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A new rock gym just opened up near me and Im looking to get into climbing but the membership is 70$ and gear rental isn't included...
For the sake of my wallet can any of you recommend entry level gear? Just looking for a harness and belay device mainly, shoes aren't important unless cheap
Standard package right here. Used the harness before and it's pretty good. Nothing special, but nothing missing either.
You can obviously buy a better one....but it's a good starter.
For shoes I highly recommend the La Sportiva tarantula....they are probably the best cheap shoe out there...great all around boot. You can find them on sale quite often....so usually they only cost~70 bucks
Standard package right here. Used the harness before and it's pretty good. Nothing special, but nothing missing either.
You can obviously buy a better one....but it's a good starter.
For shoes I highly recommend the La Sportiva tarantula....they are probably the best cheap shoe out there...great all around boot. You can find them on sale quite often....so usually they only cost~70 bucks
patagonialukeYep, climbed for 4 years in this harness and it served me fine through sport, trad, gym, alpine, and ice.
If you get really into a certain (or multiple) disciplines you may eventually want to get a new one, but it's a great start.
I'd also take a look at mountainproject.com. The Buy/Sell thread there has a ton of good deals.
Mountain project kills it. Awesome deals over there.
And yeah....if you end up doing big wall or a ton of sport you may switch up to a more comfy/or lighter harness or whatever. I've never had too many issues with harnesses though.
Standard package right here. Used the harness before and it's pretty good. Nothing special, but nothing missing either.
You can obviously buy a better one....but it's a good starter.
For shoes I highly recommend the La Sportiva tarantula....they are probably the best cheap shoe out there...great all around boot. You can find them on sale quite often....so usually they only cost~70 bucks
Get that setup and climb for a little bit before you go try shoes on. Much like ski boots, they fit in their own weird way that you won't be able to identify with no experience.
I know you think shoes are a low priority for you right now, but having a pair of shoes that have molded to your feet from hours of climbing will really help you progress for your first 6 months-year of climbing. Learn proper technique and you won't blow the toes out on your cheapy shoes for a decent amount of time.
If you don't like the fit of the La Sportiva shoes, try out the Evolv Spark! Different brands will fit different peoples feet better, it's impossible to say that the Tarantula will be the best for you, so definitely look at a few different brands entry-level shoes. There's nothing you need to be able to identify as far as trying on these cheap shoes except for the fact that they are comfy. Don't size down too far, pick whichever brand feels best on your feet. The myth that climbing shoes need to be inherently painful and cramped is a pretty old-school way of thinking and really doesn't apply with newer shoe technology. With that said, they probably will still hurt a little bit as they should run tighter than anything else you put on your feet so that you don't have any play in the toe or heel as you move your foot. Try on sizes starting with your street shoe size, then work down until they become mildly uncomfortable (not painful, uncomfortable), and go with those. The uncomfortable feeling will go away as you wear them in (even if they are 100% synthetic materials, doesn't really matter, things will warp).
I climbed in the sparks for my first full year and a half of climbing up through V6/5.11a indoors; V5/5.10b outdoors. Don't get roped into buying $150 shoes even after you start progressing. I would be projecting the same shit in my Sparks as people in Solutions. If possible, buy from REI. I took my sparks back with holes in the toes and they gave me a full refund and I just used that $80 towards my next pair which were La Sportiva Katana Laces (best shoes in existence imo). Willingness to accept clearly worn returns varies by REI location.
The black diamond entry level belay package is certainly the way to go, good price and safe equipment.
Is that $70 for 3 months, 6 months, year, etc?
**This post was edited on Jul 27th 2017 at 7:00:57pm
funk~I know you think shoes are a low priority for you right now, but having a pair of shoes that have molded to your feet from hours of climbing will really help you progress for your first 6 months-year of climbing. Learn proper technique and you won't blow the toes out on your cheapy shoes for a decent amount of time.
