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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cheapest one Baechli sport is over 100 chf
https://www.baechli-bergsport.ch/Kle...eigsets-De.htm


on Bergzeit they start at 60:
https://www.bergzeit.ch/klettersteig...rt.price%3AASC


similar on Campz
https://www.campz.ch/outdooraktivita...rsteigset.html


disclaimer: I am doing climbing not ferratas, so I am not judging the equipment



Baechli is Swiss shop (if you want to support local economy) with online and classic shop, I prefer them to Transa. Bergzeit and Campz are not, but price includes Swiss MwSt.

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.

I would go to Transa or Bächli:

https://www.transa.ch/c/10668548/har...=via%20ferrata

https://www.baechli-bergsport.ch/Kle...eigsets-De.htm

Only buy 2nd hand or rent if you think life has no value. What you might save can go for a coffin.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.