What Women Should Wear Climbing: A Head-to-Toe Guide

If you’re wondering what women should wear climbing, you’re not alone. Whether you’re going on a climbing date or just heading to the gym with friends, that first “wait, what do I even put on?” question is normal. I remember my first time climbing and I had no clue what to wear either.

So here’s the short answer. The clothes you’d wear to work out will almost always work. Just make sure your limbs can move freely, and keep anything you want covered up nice and secure.

Below I’ll walk through the details, piece by piece, from your hair down to your shoes.

What women should wear climbing, head to toe

If you want the quick version of what to wear climbing, it’s stretchy bottoms, a sports bra, a top that lets your shoulders move, and your hair pulled back. That’s it. Everything past this point is just me sharing what I’ve learned after a lot of sessions figuring out what actually works and what gets in the way.

Hair

How you style your hair really depends on what kind of climbing you’re doing. 

If you’re rock climbing (climbing with a rope and harness), keep your hair in a bun or braids. Long ponytails or loose hair can get caught in the rope, the anchors, or other gear, and that won’t end well for your luscious locks. If you’re new to roped climbing, it helps to know how the rest of your setup works too, so it’s worth reading up on picking the best harness for climbing before you go.

If you’re bouldering (climbing shorter routes without a rope or harness), long hair is safe, but it’ll get in your way. A lot of the time you’ll be turning your head or shifting the angle of your body, and your hair can block your view of the holds around you.

With that in mind, consider putting your hair in a ponytail, or at least throw on a headband.

And since climbing is a sweaty sport, think about what your hair looks like when it’s damp and plan accordingly.

Jewelry

Earrings 

Earrings will probably be fine, but there’s a small risk of catching one on something and tearing your ear, so it’s worth thinking about. I know plenty of women who wear stud earrings while climbing and they’re perfectly fine.

Rings

Rings aren’t ideal for climbing, no matter what kind you’re doing. It’s common for a ring to catch on the rock. Even rubber rings are discouraged because they can cause blistering. 

On top of that, your fingers swell while you climb. Cutting off circulation to your fingertips or getting a ring stuck isn’t worth the extra bling.

Necklaces

I often see women with necklaces tucked under their tank tops. As long as the necklace isn’t hanging out where it can get caught on something, it’s probably fine.

Bracelets

Loose bracelets aren’t ideal because they can catch in gear or on holds. Other than that, it’s more of a personal preference thing. I see lots of women wearing watches or fitness trackers with no trouble at all.

I wear an Apple Watch and track my climbing sessions with it. There have been plenty of times where the watch band rubbed against a hold (large slopers, for example), which is why I switched to a velcro band. That way it doesn’t come undone or dig into my forearm.

With all that rubbing in mind, it’s probably not a good idea to wear your great-great-grandmother’s priceless 20k gold bracelet that you inherited as a child.

Bras

A sports bra of any brand is ideal. 

There have been so many times I forgot my sports bra and climbed in a regular underwire bra instead. Not only is it uncomfortable, I never felt like my chest was secure enough.

Any movement in your body can shift your center of balance, and trust me, the last thing you want to worry about while you’re climbing is your bra.

Bottoms

Most women wear leggings or flexible pants. Ideally whatever you pick for bottoms is stretchy so you can move your legs in any direction you need to.

At the gym I go to most often, there’s a section where you slide down on your butt to get off the wall. Because of that, a lot of my leggings have extra wear on the backside. If you’re mostly bouldering, it’s worth a look at my full rundown of what to wear while bouldering too, since the priorities shift a little without a harness.

I recently got my hands on a pair of climbing pants from Black Diamond and they’re made with a material that doesn’t wear out as easily. I love them. But if this is your first time climbing, it’s probably smart to make sure you like the sport before investing in new pants.

Black Diamond Notion Pants, my favorite

Since writing this article, I’ve picked up five more pairs in different colors.

You can see them in action in my videos on YouTube, where I almost exclusively wear these pants.

Here is my YouTube Channel

See the price from Black Diamond here.

See the price from Amazon here.

Tops

I’d just recommend wearing something comfortable that lets your shoulders move fully.

Most women go with tank tops because they give your shoulders full range of motion. 

How tight or loose your top is doesn’t really matter. When you’re bouldering there’s no gear for it to catch on, and when you’re rock climbing you’ll tuck your shirt under your harness anyway. If most of your climbing is indoors, I’ve got a whole piece on clothing for climbing in the gym that goes deeper on gym-specific picks.

Shoes

To get to the gym, it doesn’t really matter what’s on your feet. You could even show up in a pair of high heels. Once you’re there, you’ll either carry your climbing shoes around or stash them in a cubby, so just be okay with them picking up a little dust.

For climbing outdoors, though, you’ll want shoes that are good for walking or hiking to the crag.

For the actual climbing, rent a pair of climbing shoes. They’re built in a way that makes climbing easier and a lot more enjoyable. If you end up loving the sport and want your own pair, I put together a list of the best climbing shoes under $100 to get you started.

Generally, climbing shoes run smaller than your street shoes, but they shouldn’t be painfully small.

Other Considerations

Whatever you wear, make sure you’re comfortable in it and that you can move your limbs freely. Also keep in mind you’re going to sweat, so pick something you’ll still feel good in once you’re damp.

A lot of women just wear workout clothes like leggings and a tank top. There are pants made specifically for climbing, but until you know you like the sport, wear what you already have instead of buying anything new.

Once you’ve got the gear question sorted, the fun part is actually getting better on the wall. If you want a simple way to work on that, I send out a free weekly email with a short climbing drill you can do in about 15 minutes. You can grab the free weekly drills here and start leveling up between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What should a woman wear climbing for the first time?

For your first time, wear what you’d wear to a workout. Stretchy leggings or flexible pants, a sports bra, and a tank top or comfortable shirt that lets your shoulders move all work great. Pull your hair back and rent climbing shoes at the gym. There’s no need to buy anything special until you know you love it.

Can you wear leggings for climbing?

Yes, leggings are one of the most popular choices for women. As long as they’re stretchy enough to let your legs move in any direction, they’re perfect. Just know that certain gym features, like sliding down on your butt, can add extra wear to the backside over time.

What kind of bra should you wear climbing?

A sports bra of any brand is ideal. Underwire bras tend to be uncomfortable while you climb and don’t feel secure when your body shifts and changes its center of balance, so a sports bra is the way to go.

Can you wear jewelry while climbing?

Stud earrings and tucked-in necklaces are usually fine. Rings are best left at home because they can catch on the rock and your fingers swell while you climb. Loose bracelets can catch on gear or holds, though many women climb comfortably in a watch or fitness tracker.

Do you need special shoes to climb?

You don’t need to own climbing shoes to start. Rent a pair at the gym for your first sessions. They’re built to make climbing easier and more enjoyable. Once you’re hooked, you can look into buying your own pair that fits snug but not painfully small.

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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