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Article sponsored by Depot Climbing
Indoor rock climbing is a challenging and exciting sport that is growing in popularity. It is a great way to stay fit and healthy, as well as to develop mental focus and discipline. If you are new to the sport, there are a few key pieces of equipment and skills that you will need to develop in order to get started.
There are two types of indoor climbing- bouldering, where you free climb ‘shorter’ style routes (called problems). No extra equipment is needed for this and it is an ideal way to explore the movements and gain strength without the burden of learning technical aspects of rope work and belaying. There is also roped indoor climbing, this is more exciting as the climbs (called routes) are higher and longer, this means that they are more endurance focussed than boulder problems. Many climbers enjoy both styles of climbing as this offers all-round climbing fitness and strength.
Equipment
One of the most important pieces of equipment for indoor rock climbing is a good pair of climbing shoes. These shoes should fit snugly and have a good grip on the sole to help you maintain your footing on the wall. They should also have a comfortable fit and be made from durable materials that will last through many climbing sessions.
Another important piece of equipment is a climbing harness (if you are going to get into roped climbing). This is worn around the waist and legs to secure the climber to the rope and provide support when climbing. The harness should fit snugly and be adjusted to the correct size for your body. It is also important to check that the harness has been certificated for climbing use and is in good condition before use. Your local climbing gym should have knowledgeable staff that can help you choose an appropriate harness, or you can look at our suggestion in the kit list.
Roped indoor climbing such as Big Depot in Leeds offers the chance to develop endurance strength as well as being super exciting!
Other items of kit would include a suitable chalk bag, climbing chalk, a belay device and a rope. If you are just getting into bouldering then you will need less kit – climbing shoes, chalk bag and chalk will be perfect.
You may feel that you need a helmet, this should fit snugly and be made from a suitable material that can withstand impact. Impact from hitting the wall is the main reason for wearing a helmet indoor climbing, not falling rocks!
Skills
In addition to equipment, it is important to develop the right skills in order to climb safely and effectively. One of the most important skills to develop is proper belaying technique. Belaying is the process of holding the rope in place to catch a climber in case of a fall. This requires a great deal of focus and attention, and should only be done by someone who has been trained in proper belaying technique.
Another important skill to develop is proper body positioning and technique for climbing. This includes good quality footwork, hand placement, and balance, as well as the ability to read and navigate routes on the wall. These skills take time and practice to develop and can be learned through instruction from a qualified climbing coach or through experience.
Mental Focus
In addition to these physical skills, it is also important to develop good mental focus and discipline. Climbing requires a great deal of focus and concentration, as well as the ability to manage fear and stay calm under pressure. This can be developed through meditation, visualization, and other mental training techniques. Which is why it’s such great exercise!
Indoor climbing requires good mental focus, bouldering is perfect for developing this skill. Most major cities have a climbing gym and if you are very lucky you will have access to high quality ones such as those from Depot Climbing.
Getting Started
If you are interested in getting started with indoor rock climbing, there are a few things you can do to prepare. First, you should find a climbing gym in your area. Most major cities have several climbing centres to choose from so be sure to go to the best, such as Depot Climbing, our favourite indoor climbing venue.
Many quality climbing gyms offer beginner classes that can teach you the basics of climbing safety and technique. You can also find a climbing partner who can help you learn and progress – for instance Climbing Depot centres have regular social nights and for newbies these can be great as there is often a coach at hand to help you improve your technique.
Once you have learned the basics, you can start climbing on your own. Be sure to start with easy routes and gradually work your way up to more challenging ones. And most importantly, have fun! Indoor rock climbing is a great way to get exercise, challenge yourself, and meet new people.
