Rock Climbing Checklist

Whether you spend your days climbing indoors or scaling multi-hundred-foot monoliths, it’s always helpful to know what you need. Our detailed climbing checklist below covers the critical gear for different styles of climbing: gym climbing, bouldering, sport climbing, and traditional (trad) climbing. We’ve also included a list of personal items and extras that may or may not be worth packing depending on your objectives. For more information on each product category, many of the headings link to our detailed product round-ups, which are the result of years of testing—from try-hard days at our local sport crag to big-wall missions in Yosemite and multi-day ascents of lofty Patagonia peaks. For all of our recommendations in one place, check out our climbing gear reviews.

Editor's note: The table above provides a brief overview of what you'll need to get outside, but our full PDF version is printable and offers a more comprehensive breakdown of the necessities and nice-to-haves.
See Our Rock Climbing Checklist PDF

Gym Climbing Gear

If you’re new to climbing, chances are you’re starting out in a gym. We don’t blame you—gyms make it easy to learn the basics in a relatively safe, controlled environment. We’ve also found gym staff to be generally helpful and informative, which can help minimize guesswork as you build a solid foundation. Below, we list the basics you’ll need to start pulling on plastic. Note: Since many experienced climbers are already familiar with what they’ll need for the gym, our product selections have more of a beginner focus, but our gear round-ups linked below feature options for climbers of all skill levels.
 

Climbing Shoes

Our top pick: La Sportiva Kubo ($159)
What we like: More capable and versatile than most beginner designs while stacking up favorably in all-day comfort. 
What we don’t: Pricier than many true beginner shoes; experienced gym-goers looking for a high-performance design should look elsewhere (we like Scarpa’s Drago).

Climbing Harness

Our top pick: Black Diamond men's Momentum / women’s Momentum ($65)
What we like: Well made, comes in a range of sizes, and good adjustability at an affordable price.
What we don't: Spending up will get you better quality and comfort.

Belay Device

Our top pick: Black Diamond ATC-XP ($25)
What we like: Cheap, simple, and gets the job done for most casual climbers.
What we don't: If you anticipate sticking with the sport, assisted-braking devices like the Petzl Grigri are much pricier but allow for a more secure and comfortable belay.

Locking Carabiner

Our top pick: Black Diamond RockLock Screwgate ($15)
What we like: Simple but effective screw-gate design that’s nicely sized for most applications.
What we don’t: Prone to scratches; some will prefer the auto-locking Twistlock variation, which costs $8 more.
 

Chalk Bag w/ Chalk

Our top pick: Prana Chalk Bag with Belt ($35) 
What we like: Sleek and practical with a soft exterior, smooth-operating drawcord, and nicely sized opening for chalking up.
What we don't: Doesn't close up as tightly as some designs, which can lead to chalk spilling at the crag or inside your pack (keeping it upright helps).
 

Climbing Rope*

Our top pick: Sterling Slim Gym 30m ($130)
What we like: Everything many gym climbers need and nothing they don’t.
What we don’t: You’ll need something longer—and ideally thinner—for leading outdoors.
*Editor’s note: Climbing gyms typically have ropes already set up for top-roping, so a separate rope is only needed for lead climbing (some gyms offer community lead ropes for climbers to use during their session, but it’s not the norm).
 

Bouldering Gear

Bouldering is arguably the easiest way to transition from gym to outdoor climbing. You only need a few pieces of extra gear—although a crash pad is a decidedly bulky and expensive purchase—and it’s nice to have the option to get outside solo when you’re limited on time or can’t find a partner. Bouldering is also a surefire way to get strong quickly, often featuring hard and powerful moves packed into a relatively short sequence.
 

Climbing Shoes

Our top pick: Scarpa Instinct VS ($209)
What we like: Excellent on steep rock; medium-stiff rand offers great edging power. 
What we don’t: If you prefer more sensitivity and flex, we’d recommend the softer Instinct VSR or La Sportiva’s Skwama.

Crash Pad(s)

Our top pick: Organic Climbing 4” Thick Big Pad ($329)
What we like: Organic foam is considered the best in the game thanks to its balance of cushioning and longevity; design is highly customizable. 
What we don't: Relatively heavy and stiff (it takes some time for the foam to break in); poor traction on uneven landing surfaces.
 

