Climbing Gear: Active Protection vs. Passive Protection

Bytheundercling March 13, 2014March 31, 2023

Last Updated on: 31st March 2023, 10:57 am

Protection in the rock climbing world refers to cams, nuts, hexes, and the like, and the world of protection can be further categorized into active and passive protection.

The video below gives an overview of active and passive pro:

Pieces of active protection have moving parts. Examples include cams, BallNutz, and Big Bros.

Passive protection does not have moving parts. Pieces of passive pro are wedged into constrictions in the rock. Think of it like a really fat person (the nut or hex) trying to fit through a door (the constriction in the crack). Examples include nuts, hexes, and Tricams.

Active protection (cam on left) vs. passive protection (set of nuts on right)

theundercling

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