mountaineering never more popular. Whether you’re discovering nearby outdoor rock climbing on the Mountain Project or googling your local indoor climbing gym, no matter where you live, you’re likely to find a climbing spot near your home. Most climbers are familiar with safety routines, terminology, and gear when climbing indoors. However, if you meet the right climber or take an American Mountain Guides Association-approved course, you can start outdoors.
Whether you’re indoors or out, you’ll need some essential gear. I’ve kept it simple (and affordable) in this guide because it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the jargon of tech gear. You also won’t be a climb leader until you’re more experienced, so I’ve omitted things like ropes and quick pulls that your climb leader will have. You can wear anything stretchy (no jeans!), but I recommend turning to technical synthetic layers for climbing outdoors.
Update June 2022: We’ve added Camp Nano 22, Photon Lock, Metolius Refillable Chalk Socks and Black Diamond Creek 20 Backpack.
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