Best Climbing Gear - r/climbing Picks
Top-rated climbing equipment from r/climbing and r/climbharder. Shoes, harnesses, ropes, and bouldering essentials from beginner to advanced.
Climbing Shoes
La Sportiva Tarantulace
Default beginner shoe. Comfortable flat last, durable rubber, lace closure for adjustable fit. Cheap enough to beat up in the gym.
Scarpa Instinct VS
Versatile all-around performance shoe. Moderate downturn with excellent sensitivity. Works on everything from slab to overhang.
La Sportiva Miura
High-performance aggressive shoe for steep and technical terrain. Legendary edging precision. The sport climbing standard.
Five Ten Anasazi VCS
Legendary slipper-style with maximum sensitivity. Exceptional for bouldering and technique-focused climbing on vertical terrain.
Harnesses
Black Diamond Momentum
Budget-friendly all-around harness. Comfortable for gym and outdoor sport climbing. The default starter recommendation.
Petzl Adjama
Versatile sport and trad harness with excellent gear loops. Comfortable for hanging belays and multi-pitch days.
Arc'teryx AR-395a
Minimalist all-around harness for alpine and sport. Lightweight with emphasis on mobility and minimal bulk.
Ropes and Protection
Beal Joker 9.1mm Dry Cover
Versatile single rope for sport and trad. Excellent durability and handling. Good balance of weight and longevity.
Black Diamond Camalot C4s
The gold standard for active cam protection. Reliable camming across wide range of crack widths. Buy used to save money.
Petzl Djinn Quickdraws
Reliable sport climbing quickdraws. Clean clipping action, lightweight, good quality-to-price ratio.
Black Diamond Stopper Set
Essential passive protection for trad climbing. Cheap, light, and reliable backup to cams in parallel-sided cracks.
Bouldering Essentials
Organic Full Pad
Premium crash pad with excellent impact absorption. Handmade in the US. The community favorite for outdoor bouldering.
Friction Labs Unicorn Dust Chalk
Premium loose chalk with superior grip and low dust. Expensive but community consensus is it actually performs better.
Boldr Boar Hair Brush
Firm brush for cleaning holds between attempts. Boar hair cleans well without damaging rock texture.