How Much Does Rock Climbing Cost? Bouldering And Sport Climbing Gear Breakdown

If you’re thinking about getting into climbing or trying it for the first time, you’ve probably wondered how much rock climbing costs for bouldering and sport climbing gear. Like any sport, you’ve got to buy some stuff before you can start, so the real question is how much you actually need to spend to get on the wall.

This article breaks down the cost of everything, plus a few ways to save money along the way. If you don’t feel like reading the whole thing, here’s the quick version:

Getting started in rock climbing can run anywhere from $200 to $800 depending on the discipline, the gear you pick, and whether you’re climbing indoors or outdoors. The good news is that once you’ve bought that first bit of gear, climbing is pretty cheap compared to a lot of other sports. 

How much does rock climbing cost? Bouldering and sport climbing gear basics

When people talk about climbing, they usually mean bouldering or sport climbing, and those are the two most popular types. Each one needs different gear, so the cost to get started is really different between them. That said, there are a couple of things every climber needs no matter what: shoes and chalk.

Climbing Shoes: $70 to $170

I’ve noticed that a lot of the top-ranking articles about the cost of climbing say the average good pair of climbing shoes runs $170. In reality, $170 is what the top-of-the-line shoes the Olympic climbers wear cost. 

Most climbing shoes fall between $100 and $140, and beginner shoes sit around $100. 

The thing about climbing shoes is that you have to replace them when they wear out. If you boulder indoors, you’ll burn through them a lot faster than if you climb outside. Most climbers find that if they’re bouldering indoors 5 days a week all year, they’ll need at least two pairs of shoes a year. 

You can save some money by getting your shoes resoled for $40 to $50 instead of buying a brand new pair every time they wear down.

Climbers who boulder outdoors on the weekends for 6 to 8 months out of the year usually only swap their shoes every two years or so.

► What to look for when choosing your first pair of climbing shoes

Climbing Chalk Bag: $10 to $45

Climbing chalk is a must for most climbers, but you need something to carry it in, and that’s where the chalk bag comes in. For sport climbing, chalk bags clip to your waist and you can usually only fit one hand in at a time, since your other hand is holding you on the wall. These bags usually run around $15 to $25, though you can find them online for as little as $10.

Some climbers like the fun fuzzy chalk bags with a little face on them, and those usually go for around $30 to $40.

For bouldering, you can use a sport climbing chalk bag or a chalk bucket, which is meant to sit on the ground while you climb. It’s big enough to fit both hands at once, and a lot of boulderers prefer this since they don’t usually chalk up mid-climb.

Chalk buckets usually cost between $30 and $45, but again, you can find them cheaper online.

Climbing Chalk: $7 to $25

The cost of chalk mostly depends on how much you’re buying at a time and whether you go with loose chalk, a chalk ball, a brick, or liquid chalk. You can usually grab a chalk ball for under $10, but you get more chalk for your money with loose chalk or a brick.

Loose chalk is exactly what it sounds like: a bag of chalk you dip your hands into, and it’s the most common type people buy. Depending on the brand and how much is in the bag, loose chalk runs between $10 and $25. If you’re trying to decide on a type or brand, our guide on the best chalk for climbing and bouldering is worth a look.

Chalk bricks are usually the cheapest option for the amount of chalk you get, but like the name says, it’s a solid brick you have to break apart before you can use it. Bricks usually cost between $10 and $20, and $20 gets you A LOT of chalk.

Liquid chalk is the odd one out, as you can probably guess from the name. You apply it like lotion and wait for the liquid to evaporate until it leaves a dry chalk residue behind. It usually costs about the same as loose chalk, so depending on how much you get, figure $10 to $25. If you’ve never used liquid chalk before, I’d grab a smaller bottle first to see if you even like it.

Bouldering Total Gear Cost: $100 to $400

This is the cheapest discipline in climbing because the safety gear you need is so minimal. In lead climbing you need belay devices, carabiners, quickdraws, rope, and more. In bouldering, all you really need is a good pair of shoes, a crash pad, and chalk.

Crash Pads: $100 to $400

The crash pad is the only piece of safety gear you use for bouldering, and its whole job is to keep you from breaking something when you fall. What a pad costs depends on how much ground it covers, how thick it is, and the brand. Most pads run under $300, but a lot of climbers like to run more than one, which pushes the cost up fast.

