A Guide to the Clothing and Footwear for Your First Bouldering Session.
What to Wear on Your Lower Body
You can go in joggers, leggings or climbing pants. They are stretchy and fitted so they don’t get in the way. Try to avoid wearing denim though, as it can restrict the hip movement and make it difficult to get into high placements with the foot.
What to Wear on Top
A close fitting t-shirt or athletic style top is preferred. Baggy or loose fitting tops can catch on holds for you as you reach for them.
Hiring or Buying Bouldering Shoes
Bouldering shoes can provide better grip to hold, especially the textured ones. Many climbing gyms hire out climbing shoes for a small amount of money. If you’re planning to go bouldering on a regular basis then it’s worth getting hold of a flat-lasted or neutral beginner shoe. These shoes are comfortable to wear during long periods of time and are nothing like the aggressive downturn of a performance climbing shoe. More on Bouldering Birmingham can be found at https://www.270climbing.com/bouldering/birmingham/.
What to Leave at Home
Rings, bracelets and watches need to be removed before climbing as they could get caught on holds or place pressure on your fingers when they come under load.
Socks and Small Details
Bouldering shoes are usually supplied with thin ankle socks, for hygiene purposes. When buying your own bouldering shoes, some climbers prefer to go sockless in order to have a better feeling in the shoes.
Dressing well for bouldering is simple – stretchy, fitted and hardware free is all you need.
Flat, intermediate and performance climbing shoes
Climbing shoes come in three broad grades. Flat lasted shoes, often called comfort or beginner shoes, keep the foot in a natural, relaxed position and can be worn for long sessions. They still have sticky rubber soles for grip, which makes them a sensible first pair for bouldering.
Intermediate shoes have a downturned shape and a thinner, stickier sole, giving more feel for small holds while staying fairly comfortable. They are usually the upgrade for climbers moving on to harder problems.
Performance shoes have a pronounced downturn, heel tension and an asymmetric shape that bends the foot into a claw like position for maximum power transfer. They are uncomfortable to walk in, so many climbers slip them off between attempts. Closure matters too. Laces allow precise adjustment and are easy to replace, Velcro is quick to take on and off between problems, and slip ons give a snug, close fit that many climbers find very comfortable.
