What To Wear While Bouldering

If you want to know what to wear bouldering, whether it’s a first date at the gym or you’re tagging along with friends who talked you into it, the good news is the bar is low. As long as you can move all your limbs freely and your clothes aren’t fighting you, you’ll be just fine. If you want the specifics, keep reading.

Below is a general head to toe list for men and women. Personalizing the outfit to you is ideal, so I’ve left plenty of leeway in the descriptions. I’ve also broken down the stereotypical climber look, so keep reading (or scroll) to the end for that.

What To Wear Bouldering: The Short Answer

Wear something you can move in. That’s the whole rule. Stretchy bottoms that won’t ride up or snag on a hold, a top that lets your shoulders and arms go anywhere, and shoes that fit the footholds (rentals are perfect to start). Skip anything baggy that can catch on holds or volumes, and remember you’ll be up on the wall with people below you, so keep covered what needs to stay covered. If you’re brand new to the gym, this article on what to wear indoor rock climbing covers the same ground for roped climbing too.

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Women’s Bouldering Outfits

For women, there are the usual things to think about, like keeping your chest supported. But unlike most gym workouts, you also have to think about what people can see from the ground when they look up at you on the wall (underwear alone might not cut it). The bright side: if you already have a gym outfit you like, it probably meets the basic requirements for climbing. For a deeper look at the fit and coverage side, here’s what women should wear climbing.

Here’s the full head to toe breakdown of what to wear, and what to consider, for women while bouldering.

Head/Hair For Women Bouldering

Unlike roped rock climbing, you don’t have to worry about your hair getting tangled in gear, so a bun isn’t required. That said, hair in your face makes climbing harder, so if you’ve got long hair I’d pull it back in a ponytail before you start.

Tops For Women Bouldering

Climbing tops are pretty simple. Just make sure your arms can move every direction without the fabric holding you back. I usually wear a tank top since I don’t get any arm restriction, but I’ll throw on an athletic shirt with sleeves on the days I forget to shave my underarms.

I’d also recommend deodorant, but heads up: aluminum allergies are common with climbers, so whatever natural alternative you use will probably seem normal to plenty of people at the gym.

Bottoms For Women Bouldering

For bottoms, keep in mind that whatever you wear can ride up on overhanging climbs (those are more advanced, so if it’s your first session you probably don’t need to stress about it yet). Baggy shorts are the real problem though. They ride up and they can snag on holds or volumes, so I’d avoid them.

Instead, go for form-fitting shorts, leggings, or flexible hiking pants. Leggings are the most common pick, but if you want to look like a seasoned climber, invest in stretchy hiking pants that move with you.

Socks/Shoes For Women Bouldering

If you’re heading to a climbing gym, you can usually rent climbing shoes, and I’d highly recommend it. Tennis shoes have bulky toes that limit which footholds you can use. If you’re thinking about buying a pair, here are the climbing shoes I recommend for bouldering. Fit matters a lot with these, so it’s worth reading up on how tight your climbing shoes should be before you buy.

As for socks… When I first started climbing, I was told climbers never wear socks. Most climbing shoes are built for bare feet, but there are way more sock-wearing climbers out there than you’d think (ask Reddit about wearing socks with climbing shoes and you might be surprised). Here’s a whole article on wearing socks with climbing shoes and what to weigh. If you’re renting, socks are common. And if you’d rather go barefoot, it helps to know gym rentals get sprayed with disinfectant after each use, so they’re usually fine. Shoe odor comes from bacteria though, so if the rentals smell bad, wear socks. 

Manicures/Pedicures For Women Bouldering

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve experimented with different nail lengths and polishes to see what survives a climbing session. Here’s what I’ve learned: nails break if you have them, so keep them short. And polish chips like magic, even when you don’t think you’re using your nails to grip holds. I’ve never made it through a session without wrecking a manicure. Honestly, I think nails look better bare than they do with polish chipped halfway off, so if you feel the same, take the polish off before you climb.

As for pedicures, long toenails hurt in climbing shoes, so cut them the day before you go (that way you skip the tenderness that sometimes shows up the same day you trim, you know the feeling). Toenail polish has held up fine for me, but I’d guess gems or other add-ons won’t survive a session, so think twice before gluing tiny diamond flowers on your toes.

Men’s Bouldering Outfits

Men’s bouldering outfits look a lot like the standard gym uniform, with a few differences, mostly in the bottoms. In general, as long as you can move your arms and legs freely without the clothing getting in the way, you’ll do just fine. 

For the full breakdown, keep reading so your outfit is set for a session.

Hair/Hats For Men Bouldering

Climbing seems to have more long-haired guys than just about any other sport. If that’s you, think about tying it back in a ponytail so it stays out of your face and off the holds. If you like beanies or brimless hats, wear them, you’ll fit right in.

Tops For Men Bouldering

Some guys climb shirtless, but if you’re at the gym, bring a shirt or tank top that lets your shoulders move freely. Gyms are climate controlled and some have a shirt policy, so it’s just easier to wear one. Tank tops are popular because they don’t restrict the shoulders, and they keep you cool if you’re climbing outside in the summer heat.

Bottoms For Men Bouldering

Most guys wear flexible khakis, hiking shorts, or hiking pants. As long as they’re easy to move in and there’s no extra material to catch on a hold, you’re good. 

If you’re going with baggy gym shorts, remember people will be looking up at you from below while you climb. To keep everything where it belongs and avoid giving anyone a view, most guys wear compression shorts under their gym shorts while bouldering.

Socks/Shoes For Men Bouldering

Bouldering has small footholds that tennis shoes are too bulky for, so you need proper climbing shoes if you want to send everything. Most gyms rent them, so if you’re heading in, that’s the easy call. You can also borrow an old pair from a friend, but keep in mind most climbers go sockless in their shoes, so you might not want someone else’s…

If you want to buy your own pair for bouldering, check out this article on what to consider when buying climbing shoes and which bouldering shoes I recommend.

