The Salathe Headwall on El Capitan, the North Six Shorter in Indian Creek, and Dog Leg in Joshua Tree are all beautiful routes that require just one look before you get a desperate desire to climb them. Cracks are by far the most aesthetic lines in climbing
Crack climbing is beautiful but it also hurts. Anyone who has crack climbed has gobied their hands. The small abrasions on the back of your hands or fingers stem from the sharpness of the rock and systematic wear from jamming.
One of the best ways to keep your hands from getting too worked is to make a good pair of tape gloves. Though the old school folks declare tape gloves as “adhesive etriers”, modern climbers enjoy not tearing their hands apart every time they stick them in a crack.
To make a good tape glove make sure your hands are clean and dry.
Tear off a number of strips in the correct length. Remember that you want the tape tight but not restricting.
Use good athletic tape. Some people prefer Mueller tape while others prefer a regular variety. Experiment a little to find which tape works for you.
To make tape gloves, wrap a strip around each finger and than a couple around the wrist so that they overlap.
Make sure the tape is flat on each hand.
Carefully cut them off after use. A well made pair of tape gloves can last a few days of thrashing.
Now that you’ve got some solid tape gloves, head out to your nearest Touchstone gym and get on those cracks. Yosemite season is just around the corner!
