Traditional climbing protection centers on placing removable gear into natural rock features as you climb. You carry and place pieces like nuts, cams, and hexes in cracks, pockets, and other features, and then clip your rope into them with quickdraws. These pieces stay in place to catch you if you fall, but they aren’t fixed to the rock by someone else and can be removed or moved as you continue or retreat. This approach depends on the climber’s ability to read the rock and place solid protection wherever the route warrants, rather than relying on pre-placed bolts or fixed anchors installed by others. Quickdraws are used to link the rope to the protection, not as the primary protection themselves. That’s why this statement best describes traditional protection.

Any fall-arrest harness relies on its load-bearing parts to stay strong under stress. When those parts are damaged, their ability to safely hold and distribute forces is compromised, so the harness can fail in a fall. Broken fibers mean the strands inside the straps are no longer reliable; broken webbing shows the fabric itself is compromised; and damaged leather components reduce the strength where leather is used to reinforce or connect parts. Because any one of these failures can lead to a dangerous collapse of the system, the harness must be removed from service immediately if such damage is observed. Regular checks help catch these issues before use.

Gates should face outward, away from your body. This keeps the gate out of the line of contact with the belt and any rope or gear you’re clipping, reducing the chance that the gate could be pried open or snagged during movement or loading. It also makes it easy to visually confirm the gate is closed and locked. When the gate faces inward toward the body, clothing or rope can press on the gate or spring, increasing the risk of accidental opening or snagging under load. So orienting the gate outward provides a safer, more reliable connection.

Direct sunlight exposes climbing hardware to UV light and heat, which break down the polymers and coatings used in gear like slings, plastic housings, rubbers, and lubricants. UV rays cause photo-oxidation, making materials weaker, brittle, or cracked over time, while heat from the sun speeds up aging and degradation. Because of this, storing gear in direct sun can shorten its lifespan and compromise safety. Sunlight might dry gear, but the long-term damage to materials is the real risk, and it can also fade colors or wear finishes. So the best answer is that direct sunlight can degrade materials.