Your climbing clothes should be resistant to friction and snagging from contact with the terrain. The clothes you use for warming up can be more delicate and lightweight. The closet of an experienced and trained climber comprises two blocks.
Clothing used on the climbing platform and on the rocks:
- Clothing directly for climbing.
- Lightweight shoes, so as not to stand barefoot on the insurance and to give your feet a rest from the rock shoes.
Additional things for outings on the rocks:
- Warm clothes in case of cold weather or outings to the rocks in the off-season.
- Jackets to protect against wind and rain.
- Access shoes – sneakers or half-shoes with a clunky sole that’s good for getting to remote rocky places.
What to Buy for Climbing
Climbing halls are hot in the summer, and you can often see people in minimal clothing. For a rock climbing gym, unlike a traditional gym, this is a typical situation.
But in the fall and winter, it can be cool, especially before the heating season. Here it is important to consider the characteristics of the rock climbing and your own feelings of warmth and cold.
How to Choose Clothing and Shoes for the First Workout
To start training at a rock climbing wall, take a T-shirt and pants or shorts. Something of this at the beginning can be taken even from your everyday closet. Suitable any do not constrain the movement of pants. You can take any T-shirt, as long as it doesn’t restrict movement either.
First, the usual clothes will help save money and spend it for further workouts or playing with a casino welcome bonus – 22Bet. It’s better to invest in a coach and rock shoes. But remember that this clothing will be completely covered by magnesia in each training session, and wearing it to work or school the next day won’t work. So, allocate a separate set of clothes for training. Because your favorite T-shirt and pants will pretty quickly rub off on the rough edges.
The advantages of special clothes for climbing are high strength, comfortable cut, and well thought-out details, such as pockets for small equipment in the right places. So if you climb a lot and actively, think about buying such things.
Moreover, you need a change of shoes. You will stand in it during the insurance, and the feet will rest from the rock shoes between approaches. For this purpose, any slippers or sneakers will do.
If you plan to do some general physical training after your workout, take sneakers with you. It’s safer and healthier for your feet.
Climbing T-shirts and Underwear
Synthetic shirts dry quickly and weigh less than cotton shirts, making them convenient to take on trips. Another plus is that they wick away rather than trap moisture, so they work well with other layers of clothing. So if you put a fleece sweatshirt or a membrane jacket over such a shirt, you’ll be comfortable. Climbing brands rarely produce synthetic T-shirts, so you’ll probably have to look for them in the running or hiking clothing departments.
Cotton T-shirts are more resistant to friction on the relief, perfectly breathable, pleasant to the skin and unpretentious in care. But they don’t mix well with membranes and synthetic insulation, take longer to retain moisture from the body and quickly lose their freshness
The perfect workout option is a combination of natural materials and technology. Combination fabrics using synthetic fibers and merino wool keep fresh for a long time, dry quickly and tolerate contact with the terrain well. No need to fear that a wool T-shirt will be too warm: even models for running in the heat are now available.
When choosing a top, look for it among the running models or models for yoga, they will provide the right support, depending on the intensity of exercise and chest size.
Underpants or shorts made of elastic and moisture-wicking materials fit tightly to the body and do not interfere with movement. It is not necessary to splurge on them in the first days of training, but if you have them in your hiking or running closet, you should wear them on the climbing wall as well.
Climbing Pants and Shorts
There is such a variety of tastes among climbers. Some prefer running or hiking shorts, some prefer cotton or softshell shorts. Other climbers use every possible version of pants: wide, narrow, cotton, nylon and softshell, with and without pockets. But all of these things do not constrain movement when climbing, either because of elasticity or because of the loose fit. Sometimes on climbing pants you can also find reinforcements in important places – at the knees and in the area of contact with the belaying system.
When choosing, consider what kind of climbing you like. Pants and shorts for bouldering can be voluminous, with large patch pockets and very short. But all of these don’t go well with belaying systems: large pockets prevent you from putting on the harness, and its waistband and leg girth can put pressure and chafe where the shorts make contact. A belt in climbing pants is usually not used, although some models have straps. Instead, the waistband usually has elastic inserts that ensure a snug fit to the figure. All because it’s inconvenient to wear a belt together with a safety harness.
Often climbers give preference to 3/4 length breeches that cover the knees instead of full-length pants. But if you master climbing without touching the knees with your knees, you can train in short shorts. That’s why in bouldering you see people in short elastic shorts more often than in difficulty.
Safety shoes
Safety shoes must be loose, so your feet can rest after climbing. And not slippery, to ensure the safety of the belayer. In hot weather slippers – flip-flops or open sandals cope with this task. When choosing, pay attention to the sole. It should not be too slippery, so that you could stand firmly on your feet, being ready for a jerk. Sandals for hiking and travel are a great option. They have grippy soles and great foot support for open shoes.
You can also use lightweight sneakers with mesh uppers. They’re good in the long run for rock approaches, insurance, and gym exercise. But to carry them with you on the rock climbing will not be as comfortable as flat and lightweight slants. Another disadvantage of this option is the inconvenience of having to take them off and put them on frequently, for example, during a bouldering training session. Sneakers with a quick lacing system can be a solution. If a little extra bulk and the need to lace up when putting them on doesn’t scare you, buying lightweight sneakers gives you a versatile shoe that can be used in any environment.
Clothing for Climbing Outings
Even on the warmest rocks, there is a risk of experiencing the vagaries of the weather. But you can keep comfortable and warm if you put together a proper set of outing clothes beforehand. Some elements of it can be useful on the rock climbing in the period of cold and lack of heating.
On trips, you probably won’t encounter temperatures well below freezing. On the rocks, the weather is most often the coolest for training. But it can be a little cooler in the evening and at night. If that’s the forecast for your outing in the area, it’s better to be prepared for more cold than to freeze in the event of sudden bad weather.
Thermal Underwear
Thermal underwear can be used for climbing or warming up, or you can wear it under a fleece, jacket or even a T-shirt. When climbing, a T-shirt will protect the thermal underwear from damage, for example, on a bouldering climb and just add style. There are many options: both synthetic and merino wool. Compression underwear will also work, and can have a positive effect on recovery and training activity.
Protection From Wind and Rain During Rock Outings
If you don’t want to go to the rocks solely under a good forecast, it’s better to have clothes with you that will help with relative comfort when climbing in precipitation and strong winds.
Membrane Jackets and Windbreakers
For climbing, there are compact and ultralight models that fit in a pocket of pants or hang on the harness. They won’t let you get completely soaked, even if you have to take off the trail in the rain. A membrane jacket can also be worn under the harness, which will prevent the belayer from getting wet.
If it’s not raining, but there’s a strong wind, you can climb and insure in a membrane-free windbreaker made of thin nylon. They are even lighter than membrane jackets and breathe much better. A membrane or windbreaker can come in handy for the belayer even when it’s not raining. If it’s cold and the wind blows hard, they are worn under a warm jacket so that less heat is blown out.
Gloves
Fleece gloves are useful for any outing. Fleece is a synthetic replacement for wool gloves and mittens. It’s just as warm, but almost doesn’t absorb water. So, fleece continues to keep you warm even when wet. And if it has a windproof membrane inside, it will be warm even in a cold wind. This is important for the health of climbing fingers.
If you choose thin or thicker gloves to work with the rope, you can wear thin synthetic gloves underneath.
