Climbing/ Mountaineering Equipment (buying/ selling - anyone?)

Dear friends,

As you all know, it is difficult to find quality climbing/ mountaineering equipment in India . My intension in starting this thread is to float/ invite members to share information regarding:

1. Good places to buy climbing hardware/ clothing/ tents, sleeping gear etc. in India particularly (Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta...).

2. Anyone interested in selling his old gear? Please do float the information along with equipment details, current condition, expected price, mode of payment required and how to contact.

3. Any one stumbling across good equipment shop? Please do post a message regarding the address of the shop, person to contact, contact phone no., prices and any special remarks.

4. Anyone interested in buying old/ secondhand climbing gear? Please float info on the thread and who knows may be you will get lucky.

5. Sharing information and technical information/ experience on climbing gear and equipment.

6. Need suggestion on buying climbing gear? Please do ask on this thread, it is being started for you guys/gals.

Hope this thread should become a great help for lot of trekkers/ mountaineers alike.

Welcoming you all to the forum,

Have a safe and enjoyable climbing,

Rahul.

In bangalore, I get good gears from the shop called "Ozone".
For details check:
http://www.ozoneindia.com/

In Mumbai contact Avi Industries at Matunga BB (C. Rly). They have a very good collection of mountain gear for the typical Indian budget. I know them for twenty years now, and both the owners are mountaineers themselves and very reliable.

Their web-site is http://www.aviindustries.com/

MOUNTCRAFT of DEHRADUN and STIKAGE of DELHI are useless and sub-std. companies.

NEVER try any gear from them.

I have purchased some good mountaineering hardware from Great Outdoors, Thane, Mumbai.

They have a great stock of Imported carabiners of Leki, Black Diamond and Pitzel. They also have other mountaineering gear both imported and Indian.

Their address is as follows:

Great Outdoor
Prashant Nagar
Wadarwadi Naupada
Thane-400602
Tel:509299

I had purchased one climbing seat harness from Stikage. However, it is regretted to inform that the quality of the gear was not upto the mark. I could not surmon courage to use it in actual climbing situation till date.

strongly suggesting to stick to masters of the game: Black Diamond & Pitzel, for it is your life we are talking about.

Rahul.

hi rahul....
nice initiative.......
there are some other indian company making farely good roocksack, sleeping bags, tents etc....viz. Alpine and Ubac.(dont knowthe site as well)

we have already got some nice info.
hope to see some info about resold foreign kits...... heard thet those are sold in some areas of delhi at a really low cost??? is it true?? can anyone give some more ideas abt 2nd hand foreign kits thats are affordable.!!!!

keep it up.

babu

I have purchased good quality sleeping bags from shops in Dharmshala. The shops are located on the main road that goes to the Dalai Lama Temple.

As far as I remember there are at least 10 shops where one can find second hand North Face Down Jackets (600 to 800 fill goose down) between Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 2500/- . Bargaining is possible.

You can also get North Face Tents (3 person, 4 person) ranging from Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 6000/-. These shops deal in cash and do not accept (most of them) Credit cards.

You can get really cheap Goose Down jackets (second hand) at Siliguri and Dhulabadi at Nepal Border. Especially, during start of winters one can get high class mountaineering jackets at throw away prices. Heavy barganing possible. But stuff may need through dry cleaning prior to use as these are droped by climbers trying to avoid shipping cost while return journey.

Will post more information in due course of time.

Rahul.

As far as crampons are concerned I have designed my own based on the Black Diamond Sabretooth 12 point Crampons. Even got them made from 3 mm thick stainless steel sheet (Initially I used 4.2 mm thick sheet but found that firstly, it was too heavy secondly, the bending of the crampon points was very difficult, moreover this thickness was over designed, so I reduced the thickness to 3 mm, which is more than sufficient for the task at hand).

The cost of getting it made works out to be roughly Rs 1200/- to 1500/- (for the material and fabrication) straps and buckles extra.

The material of construction should be Molybdenum stainless steel or Stainless Steel 304/ 304L (The first grade is more suitable but the second grade can be easily found). As the material is stainless steel rusting or corrosion problem is totally eliminated.

Will forward the design drawing (Aspect ratio 1:1) to any one who cannot afford the original stuff (costing around 5000/-) and wouldn't mind working for their self made 12 point crampons.

Rahul.

Dear Friend,

you can order quality mountaineering equipment and hardware from Black Diamond directly via their web site: www.bdel.com

There is a special section called 'web specials' containing cosmetic seconds and phased out/ stock clearing items. Dont' forget to check this out as the cost is heavily discounted and one can afford this stuff even with shipping charges.

The equipment is delivered by UPS worldwide and is extremely prompt in delivery. I got my shipment of head lamp and catalogues in three straight days.

Take care and stay connected,

Rahul

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I went to check out M/s. AVI Industries here in Mumbai. Hey they have really grown up.

They have the latest mountaineering equipment (Imported - Lucky), all of excellent quality.

Screw carabiners, pear shape carabiners, Jumars, quick draws, fig. of 8, seat harnesses, slings, Imported ropes, two/ three/ four person tents, backpacks and guess what High quality Ice axes are due to arrive next week. All these are available at resonable prices. Highly recommended.

The web site is : www.AVIIndustries.com

Have enjoyble and safe climbing,

Rahul.

Hello Friends,

I had recently been to mountaineering and climbing equipment shop named MOUNTCRAFT in Dheradun. Some of the equipment they have is good like sleeping mats, sleeping bags, carabiners, mountain clothing, shoes etc at a resonable price. The clothing and most of the shoes are Indian made. The wind and water resistant suit is of good quality and highly resonably priced (Rs. 550/- to 750/- depending upon quality).

They could not offer any Imported Ice axe at the time and the cost they were asking seemed to be on the higher side. Not willing to bargain at any cost.

Rahul

Friends do check out the web specials of the Black Diamond's Official Web site. The site is completely rewamped and there are a lot of good quality equipment on sale here. The website is : www.bdel.com

The prices are heavily discounted and I think are resonable for the quality of equipment they offer.

Have fun,

Rahul

Unused slitely old kernmental rope, Indian made (generally used by army),anybody interested let me know.

Chinis headlamp are now available for Rs400 for 7led and Rs500 for 19led. that is very cheep in respect of others.