Essential Climbing Gear: A Beginner's Checklist
Climbing gear can look intimidating when you see a full rack for the first time. In truth you need very little to begin, and you add pieces only as your climbing grows. Here is what each item does and when you actually need it.
What you need for indoor bouldering
Bouldering indoors has the shortest shopping list in all of climbing. The gym provides the walls and the mats, so all you really need are climbing shoes and, if you like, chalk to keep your hands dry. You can rent shoes for your first few visits and buy your own once you know you will keep coming back.
- Climbing shoes, rented or your own.
- A chalk bag with chalk, which is optional but nice.
- Comfortable clothes you can move freely in.
What you need for indoor rope climbing
Once you move from bouldering to climbing on a rope, you take on a bit more equipment, because now you are tied in and working with a partner. Most gyms rent all of it, so you do not need to buy anything before you know you enjoy it.
- A harness that fits snugly around your waist and legs.
- A belay device and a locking carabiner to manage the rope.
- A rope, though most gyms provide fixed ropes for top roping.
- Chalk and shoes, as before.
What changes when you climb outdoors
Outdoor climbing adds gear because there is no gym to provide the safety net. Exactly what you carry depends on the style, but a typical day of outdoor sport climbing calls for more than an indoor session.
- A helmet to protect against falls and loose rock.
- A rope of your own, usually 60 or 70 metres for sport routes.
- Quickdraws to clip the rope into the bolts on the wall.
- A belay device, locking carabiners and a harness.
- For bouldering outdoors, a crash pad and a friend to spot you.
What to buy first, and what can wait
You do not need to buy everything at once, and you should not. Start with the pieces that touch your body and rarely get shared, then add the rest as you commit to the sport.
- Buy first: shoes, a chalk bag and, once you climb often, a harness.
- Buy later: your own belay device, a helmet and a rope.
- Buy much later: a full rack of quickdraws and outdoor protection.
If you are brand new, our guide to bouldering for beginners is the easiest place to start, since it needs the least gear of all. And the Climbers Delight newsletter is a good way to keep learning as your kit grows.