Checklist · 10 picks · 4 categories
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Climbers always want a little more gear, so this list covers chalk, harnesses and belay gear.
The 8BPLUS Lilly is Treeline Review's best overall chalk bag, a fuzzy character bag that's funny and functional, and the Black Diamond Mojo is its best affordable pick. Black Diamond White Gold is OutdoorGearLab's best overall chalk, with chunks and powder in one bag, and Metolius Super Chalk is its best bang for the buck. For roped climbing, the Black Diamond ATC Guide has the simplest technique to learn, and OutdoorGearLab names the Petzl Sama its best bang-for-the-buck harness and the Black Diamond Solution its best for sport climbing. The La Sportiva Finale is its best beginner climbing shoe. The splurges are the Petzl GriGri Plus, with an anti-panic handle, and the Petzl Sitta, OutdoorGearLab's best all-around harness. Every pick is on my climbing gym list with its source.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they stick to trails; the gifts for hikers page fits better.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8BPLUS Lilly Chalk Bag | mid | $25-50 | climbers who want personality | 1 outlet |
| Black Diamond Mojo Chalk Bag | budget | $15-25 | a simple first chalk bag | 1 outlet |
| Black Diamond White Gold | mid | $15-25 | climbers who want good texture | 1 outlet |
| Metolius Super Chalk | budget | $15-25 | stocking up on chalk cheaply | 1 outlet |
Best chalk bagmid pick · Fuzzy character
Best for climbers who want personality
Treeline Review's best overall chalk bag: a fuzzy character bag that's funny, functional and light.
Heads up. Easily mistaken for a dog toy, and it gets dirty fast
1 outlet. Treeline Review best overall chalk bag.
$25-50
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budget pick · Standard
Best for a simple first chalk bag
Treeline Review's best affordable chalk bag: no frills, with Black Diamond's two-year warranty.
Heads up. The closure could be more secure
1 outlet. Treeline Review best affordable chalk bag.
$15-25
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Best climbing chalkmid pick · Chunks and powder
Best for climbers who want good texture
OutdoorGearLab's best overall climbing chalk: good texture, with chunks and powder in the same bag at a fair price.
Heads up. Creates a lot of dust
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best overall climbing chalk.
$15-25
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budget pick · Loose chalk
Best for stocking up on chalk cheaply
OutdoorGearLab's best bang-for-the-buck climbing chalk: inexpensive, in resealable packaging, with a huge 425 g bag available.
Heads up. Felt slippery to a few testers, and it can be messy
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best bang for the buck climbing chalk.
$15-25
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Diamond ATC Guide | budget | $50-100 | learning to belay | 1 outlet |
| Petzl Sama | budget | $50-100 | top-rope and belaying at the gym | 1 outlet |
| Black Diamond Solution | mid | $100-150 | sport and lead climbing | 1 outlet |
Top pickbudget pick · Tube style
Best for learning to belay
OutdoorGearLab's best bang-for-the-buck belay device: the simplest technique to learn, durable and a great value.
Heads up. Not as light as other options
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best bang for the buck belay device.
$50-100
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budget pick · Men's
Best for top-rope and belaying at the gym
OutdoorGearLab's best bang-for-the-buck harness: very comfortable, especially for belaying, with well-arranged gear loops.
Heads up. The waist belt tends to ride up when hanging
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best bang for the buck climbing harness.
$50-100
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mid pick · Sport
Best for sport and lead climbing
OutdoorGearLab's best harness for sport climbing: excellent comfort for climbing or belaying, and great value.
Heads up. Not very versatile outside sport climbing
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best harness for sport climbing.
$100-150
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Best climbing shoesmid pick · Lace-up
Best for their first pair of climbing shoes, if you know their size
OutdoorGearLab's best beginner climbing shoe: affordable, incredibly comfortable and durable, with a flat, beginner-friendly shape.
Heads up. Not great on steep overhangs, and the thick sole is less precise
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best climbing shoe for beginners.
$100-150
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Top picksplurge pick · Assisted braking
Best for new climbers who want extra safety
OutdoorGearLab's best belay device for new climbers: an anti-panic handle stops drops while lowering, with top-rope and lead modes.
Heads up. Expensive
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best belay device for new climbers.
$100-150
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splurge pick · All-around
Best for a harness for gym, crag and beyond
OutdoorGearLab's best all-around harness: versatile for every style of climbing, light, with great mobility.
Heads up. Not the most comfortable for hanging, and expensive
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best all-around climbing harness.
$150-200
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Chalk and a chalk bag are safe bets, since they don't depend on size. The 8BPLUS Lilly is Treeline Review's best overall chalk bag, and Black Diamond White Gold is OutdoorGearLab's best overall climbing chalk, with good texture at a fair price.
Only if you know their size and how they climb. The La Sportiva Finale is OutdoorGearLab's best beginner climbing shoe, with a flat, beginner-friendly shape, and the Petzl Sama is its best bang-for-the-buck harness, very comfortable for belaying.
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