Short Guys Beta Works (2025)

02/10/2025

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our videos:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

While I look at a lot of different metrics when choosing to buy a tent (peak height, length, water pressure test results, etc.), once I have made the purchase, there are a few I want to be able to find at a glance so that I can choose from amongst my various tents as I select one for a particular trip. Here's what I mark on my tent stuff sacks to make this easier.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

We do YouTube Shorts like this, short films of our family adventures, and plenty of how-to and educational videos to help you and your family get outside!

This specific video can also be found YouTube at: https://youtube.com/shorts/sphy8bYwu_A

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Music is "Folded Hands” by Kylie Dailey

29/09/2025

Find the full length video, here:
https://youtu.be/R6VTEc8toVI

When moving quickly through moderate terrain, we might be using the rope but not be using standard climbing anchors. When we aren't pitching it out, we can still have a climbing fall that might require us to escape the belay in order to hold our partner in place while we render aid. The full video gives three examples of how we can do that when we are using terrain or body belays by anchoring to the principles of any belay escape.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

To subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

For more information on this topic, go to:
https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/all-blogs/0260unconventionalbelayescapes

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Short Guys Beta Works YouTube channel. https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Again, find the full video, here:
https://youtu.be/R6VTEc8toVI

25/09/2025

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our videos:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

Some climbers love BOA lacing systems - using a cord and a dial (or two) to tighten the boot as opposed to regular laces. Some climbers don't trust the durability of the system. But if you are one of those climbers that use BOA systems, that ease of adjustment can make protecting our feet when moving downhill as easy as a few cranks of the wheel.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

We do YouTube Shorts like this, short films of our family adventures, and plenty of how-to and educational videos to help you and your family get outside!

This specific video can also be found YouTube at: https://youtube.com/shorts/XYdH1sUoa1Q

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Music is "Another Way” by Nevin

22/09/2025

Find the full length video, here:
https://youtu.be/0OnKXTT62a8

This last spring and summer, my kids finally had the experience, technique, and the physical size to utilize appropriate equipment that allowed them to climb steeper couloirs - snow gullies - safely. But those things are only part of the equation. Being aware of different risks and mitigation tactics are necessary, as well. The full video provides eight tips that helped us, and may help any other new climbers, approach snow climbing season with care.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

To subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

For more information on this topic, go to:
https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/all-blogs/0259couloirtips

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Short Guys Beta Works YouTube channel. https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Again, find the full video, here:
https://youtu.be/0OnKXTT62a8

18/09/2025

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our videos:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

Last week we provided a short about managing slack when providing a lead belay (https://youtube.com/shorts/NO2jBlNbJNo). Well another part of that equation is not wanting to step too far away from the wall, or we may create other problems!

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

We do YouTube Shorts like this, short films of our family adventures, and plenty of how-to and educational videos to help you and your family get outside!

This specific video can also be found YouTube at: https://youtube.com/shorts/9ug3yKTg7QU

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

This video uses clips from two other videos:
Climber pulled in to the wall from Mani the Monkey https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=knEIpKrflSM&t=103
Trad Gear "zippering" from Robbie Phillips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaRfe2wvhpw&t=154s

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Music is "As Time Disappears” by Of Water

15/09/2025

Find the full length video, here:
https://youtu.be/AQ88vwxcP1I

There are occasions when we may want to use the climbing rope as the soft good in our climbing anchor. And there are occasions when we might want the same lead climber to climb multiple pitches in a row (block leading). What happens when we want to do both? The full video walks through that transition when having the rope we need to take up with us being used in the anchor.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

To subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

For more information on this topic, go to:
https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/all-blogs/0258ropeanchorblocklead

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Short Guys Beta Works YouTube channel. https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Again, find the full video, here:
https://youtu.be/AQ88vwxcP1I

11/09/2025

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our videos:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

While it is helpful to have rules-of-thumb about many things in climbing, like slack management when belaying, the realities are usually more complex. From moment to moment on a climb, the risk that is most significant can change. Constantly asking ourselves what is the most significant risk is a key for not only belaying, but climbing safely, overall.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

We do YouTube Shorts like this, short films of our family adventures, and plenty of how-to and educational videos to help you and your family get outside!

This specific video can also be found YouTube at: https://youtube.com/shorts/bpAWbnFcARI

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Music is "Carnaval de Muertos” by Alcones Negros

08/09/2025

Find the full length video, here:
https://youtu.be/BrwrP1frTj8

The Flat Overhand Bend, also called the Offset Overhand Bend, has gotten a bit of a bad reputation, sometimes being called the European Death Knot. But reputable organizations, like the American Mountain Guides Association, actually recommend this knot for double-strand rappels. So, the full video goes deeper into the pros and cons of this knot, how we tie it, when we can use it, and when it might not be as good of a choice.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

To subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

For more information on this topic, go to:
https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/all-blogs/0257flatoverhand

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Short Guys Beta Works YouTube channel. https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Again, find the full video, here:
https://youtu.be/BrwrP1frTj8

04/09/2025

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our videos:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

As we've discussed in a previous short, I do carry a quick link on my bail carabiner for a number of reasons, but to use it to bail from a sport climb isn't one of them. Here's why.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

We do YouTube Shorts like this, short films of our family adventures, and plenty of how-to and educational videos to help you and your family get outside!

This specific video can also be found YouTube at: https://youtube.com/shorts/21uBbciQNm4

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Music is "Biscuits and Gravy” by Will Harrison

01/09/2025

Find the full length video, here:
https://youtu.be/XxTsrOJrIRE

When we have a damaged section of our rope and need to rappel (abseil) off the route, we can either go through a procedure to pass the knot while on a double-strand rappel, or we can switch to a single-strand rappel and avoid the knot pass altogether. But our setups into a single-strand rappel come with tradeoffs. The full video walks through four methods along with some pros and cons for each.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

To subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

For more information on this topic, go to:
https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/all-blogs/0256damagedroperappels

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Short Guys Beta Works YouTube channel. https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Again, find the full video, here:
https://youtu.be/XxTsrOJrIRE

28/08/2025

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all of our videos:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

When we are rappelling off of two ropes, we need to identify the pull strand and the rappel strand at each transition and then remember that designation when we reach the next rappel station. This simple trick can help us keep the full strand identified, even if we should forget.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

We do YouTube Shorts like this, short films of our family adventures, and plenty of how-to and educational videos to help you and your family get outside!

This specific video can also be found YouTube at: https://youtube.com/shorts/2OSl6xT48g4

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Music is "The Adjuster” by American Legion

25/08/2025

Find the full length video, here:
https://youtu.be/TeAkEGVNIrs

Because our entire family of four are climbers (to varying degrees), we have climbed as a team of four, on occasion. This is an unusual occurrence for most climbers, but for families with two kids of similar age, it happens fairly regularly. The same methods that can efficiently get a family of four up a multi-pitch route can get any other four-person team up a route when splitting the team into two twosomes is not an option.

A video can introduce concepts and even provide tutorials, but it cannot cover all of the variable situations and context of outdoor environments. Learn about something here, but then seek qualified instruction to master it.

To subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortGuysBetaWorks?sub_confirmation=1

For more information on this topic, go to:
https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/all-blogs/02554personclimbingteam

To see all of our video and blog content, including gear lists, trip itineraries, links to the equipment we carry with us, and our additional thoughts on all of it, you can visit: https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the Short Guys Beta Works YouTube channel. https://www.shortguysbetaworks.com/disclaimerandcopyright

Again, find the full video, here:
https://youtu.be/TeAkEGVNIrs

Short Guys Beta Works