UKC

Turns out this is a hot subject. 

How many nut keys for a multipitch route? 

*Poll

While definitely not essential, I've set off on way too many pitches with swing leads, and said 'oh fudge I forgot to give them the nut key'. 1 hour* later, they finally fiddle out that bit of gear with their bare hands. 

*minor exaggeration possibly.

pi

Always carry one when leading. Stops the second getting your crag swag.

At Swanage, you don't lead the top pitches without a nut key - you never know when you have to cut steps on the top out.

This. I've a mate who on a very runout exit at Baggy point hammered his in as a shit warthog, tying it off and clipping it.

I always carry a nut key on lead,  essential for cleaning placements on mountain routes,  assisting threading slings and removing that awkward wire that snagged somewhere when there's a better option but just won't budge!! As said above,  also saves the issue for forgetting to swap it over each pitch if you've got one each.

So is your answer in this case, ‘two, plus one hammer’?

Surprised at the result! 

I always thought it was the seconds job.

Learned something new today.

Me too. Where are all these leaders carrying nut keys?

Maybe both climbers should also carry their own rack in case they forget to swap that over too.

On multi pitch I almost always choose to carry a nut key as a leader... can be useful for threads and cleaning placements but also if you get gear stuck but not secure. 

Single pitch I will often have one just because it's on my harness 

Can be handy for ground-up new routing, less essential for repeating stuff though I did have to get one passed up recently at Tynrich Slabs.

I did wonder if you'd contribute to this thread Robert. I'm curious as to whether you've ever met up with a climbing partner who also doesn't own a nut key, and whether a lot of gear was lost that day?

I'd normally take 2 to the crag. Just incase the 2nd (s) forgot theirs. Gotta look after your rack yourself. 

I'm sure it's happened (no nut key, not the gear loss), though I can't recall an occasion off hand. Maybe I should buy one (I've been without for a while).

I'll be doing that tomorrow.

If you're planning to buy one I'd really recommend one on a leash - it saves a lot of faff. https://www.tradeinn.com/trekkinn/en/wildcountry-pro-key-with-leash/444623/... 

Yes, my regular climbing partner has that one - excellent, but I wish they had a broader blunt end for bashing with a hand when a stone is not to hand.

I had one of those but some toerag nicked it.

Just left with the rusty one I found in the sea in Pembrokeshire (insert sadface emoji here)

I prefer to have a nut key on lead because it's a bit boring when you get gear stuck in a non-placement by accident.

I'm also very forgetful though, which often determines the answer without further discussion.

Try the DMM ones - they have a rubber section over the handle to help with bashing:  https://dmmwales.com/climbing-products/nuts/nutbuster

I used mine as a sky hook once and aided on it. Not recommended but it did work. I've mused with the idea of using it as an emergency piton too but I didn't try that yet. Hope I'll never  be in a position where that's the best available play!

Surely also gardening? 

I've used that one too. I think you really need a flat end about the size of a 50p coin minimum for manual bashing.

Isn't that what a big hex is for?

Always have a nut key with me, seconding or leading, seconding; for obvious reasons, leading; very useful for threads or cleaning.