I still remember the excitement of walking into that climbing gear store, gazing in awe at the colorful array of climbing shoes that adorned the walls. The promise of adventure and new heights lured me into the world of climbing, and my eagerness to get started led me to make a rookie mistake. Ignoring the…
I spent my whole first year climbing hauling my gear around in a backpacking backpack. To be honest, it worked pretty well — but eventually I got tired of carrying around all the extra bulk. Every climber eventually hits the point when it’s time to check a backpack off the climbing gear list. There’s tons…
Buying your first climbing rope feels like a big decision — that’s because it is. Different models, lengths, widths, and constructions throws a lot of information into the mix and can make it hard to pick out the best climbing rope for your needs. Add in the fact that ropes are expensive and quite literally…
Making sure you have the the right items on your rock climbing gear list can be a bit intimidating. Between understanding what everything is and what is necessary you actually need, there’s a lot to take in. And since climbing gear tends to be expensive, it’s an investment you want to get right. I definitely…
When you set off to buy your first pair of climbing shoes, one of the first things you’ll notice is the sizing is different. Most climbing shoes are made in Europe and therefor use European sizing. This can be a little confusing, which is why we created this Climbing Shoe Size Calculator for you. This…
Everyone has a favorite pair of climbing shoes that just seem to fit like magic. But when the rubber starts to wear and the liner starts to show, we’re struck with dread at the thought of dropping another $200 and having to break in a fresh pair of kicks. But fear not, there is an…
Lead climbing is a thrill. Being above a bolt, pushing for the next hold, knowing if pop off a short free fall awaits. It’s a huge part of the draw to sport climbing. But that thrill becomes fear when a high first bolt or challenging first move means failure equals a ground fall. That’s where…
Have you ever thought about how a climbing rope is made? Have you ever seen the core of a climbing rope or played with the sheath and wondered what function those different parts serve? The video below—from the TV series How It’s Made—was filmed at the New England Ropes factory. Note: The climbing rope portion goes up through 2:43….