Rock climbing is a phenomenal hobby and the perfect outdoor or indoor activity for thrill seekers and those wanting a physical challenge. While commercial climbing gyms differ significantly from climbing sheer rock faces out in nature in terms of difficulty and setting, both use similar climbing safety equipment. As a beginner, you’ll want a solid pair of climbing shoes, a climbing harness, and the assistance of someone much more experienced to guide you along the way. We cover more rock climbing essentials in the rest of the article below!
Beginner Climbing Gear – What Do I Need to Get Started?
Welcome to the world of climbing! It’s a fantastic activity for getting strong and fit, offering a scalable challenge to climbers of all levels of expertise.
Like any other sport, over time, rock climbing equipment has evolved significantly. Generic sports shoes may suffice during your first few sessions, but sooner rather than later, you’ll want to get acquainted with the more specialized climbing equipment
The specifics will depend on your preferred type of climbing, but generally speaking, rock climbing essentials for beginners will include the following:
- Climbing shoes
- Harness
- Climbing rope
- Carabiners
- Climbing helmet
- Chalk and chalk bag
Most indoor climbing gyms will provide you with a full harness and helmet setup, meaning you don’t have to acquire every item from this shopping list right away. The ropes and carabiners will also already be laid and ready to use for climbing. Climbing shoes are likely the first piece of gear you’ll want to buy rather than borrow, but for your first few visits, borrowing is perfectly fine to get used to the feel and develop technique.
As a beginner, though, your first order of business is to learn the ropes. Before scaling the available obstacles, ensure you’re accompanied by someone experienced who can teach you the proper climbing safety measures, gym etiquette, and basic techniques like climbing holds.
Best Climbing Harnesses
The availability of beginner-level equipment in commercial gyms, while undoubtedly an advantage, does have its downsides. They mainly concern the age of gym equipment, as many gyms stock up on bottom-shelf gear upon opening and only upgrade after that if necessary. Over time, this equipment goes through normal wear and tear, becoming less effective and leaving you to make up the difference with your own physical strength and endurance. When this happens, your climbing efficiency goes down and the activity gets more difficult than it should be.
So, when you’re ready to jump ahead and acquire your own gear, start by purchasing a harness. Well-fitting harnesses with a tight fit shouldn’t have much give to make you feel secure while simultaneously not restricting your movement. For men, the Edelrid Moe III is a recommendable option that won’t break the bank. For women, the Black Diamond Momentum offers heightened comfort at a similar price point and is definitely worth a look.
Other features for extra comfort to consider are:
- Built-in ropework assistance – a luxury feature for those who want to focus on climbing and worry less about rope blocking or belaying.
- Thermal padding – options such as the CAMP Energy CR 4 are particularly useful when you plan mostly rock climbing outdoors and want more breathability.
- Reduced abrasion – for more climbing comfort.
Abridged Climbing Shoe Guide
Acquiring your own pair of climbing footwear will be the next item in line once you’re ready to get more serious about your newfound hobby. The right climbing shoe can easily make or break your enjoyment of the sport, however, so visiting a brick-and-mortar store for try-ons is 100% necessary to get a feel for the right fit. Treat this quick climbing shoe guide merely as a signpost to point you in the right direction.
Here’s what you need to know before buying your climbing shoes:
- Fit – look for something with a snug fit to eliminate as much extra space in the toe box as possible. Comfort isn’t the priority with climbing shoes – precision and performance take precedence. However, if a given pair causes pain, try a different one.
- Neutral/Moderate/Aggressive Shoe Type – less aggressive shoes are best for beginners and feature less downturn in the toes, which can initially feel uncomfortable. Over time, as you develop your climbing style, you can start looking at more curl for superior technical performance.
- Other factors – your foot shape, the shoe’s closure type, intended use (outdoor trad climbing, bouldering, indoor gyms etc.), and shoe stiffness are also worth considering as they influence how the shoe will behave, though they are secondary factors
The Takeaway
With such a low barrier for entry, climbing makes for a fantastic sport to get hooked on and fall in love with. The beginner climbing gear you need to get started includes a sturdy harness and well-fitting climbing shoes. Most beginning climbers don’t need to purchase their own helmets or carabiners since the gyms usually provide basic climbing safety equipment. Once you gain experience and confidence, you can gradually invest in more specialized gear tailored to your climbing style and preferences.
You may also read: 5 Tips for Beginner Rock Climbers