Aidan

User Need Statement:

Aidan needs a means to retrieve carabiners when he cannot finish a climb or needs to bail due to bad weather.

User Background:

• Aidan has been climbing for 3 years.

• He primarily participates in bouldering and sport climbing.

• He participates in night climbing where he sets up spotlights and wears a headlamp.

• He enjoys trying challenging routes and pushing himself to improve. 

User Pain Points:

•  Carrying heavy gear around.

  • Bouldering pads are bulky and unwieldy. 

• Has forgotten to carry pads.

• Has had holds break while climbing. 

• Has had difficulty retrieving carabiners and quickdraws when he can't finish a climb. 

  • Doesn't want to lose the carabiners and waste the money. 

  • His friend had to use a stick and tape to retrieve a quickdraw. 

  • It is dangerous to downclimb when can't finish a climb if he isn't clipped in. 

• Wanting to descend because of a time crunch, but not being able to. 

Insights:

• Aidan said that a climber may be in a situation where they need to retrieve a carabiner 20-30% of the time they are climbing, but it varies greatly depending on the climber and the types of routes they are attempting. 

• The interview with Aidan reaffirmed that a method to retrieve carabiners is a compelling need.

•  Aidan was not particularly concerned with the weight of the device. Since he does lead climbing, he already carries a lot of gear and is not too worried about adding a little bit more.