What to Wear for Indoor Rock Climbing
When you begin indoor rock climbing, it can be confusing to know what to wear. You probably noticed that climbing gym fashion is unlike anything else. Some climbers wear incredibly baggy clothes, others wear jeans and beanies, and some just wear normal athletic wear. Proper indoor climbing attire is not as self-explanatory as you might think. Whether it’s your first visit, or your tenth, you’re probably wondering what to wear to the indoor rock climbing gym. There’s three things we suggest you keep in mind in preparation for the gym.
You Want to Be Comfortable While Climbing
The first is comfort. It is absolutely essential to be comfortable while you are climbing. We recommend any fitness or athlete clothes, since these are typically already pretty comfortable. Climbing is tough! You may have already figured this out, but you might get hot and sweaty, and will want to be wearing cool, moisture-wicking clothing.
Another comfort hack is to always wear pants instead of shorts. Even if it’s warm outside. It’s easy to accidentally bang your knees on big holds or the walls themselves when climbing. Wearing long pants will prevent you from breaking skin if this does happen. If you plan on climbing the roped walls with a harness, you don’t want to be wearing short shorts. Climbing gym harnesses aren’t the most comfortable, and if you are wearing shorts, it can be uncomfortable if it pinches your skin. For this reason, leggings, or other tight athletic wear, are the clothing of choice for many climbers.
Leave Room for Flexibility
Next, let’s talk about clothing flexibility. While climbing, you’ll most likely be engaging in irregular movements, like reaching really far and placing your feet up by your hips. In order to perform these necessary movements effectively, you’ll want your clothing to be stretchy so it doesn’t prohibit your movement.
We are talking top and bottom. Not only will you be reaching with your arms to grab onto the next hold, but sometimes the foothold you are using is not conveniently located. You may have to step extra high. To test your clothes, simply perform a high step before leaving the house. Try to place your foot on a surface above your hip. If your clothes don’t impede your mobility, you are probably good to go!
Climbing Clothes Fit
The fit of your climbing clothes is also going to play a role in how effectively you can climb. Ideally, you’ll want to avoid big, baggy clothing. But you also don’t necessarily need to wear something skin-tight, unless you want to. The issue with loose-fitting clothing is that it will get in the way of your climbing movements. For example, wearing pants that are too long, or flared at the bottom could get caught on your shoe, inhibiting your ability to place your foot on a hold. Wearing an oversized sweatshirt can obstruct your vision when looking down at your feet for a foot hold. Though climbing fashion does occasionally involve climbing in large, baggy t-shirts, this is largely because of the freedom of movement a big t-shirt provides. T-shirts also do not really get in the way. We suggest athletic wear that is comfortable to you! Whatever you would lift weights or go on a jog in will likely be just fine.
Rental Shoe Tips: Socks!
This section is for the rental shoe gang. If you don’t have any of your own climbing gear, the gym will have harness and shoe rentals available. You don’t have to rent climbing shoes, but it helps a ton. So if you choose to rent shoes, remember to either wear or bring socks. It’s no fun putting your bare foot into a shoe that hundreds of feet have been in before… socks will save you.
