The Best Climbing Gear for Beginners
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
Picking up a new hobby can be daunting. Factor in the promise of falls from great heights, and it's no wonder that most people gave more knots in their stomachs than in their ropes when they first start climbing. The lingo sounds like an entirely different language—basically Cockney rhyming slang—and then you're also hyper-aware that your life literally depends on getting it all right. Put your trust in the gear we've assembled here in our guide for climbing gear for beginners, which will provide everything you absolutely need and nothing that's just marketing fluff. Most climbers get acquainted with the safety routines, jargon, and gear when climbing indoors. But it's fine to start outdoors if you fall in with the right climbers or enroll in an American Mountain Guides Association–accredited course.
Whether you're indoors or outdoors, you're going to need some essential gear. I'm keeping it simple and affordable in this guide, since it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the jargon for technical gear. You're also not going to be a climbing lead until you're more experienced, so I've omitted items like rope and quickdraws, which your climb leader will have. You can get by with any flexible clothes (no jeans!), but I suggest you veer toward technical synthetic layers for climbing outside.
Updated September 2023: We've added Black Diamond gloves, as well as new picks for carabiners. We've also adjusted pricing and availability.