[kilgore1080]

Now before I get spanked with the "use the f%&*$n' search!" response I have but have only found some pretty old stuff so thought I'd post a newer one.

In short, off to Japan in a few weeks and intend to do some climbing while there (probably about 4 days worth), specifically bouldering. So, I need some insurance recommendations if anyone has any?

BMC stuff seems pretty pricey and I've tried a few places from moneysupermarket but feels like 

[Paul B]

Snowcard and the BMC are the usual suggestions.

[slackline]

What Paul B said.

Now before I get spanked with the "use the f%&*$n' search!" response I have but have only found some pretty old stuff so thought I'd post a newer one.

Bear in mind that the site search isn't that good and you should use Google to search the site (second item).

[IanP]

I use Columbus Direct - only a small uplift on there normal prices for climbing (about £3 extra for a week in Europe).  Don't seem to cover over 4000m but fine for climbing - though they do have 2 categories called 'Rock Climbing with Tools', 'Rock Climbing without Tools'  .  I just select both and it doesn't seem to impact the price.

[slackline]

....they do have 2 categories called 'Rock Climbing with Tools', 'Rock Climbing without Tools'  .  I just select both and it doesn't seem to impact the price.

I don't climb with tools, all my mates are sound (just about!). 

[Climbapaedia]

I'm heading to Japan in July (for a wedding) but will need to escape the city and get some climbing in. Any info you have or feedback after your trip will be gratefully received.

Have a good trip,

Ollie

[kilgore1080]

Cheers for the tip Slack, I will make sure I do that in the future.

On the insurance thingy, Colombus Direct (Thanks IanP) seem to be pretty good, £46, it would have been cheaper but I thought it wise to declare my recently knacked ankle as I could easily imagine how far I'd have got with a potential claim if I'd not told them about it.

Ollie - Jap wedding should be fun, July will be fookin' hot there though, humidity is regularly around 100% followed by evening downpours. I'll post some pics etc on here when I get onto a comp once we've been but in the meantime try these:

There's an excellent article on the other place about bouldering in Ogawayama by Jonas Wiklund: http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=264

His blog also has some good info on it:
http://thousand-cranes.blogspot.com/

There's also this very useful site on Ogawayama (mainly routes etc):
http://www.ogawayama.com/

Some damn useful info here too:
http://www.tokyoclimbing.com/index.shtml

List of climbing walls in Japan (in case you can't escape the city) but a lot of them don't have air con so will probably be swealtering:
http://www17.big.or.jp/~yuuko/climbing/gym/gym0-e.html

[Lund]

I needed insurance to go climbing with an infant (or rather, I want insurance for the infant to not climb, but I want to go climbing); I found this thread but it turns out a lot of things have changed.  Surprise surprise.  Snowcard, columbus direct all dead ends.

The BMC's website was very confusing, and the terms and conditions were confusing too, but a quick email resulted in a positive message: just add the infant's existence and DOB as a note and they are covered free of charge.

All very good.  Hopefully useful to other people.  Other insurance may be available (but I couldn't easily find it.)

Edited email below:

Hi,

We can confirm that Children under the age of 2 years old are covered free of charge with BMC Travel Insurance. You can buy a ‘Couples’ policy. To add your child, just provide us with the name and date of birth typing the details into the ‘Comments’ box on Step 7 of the online application.

Please feel free to ring me if you have any difficulties.

Kind regards,


Date: 10 April 2014 18:22:59 BST
Subject: Babies and BMC travel insurance policies
Hi,
 
I’d like to understand about cover for a baby under the travel insurance policies.  I understand that on the website it’s possible to get a quote for 2.5 * the single adult fee for a family; so if a single Rock policy cost £100 for example (it’s slightly more than this, but to make my example easier), the family of two adults and one four month baby could travel for £250 and be fully insured.
 
I’m querying this because the baby won’t be climbing, so the “half a rock policy” seems punitive – we’d pay less extra for the baby if we werent’ climbing, and on many other competitors offerings children under two “go free” on travel insurance.
 
On this website:
 
https://www.know-insurance.co.uk/travel/mountaineering-rock-climbing
 
It claims that “Children under 2 years old are covered free with an insured adult”.  Unfortunately, I can’t find this definition in the policy document that I downloaded from the website, so I’m questioning this statement’s accuracy!
 
Can you let me know please?  Thanks a lot.
 


 

Jim Krawiecki
MST Administrator

Tel:    0161 445 6111
Direct:    0161 438 3319
Fax:    0161 445 4500
Web:    www.thebmc.co.uk

[nai]

Other insurance may be available (but I couldn't easily find it.)

The cheapest family policy I could find recently that covered us all properly was with Sports Cover Direct
.

Although we didn't test it so no idea what it's like in case of a claim.

[Luthor]

I used these recently, cheap but didn't have to test the cover either:

https://www.clubdirect.com/

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Be aware if you've previously used Columbus direct, they have removed all forms of climbing with the exception of indoor from their cover. I noticed they had removed 'rock climbing with tools' and 'rock climbing without tools' from their lists, and called them to confirm. Stupid as they do have optional cover for both winter and 'adventure' sports, most of which are much higher risk than bouldering/sports climbing. 

Guess I'll have to try the 'Club Direct' folks this year.

[Jaspersharpe]

Too many punters claiming after getting injured in Font I reckon.

[tregiffian]

We Elderly Chums found Sports Cover Direct very accommodating re medical issues though none proved a problem in the event.

[Ru]

Worth rechecking the BMC cover as we are now using a new underwriter.

As a general consideration, all providers of climbing insurance will have prices that vary over the years as they get claims and the underwriters raise the cost of cover. A provider that was cheap a few years ago may no longer be so cheap if they have had a bad period claims-wise.

[mrjonathanr]

Austrian Alpine Club helped someone I spoke to today and my word they did a good job by all accounts. And it was needed, big time. I'll be defo considering them in future.

[tomtom]

I noticed they had removed 'rock climbing with tools' and 'rock climbing without tools' from their lists,

Interesting how the social make up of your climbing group appears to be part of the insurers considerations... those darned actuaries..

[Richie Crouch]

I used to always use holidayinsuranceweb (never had to use it in 6 years/many trips) but I think they may have become part of Columbus. Sad to hear they have changed their policies if so as it used to be around £8 a week for cover!

[T_B]

Dogtag are worth checking out

[cofe]

Just wondered if anyone had any updates on this? Looking at family cover for a week in Font at Easter. I'm in the BMC, but the rest of crew would have to join which bumps the price up.

Ta. xx

[dave]

HolidaySafe is worth a look

[nai]

Bought an annual policy last year and these were cheapest offering climbing cover. Haven't tested with a claim so no idea how that stacks up but price wise they were the best option i could find

https://www.clubdirect.com/

[bigironhorse]

I have used SportsCover Direct in the past, though ive never had to claim so I dont know how easy that would be. Seemed pretty cheap though. I think I bought a policy that lasted for a year and could cover up to 60 days in europe and morocco. Seem to remember restriction on crossing crevassed areas and above 4000m but i think they have options which cover that too.

[cofe]

Bought an annual policy last year and these were cheapest offering climbing cover. Haven't tested with a claim so no idea how that stacks up but price wise they were the best option i could find

https://www.clubdirect.com/

Decent prices, but can't work out if bouldering is 'Rock climbing with tools', 'without tools', or 'Climbing up to 4000m'. Tempting to just get annual policy with though, and add MTB cover.

[ERU]

I use Austrain Alpine Club.