The Essential Indoor Climbing Kit List for Beginners
Patagonia Venga Rock Pants
Pronounced ‘Benga’ (meaning ‘go for it!’ in Spanish) these pants tick all the boxes for those cooler days of indoor climbing – and many indoor venues can be quite cold during the winter months. They are specifically made for climbing with plenty of climbing friendly features such as elasticated waistband inserts to stop the front bunching up when wearing a harness, tough and durable organic cotton with plenty of stretch thanks to the 7% Elastane mix, press stud waist closure so no digging in when wearing a harness, 4 pockets on the front and back and a zipped thigh pocket. There are also articulated knees and a gusseted crotch for maximum freedom of movement. Final features include a conch cored on the hems (important for being able to see your immaculate footwork), embroidered Patagonia label, double stitching and bar tacking on all the important stress points. You get all of this as well as impeccable responsibility credentials such as Certified Fair Trade manufacture and an excellent repair service.
The Patagonia Venga Rock Pants come in 3 colour options and sizes 28” – 42” waist and regular 32” inseam as well as 30”.
The SRP is £110 and they can be bought directly from Patagonia EU and Depot Climbing.
The women’s version are the Caliza Pants and they come in size 2 -16 and three colour options and an SRP of £100.
Scarpa Reflex V
A great, introductory climbing shoe for people just getting into indoor climbing as the price point is affordable (you’ll soon find climbing shoes are very expensive!). Don’t think that the price point means the Scarpa Reflex V is lacking in features though – there’s plenty of quality in them to see you through years of climbing and an increase in grades. The fit can be fine-tuned with the help of the two hook and loop straps and the elasticated sock and the toe profile offer comfort and a decent level of precision for footwork, but are comfortable for long sessions. There is no leather in the vegan-friendly construction and the mesh upper helps vent the heat out on warmer days. You need a surprising amount of friction for indoor climbing and the Vision rubber offers good grip on even the smallest of footholds and the rubber extends to a full rand and toe for those tricky toe hooks. There are two heel tabs to help get the shoes on – advanced climbers wear climbing shoes very tight with no socks. The black and orange colour way is better than some of the more vibrant colours out there and the Scarpa logo is well placed. The shoes can be resoled through the Scarpa resole scheme.
The Scarpa Reflex V shoes come in sizes EUR 38 – 48. The women’s version comes in sizes EUR34-42
The SRP is £100 and they can be bought directly from Scarpa UK and Depot Climbing.
Arc’teryx Ion Chalk Bag
One of the first things people learn once they have been indoor climbing for one or two sessions is that it can be hot and sweaty at times and the holds seem slippery – the answer is climbers chalk (or continual failure on harder climbs). It’s hard to believe that chalk was a monumental controversy when it was first used in the ’70’s – it would definitely be at the forefront of the culture wars these days. Thankfully it’s now widespread and it would be difficult to progress without it so if you are going to invest in using chalk what not invest in a top quality chalk bag? The Arc’teryx Ion range of chalk bags are some of the very best as you would expect from a premium brand such as Arc’teryx. Top quality materials and useful features abound – the stiffened brim keeps the bag open, the micro fleece inner helps distribute the chalk evenly, the amazing ‘how the heck does that work’ cord cinch lock all make the Ion Chalk bag feel real premium. On to of that you have zipped secure pocket at the back, a webbing brush retainer and an included waist belt.
The Arc’teryx Ion chalk bags come in three sizes: Chalk Bucket so you can fit in perfectly at the bouldering gym in baggy pants and beanie, Large for all round climbers who want a ‘do it all’ bag or those , like me who have hands the size of shovels and the small for those who like to delicately dip their tips and blow the excess off like a true Frenchie.
SRP is £65.00 for the bucket, £35 for the large and £25 for the small. Colour options come in Black, Phenom (orange), Tatsu (dark olive) and Canvas (Sand).
They can be purchased directly from arcteryx.com and selected retailers.
