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When it comes to marrying athletics and travel, there are some activities that lend well to just showing up and getting going. Running, biking, and even kayaking are all fairly low-maintenance. Climbing, however, takes some more strategy. But when you get the hang of it, it can be a great way to get to know a new place, and add a sense of adventure to your vacations, be it a short drive from your house or the long-awaited trip you have planned to Maine's Acadia National Park or California's Joshua Tree National Park.
To demystify the actual nuts and bolts of getting into climbing, we talked to professionals and avid recreational climbers about where to start, what gear you’ll actually need, and the terminology you’ll hear again and again. Below, a beginners guide to rock climbing
All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Types of climbing
If you’ve never climbed a day in your life, start in the gym. “Climbing indoors is a great way to gain experience before you go outdoors, and get you comfortable and confident in your technique,” says Emily Monnett, a recreational climber from North Carolina. Indoors, you’ll have plenty of support from setters and fellow climbers, as well as a more clear-cut path in front of you (as in, holds with colors telling you where best to place your hands and feet).
Most indoor gyms are either strictly for bouldering—climbing relatively short heights, with no ropes and a thick mat (called a crash pad) below you to catch your fall—or for bouldering and top-roping, in which you wear a harness attached to a rope and belay system, climb to the top, then repel down with the help of a climbing partner (the belayer) on the ground.
“Bouldering is the easiest way to get into climbing and only requires shoes and some chalk,” says Emma Twyford, a professional climber and route setter based in the U.K. Bouldering also may be more appealing for new climbers trying to conquer a fear of heights. “The first time I climbed, I only climbed side to side. I didn't climb up because I am very afraid of heights,” Monnett said. “You don't have to finish a route your first time.”
Bouldering and top-roping can be done outdoors, too. But when you are climbing outside, the first rule of thumb is to never go at it alone. “I would suggest saving outdoors for going with someone experienced or under instruction till you can climb outside safely,” Twyford said.
Other types of climbing you may hear about include lead climbing and traditional (trad) climbing, but those require more skill and are beyond the scope of where beginners should start.
Gear
If you start climbing in a gym, you won’t need much gear right off the bat. Gyms will rent shoes to you, and have mats and chalk in their facilities. (Depending on where you live, some gyms remain closed due to COVID concerns; of those that are open, some have stopped renting equipment for the time being.) If you find yourself becoming a regular in the gym, though, or are ready to head outdoors, you’ll want to invest in your own pair of shoes. It sounds obvious, but the main goal is to find a shoe that fits your foot well. You want something relatively flat to start; a more aggressive shoe, with a curved toe, won’t do you much good off the bat, Monnett says, as you won’t be using your toes much yet when climbing. Head to an REI or other local sports retailer to try on a few pairs from popular brands like La Sportiva, So iLL, and Butora.
Crash pads are expensive, the climbers we talk to note, so until you’re really serious about climbing regularly outside the gym, you’re better off climbing with more experienced (and geared up) friends first, taking courses with instructors who can provide gear, or renting a mat at a climbing site. For bouldering, you’ll want to have chalk and a chalk bag on hand; you can find basic ones at most sports retailers, but if you want something more custom, Etsy has plenty of options.
For those top-roping, the gear list is more extensive: You’ll need a 60 to 70m rope, a couple of carabiners, a sturdy harness (make sure it is UIAA certified), a helmet, a ground cloth or tarp for your rope to dangle on, and a belay assisted braking device like a Petzl Grigri, plus shoes and chalk. Depending on where and when you’re climbing, “Plenty of good warm clothing is important,” Twyford says. “I love to climb in leggings but I tend to have to wear a sports top, a Capilene base layer, R2 tech hoodie, and then an assortment of Patagonia down jackets.” [Editor's note: Patagonia is one of Twyford's sponsors.]
If you’re really into the nitty gritty of climbing, the Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills mountain guide comes highly recommended as a sort of compendium of best practices, with sections on how to perform basic first aid, how to snow climb, and more.
Where to climb
To find places to climb in your area, or in an area you may soon be road tripping to, mountainproject.com, the Crag, and 8a.nu are great resources for routes. All are crowdsourced websites, with detailed posts and photos from climbers who have visited before you. Guidebooks can be handy, too, though first-person experience is often your best bet. If you don’t have friends already well-versed in climbing, groups like Brown Girls Climb, Never Stop Moving, and Flash Foxy exist to help women tap into the community and meet people to climb with. Additionally, guided climbing trips planned by places like Fox Mountain Guides and Alpine Ascents ensure a safe experience.
Ratings
Of all the terminology thrown around amongst climbers—beta (strategy), setters (gym employees who reset wall routes)—the rating systems are perhaps the most immediately useful to know. In the U.S., bouldering routes are ranked using the V scale, starting at V0 and going up to V16, getting harder as the number increases. Ratings, however, can shift: The first person who climbs a route gets to grade it, though as more people climb it (and post their opinions about it on the internet), it may change.
Rope climbing (again, in the U.S.) follows the YDS scale, with technical climbs rated from 5.0 to 5.15, with 5.1 to 5.4 being classified as ‘easy’. REI offers a more in-depth guide to ratings here.
Overcoming nerves
If all this seems overwhelming, start small: Head to a nearby climbing gym, where you’re bound to meet people who can help out. “Just give it a go; usually people are very friendly and helpful,” Twyford says. Also, knowing your initial limitations is helpful. “It’s easy to be intimidated when you go and see lots of really strong people doing these really cool things,” Monnett says. “If you’re having trouble with something, you can always ask someone and someone will help you.”
Also, have patience: “It took me probably three to six months to feel like I really got the hang of it, before I knew the technique and I didn’t have to think about every climbing move to do it right,” Monnett says. “But if you keep climbing, you'll start seeing progress quickly, and it’s a lot of fun.”