Gear you truston the sharp end.
Buying guides for climbing shoes, harnesses, belay devices, ropes, helmets, crash pads and alpine gear, built on UIAA and EN certification and each manufacturer's instructions for use.
Gear by discipline
Bouldering, rope climbing, training and the mountains. Each section starts with the standard the gear must meet.
Climbing shoes
Gym, bouldering, sport and trad shoes
Ropes & protection
Ropes, harnesses, belay and helmets
Bouldering & training
Crash pads, chalk and hangboards
Ice & alpine
Ice axes, crampons and boots
Gear care & retirement
Inspection, cleaning and retirement
Gyms & routesetting
Holds, walls and routesetting tools
Know your gear
Belay devices compared: tube devices, passive and active assisted-braking devices, guide mode, rope diameter ranges, EN 15151 certification and locking carabiners.
- 02
Climbing Harness Fit and Certification Guide
Harnesses
- 03
Climbing Helmet Guide: Hardshell, Foam and Hybrid
Helmets
- 04
Climbing Shoe Sizing and Types: Flat, Moderate and Aggressive
Climbing shoes
- 05
Crampon and Boot Compatibility: B Ratings, C Ratings and Ice Axes
Crampons and axes
- 06
Bouldering Crash Pad Buying Guide: Size, Foam and Folding Styles
Crash pads
Climbing Gear questions, answered
What belay device is best for beginners?
Many gyms teach on tube or assisted-braking devices. Learn the device your instructor teaches and always keep a hand on the brake strand.
Read: Belay Device Types Compared →How should a climbing harness fit?
The waist belt snug above the hip bones so it cannot slide over them, and leg loops snug with room for a flat hand.
Read: Climbing Harness Fit and Certification Guide →Do I need a helmet for sport climbing?
Many climbers wear one outdoors for rockfall and falls, especially on multi-pitch routes and as belayers at the crag.
Read: Climbing Helmet Guide →How tight should climbing shoes be?
Snug, with toes touching the front and slightly curled, but not painful. Beginners should avoid very tight fits.
Read: Climbing Shoe Sizing and Types →What are B ratings on mountaineering boots?
A stiffness rating from B0 (flexible, not for crampons) to B3 (rigid, with toe and heel welts for automatic crampons).
Read: Crampon and Boot Compatibility →What size crash pad should I get?
A full-size pad around 3 × 4 feet is a common first pad. Add smaller pads to cover gaps later.
Read: Bouldering Crash Pad Buying Guide →Standards first, always
Every piece of protection we recommend carries the relevant UIAA or EN certification.
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The climbing gear index
- 01Climbing shoesClimbing shoes for beginners, bouldering, sport, trad and gym climbing.1 page
- 02Ropes & protectionDynamic ropes, harnesses, belay devices, carabiners, slings, protection and helmets.4 pages
- 03Bouldering & trainingCrash pads, chalk and chalk bags, brushes, hangboards and home walls.1 page
- 04Ice & alpineIce axes and tools, crampons, mountaineering boots, alpine packs and approach shoes.1 page
- 05Gear care & retirementInspecting, cleaning, storing and retiring climbing equipment according to manufacturer instructions.0 pages
- 06Gyms & routesettingClimbing holds, home walls, routesetting tools and equipment for gyms and professionals.0 pages