Daypack or Small Climbing Backpack

Our top pick: REI Co-op Flash 22 ($60)
What we like: A simple and affordable daypack with enough capacity for all-day bouldering sessions.
What we don’t: Not a standout in comfort or support (it’s best to avoid overloading the pack).

Approach Shoes

Our top pick: Black Diamond men’s Session 2.0 / women’s Session 2.0 ($140)
What we like: A highly comfortable and easy-wearing shoe that looks good and offers solid technical performance. 
What we don’t: Rubber outsole is designed for use on pavement, which translates to great durability but less grip on rock than more performance-oriented designs.
 

• Brush for cleaning chalk and other debris off holds
• Chalk bag or chalk bucket w/ chalk
   

Sport Climbing Gear

Landing between bouldering and trad climbing in terms of the amount of gear required, sport climbing is one of our favorite disciplines here at Switchback Travel. We love trying hard on real rock with the assurance of bolts to protect any falls, and nothing beats the feeling of working your way up a long and thought-provoking route. In addition to basics like shoes, a harness, a helmet, and a rope (among others), we also like to bring along extras like belay gloves, belay glasses, and a stick clip—none of which are necessary, but they sure do make the experience more comfortable. 
 

Climbing Shoes

Our top pick: La Sportiva men’s Katana Lace / women’s Katana Lace ($219)
What we like: Does almost everything well, great edging prowess, and comfortable enough to wear for extended periods.
What we don’t: Not particularly soft or aggressive—for that, we turn to La Sportiva’s Testarossa.

Climbing Harness

Our top pick: Black Diamond men’s Solution / women’s Solution ($80)
What we like: Streamlined and very comfortable with no unnecessary bulk—perfect for sport cragging.
What we don’t: Small gear loops and non-adjustable leg loops (although the latter hasn’t been a dealbreaker for us).

Climbing Helmet

Our top pick: Black Diamond Vision ($90)
What we like: Lightweight, durable, and good-looking—all at a reasonable price point. 
What we don't: Doesn’t stand out in any one area, although it puts it all together better than most.
 

Climbing Rope

Our top pick: Mammut 9.5 Crag Dry 70m ($290) 
What we like: 9.5mm diameter hits a sweet spot between too heavy and too flimsy; smooth handling.
What we don’t: For redpointing hard sport routes, some may prefer a thinner rope like the Eledrid Swift Eco Dry (8.9mm).
 

Climbing Backpack

Our top pick: Black Diamond Creek 50 ($220)
What we like: Huge main compartment swallows tons of gear, very quick to load and unload, and beefy materials stand up extremely well to long-term use.
What we don’t: Expensive, heavy, and lacking in versatility—if you’re looking for a pack that you can bring into the mountains on occasion, this isn’t it.

Approach Shoes

Our top pick: La Sportiva men’s TX4 Evo / women’s TX4 Evo ($169)
What we like: Hardwearing leather upper and well-rounded performance both on the trail and on rock. 
What we don’t: Summer-only climbers may want to consider a more breathable option like La Sportiva’s TX3, which features a mesh upper. 

Belay Device

Our top pick: Petzl Grigri ($110)
What we like: The gold standard for belaying in sport climbing—it’s intuitive, dependable, and lasts a long time.
What we don’t: There are plenty of cheaper assisted braking devices available, but there’s a reason the Grigri has become so ubiquitous.
 

Quickdraws

Our top pick: Petzl Spirit Express ($26 - $28)
What we like: Smooth and easy to clip, highly durable, and comes in three length options.
What we don’t: Pricey, heavy, and bulky—if you want draws that can pull double duty for trad and alpine climbing, we like Petzl’s Ange Finesse. 
 

• Rope bag or tarp
• Chalk bag w/ chalk
• Locking carabiner(s)
• Personal anchor system (we often use a quickdraw in place of a PAS on bolted single-pitch climbs)

Optional Sport Climbing Gear

• Belay gloves
• Belay glasses
• Stick clip
• Alpine draw(s) to minimize rope drag on wandering routes
• Rigid quickdraw (like the Kong Panic) for aiding through hard cruxes
• Anchor building material (many sport climbers simply use two quickdraws positioned opposite and opposed)
• Training tools (e.g., Tension Flash Board, resistance bands, grip trainers, etc.)
   