The nice thing about crash pads is that you usually don’t have to replace them. They aren’t guaranteed for life, but unless you’re dragging them across razors, one should last you a really long time. If you want help picking one, we compared the options in our guide to crash pads for bouldering.

Sport Climbing Total Gear Cost: $125 to $495

Sport climbing usually costs more than bouldering because it takes a lot more safety gear. The upside is that this gear tends to last a long time, so once you’ve bought it, you probably won’t need to buy more for at least two years, as long as you take care of it.

Rope Cost: $50 to $300

The rope is one of the most important pieces of safety gear in rock climbing. What it costs comes down to the type of rope you get (dynamic or static), the length, and the diameter.

How long a rope you need depends on the climbs you’re doing. In my area, most climbs are at least 30 feet and go up to 90 feet. Then there’s big wall climbing, which is way higher than that. Climbing rope is measured in meters, so keep that in mind when you’re figuring out how long a rope your routes call for.

The price gap between static and dynamic rope usually isn’t huge. 

A static rope is great for rappelling and top roping, but if you’re lead climbing or sport climbing, a dynamic rope will make your falls a lot softer. 

Static rope is a little cheaper than dynamic. For example, you can usually find a 30 meter static rope for under $75, while dynamic rope runs between $75 and $90. 

On top of the rope type, you’ve got to think about diameter. A 10.5mm rope is cheaper than a 9mm rope, but it’s also a lot heavier, so keep that in mind if you’ve got a long hike to the crag. 

Diameter also changes how the rope works with your belay device. Make sure the rope actually fits your belay device and vice versa.

The PETZL – Volta 9.2 mm dynamic rope in a 30 meter length runs around $130.

The X XBEN 10.5 mm dynamic rope in a 35 meter length runs around $90. Once you own a rope, keeping it in good shape matters too, and our climbing rope care guide walks you through it.

Harness: $30 to $100

The harness is what ties you into the rope, and it’s essential for staying safe on the wall. What a harness costs depends on the features, like padding, gear loops for holding quickdraws, and sizing adjustments. Generally you can get a nice harness for around $50.

If you really want to save money, you can buy the same bare-bones harnesses the gyms use for less than $20. But there’s no padding, no gear loops for quickdraws, and the sizing clasps aren’t comfortable.

A better move if you’re trying to save money but still want the padding and the other features that make climbing comfortable is to buy a starter kit.

Starter kits run around $60 and include the harness, a belay device, a carabiner, and a chalk bag with chalk. If you want to dig into starter kits and what to weigh when you’re choosing one, check out this article.

► Rock Climbing Starter Kits For Beginners Compared

Carabiners: $10 to $30

Carabiners connect the belayer’s harness to the belay device, which is what keeps you from hitting the ground when the climber slips, so this is another one of those important safety pieces. Carabiners vary in price based on shape, size, weight, locking mechanism, and brand.

The locking mechanism is either auto-lock or screw-lock, and both are equally safe. The difference is mostly the extra effort of screwing the gate shut and then unscrewing it if you cranked it too tight, but the cost gap there is small, maybe $1 to $2.

The same goes for the price differences from shape, size, weight, and brand, though those $1 to $2 gaps do add up.

A good baseline is about $10 for two heavy screw-lock carabiners, going up to about $20 for two light auto-locking ones.

Rappelling/Belaying Devices: $15 to $120

As you can tell from that price range, the belay device is probably the most variable piece of safety gear you’ll buy. The range comes down to the safety features, from a basic ATC to passive-assisted-braking and active-assisted-braking devices.

If you want a device that meets the standards at most USA climbing gyms but is as basic as it gets, you can grab a plain ATC for around $15. If you want that ATC to have teeth for a little extra friction, that runs around $20.

Some countries require assisted-braking devices in their gyms, and those are either passive or active. Passive just means the shape of the device stops a fall by shifting its position on the rope, and those run from $40 to $60.

Active means there’s a moving part that pinches the rope. Active braking devices also have assisted lowering, so you can control how fast you lower someone way more easily than with any other belay device. These usually run between $80 and $100. If you’re still deciding, our roundup of the best belay devices for beginner climbers can help you narrow it down.

If you’re not sure whether an assisted-braking belay device is worth it, check out this article (Should You Upgrade To An Assisted-Braking Belay Device?)

