"Leader or Follower" v.s. "Yours or Mine"
Here's a mindset shift that will slim down your multipitch rack:
Stop thinking about gear as mine and yours. Instead, think about it as the leader's kit and the follower's kit.
The leader needs the belay device for bringing up the second. The follower needs the lead belay device. The rack belongs with whoever is leading the next pitch. The follower might have the team knife, rappel cord, or some other emergency items. Even jackets don't necessarily belong to one person all day. If the follower will spend a longer time standing at belays, maybe they wear the warmer jacket while the leader carries the windbreaker.
You're not two independent climbers climbing the same route. You're one team moving efficiently together.
I also like that this mindset encourages you to go through all the items you are bringing as a team, having to explain what the item will be used for, and remove any unnecessary items.
In our latest YouTube video, we share a follow-along for an entire 5-pitch route, explaining dozens of little decisions and tactics like this. We also go into ways to minimize changeover time between pitches while doing a bit of pre-work while your partner is still climbing. Once again, it is about thinking as a team! How can you be useful and make logistical progress, even if you are on belay? Efficient multipitch climbing is mostly about eliminating moments where both climbers are waiting.
If you're looking to make your days in the wall a little smoother, I think you'll enjoy this video.
>> Watch the full video on YouTube
