Out of all available hobbies which involve physical activity, rock climbing is the one that seems to be getting incredible amounts of attention lately. It’s a great way to build the body of your dreams while having tons of fun and satisfying your adrenaline cravings.
Every sport is great, there’s no doubt in that, but there’s something special about climbing rocks that attracts people so much, and we can see where it’s coming from. When it comes to grip strength, it is probably the best activity that you can do to get the grip of a titan, and not to mention those sweet defined muscles in your arms.
There’s one downside of this, however, and it is the fact that you cannot do it anywhere. However, those who look forward to getting into rock climbing are usually adventurous people, so taking a hike to the nearest park shouldn’t be a problem at all. When you get especially good at it, you’ll be able to climb real rocks, and that’s when the fun starts. Remember though, you cannot do this without equiphttps://wikitravel.org/en/Rock_climbingment, and that’s exactly what we’re here to talk about today.
If you’re looking to get into this sport, you’ll need some beginner equipment, so let’s take a look at the top five choices that you can make, shall we?
1. Climbing shoes
Source: gearjunkie
You’re probably wondering why shoes are an important item factor for a sport that mostly involves your hands, but once you start climbing, you’ll be grateful for your special pair of shoes. Not only that they help you grip to the surface better due to their rubber bottom, but they also allow you to not feel any pain when during moments when you need to press your feet on a sharp rock-piece.
These can be bought in any local sports gear shop, and they are not expensive at all. However, if you are still training at a park where the rocks are stimulated, you’ll not need these right away. They do help a lot though, so don’t neglect their importance. Once you start going out in the wild, they’ll serve you so much, but as we said, they’re helpful even while training in the park, so if you have the budget, make the purchase.
2. A pair of gloves
Source: amazon
This sport involves your hands more than any other, so if you’re looking for the best possible experience out of it, you should be wearing gloves, at least while you’re still a beginner. Now, these are not just any type of gloves, they are designed specifically to give you a great grip and to protect you from any sharp edges that might hurt you while you’re training.
Just like the shoes, they are not very expensive, but this will mostly depend on the brand, because there are some very popular brands out there that price their products a little bit higher on the scale compared to other ones on the market. Try to get a pair that fits your hands perfectly, and go for the ones that provide an amazing grip. If you’re trying to achieve some kind of a style that people are going to remember you for, it should be relatively easy to find gloves in your favorite color.
3. A chalk bag
Source: cotopaxi
What happens when a person isn’t fond of using gloves? Well, they take the more traditional route, and they use chalk instead. Yes, chalk is used in many sports because of its ability to provide amazing grip. You can see a lot of weightlifters use it, MMA fighters that utilize grappling techniques frequently, wrestlers, and most importantly, Rock Climbers.
With each climb, the chalk that’s already on your hands will slowly wear off, which means that eventually, you’ll have a slippery grip. You can prevent this by taking a chalk bag with you and storing all of it there so that you can re-add it on your hands whenever you need it.
We know that it’s a tough decision to make when it comes to choosing the best climbing chalk, so to make things easier for you, we recommend that you check out this website and see what they have to offer. You cannot risk slipping your grip in this type of sport, so make sure that everything is tight and firm.
4. Safety rope
Source: stocksy
Even while training, rock climbers use a special rope that protects them in case they slip and start falling towards the ground. Although there are some legends such as Alex Honnold which is the person who climbed El Capitan without any equipment, if you’re just starting, you’re far away from doing something like this. That’s why you should be using a special safety rope that you can also purchase at any sports shop, or depending on the club in which you’ll join, they might let you use one for free.
At some point in your career, you’ll want to purchase your pieces of equipment that you’ll get used to for the best possible experience and comfort. A solid rope makes a lot of difference, and most importantly, it can save your life.
5. A special backpack
Source: medium
Last but not least, even the average hiking enthusiast doesn’t leave their home without their backpack, so why should a rock climber do it? Purchasing this item will allow you to store anything that you’ll ever need for your session, or your journey if it’s a long one, so it’s an absolute must-have even though we’ve placed it on the fifth place in our list of essentials.
Backpacks come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so you have absolutely no excuses to say that you cannot find one that matches your style, although functionality is the priority for this one. Make sure that you get one that’s comfortable to wear, doesn’t cost much and it is durable enough. It’s really important to have a durable backpack as a rock climber. Make sure to store your food, water, and chalk in here, if you don’t have a special chalk bag.
