How To Get Into Rock Climbing? Getting Started – FAQ

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You’d like to take up Rock Climbing which is a fun and enjoyable sport. You’re not sure if you’re fit enough, what equipment you’ll need, or if you can just start climbing small precipices in your local mountains and canyons. You want to know how to get into rock climbing?

Let’s address all of these questions and some more that you may not have even thought of yet!


1. “What if I’ve never climbed any rocks before in my life? Can I start at any age?”

Yes. Rock Climbing has about as much strength and flexibility requirements as taking a walk. The only difference is that you use different muscles for each activity. Anybody can start out Rock Climbing at any age and just about any level of strength. All kids and most adults can begin Rock Climbing immediately. But even if the entry level is very low, sooner or later everyone will reach their limits if they want to.


2. “I’m overweight. Do I need to get fit or lose fat before I can do Rock Climbing? What if I have a disability?”

You don’t need to lose fat or become fit in order to Rock Climb. As long as you have the strength and flexibility to walk quickly, you have the capability to Rock Climb, even if you have a slight disability in some area.

Don’t worry about getting into shape for Rock Climbing. It is not a fast sport or a sport of great strength. You can take your time, figure out what way you want to go, and use easy sloping walls in your indoor Rock Climbing gym to make it easy on yourself in the beginning.

Here is a full article about this topic: Am I too heavy for Rock Climbing? Do I weigh too much?


3. “Do I start out hiking or what? How do I even begin to Rock Climb?”

You go to your local indoor Rock Climbing gym. NEVER start out Rock Climbing on real rocks outdoors. The practice is a bit trickier than it looks and if you don’t have good belaying equipment attached to you and handled by an experienced belayer, you can fall and get seriously (or even fatally) injured.

The guides and experts at your local Rock Climbing gym are there to help beginners like you to start out. They will believe in you and you should believe in yourself. Their careful, practiced guidance will get you on an easy Rock Climbing wall and navigating up the holds.

Here is a full article about this topic: The Basics: How do I start Rock Climbing? – Beginner Friendly


4. “Okay, so I’m going to my local Rock Climbing indoor gym. Do I need to bring any kind of special equipment along?”

Not at all. All of the equipment you’ll need at the indoor gym will be provided by the staff there. All you’ll need to wear is comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. You will have chalk, chalk cubbies, belaying, and bouldering equipment provided for you at the gym.

You can really just walk in off the street and begin learning how to Rock Climb, provided you are being guided by an expert and not a fellow beginner. While it is incredibly easy to pick up on and learn, it still requires some formal knowledge when you first get on the wall.


5. “What do the gym instructors mean when they talk about Belaying?”

Belaying is when a tough rope is strung between two people and is attached to the rock face (outdoors) or through a top-loading pulley (indoor gym) in order for one person to be a “safety net” for the person climbing.

In your indoor gym, you will simply have a top-loaded rope which will be attached to a person standing on the ground, watching you and making sure that you’re alright. They will gradually feed the rope through the pulley and pull on it so that you have a quick reflex should you fall.

On an outdoor rock face, your belaying equipment will be attached between you and the person above you and it will also be attached to the rock face in several locations as you climb. This will ensure that the rock face can act as a safety anchor and the other person can add their weight to the opposite end of the rope, ensuring that you don’t fall all the way down.

Belaying is one of the primary ways in which ALL Rock Climbers keep themselves safe and secure at all times. Always use belaying when you are climbing a rock which is more than 12 feet tall.


6. “Can I climb in the indoor gym without belaying? Can I just climb freely?”

Climbing freely without belaying equipment is called Bouldering. This term comes from the fact that you are essentially climbing a boulder, not a tall rock wall. Bouldering is fine for intermediate and experienced climbers but, in the beginning, your finger muscles may not be developed enough to hold you in place when Bouldering, so it’s not recommended that you try right from the beginning.

Finger muscles (which show up in the soreness of your forearms) are the main attachment to the rock face, along with your feet.