Trad Climbing Gear

The most gear-intensive discipline of those listed here, trad climbing has a fairly steep barrier to entry. In addition to attaining additional equipment like cams, nuts, and alpine draws, you’ll also need a pack that fits everything on the approach in, a rappel device that can accommodate two strands of rope at once, and anchor-building material like runners and/or accessory cord. Not to mention, most trad climbers receive some sort of training or mentorship before leading routes on gear. We recommend gaining experience by following routes before getting on the sharp end, and always be prepared to deal with objective hazards like inclement weather, rockfall, etc.
 

Climbing Shoes

Our top pick: La Sportiva TC Pro ($219)
What we like: Widely considered the most versatile trad shoe on the market; great protection for everything from thin foot jams to burly offwidths. 
What we don’t: Pricey and relatively specialized (you’ll need another shoe for bouldering, sport climbing, or the gym). 

Climbing Harness

Our top pick: Petzl men’s Adjama / women’s Luna ($95)
What we like: Stellar quality and solid versatility at an affordable price point. 
What we don’t: Trad climbers toting a large rack might want additional gear loops.

Climbing Helmet

Our top pick: Petzl Sirocco ($130)
What we like: Ultralight, comfortable and well ventilated for long days on the wall.
What we don’t: You can get better long-term durability for just a couple ounces more (and save some cash in the process) with a design like the Black Diamond Vision.

Climbing Rope

Our top pick: Mammut 9.5 Crag Dry 70m ($290)
What we like: Great all-around size, performance, and durability; versatile for crossing over between sport and trad climbing.
What we don’t: Alpine climbers will want something thinner and lighter (our favorite is the 8.5mm Beal Opera Dry).
 

Climbing Backpack and/or Follower Pack

Our top pick: Osprey Mutant 52 ($230)
What we like: Class-leading carrying comfort, nice array of technical features, and do-it-all intentions.
What we don’t: If you prefer to approach with gear already racked on your harness and your rope coiled backpack-style, you can likely get away with a much smaller and cheaper follower pack (or no pack at all). 

Approach Shoes

Our top pick: La Sportiva men’s TX Guide / women’s TX Guide ($179)
What we like: A great option for technical climbing and scrambling; comfortable and speedy on the trail. 
What we don’t: For toting up multi-pitch climbs, it’s hard to beat La Sportiva’s feathery (but not all that durable) TX2 Evo.

Belay Device

Our top pick: Petzl Grigri ($110)
What we like: Assisted-braking feature adds a nice dose of safety in the event of a fall; very user-friendly and reliable over the long term.
What we don’t: If you’re looking to bring a single device for belaying and rappelling, you’ll need something with two rope slots (unless you’re doing single-rope rappels).

Rappel Device*

Our top pick: Black Diamond ATC-Guide ($35)
What we like: A reliable and durable device that allows for double-rope rappels and belaying from above in guide mode. 
What we don’t: If you have another device that you prefer to use for belaying from above, you can save $10 with the simpler ATC-XP. 
*Editor’s note: We only bring along a tube-style device on multi-pitch climbs. For single-pitch trad routes, the Petzl Grigri is our preferred device. 
 

Alpine Draws

Our top pick: Trango Phase Alpine ($27)
What we like: Easy to shorten or extend depending on gear placements.
What we don’t: Some climbers will prefer to customize their setup by purchasing carabiners and slings separately. 
 

• Chalk bag w/ chalk (we like Mammut’s pocket-equipped Alpine for multi-pitch routes)
• Cams (Black Diamond is the gold standard, and the C4 collection is their flagship line)
• Nuts
• Nut tool
• Personal anchor system (PAS)
• Runners (both single- and double-length) and/or accessory cord for anchor building
• Locking carabiners (we never seem to have enough)
• Non-locking carabiners (at least one or two for your third hand, bailing off a route, etc.)
• Third hand (like Sterling’s HollowBlock) for rappelling

Optional Trad Climbing Gear

• Crack gloves (can substitute climbing tape in a pinch)
• Walkie talkies (we love Rocky Talkies)
• Metolius Hang Dogs shoe keepers (certainly not necessary but great for comfort—especially at hanging belays)
• Progress capture device like the Petzl Micro Traxion for simul-climbing or hauling (only recommended for experienced trad climbers)
   

Personal Items and Extras

Our list above covers the major essentials for several climbing disciplines, but below we detail more helpful items and tools to bring along with you to the crag (most of these are only relevant to outdoor climbing). And if you’re getting into big-wall objectives (think El Capitan in Yosemite), there’s even more to consider—like a portaledge, dedicated haul bag, and aid gear, for starters.
 

• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Climbing tape
• Headlamp
• First aid kit
• Sun protection (sun hoody, sunscreen, and sunglasses)
• Extra layers
• Guidebook or topo
• Lip balm
• Nail clippers
• Knife or multi-tool (for cutting rope in the event of a core shot or other damage)
• Massage gun
   

Additional Rock Climbing Tips

• If you’re new to outdoor climbing—even if you’ve built a solid base in the gym—it can be a good idea to hire a guide or attain in-person training (e.g., a gym-to-crag class or anchor-building clinic) before climbing outside for the first time. Unlike gym climbing, outdoor climbing requires you to bring all the necessary hardware (such as quickdraws if sport climbing or cams and nuts if trad climbing), along with anchor building material like webbing and locking carabiners. Preferences vary by climber and discipline, so you’ll want to dial in a setup that works for you and know how to use all of your gear safely and efficiently before heading outside.
• It’s best to dress in layers so you can easily adapt to changing temperatures and shifting conditions, especially if you’ll be high off the ground for most of the day. A few layers that we frequently wear for climbing (or keep stuffed in our pack) include a sun hoody, a windbreaker, and a light and packable down puffy or synthetic jacket.
   

• Local climbing shops and gyms can be a wealth of knowledge—on local crags and campsites, conditions, and climbing in general. They also typically have decent gear selections and sometimes rent out gear like crash pads, which can be helpful if you’re traveling from out of town.
• We always advise purchasing a local guidebook, especially if you frequently climb in a certain area, but the Mountain Project app will allow you to get by in most places. In addition to displaying crowd-sourced information and ratings on crags and climbs throughout the world, the app has helpful forums for finding partners, retrieving lost gear, discussing new and noteworthy designs and tech, and much more.
• Some outdoor climbing areas and gyms don’t allow the use of loose chalk. For instance, Garden of the Gods in Colorado no longer allows “chalk or chalk substitutes of any kind or color”—period. Similarly, some gyms began recommending liquid chalk during Covid as a more sanitary substitute for loose chalk, and some have continued to enforce the swap post-pandemic. If you typically climb with loose chalk, it’s a good idea to do your research ahead of time and ensure you’re prepared to adhere to the rules.
• Be sure to check regulations ahead of time and make any necessary parking reservations, attain hiking or climbing permits, and ensure there are no closures in effect (often due to bird nesting or other wildlife habitat preservation).
• If you’re bringing a pet to the crag, make sure they have what they need to stay comfortable, too. At a bare minimum, we always pack a collapsible water bowl, treats to reward good behavior, and a packable bed (like this one from Ruffwear) for them to sit or lie down on while we’re climbing. It’s also good etiquette to keep your pet leashed and away from other climbers, especially during busy times and at crags with crowded or challenging belays.
   

Where to Buy Climbing Gear

Climbing gear can be an intimidating world of numbers, safety ratings, and gear jargon. If you’re just getting started, talking to a real person is often invaluable, and there’s nowhere better to do that than your local climbing or gear shop. It’s also always a great idea to try things on—like shoes, harnesses, and backpacks—to make sure they fit properly and suit your needs. Perhaps our Seattle roots make us biased, but we also love REI Co-op. They have a wide selection of gear, offer a generous return policy (although it prohibits the return of certain types of climbing gear), and the staff are generally knowledgeable and helpful. If you prefer to shop from home, REI also offers free shipping with a $60 purchase from their website (members get free shipping regardless of the total). On the subject of online shopping, Backcountry.com provides free standard shipping on orders over $50 as well and offers a solid selection of climbing gear and a few can’t-miss annual sales. And finally, if you need your gear in a hurry or just want to lump it into another purchase, there’s always Amazon.com.
Back to Our Rock Climbing Checklist  See Our Climbing Gear Reviews