As a person new to the sport, I was looking into what it would be appropriate to wear to a bouldering gym. I wanted to make sure that what I wore for my first bouldering session would get me through the activity’s demands.
So, what should you wear in a bouldering gym? There are a few key points to consider. The clothes you select should be of a moisture-wicking, comfortable, and abrasion-resistant material. The clothing must allow full range of motion, either by design or by being made of a stretchy material. Pants should have tapered legs so that you can easily see footholds.
You may already have what you need in your closet, read on to find out.
What to Wear to a Bouldering Gym
The top or shirt should be either loose enough, or stretchy enough, to allow for full range of motion. A top that is long in the body will be more comfortable, as it won’t ride up when you reach for high holds. If sleeves are too wide, and the body of the shirt is too baggy, you might find yourself catching on holds, so a slimmer fit is a better choice.
Some excellent options would be an athletic shirt, a sports top with built-in bra, or a t-shirt. In winter, a moisture-wicking, long-sleeved shirt that allows free movement will keep you from getting chilled without restricting your action on the wall.
Bouldering gyms can be cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. Wearing layers will make your session more comfortable. In colder seasons, bring a hoody or fleece sweater for breaks or when spotting someone.
Pants are essential to get right as your performance can be strongly affected by a wrong choice. Pants tend to be made of heavier, more restrictive material, so it is important to make sure that you have good range of movement.
The quick solution is to pull on a pair of yoga pants, which certainly work due to the inherent stretch of the material. However, yoga pants are not made to withstand the abrasion of bouldering. Sport leggings may be a better option.
Pants that will work well for bouldering are looser around the hips and thighs, but taper down to a narrow ankle so that you can easily see the footholds and your feet. Unless they are made of a very stretchy material, the pants should have a gusseted or diamond crotch for mobility.
Boulderers tend to prefer cotton pants over syntheric. Synthetic materials are slippery, offering less friction against crash pads in a fall. Synthetic materials are also more prone to abrasion damage. Pants made of a durable, abrasion-resistant material, with lycra for stretch, would be a good choice.
A pair of bouldering-specific pants will allow for great performance and are a good investment. They should normally last through several years of use.
Long pants offer more protection against scrapes and abrasions than shorts, and the pant legs add some padding between you and the wall. However, in summer it may be too warm for long pants in the gym. If you decide to wear shorts, be aware that if they are very loose or very short, people will be able to see up them when you are on the wall. Consider shorts with a built-in liner, or layer some spandex shorts underneath. Knee length shorts are also a good compromise.
Can You Wear Jeans for Bouldering?
As with climbing pants, to work well for bouldering the jeans must be of a very stretchy material, and the leg bottoms should not be so wide that you can’t easily see the footholds that you are using. Cotton-only jeans are not stretchy enough for the contortions inherent in bouldering, and the heavier material will be too warm for indoor gyms.
Some companies that cater to the climbing community offer climbing-specific jeans. These jeans are very stretchy but look good enough to wear outside the gym. This can be very handy for days when you are going straight to the bouldering gym after work with no time to change. If the jean bottoms are too wide, you may need to roll them up.
What (Not) to Wear on a Bouldering Date
Bouldering gyms are a great place for some casual social time. You want to be able to focus on the date, and not be worrying about what you are wearing, so here are some tips for a more relaxed experience.
You and your date will be spotting each other, so you will be on “display” so to speak. You want to be wearing bottoms that are flattering but don’t restrict movement.
Very short shorts will ride up with climbing and will end up being uncomfortable, not to mention the scratches you can get from friction against the wall. On the other hand, slim but stretchy pants or sports leggings will allow comfortable range of movement while still showing off your bouldering body shape.
Having socks sticking out from climbing shoes is not a very enchanting look. People don’t normally wear socks in their bouldering shoes, but if you are renting, try no-show or low ankle socks.
An all-black outfit will really emphasize the chalk that always ends up covering everything during a bouldering session. On the one hand, you may see this as a badge of bouldering honor, the chalk symbolizing the successful completion of another War against the Wall.
But on the other hand, if you and your date are going out for drinks afterwards…before leaving the gym, maybe do a quick check that you don’t have chalk marks in any embarrassing places.
Related Questions
What else to take to the bouldering gym: If you will be renting the climbing shoes, bring socks. Gyms insist on socks being worn with their rental shoes. Bring flip-flops for getting around in the gym when you are off the mats. Bring a chalk bag and chalk, or plan on renting these at the gym. For an informed decision on purchasing your first chalk, click here. For guidelines on choosing your first pair of bouldering shoes, click here.
What are some other tips to prepare for a bouldering session? Long hair should be tied back, for performance as well as for safety. Remove your watch to prevent scratching the watch face on holds. Don’t wear jewelry that can get hooked on a hold, as this creates a safety issue. Don’t have anything in your pockets that could cause injury in a fall, such as keys.