It is very likely that you will have a bouldering opportunity at your local gym, but remember that your muscles will have to get acclimated to this new type of activity and you may want to only do really easy, really safe things at the start. You’ll still feel the sore muscles in your forearms in the morning, even if you take it easy.

On the other hand, bouldering is ideal for getting used to the height when the climbing wall is still a bit too high.


7. “When will I be ready for outdoor Rock Climbing? Can I start right away?”

No. Do not start Rock Climbing on real, outdoor rocks in the beginning. You will find that even indoor gym work will still be taxing enough. When you’ve been doing this for a while, you can start using the indoor walls which are graded more steeply.

You don’t have to work on the upside down walls or anything fancy like that to start climbing outdoors, but you do have to have the right muscles developed in the beginning and already have a feel for holding yourself sideways and flat against the wall to assist your center of gravity.


8. “When I’m not at the Rock Climbing gym, is there something that I can be doing to build up the proper muscles?”

Yes, there is. There are a lot of finger strengtheners. They will help your fingers develop the muscles they need to hold on more effectively.

A common mistake among beginner Rock Climbers is the following: They hang from their first knuckles on their fingers which are just hooked over the edge of the hold and they allow their second knuckles (the ones closest to the palm of your hand) to just hang and extend, instead of activating both sets of knuckles to hold onto the climbing holds.

Instead, learn to hold onto the rock with both sets of knuckles, forming a curved claw. Don’t hook your fingers over the edge and then extend the rest of your fingers out flat like the hand.

Learn proper technique in the beginning and you won’t have to unlearn bad habits down the road.


9. “Can I climb with a friend? Can we practice belaying for one another?”

Yes, you can. In fact, it’s really easy to simply rent some equipment at your local indoor Rock Climbing gym and to get started with a friend. Your gym experts will first belay with each of you, showing both of both sides of the belaying relationship.

You can practice belaying with an expert and then belay with a friend. Obviously, both you and your friend need to be fairly proficient before either of you start Rock Climbing outdoors. Outdoor rocks and boulders are a completely new level of difficulty, so take it slow and gentle on yourself.


10. “What is lead climbing and is it too advanced for me?”

Lead climbing is where one person climbs ahead of their belayer, secures their rope to the rock, and then that same rope is belayed downward to and past the lower person to the ground. The rope is anchored by the lead climber and belayed by the following climber.

Lead climbing is a pretty advanced outdoor Rock Climbing setup. If you have had lots of experience climbing outdoors then you may be ready for lead climbing. Always, always, always have an expert set you up and teach you everything they know. Always run a few practice rounds with them first.

Never lead climb with a friend in the beginning, unless your friend is already a lead climbing expert.

Full Article: How to Lead Climb Outdoors – Essential Techniques & Gear


11. “Okay, I’ve now been climbing in an indoor gym for a while, I’ve advanced through the different grades, and I know how to belay. How do I get started with outdoor Rock Climbing?”

The first thing you need to do is to find a popular local rock climbing course and watch several people climb to the top. You’ll get a feel for how long it takes for experienced rock climbers. You’ll understand which holds, which crags, are the most likely to allow you to continue up.

The second thing you need to do is to find a local expert in outdoor climbing. They need to have at least four years of experience and they need to have a reputation for being an easy guide. Do whatever they tell you to do, even if it doesn’t make sense in the beginning. There is always a method to the madness of the experts.

Thirdly, invest in your own personal set of rock climbing equipment. This should all cost you less than $100 in the beginning and less than $200 for the first two years. If it costs more, then someone is ripping you off somewhere and you need to look at who is advertising to you.

Step four is to set up a weekly or twice-weekly climb with your expert. Schedule it, keep it, and practice it… over and over again. Never, ever skimp on practice, but also allow your muscles to rest between outdoor climbs by only going once or twice a week. The rest of the time, you should be using the indoor gym if you get the urge to climb.


12. “Where do I buy my own Rock Climbing equipment? Is there any special kind that I will need as a beginner?”

You will not need anything special as a beginner. Most indoor gyms can rent you any equipment you will need indoors. They will help fit you for rock climbing shoes and help show you how to use chalk to create friction on the holds.

