Maybe you watched Free Solo and now you’re fired up to climb for the first time, or you’ve got a rock climbing date coming up and you’re doing a little homework so you’re ready. Either way, the big question is usually the same: what to wear indoor rock climbing?
Here’s the good news. Most indoor gyms rent the gear you actually need, so you don’t have to buy anything special to get started. Walk into any climbing gym and you’ll see people in all kinds of outfits and styles, so don’t stress about looking out of place. The simple rule is this: wear something that’s easy to move in and isn’t baggy. What you wear can shift a bit depending on the type of climbing you’re doing.
There are two main types of climbing, climbing with a rope and climbing without one. Top-rope climbing uses a rope that runs from an anchor at the top of the route down to the ground. Climbing without a rope is called bouldering, and indoor gyms cover the floor around those routes with thick padded mats.
Your outfit can change a little depending on which one you’re doing. Bouldering doesn’t use a harness or rope, so your pants or shorts don’t have the same restrictions they would if you were tied in. For this guide, we’ll focus on what to wear for indoor rock climbing with a rope.
What To Wear Indoor Rock Climbing
For both men and women, remember that climbing is a physical activity, so athletic apparel is your friend. Climbing asks for a lot of movement, so skinny jeans and cute jackets will fight you the whole way up. Climbing can also be rough on clothes, so if you’d be upset about a hole in the knee or elbow, wear something you don’t mind beating up. Past that, there are a few small differences between what men and women tend to wear for indoor rock climbing.
Indoor Rock Climbing Outfits For Women
Go with athletic apparel that’s easy to move in, like leggings and a tank top. Leggings are great because they’re flexible, form-fitting, and won’t snag on anything. They also make it easy for a harness to sit comfortably, or at least as comfortable as a rental harness ever gets. If you want a deeper look at options, here’s more on what women should wear climbing.
Tank tops are nice because your shoulders can move freely in any direction. Shirts with sleeves are fine too, just test one at home first and make sure you can reach and rotate your arms without the fabric holding you back.
One more thing: a lot of women wear a longer top that tucks into the harness so it doesn’t rub against bare skin.
Indoor Rock Climbing Outfit For Men
Unless you’re happy in leggings, the outfit looks a little different for men. Climbing pants built for men usually have a smaller crotch area than your average gym shorts or sweats, because the harness wraps around your legs right where your pockets would be.
We get that you might not want to buy climbing pants right away, especially when you’re just starting, and there are plenty of alternatives. Most men do just fine in flexible khakis or soccer sweats.
One thing that surprises people about climbing is that you tend to sweat more downstairs and down the buttcrack than you might in other sports. Because of that, people who sweat a lot often wear compression shorts under their clothes as an extra barrier.
Men also reach for compression shorts when they wear gym shorts, because the harness makes shorts bunch and ride up, which can expose your underwear or some pale skin.
For tops, go with a t-shirt or tank top that lets your shoulders move freely. Some gyms have a shirt policy, so if you really want to climb shirtless, check with the gym first. And since the harness rides above your waist, wear a top long enough to tuck under it if you don’t like the rub. If you’re ready to buy your own, here’s my favorite harness for climbing.
Rock Climbing Rope and Belay Devices
Indoor gyms provide the rope and rent basic belay devices, so you don’t have to bring your own. If you want a belay device with extra safety features like assisted braking, though, you’ll need to bring one yourself. This is my favorite belay device with assisted braking.
A lot of gyms will check that you can belay before they let you loose, and they’ll test you the first time you climb there. If you already know how to belay, you’ll be fine. If it’s your first time, learn from a friend or take a belay class. Belaying is the most important part of indoor climbing and the main key to staying safe, so you really do need to know what you’re doing.
Rock Climbing Shoes
Climbing shoes are worth the rental fee. They’re one of the most helpful tools you’ll use, and plenty of footholds are simply too small for tennis shoes. There’s a barefoot climbing trend floating around, but that doesn’t apply to climbing gyms.
Most gyms require shoes anyway, because bacteria on your feet can transfer to the wall, and from there to everyone’s hands and feet at the gym. Climbing barefoot is also really hard, since it leans on the strength of your individual toes to hold your weight, while climbing shoes add support and spread that weight across your whole foot. If you decide to buy a pair, it helps to know how tight climbing shoes should be.
Some people wonder if you should wear socks with climbing shoes. Generally, if you’re renting, you’d wear a thin pair of socks, but plenty of gyms sanitize their shoes, so it’s really up to you.
Rock Climbing Chalk Bags
Climbing chalk isn’t a must, so if you don’t already have a chalk bag, don’t rush out to buy one. If you end up enjoying climbing and plan to keep at it, chalk becomes an important part of your progress and it’s worth investing in. When you’re ready, here’s a rundown on the best chalk for climbing.
What To Do With Your Hair For Indoor Rock Climbing
If you’ve got long hair, put it in a bun if you can. Ponytails or braids usually work fine too, but hair can get caught between the rope and the wall or snagged in an anchor, so keeping loose hair to a minimum is safest. That’s why a bun is the move.
Can You Wear Shorts Indoor Rock Climbing
In climbing generally, pants win because they protect your legs and especially your knees from scrapes. That said, indoor walls are a lot smoother than outdoor rock, and with no wildlife or loose rock to worry about, you’re less likely to get scraped up. Plenty of people wear khaki-style shorts or light, flexible hiking shorts and love it. I’ve scraped my knees at indoor gyms before, so I only wear shorts when I’m behind on laundry and don’t have much choice.
Do You Wear Helmets Indoor Rock Climbing
A climbing helmet’s main job is to protect your head from falling rock. Indoor climbing doesn’t have falling rock, so most indoor gyms don’t rent helmets and you’re usually fine without one.
Once you’ve sorted out what to wear and you’re climbing regularly, the next thing you’ll want is to actually get better. Our free newsletter sends you one short climbing drill a week, about 15 minutes each, so you can level up without overthinking it. You can grab the free weekly drills here.
Conclusion
Whether you’re trying indoor rock climbing for the first time or figuring out what to wear for a rock climbing date, you’ve got a lot of options that won’t cramp your personal style. As a rule, skip baggy clothes or anything that restricts your movement, and rent climbing shoes so you get the full experience. Most climbers wear pants, but if you’re climbing indoors, shorts will be fine too. If you’ve climbed before, what’s been your go-to indoor rock climbing outfit? Got any suggestions? Share them in the comments below.
Frequently asked questions
What should you wear indoor rock climbing?
Wear athletic clothing that’s easy to move in and isn’t baggy, like leggings or flexible pants with a t-shirt or tank top. You want full range of motion in your shoulders and hips, and a top long enough to tuck under a harness helps keep it from rubbing your skin.
Can you wear shorts for indoor rock climbing?
Yes. Pants protect your knees better, but indoor walls are smooth, so flexible hiking or khaki-style shorts work fine. Many men wear compression shorts underneath so the harness doesn’t make their shorts bunch and ride up.
Do you need to buy your own gear to climb indoors?
No. Most indoor gyms rent shoes and basic belay devices and provide the rope, so you can show up in athletic clothes and rent the rest. If you get into it, climbing shoes and chalk are usually the first things worth buying.
Do you need a helmet for indoor rock climbing?
Usually not. A helmet mainly protects against falling rock, which indoor gyms don’t have, so most gyms don’t rent them and you’re fine climbing without one indoors.
What should you do with long hair when climbing?
Put it in a bun if you can. Ponytails and braids work too, but hair can get caught between the rope and the wall or snagged in an anchor, so keeping it tied up and out of the way is safest.
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