A buying guide for Bags
Rated
Designed to meet Lifting Standards. Rated bags have a Safe Working Load (SWL) which indicates the safe force that can exerted to lift / suspend or lower a given mass. This is a calculation of the Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS) divided by its safety factor (SF); which is usually ten to one (10:1) for lifting.
Route setters
- Specifically designed for climbing wall route setting
- Rated
- Reinforced base
- Side pockets
Non-rated
Everything else. So:
Waterproof
- Taped seams
- Fold and Roll closure
Rescue
- 'Rescue' logo'd
- Brightly coloured
- Documentation pocket
- Separate compartments
- Carry handles
Kit
- Large capacity
Tool
- Small capacity
- Clic-clac express closure
- External gear loops for connection to a harness
Rope
- Large capacity
- Attachment point for rope
Ballast
- Designed to hold sand bags for to provide weight in a climbing wall environment
Size is normally expressed in litres. A 50l bag will have ample space for one set of rope access kit or a 200m low stretch rope and some rigging gear.