Gear
Photo: toys by Tristan Reid
Canyoning involves using gear. Dah! 😆 But what gear do you need? There is vast array of equipment and technical gear, and what you choose to use depends on your style of canyoning, planned adventure, exposure to risk, frequency of use and budget.
There are many factors that influence the selection of equipment and clothing required for a canyoning trip. Some of these factors include:
type of canyon (wet, dry, vertical, undulating, cold).
technical difficulty (height, water flow, temperature, altitude).
techniques required (pre-existing, anchors, ghosting, single rope, high water flows).
participants skill level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, experience on certain types only).
participants ability to handle adverse conditions (temperature, altitude, duration, length).
location (close to population, remote, foreign, access to and for emergency resources).
frequency of use (a few times a year or every weekend)
The Equipped Canyoner
A picture is worth a 1000 words. Our thanks to legends Sam and Rob, authors of the Canyoning Around Victoria guidebook (an excellent resource and only $60), for allowing us to share this diagram detailing the recommended set up for aquatic canyoning.
Note: does not include group gear
Detailed gear guides
Confused about what kind of gear to buy/use? Our canyoning friends have published some great online guides.
Mountain Equipment: The Ultimate Canyoning Gear Guide
Fat Canyoners: Canyoning equipment checklist: What gear do you need?
KiwiCanyons: Gear guide
You can also find great advice on gear required in the Canyoning Technical Manual and Professional Handbook Canyoning textbooks.
Where to buy?
Canyoning gear can be purchased at most outdoor stores that sell climbing gear. Some retailers cater better to the needs of canyoners than others.
Here are just some of the places (in no particular order) you can buy canyoning toys (be kind to your credit card 💳):
Canyon Gear
Specialist Australian online canyon gear retailer. Background in classic Australian style canyoning (light weight, low flow).
canyongear.com.au
Adventure Base
Climbing and canyoning gear retailer based in Katoomba. Background in aquatic high flow canyoning.
adventurebase.com.au
Climbing Anchors
Specialist climbing retailer who also cater for canyoning and caving.
climbinganchors.com.au
Mountain Equipment
These cool cats cater for climbers and mountaineers but also carry a modest range of canyoning gear
Summit Gear
Retailer of climbing and canyoning gear, and manufacturer of canyoning backpacks designed for Australian canyons.
Access Gear
A New Zealand manufacturer from across the ditch who make great canyoning gear loved by kiwis and aussies alike.
Mont
Australian designer and manufacturer of outdoor clothing and gear with a background in climbing and mountaineering.
Bogong
Melbourne’s most trusted outdoor retailer with a great climbing and mountaineering range.
K2 Base Camp
These Queenslanders have a great range of climbing can canyoning gear.
Paddy Pallin
Outdoor retailer with a limited range of climbing gear.
paddypallin.com.au
CanyonZone
A European retailer specialising in canyoning.
canyonzone.com
BJR Climbing Equipment
Based in Blackheath and focused on climbing gear but stocks a limited range of canyoning specific gear.
bigjohn.com.au
Aspiring Safety
New Zealander manufacture of technical gear and retailer.