How many quickdraws should I carry for sport climbing?

A standard sport climbing rack is 12-16 quickdraws. Most single-pitch sport routes in the UK have 6-10 bolts. Always carry 2-4 more quickdraws than the route requires, plus anchor draws. Check the guidebook for the exact number of bolts on your route.

What is typical bolt spacing?

Typical bolt spacing is 2-3 metres on sport routes. Steeper routes may have closer spacing (1.5-2m) for safety, while easier slab routes may have wider spacing (3-4m). Routes at UK venues tend to be somewhat spaced compared to European sport crags.

Should I use alpine draws or regular quickdraws?

Regular quickdraws are fine for straight single-pitch routes. Alpine draws (extended slings with carabiners) are better for wandering routes or multi-pitch climbs as they reduce rope drag. They are lighter but slightly harder to clip quickly.

CampCalcs

Quickdraw Calculator

Calculate quickdraw requirements based on route length and bolt spacing for sport climbing.

Route Height

Total height of the route

Bolt Spacing

Average distance between bolts

Climb Style

Extra Draws (Spares)

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates the number of quickdraws needed based on route height and bolt spacing.

Formula

Bolts on route = Route height / Bolt spacing (rounded up)

Quickdraws needed = Bolts + Anchor draws + Spares

Sport climbing routes typically have 2 anchor bolts at the top requiring their own quickdraws or a dedicated anchor setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Rope Length Calculator

Calculate the minimum rope length needed for your climb and rappel.

Belay Calculator

Calculate belay forces, friction and holding power for different belay devices.

Knot Strength Calculator

Compare knot types and calculate retained rope strength after tying.

Fall Factor Calculator

Calculate fall factor, impact force and energy from fall distance and rope out.

Anchor Calculator

Calculate load distribution across multiple anchor points at different angles.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify conditions and use proper safety equipment outdoors.