Set Of Quickdraws: $20 to $75

Quickdraws are what clip the rope to the wall as you climb up. If you’re top-roping, you might only use quickdraws for the anchor. If you only need two for the anchor, you can save money by buying them individually instead of in a set.

Quickdraws mostly vary in price by length, the type of gate they use, and, of course, how many are in the set.

The length you need depends on the shape of the climb. A lot of the time you can use the same size draw the whole way up, but if the route has bulges or certain overhangs, you might need longer or shorter draws so you don’t slam into the wall when you fall.

You can usually get a set of same-length quickdraws cheaper than a set with a mix of sizes.

The gate makes a difference in cost too. Wire gates are popular because they open easily when you’re trying to clip a bolt. Some are even hybrids like this one from Black Diamond, with one gate style for the rope end and another for the bolt end.

The biggest thing driving the cost of quickdraws is how many you need to finish the climb. Bolts are generally about six feet apart, so on a 30 foot wall you’ll need at least four to get up plus two for the anchor at the top.

Nice-to-have gear that isn’t strictly necessary

The gear above is what you actually need to climb, but there are a few extras that make climbing more enjoyable or that some folks pick up when they’re getting started even though they don’t have to.

Climbing Brushes: $5 to $15

Brushes are technically “unnecessary,” but they’re really nice to have around, especially if you’re on a popular route caked in oil or chalk residue. That said, plenty of climbers (maybe most climbers) don’t use a brush, and some even use a toothbrush instead of buying a real one. Honestly, if you’re going to brush, I’d go with an actual climbing brush, since there’s a real difference.

Brushes are usually under $10, but if you want one with a lifetime warranty or a secret compartment for attaching a painter’s extension pole, you’ll be closer to $15.

Approach Shoes: $60 to $150

Approach shoes are nice for the hike out, but they really aren’t necessary and won’t change your climbing much. They do keep you comfortable on long, uneven trails the way hiking shoes do, and they help you not slip on rock without the extra weight most hiking boots carry.

Gym Pass: $40 to $80 per month

If you don’t have mountains nearby, or you want to climb every day and getting outside isn’t realistic, a gym pass is a great way to keep climbing.

Most climbing gyms have a monthly membership that saves you a good bit of money over the long run.

What a gym costs usually depends on how many gyms are in your area (competition), the square footage of climbing walls, the hours, what gear or classes are included, and whether they’ve got staff on site.

One nice thing about a gym is that they usually have all or most of the gear you need, so you don’t have to spend as much on the stuff listed above. If you’re heading in for the first time, our guide on what to wear indoor rock climbing covers what to throw on.

The gear gets you on the wall, but climbing better is what keeps it fun and cheap in the long run. If you want steady help with that, Send Edition’s free newsletter sends you a short climbing drill every week that takes about 15 minutes, so you’re improving without spending another dime on gear.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start rock climbing?

Getting started usually runs between $200 and $800 depending on whether you’re bouldering or sport climbing, the gear you choose, and whether you’re indoors or outdoors. Bouldering is the cheaper way in at roughly $100 to $400, since all you really need is shoes, chalk, and a crash pad.

What’s the cheapest way to get into climbing?

Bouldering at a gym is the cheapest way to start. You skip most of the safety gear, gyms often rent shoes and provide pads, and a monthly pass runs about $40 to $80. From there you only really need your own shoes and chalk, which together can be under $110.

Is rock climbing expensive after you buy the gear?

Not really. The gear is the big upfront cost, and most sport climbing gear lasts a couple of years if you take care of it. Crash pads can last for years, and ropes and harnesses hold up a long time. After that first buy-in, climbing is pretty cheap compared to a lot of other sports.

How often do you have to replace climbing shoes?

It depends on how much you climb and where. Bouldering indoors 5 days a week can mean two pairs a year, while climbing outdoors on weekends for part of the year might stretch a pair to two years. You can also get shoes resoled for $40 to $50 instead of buying new.

Is bouldering or sport climbing cheaper to start?

Bouldering is cheaper. It runs about $100 to $400 because the only safety gear is a crash pad. Sport climbing runs about $125 to $495 since you also need a rope, harness, carabiners, a belay device, and quickdraws.

Sara Climbing Coach, Climbing Trainer, Writer

Sara is the founder of Send Edition, author of '77 Drills to Help You Climb Better,' the creator of 'Elevate Your Climbing: Training Planner and Tracker,' and climbing coach.

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