Rab Oblique Shorts
Shorts are very much de rigeur at any climbing gym, the younger you are the more likely you will be to wear a beanie with them – whatever the temperature! The Rab Oblique shorts have been designed specifically for climbing with a whole host of features that work really well. The comfortable, lightweight cotton has 2% elastane for maximum stretch, an elasticated waistband that can be adjusted with an internal drawstring for a precision fit. They work really well under a climbing harness and look cool enough for all your training and active adventures. 4 pockets should be enough to keep all your valuables handy with the back pocket plenty big enough for most phones so there’s no need to miss that important call on this ‘working from home’ days. The back pocket are riveted at key wear points and the press stud closure and YKK fly zip adds a premium feel.
If you are looking for something a little more lightweight then the Obtuse shorts should do the trick.
The Oblique shorts come in sizes 30” to 36” waist and one inseam length of 11”. Rab’s climbing shorts offering for women, the Cosine shorts come in sizes UK8 – UK16 and two colour options.
The SRP is £65 for the Oblique shorts and £70 for the Cosine. They can be bought directly from Rab UK and selected retailers.
Berghaus Organic Logo Tee
Berghaus have quietly been building their brand for decades. The new range has plenty of to offer climbers and the brand heritage is next to none. The t-shirt range is extensive but we have chosen a low-key design to let the Berghaus logo do the talking. The Organic Logo Tee is a well fitting t-shirt, its tapered design offers a flattering fit whilst still offering good flexibility for those long reaches. The super soft 100% organic cotton feels great next to the skin and it has a Supima cotton feel to it. It’s light and yet still has plenty of stretch for full range of motion. The cut means that you can wear the tee both for climbing and socially, at the climbing gym or hiking so its super versatile. With Fixed for Life guarantee you can be sure that if you tear what will become your go to t-shirt you can send it back to Berghaus for a free repair and since they have repairing kit since 1966 you can be sure it will be a quality one.
The tee comes in sizes XS to 3XL and three colour options. There several womens choices that come in sizes XS to 3XL
The Berghaus Organic Logo Tee has an SRP of £32 and it can be bought directly from Berghaus UK.
Black Diamond Momentum 4S Harness
Somewhere in your indoor climbing journey you may want to explore roped climbing. As we said in the article this will require more kit than just bouldering and a harness is a solid purchase. The Black Diamond Momentum 4S Harness is a great entry point, sure you could hire one and many roped gyms offer that but owning your own means that if you want to begin leading routes then having your own is a good investment. So, the Momentum 4S harness is a well priced harness suitable for beginners and intermediate climbers alike. It has all the features you need in a compact, no fuss package. Zip lock buckle for the waist belt, some adjustment on the leg loops and 4 plastic coated gear loops as well as a chalk bag retainer loop at the back. The wide, padded waistbelt offers superior comfort and so do the leg loops so you can hang around trying gnarly moves for as long as you like. The tie in and belay loop are super burly with plenty of bar tacking for added confidence. Just remember – is your life worth an Ali Baba knock off harness?
The Black Diamond Momentum 4S harness comes in sizes XS – XXL and two colour options. The women’s versions comes in sizes XS-XL and agian, two colour options.
The SRP is £57.50 and it can be purchased at Depot Climbing.
Edelrid Parrot Rope 40m
Once you have mastered the basics of roped climbing such as tying in and using a belay device on top ropes you will naturally think about the next step, leading. This will involve an extra bit of kit – a rope. Edelrid are renowned for make high-quality ropes (as well as other climbing kit), they handle well, are robust and durable. The Parrot uses left over yarns from the production process to produce a fully certified rope. It’s Blue Sign approved and the colour varies from rope to rope depending upon what yarns have been used in production. It has a Thermo Shield coating to improve handling (making paying out the rope smoother) and offers water repellency if you intend to venture outdoors and the 9.0m diameter offers more than enough confidence in belay devices. The ropes come in lengths of 40,50, 60, 70 and 80m but 40m will be more than enough for most climbing centres (although do check at your local gym and there is often a no return policy on PPE items of climbing equipment). The price is premium but you are getting a high quality UIAA approved rope made to the highest sustainable standards – no mean feat!
The price is £110 and it can be bought directly from Depot Climbing.
