Bouldering Gear Checklist

Bouldering is one of the simplest ways to start climbing.

There are no ropes, no belay devices, no harnesses and no clipping. You climb short walls, fall onto thick mats and try the same problem until you figure it out.

It feels social, physical and very honest. Either you stick the move or you fall off and try again.

Because bouldering is so simple to get into, it does not need a long kit list.

But there are still a few bits of gear that make a real difference. The right shoes, the right chalk setup, the right approach to skin and the right outdoor pad if you go to real rock.

This checklist will help you put together a useful bouldering kit for indoor and outdoor bouldering, without buying gear you do not really need.

Quick answer: what gear do you need for bouldering?

For most boulderers, your basic bouldering kit is small.

Indoor bouldering kit:

• Climbing shoes
• Chalk bag or chalk bucket
• Chalk (loose, ball or liquid, depending on gym rules)
• Comfortable clothing
• A small towel
• A water bottle
• Optional: brush, skin care, finger tape

Outdoor bouldering kit:

• Climbing shoes
• Bouldering pad (crash pad)
• Chalk bag or chalk bucket
• Chalk and brush
• Backpack or pad with carry straps
• Suitable clothing for the conditions
• Skin care
• First aid basics

You do not need a harness, rope or belay device for bouldering.

If you only ever boulder, you can climb for a very long time on just shoes, chalk, a chalk bag and good footwork.

Climbing shoes for bouldering

Climbing shoes are the most important piece of bouldering kit.

They give you grip on small footholds, support on edges and security on heel hooks and toe hooks.

For indoor bouldering, look for shoes that are:

• Comfortable enough to wear for a session
• Secure on the heel
• Reliable on common indoor holds
• Easy to put on and take off between attempts

For outdoor bouldering, you may want shoes with:

• Strong toe rubber for toe hooks
• A more curved shape for harder problems
• Sensitive rubber for small features
• Reliable edging for outdoor footholds

You do not need the most aggressive bouldering shoe in the shop. A moderate shape often handles indoor and outdoor bouldering well, especially as you are learning.

Chalk bag or chalk bucket?

Bouldering chalk setups are a little different from rope climbing setups.

Chalk bag

A chalk bag clips around your waist with a belt. It is small, light and goes with you when you climb.

You do not really need a small waist chalk bag for indoor bouldering, because you take your shoes off between attempts and chalk up by the wall.

A chalk bag can still be useful for outdoor bouldering, where you may want chalk closer to hand on a problem.

Chalk bucket

A chalk bucket is a wider, free standing chalk pouch that you place on the floor.

It holds more chalk, lets you dip both hands in easily and is the most common chalk setup for indoor bouldering and outdoor bouldering at the base of the pad.

For most boulderers, a chalk bucket is the most useful chalk setup.

What chalk should you use?

Climbing chalk usually comes in three forms:

• Loose chalk
• Chalk balls
• Liquid chalk

For bouldering, loose chalk in a chalk bucket is common. It gives quick coverage, works well in cooler conditions and is easy to top up.

Some gyms restrict loose chalk because of dust. In those gyms, chalk balls or liquid chalk are used instead.

Liquid chalk is a paste that dries on your hands to create a chalk layer. It produces less dust and can be used to start a session, then topped up with loose chalk later.

Use the chalk that works for your gym's rules, your skin and your climbing style.

Bouldering mat or crash pad

If you boulder outdoors, a bouldering pad (also called a crash pad) is essential.

A crash pad protects you when you fall by absorbing the impact and giving you a safer landing area.

When choosing a pad, think about:

• Size (the size of the pad you need depends on the problems you climb)
• Foam type (different foams give different levels of stiffness and impact protection)
• Carry straps for hiking to the boulder
• Pad shape (taco fold or hinge fold)

Pads vary a lot. For some easy boulders, one pad may be enough. For taller problems or harder landings, more pads or larger pads are needed.

Always learn to spot, use pads properly and treat outdoor bouldering as the higher risk activity it can be.

Brushes

Climbing holds collect chalk, dust and skin residue over time, which reduces grip.

A climbing brush helps clean holds for better friction.

For outdoor bouldering, a brush is essential for cleaning chalk off holds and looking after the rock.

For indoor bouldering, gyms usually have brushes available, but a small personal brush can still be useful.

Skin care for bouldering

Bouldering can be very tough on your skin.

Hard pulls, repeated attempts and friction on holds can lead to:

• Flappers
• Splits
• Calluses
• Dry skin

Look after your skin with:

• A chalk routine that does not over dry your hands
• Climbing skin balm or moisturiser
• Filing or sanding rough calluses
• Resting when needed
• Tape for protecting cuts

Better skin means longer sessions and more enjoyable climbing.

Clothing for bouldering

Bouldering clothing is usually relaxed.

For indoor bouldering, look for:

• Stretchy trousers or shorts
• A comfortable top
• Layers for warming up and cooling down
• Trainers or slip on shoes for moving around the gym

For outdoor bouldering, add:

• A warm layer for breaks
• Weather appropriate jacket
• Sturdy shoes for the approach to the boulder

Comfort matters. You will be moving in awkward positions, so anything restrictive will get in the way.

What you do not need for bouldering

For most boulderers, you do not need:

• A harness
• A rope
• A belay device
• Quickdraws
• A helmet for indoor bouldering, although helmets can be worth considering outdoors on certain problems

Bouldering is one of the cheapest climbing disciplines to start.

A pair of shoes, a chalk bucket and chalk is often enough indoors.

A pair of shoes, a chalk bucket, a brush and a pad covers most outdoor sessions.

Outdoor bouldering safety

Outdoor bouldering is not the same as indoor bouldering.

The landing can be uneven. The rock can be sharp. The fall can be more serious. The weather can change quickly.

Always:

• Use enough pads for the problem
• Spot for your partner
• Check the landing zone before climbing
• Take care on highball problems
• Respect access rules at the crag
• Brush holds and avoid damaging the rock

If you are new to outdoor bouldering, go with experienced climbers, take a course or join a club. The basic gear is simple, but the judgement around outdoor bouldering takes time to build.

Common bouldering gear mistakes

Some common mistakes beginner boulderers make:

• Buying aggressive shoes too early
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Skipping skin care until problems happen
• Not using a brush
• Going outdoors without enough pads
• Treating outdoor bouldering like indoor bouldering

The best bouldering kit is the one that suits the climbing you actually do, not the climbing you think you should be doing.

Quick buying checklist

Before buying bouldering gear, ask yourself:

• Will I mostly boulder indoors, outdoors or both?
• Do I need a chalk bag, chalk bucket or both?
• Does my gym allow loose chalk, or do I need a chalk ball or liquid chalk?
• Will I need a pad and brush for outdoor problems?
• Are my shoes suited to indoor sessions, outdoor sessions or both?
• Am I looking after my skin?

If yes, you are probably in a good place to keep enjoying bouldering.

Final thoughts

Bouldering does not need a long kit list.

A pair of shoes that helps your footwork. A chalk setup that keeps your hands dry. Maybe a pad and brush if you go outdoors. A little care for your skin so your hands stay healthy.

That is enough to get you a long, long way as a boulderer.

Start simple. Keep your kit small. Buy gear when your climbing genuinely asks for it.

Then focus on the moves, the problems and the climbing itself.

That is how you climb like you've done it before.