The climber straps and pads should be inspected for ?

• A. Color fading
• B. Worn stitching
• C. Excessive wear, worn stitching and damaged or missing rivets
• D. Cracks in rivets

Answer: (C)

Safety-first inspection focuses on signs that could compromise the strength and integrity of the gear. The best indicators are excessive wear, worn stitching, and damaged or missing rivets. Excessive wear means the material has thinned or degraded and could fail under load. Worn stitching shows seams could come apart, freeing the strap or pad. Damaged or missing rivets disrupts essential connections and can lead to components pulling away or collapsing. Color fading is cosmetic and doesn’t reliably reflect structural safety. If you spot any of these issues, stop using the gear and replace or repair it according to the manufacturer’s guidance.