What Pro is offered? – Test

As a beginning climber, you won't be setting anchors or placing protection. Understanding what it is and learning how to do it, though, will make you a more well-rounded climber. You’ll want to be a proficient sport climber first, and then take classes to learn the proper way to place protection.

Often simply called “pro,” this group of devices is used in trad climbing to secure a climbing rope to the rock. Placed properly in a crack or hole, pro prevents a climber from falling any significant distance. Types of pro include cams, chocks and nuts, often referred to by trade names such as Stoppers, Hexcentrics or Friends. In an earlier era, pitons were often used.

Each of the two basic types of pro comes in a variety of sizes:

Active: These units have movable parts. An example is a spring-loaded camming device (SLCD) that can adapt to fit a variety of cracks. To learn more, see Active Rock Climbing Protection: How to Choose.
Passive: These pieces are made from a single piece of metal and have no movable parts. An example is a Hexcentric nut. To learn more, see Passive Rock Climbing Protection: How to Choose.