What Is The Minimal Gear For Bouldering? A Simple Starter Kit

Bouldering doesn’t ask for much gear compared to rope climbing. Most problems top out around 12 feet, and since there’s no rope or belayer to catch you, you’re counting on a good landing instead of a harness and a rack of gear. That keeps the shopping list short.

The minimal gear for bouldering comes down to a pair of climbing shoes and a crash pad. Most climbers also grab chalk and a chalk bag or chalk bucket to protect their skin and keep sweaty palms under control.

If you don’t have these three things yet, you’ll want to think about where you’re climbing and how much experience you have before you pick the best options for you. If you’re brand new to the sport, our guide on what bouldering actually is is a good place to start before you spend a dollar.

Climbing Shoes 

Expected Cost: $70 to $150

If you’re new to climbing, you might be tempted to boulder in tennis shoes. I get it, but climbing shoes make a real difference in whether or not you send your project.

Rock shoes are built to support your toes on tiny footholds and give your feet real grip on the wall. Once you feel the difference, it’s hard to go back.

My Top Recommendation: Mad Rock Drone LV

Recommendation for Beginners: Black Diamond Momentum (see price on Backcountry here)

Here’s what I look for when I’m picking a new pair of climbing shoes:

• Shoe Shape: For bouldering it’s ideal to get a pair that’s neutral, meaning flat, or moderate, meaning slightly downturned. New climbers usually go for neutral shoes because they’re the most comfortable.
• Rubber Type: The better the rubber, the easier it is to grip the wall with your feet. That’s why you usually have to spend over $120 for a pair with really good rubber.
• Sizing: Comfortable is usually too big and painful is too small, so find a pair that’s snug but not painful to wear. Heel cup size and toe box size vary a lot, so try the shoes on before you buy and feel around for extra space through the foot. You probably won’t find a pair that fits perfectly, but one that fits as snug as possible is the goal.

I wrote a whole article about my favorite climbing shoes and what to look for when you’re choosing your next pair here.

Crash Pad

Expected Cost: $100 to $350

Crash pads are only needed for outdoor bouldering, so if you’re climbing at the gym you can skip this one. For everyone heading outside, the pad is what softens your fall, and it’s a must-have for climbing safely.

My Top 5 Recommendations for Crash Pads

When you’re shopping for a crash pad, here’s what to weigh before you buy:

• Thickness: Most bouldering pads run between 3½ and 5 inches thick. Generally, the thicker the pad, the softer the landing. If you’re climbing higher problems, go thicker. If most of your climbs are short and you want to save some money, you can usually get away with a 3½ inch pad.
• Size: In bouldering there’s a fall zone, which is the area you’re most likely to land in when you come off. The higher or more overhung the route (the steeper the angle) the bigger the pad you’ll need to cover that zone. Plenty of people buy multiple pads to cover it, but if you don’t want to do that, you can have a friend move the pad as you climb and spot you toward it if you fall.
• Foam Material: The foam changes how firm the pad feels and how long it lasts. Thinner pads should be firmer so you don’t feel rocks under the pad when you land. Thicker pads usually have a stiff layer under a softer layer to make the fall more comfortable. The terms you’ll see are Hard/Closed and Soft/Open.

I wrote an article going deeper into what to consider before buying a crash pad and what I recommend based on where you’re climbing here. If you’re heading outside for the first time, it’s also worth reading up on whether you should wear a helmet for bouldering.

Chalk

Expected Cost: $5 to $15

You can go with liquid chalk or powder (dry) chalk. Boulderers usually prefer powder because you don’t have to wait for it to dry between problems. That said, a lot of strong climbers lay down a base layer of liquid chalk and then put powder on top.

Liquid Chalk Recommendation: Friction Labs Skin Friendly Secret Stuff (see price on Backcountry here)

Dry Chalk Recommendation: Joshua Tree Flower Power (see price on Amazon here)

With dry chalk, there’s a range from fine to chunky. Fine chalk feels like a soft powder, and chunky chalk is, well, chunky. You usually have to crush the chunks in your hands to spread it around.

Some climbers love chunky chalk and some swear by fine chalk.

Pros of Chunky Chalk:

• Stays in your chalk bag better because the chunks are heavy
• It’s easy to feel where the chalk has gone when you crush the chunks between your fingers

Cons of Chunky Chalk:

• Some chunks hurt to break apart
• It can be hard to get chalk everywhere you need it without rubbing both hands together

Pros of Fine Chalk:

• Easy to get everywhere you need it
• Feels soft and comfortable on your hands

Cons of Fine Chalk:

• It tends to “poof” everywhere and can make a mess
• Because it poofs everywhere, you waste a lot of it, which makes it a little more expensive

This article covers every chalk question I could think of: Everything You Need To Know About Climbing Chalk

Chalk Bag vs Chalk Bucket

Expected Cost: $10 to $45

Chalk bags are more common for rope climbing because you can clip one to your waist and re-chalk partway up a route. Bouldering routes are short, though, so a lot of climbers use a chalk bucket that stays on the ground while they climb.