As for socks… Like I said above, most climbers skip socks with climbing shoes, and some think socks make it harder to climb. But more and more climbers do wear them, so you’ll have to test it yourself and see what works. 

If you’re in rentals, they disinfect the shoes after each use, and I’ve never heard of anyone catching athlete’s foot from them. Still, if socks give you peace of mind, wear socks. Not sure yet? This article walks through the things to weigh so you can decide whether or not you should wear socks.

Manicures/Pedicures For Men Bouldering

In general, keep your nails short. Long fingernails will break or chip. In most sports you won’t see men with any color on their nails, but at the climbing gym or out on the crag it’s pretty common to spot guys with their nails colored black with a sharpie. If you want color on your fingernails, climbing is the best place to try it. 

Nail polish chips off, so a permanent marker holds up better if you want color while climbing. Guys usually go black if they want “color,” but since sharpies come in every shade, do whatever you want. Fair warning, I’m not sure how to get sharpie off your nails, so it may be stained until they grow out.

For pedicures, you can match your toenails to whatever you did on your fingernails. Just know people only notice while you’re barefoot. 

Length matters more than color here. Short toenails won’t interfere with the fit of your climbing shoes. If you need to trim them, do it a day ahead so you skip the tenderness where the skin was covered.

Stereotypical Climbers/Bouldering Look

Climbers stereotypically look like athletic hipsters. There are a few differences, but put the two side by side and you’d probably read them as hipsters off the crag. 

That said, unless the hipster look actually matches your personality, there’s no reason to chase it. Climbers care way more about how usable and practical your gear is than how it looks. 

Here’s the rundown, from hair and hats to clothing and manicures.

Head/Hair For Stereotypical Climbers/Bouldering

You’ll see a baggy beanie over a relaxed hairstyle. Sound familiar? They’d probably wear brimmed hats too, but the brim gets in the way since you need to keep your body (head included) as close to the wall as possible.

Tops For Stereotypical Climbers/Bouldering

Instead of a nice t-shirt under a plaid long-sleeve like a hipster, they’ll go tank top under a plaid long-sleeve. When the climb gets really intense, they’ll tie the plaid shirt around their waist. 

Bottoms For Stereotypical Climbers/Bouldering

The pants look like your typical skinny jeans or skinny khakis, but they’re actually expensive stretchy athletic pants made to look like khakis. 

Socks/Shoes For Stereotypical Climbers/Bouldering

Shoes are the most obvious difference from your typical hipster. They’re either approach shoes (a cross between hiking and tennis shoes) or climbing shoes. They also go barefoot between climbs, so sometimes no shoes at all. If you want to know which bouldering shoes I recommend, check out this article on the Best Climbing Shoes for Bouldering.

As for socks… climbers typically don’t wear them, so when they pull their shoes off between climbs, they’re usually walking around barefoot.

Manicures/Pedicures For Stereotypical Climbers/Bouldering

Depending on where you climb, you’ll see a lot of climbers with black fingernails. It’s usually not polish, it’s sharpie. Plenty of climbers keep a black sharpie in their chalk bag so they can touch up their nails after a session. 

For pedicures, toenails are typically clear or covered in black sharpie too.

Additional Thoughts

Whether you’re going on a date or bouldering with friends, what you wear might matter to you. Most climbers at the gym or on the crag are focused on their own thing and won’t notice your outfit. As for your friends or that cute date, aim for a happy medium between functionality and your own personality. 

Men and women wear similar things climbing, with slight differences based on their needs. In general, if you can move all your limbs freely in your outfit, you’ll be fine. Just remember you’ll be above everyone else, so keep hidden what needs to stay hidden. And the stereotypical bouldering outfit? You’ll see plenty of climbers who look like hipsters with athletic accents, but climbers come in every style and personality, so the best move is to be yourself. 

Once your outfit is sorted, the next thing that actually moves the needle is how you move on the wall. If you want to climb better without living at the gym, grab our free newsletter and get a short climbing drill in your inbox each week. It’s about 15 minutes at a time, and it’s free.

What do you wear while bouldering? Comment below to help out other climbers.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear bouldering as a beginner?

Wear anything you can move freely in. Stretchy leggings, form-fitting shorts, or flexible hiking pants on the bottom, and a tank top or athletic shirt on top so your arms and shoulders aren’t restricted. Avoid baggy clothing that rides up or snags on holds, and rent climbing shoes at the gym instead of using tennis shoes.

Can you boulder in normal gym clothes?

Yes. If you already have an outfit you wear to the gym, it probably meets the basic requirements. The main thing to watch is baggy shorts, which can ride up or catch on holds, and keeping covered since people will be looking up at you from below.

Do you wear socks when bouldering?

Most climbers go barefoot in their climbing shoes, but plenty wear thin socks, especially in rental shoes. Rentals get disinfected after each use, so barefoot is usually fine, but if a pair smells bad or you just want peace of mind, wear socks. Test both and see what feels better for you.

What shoes should you wear bouldering?

Climbing shoes, not tennis shoes. Tennis shoes have bulky toes that can’t fit the small footholds. If you’re new, rent a pair at the gym. When you’re ready to buy your own, look for a snug fit and check out my picks for the best climbing shoes for bouldering.

Can you wear nail polish bouldering?

You can, but polish chips fast on your fingernails from gripping holds, even when you don’t think you’re using your nails. Keep nails short so they don’t break, and if you want lasting color, a lot of climbers use a black sharpie instead of polish. Toenail polish tends to survive better than fingernail polish.

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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