Buying Rock Climbing Equipment

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Rock Climbing: Hit Your Peak Online

Once relegated to the obscure bastion of an extreme sport, rock climbing has become so popular that you'll now find men, women, and children of all ages and levels of fitness at the gym or out on the rock, alongside lithe and limber experts. Advances in equipment, safety, and instruction have opened up the world of climbing to just about anyone. With the help of the Internet, you can begin to learn about, or perfect, your climbing experience right from your own home.

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Rock Climbing Sites, Magazines, and General Information

Climbing is varied and multifaceted, and trying to get an understanding of what it is can be a bit ... read more »

Basics of Rock Climbing: Instruction, Gyms, and Communities

The first thing you'll need to figure out is where to climb. One of the best places to start is ... read more »

Buying Rock Climbing Equipment

Climbing equipment sites make it easier than ever to shop for gear online by collecting different brands in one place and comparing features and prices for you. This is where online shops have the advantage over brick-and-mortar stores: you can drill down to an in-depth assessment of features and learn more about a product than you ever might in a store. But if you have access to a sporting goods store close by that carries climbing equipment, it might be worth a visit too. Oftentimes, you'll find handy tips about gear, groups, and locations from climbing addict employees.

Dulcinea's Insight

Concerned about costs? It's possible to start climbing with a cash outlay of about $100 if you go with bouldering (and borrow a crash pad). But when most folks think of climbing, they imagine scaling gym walls or rock faces. To do this, expect to spend an additional $40-$80 on a harness, $30-$40 on a belay device and locking carabiner, and $80 on a helmet. Ropes and quickdraws can come later. Trad gear (traditional climbing gear) adds up even more quickly, but Alpine climbing and ice climbing require the most cash right off the bat.

If you're using a climbing wall at a local gym, or one where you can pay for the day, it may be possible to rent gear on site.

If you're not sure what equipment you need and want an education before you buy anything, check out the gear overview sites in the "How do I get started climbing?" section of this guide. Then come back here when you're ready to shop.

There's a myth that climbing shoes must fit tightly enough to cause pain to work well. Not true. It's generally acknowledged that shoes should be fairly snug for the best "feel" through your shoes, but not torture-worthy. Make sure to remove your shoes while belaying to reduce discomfort and keep the rubber nice and "grippy". Also, keep in mind that leather shoes will stretch over time.

Dulcinea's Picks

REI is at the top of the list with a beautifully laid-out site loaded with "How to Choose" articles for every type of climbing gear necessary. Be sure to check out REI's outlet store too (you'll find the link at the main site).

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Bouldering is your one-stop site for bouldering products. You can find a large array of DVD's online.

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Spadout has a "Comparison Tool" that lets you compare prices for a variety of gear and shoes, and a unique "Rack Simulator" that lets you build a virtual set of trad gear and compare options for price, weight, etc.

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Backcountry sells general outdoor sporting goods as well, but features all climbing products on one page for an easy start. There are fleshed-out product descriptions and user reviews/comments for comparison. Sign up for the free newsletter. A minimum purchase of $50 will get you free shipping.

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Oregon Mountain Community places its emphasis on scores and good deals, as evidenced by the homepage. The company sells outdoor equipment too, but has the bare-bones basics for climbing at good prices.

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Mountain Gear also sells general outdoor goods, but has a bigger selection than e-omc and sometimes offers sales up to 50 percent off. Products include very helpful user reviews. (You may end up changing your mind after reading them!)

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Climb Axe sticks to the basics, but offers a package deal that includes a harness, belay device, chalk, and chalk bag at a steep discount.

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US Outdoor Store features every possible piece of gear for bouldering, sport, ice, or trad climbing, all on one master page. There is no sales tax on continental U.S. orders over $40.

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Petzl manufactures gear for sport and ice climbing, mountaineering, and aid climbing, amongst other things. It offers videos and pictorial descriptions of climbing terms and activities. A "Fall Simulator" lets you calculate the force of a fall based on the type of climbing, size of rope, climbers weight, etc.

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Just Ropes sells ... just that. As one of the most expensive and important pieces of equipment you'll ever purchase for climbing, it pays to shop around for the best deal.

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Sierra Trading Post offers deep discounts of up to 60 percent off retail, but doesn't have the widest selection.

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