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Gear I Wish I Had When I Started Indoor Rock Climbing
30
items Walking into a climbing gym for the first time wearing running shoes and chalk-less hands was humbling. I burned through rental fees, destroyed my forearms, and had no clue what to bring. This is everything I figured out over six months of trial and ...
Sections
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Climbing Shoes That Won't Destroy Your Feet on Day One
Chalk and Chalk Bags That Actually Stay Put
Harnesses for Your First Lead or Top Rope Climb
Belay Devices and Carabiners for Safe Starts
Recovery Gear for Hands and Forearms That Give Out
Gym Bag Setup So You Stop Forgetting Stuff
Climbing Shoes That Won't Destroy Your Feet on Day One
My first pair was two sizes too small because some guy on Reddit said they should hurt. Spoiler: blisters don't make you climb better. These are forgiving enough for beginners but still grip like they mean it.
Grab these if you're tired of paying $7 per session for rental shoes that smell like a locker room. The flat sole is forgiving on new feet, and they broke in after about three gym visits. Wish I'd bought them month one instead of month four.
Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoe Review
Lace-up style lets you adjust the fit as your feet swell during longer sessions. Perfect for anyone whose feet run wide. I switched to these after my first pair gave me a blister the size of a nickel on my pinky toe.
Customer reviews for La Sportiva Tarantulace Climbing Shoe
Try these if you want something you can throw on fast between routes. The synthetic upper doesn't stretch out weirdly after a few weeks like leather ones can. My climbing partner wore his for a full year before replacing them.
evolv Defy Lace LV Climbing Shoes - Women's
Keep these on your radar if you have a higher arch. Most beginner shoes feel like cardboard boxes, but these actually follow the shape of your foot. A friend with plantar fasciitis swears by them for gym sessions.
Butora Endeavor Climbing Shoe
Snag a pair if you're on a budget but still want real rubber that sticks. Under $80 and they held up through three months of twice-a-week sessions for me. Solid starter shoe without the starter price guilt.
Mad rock drifter Climbing Shoes | Size 40 Sepatu Panjat
Chalk and Chalk Bags That Actually Stay Put
First time I used loose chalk without a bag, I looked like I'd been fingerprinting at a crime scene. The floor was white. The staff was not amused. Here's what keeps your hands dry without making a mess.
Use this if your hands sweat the second you grab a hold. It's finer than most chalk so it coats evenly and doesn't clump up. One bag lasted me about two months of regular sessions, which felt generous.
Friction Labs® Loose Chalk in New Recyclable Packaging
Toss this in your bag if your gym has a no-loose-chalk policy. You just squeeze it and chalk comes through the fabric. Zero mess, and it fits in any chalk bag without falling out every time you bend over.
Metolius Super Powdered Chalk
The zipper closure is clutch. I used a drawstring bag before this and dumped chalk inside my backpack twice. Clip it to your harness or your belt loop. For anyone who's clumsy, this one forgives you.
Black Diamond Mojo Zip Chalk Bag (New 2019) Astral
Pair this with a waist belt and forget it's there while you climb. The opening is wide enough that you can dip your whole hand in without fishing around. Stiff rim keeps it open when you need it, closed when you don't.
Petzl Saka Chalk Bag Chalk Stripes
Bring this to your first session if you want zero cleanup stress. Roll it between your palms, get perfect coverage, done. My gym actually recommends these for newcomers because they keep the chalk contained.
Reusable Magic Chalk Ball from FrictionLabs
Harnesses for Your First Lead or Top Rope Climb
Borrowed a harness from the rental bin once. The padding was flat, the buckles were sticky, and I spent more time adjusting than climbing. Owning your own changes everything.
Get this as your first harness, period. Four gear loops, adjustable leg loops, and enough padding that you don't feel like you're sitting on a rope. I wore mine for a 45-minute belay session and forgot I had it on.
Black Diamond Momentum Harness - Men's
Try this if you want one harness that works for gym days and the occasional outdoor trip. The double-back buckles adjust fast, and it fits over jeans or leggings without bunching. Sized up one from my waist measurement and it was perfect.
PETZL CORAX Harness
For anyone between sizes who hates that too-tight-or-too-loose feeling. The 3D mesh padding breathes well, which matters more than you'd think after an hour of climbing in a warm gym. Dries fast too if you sweat through it.
Edelrid Jay III medium climbing harness
Swap to this if you share gear with a partner. The slide buckles on the waist and legs make resizing take about ten seconds. My wife and I traded this back and forth for weeks before she finally got her own.
