERRATA's next year and I'm planning my routes.
I'd prefer to RENT the gear
But If I need to purchase it I'll be going for some less expensive stuff.
Thanks
| 
29.10.2020, 11:05
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rapperswil
Posts: 3,754
Groaned at 75 Times in 70 Posts
Thanked 4,537 Times in 2,076 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
I bought several sets from Sport Conrad, not expensive ones and the price was good.
Over what period would you be doing this? Hiring isn't likely to be worthwhile if you do more than a few days.
Where will you be doing it? Many mountain huts have them for hire, as do many of the mountain restaurants at the start of routes.
I wouldn't buy them second hand for safety reasons.
| This user would like to thank newtoswitz for this useful post: | | 
29.10.2020, 11:42
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kanton Luzern
Posts: 18,052
Groaned at 782 Times in 611 Posts
Thanked 27,823 Times in 11,227 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | I bought several sets from Sport Conrad, not expensive ones and the price was good.
Over what period would you be doing this? Hiring isn't likely to be worthwhile if you do more than a few days.
Where will you be doing it? Many mountain huts have them for hire, as do many of the mountain restaurants at the start of routes. I wouldn't buy them second hand for safety reasons. | | | | | Although I bet there are a lot of almost brand new sets that people have - which have only been used once or twice at most.
| 
29.10.2020, 11:57
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rapperswil
Posts: 3,754
Groaned at 75 Times in 70 Posts
Thanked 4,537 Times in 2,076 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | Although I bet there are a lot of almost brand new sets that people have - which have only been used once or twice at most. | | | | | Yes true; actually I would possibly buy secondhand, but only after I'd personally inspected it, which isn't really an option with most stuff being on Ricardo and even less likely just now.
| 
29.10.2020, 12:58
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Luzern
Posts: 672
Groaned at 52 Times in 36 Posts
Thanked 994 Times in 444 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | I wouldn't buy them second hand for safety reasons. | | | | |
Just saying, rent is not safer, I would say statistically is the opposite:
the damage that could be dangerous is the one, where we can not easily see that is damaged with human eye. We have to either trust one seller or we have to trust all the people who were using the equipment. People who are probably not trained in proper use of equipment.
Contra intuitively, with climbing equipment it is not so important the length of the fall, but mostly the fall factor. It is easily to excel it with improper use.
| This user would like to thank nejc for this useful post: | | 
29.10.2020, 15:04
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rapperswil
Posts: 3,754
Groaned at 75 Times in 70 Posts
Thanked 4,537 Times in 2,076 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | Just saying, rent is not safer, I would say statistically is the opposite:
the damage that could be dangerous is the one, where we can not easily see that is damaged with human eye. We have to either trust one seller or we have to trust all the people who were using the equipment. People who are probably not trained in proper use of equipment.
Contra intuitively, with climbing equipment it is not so important the length of the fall, but mostly the fall factor. It is easily to excel it with improper use. | | | | | Depends on whether the buyer has any experience and can check the gear.
Of course the same applier to a rental, but the rental company definitely has an interest in making sure their gear is OK particularly in a generally trustworthy place like Switzerland.
| 
29.10.2020, 17:14
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: zurich
Posts: 509
Groaned at 46 Times in 25 Posts
Thanked 116 Times in 65 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | I bought several sets from Sport Conrad, not expensive ones and the price was good.
Over what period would you be doing this? Hiring isn't likely to be worthwhile if you do more than a few days.
Where will you be doing it? Many mountain huts have them for hire, as do many of the mountain restaurants at the start of routes.
I wouldn't buy them second hand for safety reasons. | | | | | I'm considering doing it maybe 2 - 4 times. Location to be determined, but probably Switzerland and Dolomites.
I'm new to the "sport" so I don't believe I'm knowledgeable enough to buy used.
| 
29.10.2020, 17:24
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Basle
Posts: 3,130
Groaned at 104 Times in 85 Posts
Thanked 2,152 Times in 1,261 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
You should replace your gear every 2 years because with time the materials degrade. Only joking
I think I saw a set in Lidl for 9.99. Joking again.
It reminds me of a VW advert when they compared not buying a VW to buying budget safety gear.
| This user would like to thank Landers for this useful post: | | 
29.10.2020, 18:22
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rapperswil
Posts: 3,754
Groaned at 75 Times in 70 Posts
Thanked 4,537 Times in 2,076 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | I'm considering doing it maybe 2 - 4 times. Location to be determined, but probably Switzerland and Dolomites.
I'm new to the "sport" so I don't believe I'm knowledgeable enough to buy used. | | | | | So a full set in Switzerland for half a day costs ca. 30CHF ( https://www.braunwald.ch/Attraktione...-Klettersteige)
Whereas if you pick the cheapest harness, helmet and via ferrata gear on Sport Conrad you come to about €125.
Unless you leave them lying in the sun or a hot attic, they last for years / wear out if you use them a lot, so it's probably reasonable to buy.
| 
29.10.2020, 18:32
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SZ
Posts: 3,855
Groaned at 378 Times in 268 Posts
Thanked 8,127 Times in 3,471 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
Yes, rent is expensive so depends on how often you intend to go. If you are a beginner and want to try, better to rent.