Petzl GRIGRI x Sm’D Screwgate Carabiner
We’ve reviewed several GRIGRI’s on the site and have been fans ever since they first came out. We still use them today as they have an excellent combination of robustness, ease of use and added safety. So why fork out the extra, as you can buy a standard belay device for less than £20? The Petzl GRIGRI is what is called an assisted blocking device which means that when a force is applied (such as falling off a climb) the camming mechanism helps lock the device. This adds an additional element of safety and helps stop the rope slipping through your hands. It’s important to know that no belay device is fail-safe and ‘hands-free’ and that goes for the GRIGRI too. That said the extra you’ll pay is worth the money as the super robust materials and construction means it should last for many years of use and the release handle offers a smooth lower. The GRIGRI has been tested in many climbing situations all over the world and is the benchmark for assisted blocking devices so is well a worthwhile investment which is why we are recommending it. You will need a screw gate carabiner and the Petzl Sm’D is the perfect match, it is versatile, lightweight and with its red warning marker you can quickly check if the gate has been screwed locked. Many quality climbing centres will offer a Learn to Belay class which is well worth taking and if you are a total novice then the GRIGRI+ offers an added level of security. Petzl are legendary for producing superb videos so why not check out this one of the world’s best belayer – inspirational!
The Petzl GRIGRI has an SRP of £84 and the Petzl Sm’D screw gate carabiner is £15.
They can both be purchased directly at the Depot Climbing shop.
Osprey Arcane Tote Pack
We’ve scoured the outdoor scene to choose a pack that would be a good fit for indoor climbing. You can, of course, buy a dedicated climbing pack and if you look through our archives you’ll find a great choice. However, you can choose a pack that offers a little more versatility for both the office and the gym. The Osprey Arcane Tote offers just that – stylish enough to take work, comfortable enough for use on a cycle commute and big enough for everything that you’d need for a session at the climbing gym. The Osprey Arcane features fully BlueSign approved 100% recycled fabric for the main body and aluminium fittings that offer a modern aesthetic; a zipped front pocket to make access to smaller items such as brushes, energy bars and such, a larger front pocket that will fit climbing shoes and chalk bag to keep them away from your work stuff; a zipped inner security pocket for valuables and a large, padded laptop sleeve big enough for most laptops up to 16” and a key clip. The 20L capacity still leaves plenty of room for shorts, t-shirts as well as a harness and belay device if you are planning to climb roped. This is all secured with a bully zip closure and still leaves another pocket at the back for stuffing a hardshell in. What we like about the Arcane Tote Pack is that you can unclip the shoulder straps, pack them away in the rear pocket and deploy the tote straps which will make transporting your stuff about the gym so much easier.
The Osprey Arcane Tote Pack is unisex and comes in three colour options.
The SRP is £110 and it can be bought from Osprey Europe.
Yeti Rambler 36oz/1L with Chug Cap
Whilst you wouldn’t want to pack the Yeti Rambler 36oz for your ascent of The Matterhorn, for indoor climbing it’s pretty much spot on. The 1 litre capacity is more than enough to quench your thirst for longer training sessions and the double walled construction will keep your liquids piping hot or freezing cold for hours on end. The flask looks and feels totally bombproof and will easily take the rough and tumble of the inside of a climbing pack or the gym (remember you shouldn’t be taking your drinks bottles onto the matting at the climbing gym) and the laser etched and embossed Yeti logos add to the rugged look. The bottle is completed with a dual lid with the top half unscrewing to reveal a normal bottle sized opening and the lower half also unscrewing to allow access to the wide mouth which is useful for adding isotonic or protein powder. The large grab handle means carrying it is easy and most of all the great, rugged look means that you can plonk it on your desk and proudly display your well hydrated climber credentials.
The Yeti Rabmbler 36oz/1L offers an amazing choice of 11 colour options and smaller and larger volumes.
The SRP is £50 and it can be bought directly from Yeti UK.
Disclaimer – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers that accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item.
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