By the time you move outdoors, you will have a very real feel for what types of equipment you will need on real rocks. Start out by renting or borrowing from your outdoor expert. Once they have walked you through using their equipment, you will know exactly what you need to get.

You can buy used and new for pretty cheap prices right off of Amazon*. It’s not too difficult to find usable, solid equipment without spending hundreds of dollars on the fancy stuff advertised in Rock Climbing magazines.

Full article: Rock Climbing Equipment List. What Gear do I Need to Start?


13. “I like my outdoor Rock Climbing expert. Can I Rock Climb with one of my novice friends, though?”

No, it is very unwise to go outdoor rock climbing with anybody but experienced climbers. Believe us, when you’re expert enough to teach others, you’ll know. In the meantime, don’t take the responsibility of other people’s lives and safety into your own hands. That’s too much responsibility for anybody. Instead, schedule time with several rock climbing experts at the same time so that your friends can each have help when you all go together.


14. “I want to share my Rock Climbing experiences with my friends. How can I get them involved if they don’t know anything about it?”

This is a great chance to get them to come to the indoor gym with you. If they have kids, get them to bring their kids to play, first. Once they watch and see what it’s all about, they’ll probably want to climb, too.

If they don’t have kids, then get them to come and “help you see if it’s something you want to go deeper into.” By helping you decide, they are putting themselves in your position and will want to try it out a little just to see what it’s like. If they’re into it, this will show right away.


15. “Can I Rock Climb outdoors on my own?”

You can do what’s called Bouldering. Bouldering is climbing rocks which have heights of no greater than 20 feet. This is safe to do on your own without too much trouble.

However, for everyone’s safety, never rock climb alone. Even if your confidence is high, your skill is enviable, and your strength unsurpassed, if you should slip a little and your holds break, you can easily be in the situation of a broken limb and being all by yourself in the middle of the wilderness.

Expert, experienced, amazing rock climbers almost never climb alone. It is considered to be a highly dangerous activity and even highly skilled climbers just don’t risk it.


16. “What kind of clothes will I need for Rock Climbing?”

This is the simplest question of all. You’ll just need comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Avoid leggings (which can rip if pulled too far), jeans (which can quickly become too stiff for your shimmying up the wall), loose shoes (which can slide around on your feet), and delicate tops (which can be pulled too tight and break apart when you’re reaching).

Most indoor rock climbing gyms have an information so that you can get yourself measure for rock climbing shoes. Rock climbing shoes are tightly fitting, flexible slippers which have highly sticky toes to help you grip the wall better. They should not be used for anything else other than rock climbing.

Tip: Top 6 Best Rock Climbing Shoes for Beginners


17. “Do I just need practice or can I read about it, too?”

Reading about rock climbing is a great motivator! However, if you have a highly ambitious and/or competitive nature, we recommend that you hold off on the books, manuals, and fun magazines until after you’ve had a few minor falls from rock walls.

It is very likely that you will get so eager to do all of the fun and interesting things pictured in the magazine that you will push yourself too far or go out alone to experiment or try something that you’ve already been warned against doing until you’ve had more experience. It is the nature of ambitious people to push themselves past their own comfort zones and, in most cases, that is a good thing. For rock climbing, however, it is not.

If you are not often afflicted with delusions of grandeur then rock climbing magazines (just search for “rock climbing magazines” on Amazon) can be just the right motivation for you to keep going and to try new things when you advance far enough to attempt them safely.

Many people who begin rock climbing are not aware of all of the fun and interesting things there are to do with it. Magazines, guides, and manuals can really help them understand how far they can go with it and what the rewards and payoffs they will receive if they stick with their goals.


18. “How often should I train for rock climbing?”

Once or twice a week is plenty of frequency for rock climbers. In the beginning, you will need to build up your forearm muscles. This requires you to rest in between days so that your muscles can build up. Muscles build up during the days of rest in between workouts, not on the workout days. Keep this in mind when you are building your muscles, particularly your hamstrings and forearm muscles, the major muscles used in rock climbing.

