Climbing kit - part 1. First essential items.

So it can be a bit of an expensive business to get started, but the first and most important thing is safety. This always has to be your first concern. So don't ever think that you can just throw yourself up the nearest rock face on your own, with no training and no kit. You can do this if you want, of course, I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life. But I would REALLY advise against it!

You can go indoor climbing and hire basic gear, such as shoes, harness, chalk bag and rope if you are doing lead climbing.  More about some of these later, as the terms might not mean a lot to any newbies out there. And indoor climbing is a great place to start - more about that to follow.

So - some basics.

Shoes. You need proper footwear. Your trainers will not have proper grip and the rubber is not hard enough to make for safe climbing. So you need something like these.

Prices range from about £30 to about £200 but are essential for any climber.  You can buy these from places such as Go Outdoors 

try here - 

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/climbing/climbing-shoes

 And like I said, if you are climbing indoors, then hire a pair from the climbing unit. This will cost you from about £3 - £5 on average depending on where you are.

And whilst we are on the subject of what to wear, don't be a tool and turn up in your tightest jeans! Its not a fashion show up there - you need flexible clothes that you can move about in! Think about it! And don't forget, even if it looks like a nice day, it can get pretty cold half way up a rock face, so be sure to think about the weather; plan ahead. You will be focusing on staying alive when you are up there, it's no good worrying about your temperature when you are stuck to the side of a rock.

Chalk

So we are not talking about the blackboard piece of chalk that they used to use in schools. This is chalk powder. This is essential to rub on your hands to keep them dry. You don't want damp sweaty palms when you are climbing. You will slip. You need to be able to have a firm grip in order to climb properly. You chalk will be in a chalk bag. 

take a look here to get the idea. But don't skip out on this. It's essential kit and remember you need to keep safe.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/climbing/chalk-and-chalk-bags

Helmet

For outdoor climbing  a helmet is advised, although not mandatory, but obviously if you were to knock your head you would be less likely to suffer the associated pain and bruising if you DID wear a helmet. Not so necessary if you are just climbing a straight up rock face, but if there are parts of the rock face that are jutting out that you could, maybe, catch your head on...well you know it makes sense!!!!! Indoors helmets don't tend to be worn as there are not really many places that you can bang your head. They tend to be straight flat walls without bits sticking out for you to bang your head on. Just watch out for the abseiling climbers flying past you as you are on the ascent.....

So there are a few tips for what you will need in the first instance. Look out soon for further details of your climbing kit.