Some areas in the Southeast (particularly the rare breed of bolted routes you occasionally find in North Carolina), are known for having insanely high first bolts – this past spring it seemed like every thing we wanted to hop on has had 1st bolts in the 20-30 foot range. However, in recent months, Steve and I started to become increasingly annoyed at our compact pole’s limitations. We were the envy of our friends at the crag – no matter where we were climbing, we always had a stick clip ready and available. The downside however was that it was made out of tent poles…so when fully extended to use for a really high bolt, it would bend and wobble all over the place, often causing frustration for the end user as well as a few laughs from those watching (which in turn usually brought about more frustration for the end user…). The great thing about it was that it was made out of tent poles, so it was not only lightweight, but was collapsible enough to slide into one of the outside pockets on my hubby’s pack. The lucky Crag-Daddy had an eager assistant to help with assembly.įor a long time we used the Epic Sport stick clip. Though some (usually trash-talking novices or hard-core trad climbers) might scoff at the stick clip and call it cheating, most climbers are in agreement that the stick clip is an easy and convenient way to mitigate risk. This nifty apparatus does the dirty work of clipping the first bolt for you.

That’s where the stick-clip comes into play. Usually the first bolt is in the vicinity of 12-15 feet off the ground – not death-defying territory by any means, but depending on the difficulty of the moves to reach the bolt as well as the landing zone at the base, a poorly timed fall could very easily result in broken ankles, wrists, tailbones, etc. Until the leader reaches the 1st bolt of a climb, there is no established anchor point, and therefore any fall would be a groundfall. If said climber falls, the highest bolt clipped will serve as an anchor by which the belayer is able to “catch” the falling climber. The first climber (leader) ties into the rope at the base, and climbs the route, clipping their rope into the bolt via a removable quickdraw that the leader also carries with him/her. They are constructed from materials with low electrical resistance such as solid copper and are insulated.C still thinks the old stick clip is tastier.Ī route is designated as “sport” if the line is protected by bolts every so many feet all the way to the top. Plier clips can be used for jumper cables, battery chargers and welding applications. They can also be referred to as plier clips, plier style clips or battery clamps. They are also utilised by hobbyists to hold things together for gluing or modelling.What are automotive clips?Larger sized crocodile clips are typically used in the automotive industry. They are often used in educational settings to help demonstrate light bulbs, circuitry and batteries.Crocodile clips and alligator clips can also be used for holding identification badges onto lanyards, or for dentistry bibs. They are incredibly useful in laboratories or experimental circuits.

Clips can be used to connect two wires or to connect one lead directly to a device. Gold plating wears fairly easily, so you should only use this type of clip in situations where a large number of cycles are not required.Copper crocodile clips are suited to applications that require excellent electrical conduction.What are crocodile clips and alligator clips used for?Crocodile clips and alligator clips are most commonly used for making temporary electrical connections. Gold plated steel crocodile clips are typically more expensive than other steel counterparts but ideal for applications that require a low level of resistance and a high level of conductivity. However, stainless steel can be a difficult material to solder, which you may need to take into consideration when choosing the right crocodile clip for your application.Nickel plated steel is also suited to a wide range of industries and (like stainless steel) provides you with excellent corrosion resistance. Discover more about the different types of crocodile clips and their uses in our crocodile clips guide.What are the benefits of crocodile clips made from different materials?Crocodile clips can be constructed from a variety of metals, but the most common are steel (stainless, nickel plated or gold plated) and copper.Stainless steel is incredibly hard wearing and resistant to corrosion, making it a popular choice for crocodile clips. Crocodile clips are typically serrated and have small teeth. Crocodile Clips Crocodile clips, also known as alligator clips, are spring loaded clips made from metal.

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