Inserts for mountaineering

Embedded elements

— "Passive protection" (nuts, stoppers, hexes) are anchors placed into cracks and crevices of the rock in a way that they wedge under load and provide a reliable intermediate point without drilling and bolts. Their value lies in being lightweight, straightforward, and not requiring moving parts: a correctly placed nut often holds very securely and can be removed and carried further after passing. Compared to similar task-based active gear — cams, the passive elements are usually lighter and cheaper, work better in "tapering" cracks, and are less dependent on mechanics, but require more precise placement and installation skills. Examples include protection on a trad route, setting a station with two nuts in different cracks, and climbing a rock ridge where there are no fixed points.