Climbers should be inspected for which of the following?

• A. Damage
• B. Wear
• C. Defects
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Climbers inspect gear for anything that could fail under load. Damage includes visible harm like cracks, dents, deformation, or corrosion that weakens the component. Wear refers to material thinning or abrasion from use, such as frayed rope fibers, worn webbing on a harness, or worn areas on carabiners and belay devices. Defects are flaws from manufacturing or hidden faults that can appear as cracks, glazing, or other integrity issues. Because any of these problems can lead to a failure at a critical moment, checking for all three ensures you won’t miss a safety risk, making the all-of-the-above approach the safest choice. If you spot significant damage, excessive wear, or any defect, retire the item and replace or have it professionally inspected.