After you’ve been in the lifestyle for a few months, two or three times a week can be sustainable. However, daily activity is not considered the best thing unless you want to become super athletic and even then, professional coaches always schedule rest days for their clients throughout the week. Remember that.

Full training article: Complete Guide: How to Train for Rock Climbing & Bouldering?


19. “Can rock climbing make me more fit? Can it help me to lose fat?”

Rock climbing is really great for one specific thing: Muscle Conditioning. What is this? Muscle Conditioning is not just muscle building. It is the building of muscles along the whole muscle, causing you to be able to control movement back and forth, in every possible direction.

Rock climbing really strengthens your muscle conditioning and trains your muscles to be more graceful, more evenly built up, and healthier from bulk to tendon to attachment.

Will it help you lose fat? It can, but since it is not cardio (which burns oxygen and fat at the same time), it will not do it quickly. It will, however, make you feel great because your body always feels really amazing when it is being used for its functional form as much as comfortably possible. Functional things love being functional and this really applies to the human body.

Full Article: How many Calories does Rock Climbing Burn? Numbers & Tips


20. “If I get really good at it, can I teach rock climbing to others?”

Teaching any skill involves achieving a high level of mastery yourself. There is a single principle which always helps people feel grounded and make a difference at the same time:

Keep someone below you and someone above you at all times. What does that mean? It means always having a mentor and guide of your own. And, after having achieved a certain level of expertise, begin helping and mentoring people (gently and quietly and with few sentences) on the lowest rungs of experience.

So, yes, you can teach other people rock climbing. Just always make sure you have an ongoing and active mentor of your own, too, so that you are sandwiched safely between both people.


21. “Can my kids become better experts in rock climbing than I am? Can they actually surpass me on this?”

This is a really great question. Most kids pick up any sports, activities or muscular tests extremely fast. It is quite common for kids to greatly surpass their parents almost right away. Does this mean that you can’t tell them how to elevate further? Certainly not. As the older, wiser human, you can see things they can’t. Also, you will be paying attention to their teachers better than they will be.

Simply make sure that they always have someone above their level who can competently play with them and show them the ropes on the next stage of rock climbing. It’s fine to go at your own pace, even if it’s far below theirs. With your wisdom and guiding hand and the instructions from their coaches, your kids can soar on their own and at their own pace.


22. “Why are there different colors of chalk for gripping holds and outdoor rocks?”

One of the biggest signs of respect for nature in the rock climbing world is leaving no sign of your presence behind you when you leave.

This respect is shown by only marking the rock with chalk that is the same color (or a similar enough color) as the rock itself. Have a variety of chalk at your disposal (dark brown, light brown, white, gray, and red clay colors) and you can be like the professional rock climbers out there. Showing that much sensitivity for nature and for other people’s (and your own future) enjoyment of nature is well worth the tiny bit of extra effort involved.

Does that mean that you have to get the exact right color? Not at all. But it does mean you have to use something nature colored (no bright neon colors here) in order to preserve the look and feel of the thing. And, because of this, every time you use it, you will be climbing what seems like fresh, untouched rock every time… which is a fantastic feeling.


23. “What if I don’t want to carry any chalk bags or extra supplies with me other than what I absolutely need? I want to climb outdoor rocks completely unencumbered.”

Per question 22 right above, it’s pretty important that you carry all of the necessary and extraneous equipment with you, like trash bags for your use bits of chalk, your granola bar wrappers, your plastic bags and your water bottles. In addition to trash bags, chalk bags with chalk, extra carabiners, rope, and fasteners always are needed. And, of course, a water bottle holder on a strap over your shoulder will be plenty important for any climb longer than 20 minutes from beginning to end.

Always be prepared.

Now you’re ready for your rock climbing adventures! Happy climbing and great success to you, young grasshopper.


Attention: You have to take care of your safety when climbing! The information on climbtheearth.com only helps you to learn. Before you climb, you should make sure that you have been properly instructed by an expert and that you follow all safety precautions.

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