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• Rock-climbing shoes $89 or more. • Chalk bag, $20 • Harness, $45 to $80 The view from the top: Priceless |
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Climbing up a wall
How much equipment does it take to get involved in rock climbing?
Staff reports, reno.com
Buy a pair of running shoes and you're set to begin your jogging career. Hop on a bike and you're a cyclist. Purchase a swim suit and a pair of goggles and you're ready to swim laps. But how much equipment does it take to get involved in rock climbing?
In order to to get involved in the type of free climbing known as bouldering, it doesn't take much more than a pair of shoes to literally "get off the ground."
Bouldering is the simplest form of climbing. All a person needs to get started in bouldering are a pair of climbing shoes and a chalk bag.
Climbing shoes are essential because the rubber soles allow a person to "stick" to the rock while climbing. The shoes fit very tightly, allowing the climber to feel the rock.
The average cost of a pair of climbing shoes is $79 to $89 or more. Beginners often make more moves on the rocks, so they wear out shoes more quickly than an experienced climber, but shoes can be resoled.
A chalk bag is a necessity because a climber's hands sweat like crazy. The chalk rids the hands of moisture and allows a climber to maintain a hold on the rock. A chalk bag costs about $20.
No ropes are needed in bouldering because climbers remain only a body's length above the ground. Instead of moving upwards, climbers traverse, which means they move side to side across the surface of the rock. Bouldering appeals to even the most experienced climber because, with a minimum of equipment required, one can climb nearly anywhere.
People wanting to step-up to free climbing with mechanical aids for protection (traditional rock climbing with ropes) will need to purchase a harness. A harness is a webbing around the waist which allows the climber to hook into safety ropes. Most harnesses are adjustable and come with padded belts and loops. Women can purchase harnesses which are cut proportionally for a woman's body. Harnesses cost about $45 to $80.
When starting outdoor climbing with ropes, a beginners' class is recommended. Students should learn belaying, rappelling and movement on rock before they climb unsupervised.
In order to to get involved in the type of free climbing known as bouldering, it doesn't take much more than a pair of shoes to literally "get off the ground."
Bouldering is the simplest form of climbing. All a person needs to get started in bouldering are a pair of climbing shoes and a chalk bag.
Climbing shoes are essential because the rubber soles allow a person to "stick" to the rock while climbing. The shoes fit very tightly, allowing the climber to feel the rock.
The average cost of a pair of climbing shoes is $79 to $89 or more. Beginners often make more moves on the rocks, so they wear out shoes more quickly than an experienced climber, but shoes can be resoled.
A chalk bag is a necessity because a climber's hands sweat like crazy. The chalk rids the hands of moisture and allows a climber to maintain a hold on the rock. A chalk bag costs about $20.
No ropes are needed in bouldering because climbers remain only a body's length above the ground. Instead of moving upwards, climbers traverse, which means they move side to side across the surface of the rock. Bouldering appeals to even the most experienced climber because, with a minimum of equipment required, one can climb nearly anywhere.
People wanting to step-up to free climbing with mechanical aids for protection (traditional rock climbing with ropes) will need to purchase a harness. A harness is a webbing around the waist which allows the climber to hook into safety ropes. Most harnesses are adjustable and come with padded belts and loops. Women can purchase harnesses which are cut proportionally for a woman's body. Harnesses cost about $45 to $80.
When starting outdoor climbing with ropes, a beginners' class is recommended. Students should learn belaying, rappelling and movement on rock before they climb unsupervised.
Start at an indoor climbing gym
Visiting an indoor gym is a good way to get into climbing and an excellent way to gain experience.An indoor climbing gym is a controlled environment with predetermined levels of difficulty. It's a more efficient way to learn to climb, because you spend more time on the rock than you would outdoors. It's a good way to pick up the basics and learn different holds. Plus, you can still climb in a gym even if the weather doesn't cooperate.
For more information, consult with staff from one of the following suppliers.
Rock Sport Climbing Center
1901 Silverado Blvd. #10
Reno, Nevada 89512
(775) 352-ROPE (7673)
$12 per day; $5 for gear rental
Kids' climb Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $18.
Birthday parties welcome
Climbers must be accompanied by someone 18 or older to sign waivers. Patrons must be age 14 or older to belay.
Offers 6500 square feet of indoor climbing walls with top roping, lead climbing, and bouldering. Climbing walls up to 35' tall. Bouldering cave is 500 sq. feet.
Sports Exchange: Gravity Works rock gym
10095 West River Street
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 582-4510
A day pass at Gravity Works costs $8. The gym has a special 10-pack for frequent users for $50, or monthly passes for $40. Shoes and harness rentals are also available. The indoor gym offers 1,100 square feet of climbing, including bouldering and natural surface. Two to three top ropes are available, but are used mostly during kids' hours, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays - Thursdays.
Owner Brent Cutler took this seasonal outdoors supply store from a consignment shop to a full-blown retail outfitter with everything rock climbers need including hardware to harnesses to soft goods. They offer a Beginners' Basics package that will outfit new climbers with everything they need to get their climb on. Spring hours run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the off season, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning mid-May.
Headwall Cafe and Climbing Wall
Cable Car Building
Squaw Valley Ski Corporation
1960 Squaw Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(530) 583-6985
Daily unlimited climbing $14
Parties and groups welcome
Shoe rental $4
Adjacent cafe
Kids and adults can enjoy the 30-foot indoor wall open year-round or 45-foot outdoor wall in summer. Both offer beginner to expert levels. The 25 routes to choose from offer exciting fun for all ages. Open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., June 10 to Labor Day Weekend.
This story was previously published on reno.com Nov. 11, 2006
1901 Silverado Blvd. #10
Reno, Nevada 89512
(775) 352-ROPE (7673)
$12 per day; $5 for gear rental
Kids' climb Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $18.
Birthday parties welcome
Climbers must be accompanied by someone 18 or older to sign waivers. Patrons must be age 14 or older to belay.
Offers 6500 square feet of indoor climbing walls with top roping, lead climbing, and bouldering. Climbing walls up to 35' tall. Bouldering cave is 500 sq. feet.
Sports Exchange: Gravity Works rock gym
10095 West River Street
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 582-4510
A day pass at Gravity Works costs $8. The gym has a special 10-pack for frequent users for $50, or monthly passes for $40. Shoes and harness rentals are also available. The indoor gym offers 1,100 square feet of climbing, including bouldering and natural surface. Two to three top ropes are available, but are used mostly during kids' hours, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays - Thursdays.
Owner Brent Cutler took this seasonal outdoors supply store from a consignment shop to a full-blown retail outfitter with everything rock climbers need including hardware to harnesses to soft goods. They offer a Beginners' Basics package that will outfit new climbers with everything they need to get their climb on. Spring hours run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the off season, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning mid-May.
Headwall Cafe and Climbing Wall
Cable Car Building
Squaw Valley Ski Corporation
1960 Squaw Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(530) 583-6985
Daily unlimited climbing $14
Parties and groups welcome
Shoe rental $4
Adjacent cafe
Kids and adults can enjoy the 30-foot indoor wall open year-round or 45-foot outdoor wall in summer. Both offer beginner to expert levels. The 25 routes to choose from offer exciting fun for all ages. Open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., June 10 to Labor Day Weekend.
This story was previously published on reno.com Nov. 11, 2006
