Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below I have been wanting to get into rock climbing for awhile now, but I have no experience what so ever. There is this indoor rock climbing gym in my town offering a basic rappeling class on Oct. 14 where members of this class will learn the basics of rappelling, including ropes and equipment, safety and self-rescue, belaying, and more. By the end of the day, participants will have the opportunity to rappel off a five story building. Would that be something I should sign up for to get started and do indoor gyms offer climbing basics? Thanks
Been wanting to get into rock climbing, but have a few questions!
- Thread starter Brad87
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Tatyana
Elite Mentor
Unless you know an experienced climber, or there are some outdoor established areas that have anchors at the top of the face, indoor walls are a really good option.
You will be learning the basics of 'top roping'.
Rock climbing equipment is quite expensive, and you need quite a bit, even with top roping. Free climbing requires a crazy amount of wedges, (I forget the name of the expanding clamp things).
Ropes have a lifespan as well, especially if you have fallen on them a few times, scraped them over the edge.
Wear the thinnest sole and tightest trainer you have. A lot of the new 'fashion' trainers have been designed off of rock climbing shoes.
I haven't been in AGES, it was kicking out my weight training to build up strength for rock climbing that had me get into bodybuilding.................
One word of advice, trust you equipment, don't fight if you fall.
You will be learning the basics of 'top roping'.
Rock climbing equipment is quite expensive, and you need quite a bit, even with top roping. Free climbing requires a crazy amount of wedges, (I forget the name of the expanding clamp things).
Ropes have a lifespan as well, especially if you have fallen on them a few times, scraped them over the edge.
Wear the thinnest sole and tightest trainer you have. A lot of the new 'fashion' trainers have been designed off of rock climbing shoes.
I haven't been in AGES, it was kicking out my weight training to build up strength for rock climbing that had me get into bodybuilding.................
One word of advice, trust you equipment, don't fight if you fall.
One of my friends is an experienced climber, but he lives in west lafayette half the year and indianapolis the other half of the year. I live in fort wayne all year round. He gave me a few places where I could go and climb, so Im starting to check them out. I am new to the sport, so I dont really know anything about gear. Would it be better for a beginner to rent gear or buy it?
stoked187
New member
personally id rent gear 1st. like the last dude said, the gear is expensive, you dont wanna spent all that hard earned cash and find out its something you dont like. wait for your bro to come around and go with him. youll learn a lot. Id take that rope class. itll help you tons! youll learn proper knots anchor points etc. Ive never rock climbed but im a rope rescue tech with 2 fire FD's and let me tell ya. its bad ass! oh yea make sure whatever gear you rent is in good working conditiion. its your ass on that rope and tell em to fuck off if you think the gears in shitty condition.
mountain muscle
New member
Friends Tatyana they are called friends. I preferred tri cams personally.
Bran find a place that offers to teach a basic top roping class. So you can learn belaying, figure eight follow through, protection placement, edging, smearing etc., for awhile and get to a comfort zone. Then they will probably/should offer a day on the rock after a few days of training.
You could take the rap class for fun but want to avoid it when you get you own rope because it damages the rope. Still is fun as hell.
Bran find a place that offers to teach a basic top roping class. So you can learn belaying, figure eight follow through, protection placement, edging, smearing etc., for awhile and get to a comfort zone. Then they will probably/should offer a day on the rock after a few days of training.
You could take the rap class for fun but want to avoid it when you get you own rope because it damages the rope. Still is fun as hell.
rock climbing is pretty much a 2 man sport so if your wanting to get into it without a partner its gonna be ruff. but id take some indoor classes if you live away from some routes and just get used to tying and belaying someone and some technique on body manipulating. but if you had access to outdoor climbing id go with that. if you really like it from there id buy some shoes and a harness. shoes 50-100$ for mens harness 30-80 for a package deal *atc, chalkbag and a carabeaner*sp* from there you need a rope 100-180$ and some quickdraws if you plan on climbing prebolted routes. 12 quick draws 80-150. but in reality once you get all of that stuff your good to go for a few years depending on how often you climb. any other questions lemme know
Bridger
Member
Rock climbing is awesome. I was a young teenager at the time i started so i was limited to a gym due to money, etc. If you are just starting out a gym is a great place to learn. You only need shoes, harness and a chalk bag. All of which you can rent. I'd recommend buying good shoes though and harness. If you have no one to climb with bouldering can be a blast. Plus a gym is climate controlled.
OverWorked
New member
I've been a couple of times, indoor only though. Its awesome, the forearm pump you can get is insane. I would advise indoor to begin with, safer environment to start off in.
I am an active climber in the Sierra Nevadas. If you're new to the sport, then drop the loot, go to the indoor climbing gym and get a lesson. You need to learn basics first, belaying, knot tieing, harness basics, commands, technique..stuff like that. Climbing is not about strength, per say, as it is with technique. Learning to rappel outdoors will not help with your rockclimbing...that's just how you get off the climb once you've topped out on a nice 10+ pitch climb 
But you're not there yet 
But you're not there yet 