If you don't like the fit of the La Sportiva shoes, try out the Evolv Spark! Different brands will fit different peoples feet better, it's impossible to say that the Tarantula will be the best for you, so definitely look at a few different brands entry-level shoes. There's nothing you need to be able to identify as far as trying on these cheap shoes except for the fact that they are comfy. Don't size down too far, pick whichever brand feels best on your feet. The myth that climbing shoes need to be inherently painful and cramped is a pretty old-school way of thinking and really doesn't apply with newer shoe technology. With that said, they probably will still hurt a little bit as they should run tighter than anything else you put on your feet so that you don't have any play in the toe or heel as you move your foot. Try on sizes starting with your street shoe size, then work down until they become mildly uncomfortable (not painful, uncomfortable), and go with those. The uncomfortable feeling will go away as you wear them in (even if they are 100% synthetic materials, doesn't really matter, things will warp).
I climbed in the sparks for my first full year and a half of climbing up through V6/5.11a indoors; V5/5.10b outdoors. Don't get roped into buying $150 shoes even after you start progressing. I would be projecting the same shit in my Sparks as people in Solutions. If possible, buy from REI. I took my sparks back with holes in the toes and they gave me a full refund and I just used that $80 towards my next pair which were La Sportiva Katana Laces (best shoes in existence imo). Willingness to accept clearly worn returns varies by REI location.
The black diamond entry level belay package is certainly the way to go, good price and safe equipment.
Is that $70 for 3 months, 6 months, year, etc?
**This post was edited on Jul 27th 2017 at 7:00:57pm
Katana laces are a gift from the gods. Best shoe I've ever put on my feet.
I agree with everything you said about shoes....take some time to figure out what you need/what fit you need OP. Most people who buy a shoe right away regret the sizing about a month in due to not knowing how a climbing shoe should fit/leather stretching
funk~I know you think shoes are a low priority for you right now, but having a pair of shoes that have molded to your feet from hours of climbing will really help you progress for your first 6 months-year of climbing. Learn proper technique and you won't blow the toes out on your cheapy shoes for a decent amount of time.
If you don't like the fit of the La Sportiva shoes, try out the Evolv Spark! Different brands will fit different peoples feet better, it's impossible to say that the Tarantula will be the best for you, so definitely look at a few different brands entry-level shoes. There's nothing you need to be able to identify as far as trying on these cheap shoes except for the fact that they are comfy. Don't size down too far, pick whichever brand feels best on your feet. The myth that climbing shoes need to be inherently painful and cramped is a pretty old-school way of thinking and really doesn't apply with newer shoe technology. With that said, they probably will still hurt a little bit as they should run tighter than anything else you put on your feet so that you don't have any play in the toe or heel as you move your foot. Try on sizes starting with your street shoe size, then work down until they become mildly uncomfortable (not painful, uncomfortable), and go with those. The uncomfortable feeling will go away as you wear them in (even if they are 100% synthetic materials, doesn't really matter, things will warp).
I climbed in the sparks for my first full year and a half of climbing up through V6/5.11a indoors; V5/5.10b outdoors. Don't get roped into buying $150 shoes even after you start progressing. I would be projecting the same shit in my Sparks as people in Solutions. If possible, buy from REI. I took my sparks back with holes in the toes and they gave me a full refund and I just used that $80 towards my next pair which were La Sportiva Katana Laces (best shoes in existence imo). Willingness to accept clearly worn returns varies by REI location.
The black diamond entry level belay package is certainly the way to go, good price and safe equipment.
Is that $70 for 3 months, 6 months, year, etc?
**This post was edited on Jul 27th 2017 at 7:00:57pm
Yeah the 70$ was for one month... I'll be paying per visit instead since I won't be going as much.
I ended up picking up the black diamond momentum harness and some other belay device.