You can rent in the typical areas where you find the well known Via Ferrata. Braunwald at Gumen, Engelberg in the Intersport in the village or up in Brunni - these are also the easiest to reach from Zuri.
| 
30.10.2020, 12:49
| Member | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Baden
Posts: 188
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 168 Times in 85 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
Always check the maximum and minimum weight, the cheaper via ferrata kit sometimes has a maximum weight of 100kg, and if you are a big bloke you probably weigh more than this.
You must be more than the minimum weight (usually 40kg). They are designed to "unravel" when you fall and that absorbs the energy of the fall. If you are too light it doesn't unravel and your harness and therefore you absorb the impact.
| 
30.10.2020, 13:43
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SZ
Posts: 3,855
Groaned at 378 Times in 268 Posts
Thanked 8,127 Times in 3,471 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | | | | | | I would not buy 2nd hand, but would not be concerned with renting. They will make sure the kit is maintained and stored well.
As was said above, these kits are one-way in that in a fall the seams unravel and create braking effect. After that, the kit is trash.
| 
31.10.2020, 14:50
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SG
Posts: 10,459
Groaned at 638 Times in 463 Posts
Thanked 14,138 Times in 7,389 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
Did you already contact your local SAC section (Schweizer AlpenClub)?
See what they say on rent vs buy, and they may have members wanting to sell their used gear. Certainly they can also provide tips and advice for your planning.
And, since you use 1st person singular and company is recommended (ofc also more fun), maybe they have likeminded members you could team up with.
| 
31.10.2020, 15:33
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lully VD
Posts: 4,430
Groaned at 17 Times in 17 Posts
Thanked 4,713 Times in 2,381 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
You have three things to buy. A helmet that fits correctly, a harness that fits you (male/female - weight) and a lanyard/clip system you use to clip onto the safety wires. Also useful are light hiking shoes with some stiffness in the soles that will make the pushing off the metal ladders easier on the feet.
Clearly, I would buy. Via Ferrata is normally free so invest a bit in the equipment that you can sell later if need be.
This is the end clip system you want (first link - photo). It makes the placement and unclipping very easy compared to the old /very old system where you had to manipulate the end (second link - photo). You will get very tired quickly if you use the old system. You may also be given an old system if you rent since there are still some kicking around.
First Link: https://images.internetstores.de/pro...et_night-oasis[1920x1920].jpg?forceSize=false&forceAspectRatio=true&useTrim =true
Second Link: https://besthiking.net/wp-content/up...ferrataset.jpg
This is the best style of "lanyard and clip" system to buy. You will notice the clip system is like recommended above and there is the black bag. Inside the black bag is a folded length of flat material that will open up if you fall. Once you fall there is no way to put it back together so if buying used you know if the person had a fall or not.
link for best style of system: https://www.mountaingear360.com/4210...nd-harness.jpg
Each of the major manufacturers have this style of system which is better than the old cord version where it is not always clear if the system has taken a fall or not. Old cord system: https://besthiking.net/wp-content/up...ferrataset.jpg
__________________
Do or do not, there is no try(ing). Yoda
Last edited by Verbier; 31.10.2020 at 16:07.
Reason: typo
| The following 2 users would like to thank Verbier for this useful post: | | 
31.10.2020, 23:52
|  | Member | | Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Baden - East corner of my sofa
Posts: 247
Groaned at 25 Times in 15 Posts
Thanked 226 Times in 131 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear
aaaaand a very quick reminder: the iron rope on the via ferrata is NOT to be used to hang on it. It is just a safety measure, onto which you clip your harness but you should never ever depend on it, nor hang with your weight on it and it is not used to pull yourself up.
| 
01.11.2020, 08:41
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rapperswil
Posts: 3,754
Groaned at 75 Times in 70 Posts
Thanked 4,537 Times in 2,076 Posts
| | Re: where to Rent (or purchase) VIA FERRATA gear | Quote: | |  | | | You have three things to buy. A helmet that fits correctly, a harness that fits you (male/female - weight) and a lanyard/clip system you use to clip onto the safety wires. Also useful are light hiking shoes with some stiffness in the soles that will make the pushing off the metal ladders easier on the feet.
Clearly, I would buy. Via Ferrata is normally free so invest a bit in the equipment that you can sell later if need be.
This is the end clip system you want (first link - photo). It makes the placement and unclipping very easy compared to the old /very old system where you had to manipulate the end (second link - photo). You will get very tired quickly if you use the old system. You may also be given an old system if you rent since there are still some kicking around.
First Link: https://images.internetstores.de/pro...et_night-oasis[1920x1920].jpg?forceSize=false&forceAspectRatio=true&useTrim =true
Second Link: https://besthiking.net/wp-content/up...ferrataset.jpg
This is the best style of "lanyard and clip" system to buy. You will notice the clip system is like recommended above and there is the black bag. Inside the black bag is a folded length of flat material that will open up if you fall. Once you fall there is no way to put it back together so if buying used you know if the person had a fall or not.
link for best style of system: https://www.mountaingear360.com/4210...nd-harness.jpg
Each of the major manufacturers have this style of system which is better than the old cord version where it is not always clear if the system has taken a fall or not. Old cord system: https://besthiking.net/wp-content/up...ferrataset.jpg | | | | | Also check if the system comes with a screw-gate carabiner to attach it to your harness. Some do, some don't but need one (like the first example), and some don't need one (like the second example, where the attachment loop is big enough to use a larks-foot (/cow-hitch/larks head) attachment) - but in all cases, a screw-gate carabiner is easier.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 04:30. | |