So which one is right for you?

The video above is a pros and cons comparison I made of the two, and here’s a quick summary if you’d rather read.

My chalk bucket is a Moon Climbing Bucket: See the pricing from Moon Climbing here.

My chalk bag isn’t available online, but I plan to grab this really cute one from Backcountry.

Pros of Chalk Bag

• It can clip to your waist so it’s always with you
• No one is going to grab chalk from your bag without asking first
• You can re-chalk during a route if you need to
• They usually have a spot for a brush, so you always have one on you for a tricky hold

Cons of a Chalk Bag

• If you leave it open while you’re climbing and then fall, you’ll probably dump a lot of chalk
• You can only fit one hand in comfortably, so you tend to lose chalk getting both hands coated

Pros of a Chalk Bucket

• You can fit both hands in the bucket at once, so you waste less
• The bucket stays at the base of the route, so you don’t risk losing chalk when you fall
• Most buckets have pockets for your gear, phone and keys (it’s like a gym bag for climbing)

Cons of a Chalk Bucket

• It takes up more space when you’re storing it
• Other people at the gym are more likely to help themselves without asking

Other Gear That’s Nice To Have But Isn’t Necessary

The stuff above covers the minimal gear for a great and safe time bouldering. If you’re wondering what else is worth tossing in your bag, here are a few of the most useful extras.

Climbing Brush

Expected Cost: $7 to $30

I use the Black Diamond Medium Brush and it’s perfect for indoor and outdoor climbing: See the price from Amazon here.

Climbing brushes clean off holds when you run into a slippery or slimy one on the route you’re working.

If you want to go cheap, an old toothbrush works, but most climbing brushes use horsehair and are a bit bigger. A lot of gyms already have brushes you can borrow, so you may not need your own. If you want one for outdoor bouldering though, I highly recommend it.

My gym has a few long, large brushes, but I find my own small brush is way easier to handle, so it comes in handy all the time.

Tape

Expected Cost: $5 to $15

I use the Evolv Magic Tape because it’s the perfect thickness and comes in fun colors. You can see the price on REI here.

You’ll see a lot of climbers at the gym with tape on. It’s sometimes used to help prevent tendon injuries, but I’d only really recommend it for skincare.

Your hands go through a phase where they’re getting used to how rough climbing is, and you might get flappers (when a chunk of skin tears off and hangs on by a small edge, so it looks like a little flap). When you get a flapper, you can either stop climbing or tape the skin together to keep going.

Ideally you’d give your skin enough time to heal, but most climbers, myself included, have a hard time sitting out, so we tape up and climb while it’s still healing.

ClimbOn

Expected Cost: $5 to $15

See the current price on REI here.

Your skin is often red and sore after a session, and ClimbOn is a skincare product that soothes the ache and helps it heal fast. There are a few other post-climbing options from companies like Joshua Tree and Friction Labs, but ClimbOn is my favorite because it’s less greasy and smells great.

You can use ClimbOn lotion (nice for broken skin), but I like the salve in a tube best because it’s easy to apply and the least greasy thing I’ve tried on my hands after climbing.

Putting Your Minimal Gear For Bouldering Together

Start simple. Get climbing shoes that fit snug, add a crash pad if you’re heading outside, and grab some chalk with a bag or bucket to keep it in. That’s the whole minimal gear for bouldering setup, and everything else is a nice extra you can pick up as you go. Once you’re on the wall, the fastest way to improve is regular, focused practice, and a few smart drills go a long way.

If you want a little coaching in your inbox, join the free Send Edition newsletter. You’ll get one short climbing drill a week that takes about 15 minutes, so you can level up without overhauling your whole routine. When you’re ready to climb more, it also helps to know your gym etiquette, so check out our tips for your first time at a bouldering gym.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimal gear needed for bouldering?

At a minimum you need climbing shoes and, if you’re bouldering outdoors, a crash pad. Most climbers also add chalk and a chalk bag or bucket to protect their skin and manage sweaty hands. Indoors you can usually skip the crash pad since the gym floor is already padded.

Do I need a crash pad for indoor bouldering?

No. Crash pads are only needed for outdoor bouldering, where they cushion your fall. Bouldering gyms already have thick padded floors, so a crash pad is one thing you can leave at home when you climb inside.

How much does it cost to start bouldering?

Climbing shoes run about $70 to $150, chalk is around $5 to $15, and a chalk bag or bucket is roughly $10 to $45. If you’re bouldering outdoors, add a crash pad at $100 to $350. Indoors you can get going for well under $200 before any gym pass.

Can I boulder in regular tennis shoes?

You can, but you’ll be at a real disadvantage. Climbing shoes support your toes on small footholds and grip the wall far better than tennis shoes, which makes a big difference in whether you send your project. A comfortable, snug pair of beginner shoes is worth it early on.

Is chalk really necessary for bouldering?

Chalk isn’t strictly required, but almost every climber uses it. It dries sweaty palms and improves your grip, which helps on both small holds and long sessions. Powder chalk is the go-to for bouldering since you don’t have to wait for it to dry between problems.

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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