As for shoes I'm going to check what options they have in the gym's miniature REI shop, so I can try some on, and until then I'll just climb in whatever shoes I happen to be wearing
Bump kind of want to get into climbing so I can summit some dicey peaks on backpacking trips. Not sure how that would go though. I'm a broke lil bitch and haven't looked into it at all.
DeepskierBump kind of want to get into climbing so I can summit some dicey peaks on backpacking trips. Not sure how that would go though. I'm a broke lil bitch and haven't looked into it at all.
The advice given in this thread is generally good. A harness and belay device are certainly not expensive. The Momentum package from Black Diamond is a good choice.
For shoes, you will need to spend a bit and you should not buy them online without trying them on first. They are like ski boots. Every brand, and even every model will fit and feel differently. La Sportiva and 5.10 are the two major brands. They also fit very differently. I cannot wear a La Sportiva at all - they just do not fit my foot (other than their ice boots, which fit well).
All you need to get started is a harness, belay device, climbing shoes, and chalk bag. Buy the cheapest chalk bag you can find - they all are fine.
My brother borrowed my climbing harness for his climbing gym membership so he could stop renting and they rejected it, needed two locking caribeaners instead of one or something, idk. The point is, make sure your gear is good enough for the snooty gym you are joining.
CaseyMy brother borrowed my climbing harness for his climbing gym membership so he could stop renting and they rejected it, needed two locking caribeaners instead of one or something, idk. The point is, make sure your gear is good enough for the snooty gym you are joining.
lol the gym obvi has a policy in place, and it was being enforced. you really gonna talk shit on a gym for being safe and covering their asses from lawsuits?
CaseyMy brother borrowed my climbing harness for his climbing gym membership so he could stop renting and they rejected it, needed two locking caribeaners instead of one or something, idk. The point is, make sure your gear is good enough for the snooty gym you are joining.
I think what you are trying to say is that they needed two points of contact. most harnesses have two loops that you're supposed to tie the rope through. If you get a normal black diamond harness then you shouldnt have a problem
J_SI think what you are trying to say is that they needed two points of contact. most harnesses have two loops that you're supposed to tie the rope through. If you get a normal black diamond harness then you shouldnt have a problem
Yeah that's what I'm guessing too. Not sure why you would ever climb or get a harness with only one. I would not allow that either
Profahoben_212Yeah that's what I'm guessing too. Not sure why you would ever climb or get a harness with only one. I would not allow that either
I wasn't bashing the gym for having that policy, it was more just a heads up that it isn't a free for all when you bring your own stuff. TBH I haven't used that harness in 10 years, but I got it from REI off the advice of a friend who is crazy into rock climbing so he could teach me the basics of bouldering and belaying at the public wall by our house. I never took a hard fall in it but I'm still alive.
iFlipThe advice given in this thread is generally good. A harness and belay device are certainly not expensive. The Momentum package from Black Diamond is a good choice.
For shoes, you will need to spend a bit and you should not buy them online without trying them on first. They are like ski boots. Every brand, and even every model will fit and feel differently. La Sportiva and 5.10 are the two major brands. They also fit very differently. I cannot wear a La Sportiva at all - they just do not fit my foot (other than their ice boots, which fit well).
All you need to get started is a harness, belay device, climbing shoes, and chalk bag. Buy the cheapest chalk bag you can find - they all are fine.
In no time at all you'll be wanting to buy a rope and a helmet and go outside on real rocks on real mountains and do real climbing.
maybe rent gear before you try it. honestly I thought I would like rock climbing, bought all the necesarry gear, been out a handful of times and just dont enjoy it as much as my friends do.
its also the cheapest sport Ive ever gotten into so to get yourself going if you do like it is relatively inexpensive. as others here have posted you can get yourself a harness, chalk bag, and belay device setup for under a $100 at REI or MEC in Canada and shoes go for $70 to $150 but it all depends on what climbing you want to be doing.
Try it first and if you still find yourself doing it after 3 or 4 times then drop in.