Ophir 4 Slide 2.0 Harness
Worth considering if you're already climbing twice a week and want something that'll last. The construction feels noticeably more durable than entry-level options. Bought mine eight months in and regretted not starting with it.
Black Diamond Solution Guide Harness
Belay Devices and Carabiners for Safe Starts
Dropped $12 on a belay lesson and then realized I needed my own device to actually use what I learned. The gym loaners were scratched to oblivion. These are reliable without being intimidating for new climbers.
Use this if the idea of belaying someone makes your palms sweat (and not from chalk). The assisted braking catches you if you mess up. I practiced on the ground for an hour before my first real belay and this thing gave me actual confidence.
Universal technique for correct use of a belay device.
Keep this as a backup or your main device if you want to learn the fundamentals. No auto-brake means you develop real technique. Lightweight, simple, and about $20. Hard to argue with that for a learning tool.
Black Diamond Black Diamond ATC-XP Belay/Rappel
Grab two of these. One for your belay setup, one as a spare. The screwgate locks smoothly and the size fits gloved or chalky hands without fumbling. I dropped mine on concrete and it didn't even scratch.
BLACK DIAMOND RockLock Screwgate Locking Belay
Pair this with your GriGri for a clean belay setup. The HMS shape feeds rope smoothly and the gate opening is wide enough that clipping in doesn't feel like threading a needle. Solid aluminum, not flimsy.
Petzl M38A-SL Attache Screw Lock Carabiner
Try this if you want assisted braking but don't want to spend GriGri money. Works with single or double ropes, which matters if you eventually head outdoors. Took me one YouTube video and ten minutes of practice to feel comfortable.
MEGA JUL | belay device
Recovery Gear for Hands and Forearms That Give Out
After my third session, I couldn't open a jar of peanut butter. My forearms were so pumped I had to type with my index fingers for two days. These kept me climbing consistently without falling apart.
Twist this thing for five minutes after each session and your forearms will thank you the next morning. I went from needing three rest days between climbs to two within a few weeks. Physical therapists recommend it for a reason.
Customer reviews for THERABAND FlexBar Resistance
Squeeze this while watching TV. Seriously. It works the opposing muscles that climbing ignores, which keeps your fingers balanced and less prone to injury. For anyone whose hands cramp up on crimpy holds.
Metolius Grip Saver Plus Hand Exercisers - Package of 3
Rub this into your forearms after a hard session. The warming sensation loosens everything up faster than just stretching alone. Smells strong, but my partner got used to it. Stock up before you start projecting harder routes.
Tiger Balm
Slather this on your fingertips before bed. Climbing shreds your skin, and regular lotion makes your hands too soft for the next session. This stuff heals the cracks without making you slippery. Took about a week to notice the difference.
Skin Repairing
Wrap your fingers with this when hot spots show up. Way better than regular athletic tape because it stretches with your grip instead of restricting it. I tape my ring fingers before every session now and haven't had a flapper since.
TheraBand Kinesiology Tape
Gym Bag Setup So You Stop Forgetting Stuff
Showed up to the gym without chalk three times in one month. Once I forgot my shoes and had to rent again. Getting organized solved that and cut my pre-climb prep down to grabbing one bag and walking out the door.
Toss all your gear in this and go. The 40L size fits shoes, harness, chalk bag, water bottle, and a change of clothes without looking like you're moving apartments. The material wipes clean when chalk inevitably explodes inside.
Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel Bag 40L Review
Bring this full. Climbing dehydrates you faster than you'd expect, and the wide mouth lets you add ice or drink fast between routes. I burned through two cheap bottles before accepting that Nalgene just works.
Nalgene Sustain 32 oz. Wide Mouth Water Bottle - Butter
Keep your tape, skin cream, and small items in here so they don't float around your bag. Lays flat when empty, which matters in a duffel. Stopped losing my car keys in the chalk dust once I started using this.
Matador Zipper Toiletry Case (FlatPak Series)
Wear thin socks to the gym so your climbing shoes fit the same every time. These wick sweat and don't bunch up inside the shoe. Sounds like a small detail until you're mid-route adjusting your heel for the fifth time.
Darn Tough Vermont Women's Light Hiker Micro Crew
Pack a post-climb meal in this. Oatmeal, soup, rice and beans, whatever. Climbing burns more calories than you'd guess, and hitting a drive-through every session adds up fast. Keeps food hot for about four hours in my experience.
Hydro Flask 12 Oz Insulated Food Jar Agave