Your Go-to Packing List for Rock Climbing & Bouldering

The gear you need to climb on indoors and out.

INDOOR BOULDERING

• Shoes - We recommend a precise but softer shoe for indoor bouldering, as it allows you to smear on volumes but also stand on those smaller edges.
• Liquid Chalk - Stay #covidsafe and keep the friction with this stuff!
• Hold Brush - great for cleaning those small, friction-dependent holds.

INDOOR ROUTE CLIMBING

• Harness - A low-profile, lightweight harness is ideal for indoor leading, as it fits away in your pack when not in use.
• Shoes - a softer shoe is generally recommended for indoor climbing where you may have to ‘smear’ or be dynamic.
• Chalk Bag - it's important you get a chalk bag that’s big enough to fit your whole hand.
• Rope - Generally, your indoor climbing rope only needs to be 30-40m in length. So it's good to have a dedicated indoor rope to save weight.
• Rope Bag/Bucket - Great for keeping your rope organised and clean.
• Quickdraws - Many indoor route gyms already have permanent quickdraws in place, so these may not be needed.
• Belay Glasses - Save your neck when belaying on overhanging routes by investing in these.

OUTDOOR BOULDERING

• Crash pad - Try to link up with other bouldering friends and combine crash pads to make for a safer, softer fall. 
• Shoes - you may want a selection of 2-3 shoes to choose depending upon the style of your project.
• Chalk Bucket - These are great as they can hold more chalk, be shared and store your brushes and tape.
• Hold Brush - keep the holds clean and chalk-free for yourself and the person that climbs it after you.
• Warm-Up Cliff Board - warming up on a portable hang-board is a great way to avoid injury and climb at your maximum.

 

 

OUTDOOR ROUTE CLIMBING

• Shoes - For outdoor sport climbing you will want to choose a shoe depending on the terrain you are climbing (ie. Steep Climbing = Aggressive Shoes)
• Chalk Bag - keep your hands try and maximise friction.
• Harness - Try to select a harness that has some cushioning, this will make it more comfortable to sit in for long periods if you're working a route or on a multipitch.
• Helmet - Essential for any outdoor climber.
• Rope - to prolong the life of your rope we recommend selecting a rope that is thick enough to withstand the repetitive forces of falling and jugging - generally a rope with a diameter greater than 9.5mm.
• Rope Bag - Protect your rope from getting dirty and extend its lifetime by keeping it in a rope bag. 
• Belay Device
  • ATC - it's recommended to get an ATC with ‘Guide Mode’ capabilities so you can top belay safely.
  • Assisted Braking Device - devices such as the Petzl GriGri+ give you added safety whilst climbing and a smoother lowering motion.
• Belay Gloves - Protect your hands from nasty rope-burns by investing a pair of these.
• Locking Carabiner - these are essential for belaying, building anchors or making your systems redundant.
• Personal Anchor System (PAS) - great for cleaning sport climbing equipment. 
• Quickdraws - 10-12 should get you up routes in most areas, but consult a guide book or local for their recommended rack. 
• Belay Glasses - Save your neck when belaying on overhanging routes by investing in these.
• Stick Clip - very handy for protecting the start of a climb or clipping reachy bolts.
• Warm-Up Cliff Board - warming up on a portable hang-board is a great way to avoid injury and climb at your maximum.

ADD-ONS

• Backpack - A high-literage, open-top pack with rope or hempet straps  is best for hauling all your gear into the crag.
• Guidebook - almost every established crag or area has a guide book that can help you navigate to the wall and find routes easily. 
• Knife - a handy tool for any climber - so make sure it's accessible and easy to grab.
• Skin Kit - when your skin isn’t at its best this can impact your performance, so make sure you put together a handy skin kit.
  • Sanding Block
  • Skin Cream
  • Tape
  • Band Aid
  • Super Glue
• Liquid Chalk - This stuff works great as a base coat before shopping on a problem or route.
• Extra Chalk
• Water Bottle
• Food/Snacks
• Medical Kit
• Headtorch