As interesting as a climbing adventure could be, it is important to have the right climbing gear for beginners. But finding out what equipment you need can be just as intimidating as your first climb.
This guide covers the essential climbing gear for beginners. It includes the “must-haves” and “can-wait” items that will help you make informed decisions when purchasing or renting equipment.
Before discussing the essential gear, it is essential to understand the basics of climbing gear for beginners.
Understanding The Basics of Climbing Gear For Beginners
Each climbing gear serves three key purposes: keeping you safe, ensuring your comfort, and enhancing your performance. As beginners, you must prioritize safety and comfort and focus on performance as your interests and skills develop.
For each climbing discipline (bouldering, sport climbing, traditional climbing, and indoor climbing), a specific gear is required. However, there is a core set of equipment that serves as a foundation for most climbing adventures.
Essential Climbing Gear for Beginners
1. Climbing Shoes
Climbing shoes are the most important pieces of climbing gear for beginners. These shoes have special features like sticky rubber soles and specialized toe boxes that allow for precise foot placements and provide the necessary grip and support against climbing surfaces.
Tips In Selecting The Right Climbing Shoes
- Begin with neutral shoes with a flat sole for comfort.
- The shoes should be a snug fit but not painfully tight.
- Try on multiple brands and models as fit varies between manufacturers
- Your toes should be flat but touching the end of the shoe
- Depending on your breathability preference, material could be leather or synthetic.
- Rental shoes at gyms are fine for your first few sessions
2. Climbing Harness
A climbing harness is a piece of equipment that allows a climber to tie into the safety of a rope. For any roped climbing, a harness is non-negotiable. It provides support and distributes forces evenly across your body in case of a fall.
Features To Look Out For:
- Padded waist belt and leg loops for comfort
- Adjustable leg loops for a secure and snug fit
- At least four gear loops to provide space for carrying climbing gear like carabiners and belay devices
3. Chalk and Chalk Bag
Another essential climbing gear for beginners. Chalk absorbs sweat from your hands, thus, improving grip on holds. A chalk bag keeps your chalk accessible while climbing.
What to Consider in Selecting Chalk and Chalk Bags:
- Start with loose chalk for a better grip
- Choose a chalk bag with a stiff rim that stays open during climbs
- A waist belt attachment for the chalk bag
4. Belay Devices
A belay device is a mechanical piece of climbing gear for beginners used to control a rope during belaying. It provides friction, allowing the belayer to catch falls, lower a climber, or feed rope smoothly.
Types of Belay Devices:
- Tubular devices like the Black Diamond ATC-XP are simple and lightweight
- Assisted-braking devices like the Petzl GriGri offer additional safety features by locking automatically during a fall. This is most recommended for beginners.
5. Carabiners
Predominantly made from both steel and aluminum, carabiners are metal clips used to connect various climbing components like belay devices and harnesses. They have different shapes and locking mechanisms.
What to Consider:
- Locking Mechanisms: Screwgate, auto-locking, or twist-lock
- Shape: HMS (pear-shaped) carabiners are ideal for belaying
6. Helmet
A helmet is a climbing gear for beginners used to protect your head from falling rocks and impacts. While often overlooked for indoor climbing, a helmet should be a priority for outdoor climbing safety.
Features to Consider:
- Lightweight design for comfort
- Adequate ventilation essential for long climbs.
- Should be secure yet comfortable
After getting all your essentials, below are other items to consider
Secondary Climbing Gear For Beginners to Consider
Once you’ve acquired the essentials, these items might be next on your list as your
1. Climbing Rope
For outdoor sport climbing, a dynamic climbing rope is a necessity. For beginners, a 60m rope with a 9.8-10mm diameter offers a good balance between durability and handling.
2. Quickdraws
This is also needed for sport climbing. Sets of 12-14 quickdraws allow you to clip into bolt protection on sports routes.
3. Climbing Gloves
These protect hands from abrasions and rope burns. Consider a leather material for durability. Fingerless gloves provide more dexterity than full-fingered gloves.
4. Climbing Protection
Protective gear like cams and nuts is placed into rock cracks for protection during traditional climbing.
5. Crash Pad (for Bouldering)
A crash pad is used to cushion potential falls during bouldering.
Features to Consider:
- Thickness: 3-5 inches for impact absorption
- Folding Style: Hinge or taco-style
- Durability: Reinforced corners and high-density foam
6. Approach Shoes
These hybrid shoes combine hiking support with climbing shoe stickiness for navigating rough terrain to climbing areas.
How To Care For And Maintain Climbing Gear For Beginners
To ensure that your gear lasts long and remains safe to use, proper maintenance is important. Here is how to maintain your climbing gear:
- Inspect all gear before each use for signs of damage
- Store ropes in bags away from sunlight and chemicals
- Clean climbing shoes regularly with mild soap and water
- Do not leave equipment in hot cars
- Follow manufacturer guidelines for retirement timelines
Additional Climbing Gear Tips For Beginners
- Learn Basic Knots: It is very important to know how to tie a figure-eight knot and a clove hitch.
- Practice Proper Belaying Techniques: Take a belay certification course if possible.
- Start Indoors Before Going Outdoors: Climbing gyms provide a controlled environment to build skills safely.
- Find a Climbing Partner or Mentor: Climbing with experienced partners improves learning and safety.
- Invest in Quality Gear: Safety should always be the priority over cost.
Final Advice for New Climbers
You need the right gear to start climbing (indoors or outdoors). A reliable gear builds confidence and helps you progress in this outdoor activity.
For beginners, investing in essential climbing gear will ensure your safety and a great climbing experience. But it does not make you a better climber. Technique, practice, and experience combined with the right gear will.
Now that you have understood the climbing gear basics for beginners, lace up your shoes, chalk up, and let’s start climbing.
