Why Your Own Gear Matters (Even as a Beginner)
Renting gym gear works for your first few sessions. But rental harnesses are stiff, rental shoes are blown out, and sharing chalk bags is gross. Once you've climbed 5-10 times and know you're hooked, buying your own starter kit saves money within 2-3 months vs. rental fees averaging $15/session.
The American Alpine Club's 2024 accident report shows that properly fitted personal gear is involved in significantly fewer incidents than ill-fitting rentals. A harness that fits you distributes fall forces correctly.
Complete beginner kit: $200-350. Harness ($60-80), shoes ($90-160), chalk bag + chalk ($20-30), belay device ($25-125). That's 15-20 rental sessions.
Climbing Harness
Every harness sold in the US meets UIAA/CE standards — 15kN minimum on the belay loop. Even budget harnesses are fundamentally safe. Differences are comfort, weight, and features. For beginners, prioritize comfort.
Climbing Shoes: Biggest Performance Upgrade
For your first pair, choose a flat or slightly downturned shoe. Aggressive shoes hurt and don't help on easy routes. You should be able to wear them for a full session.
Chalk and Chalk Bag
Belay Device
Sources
- American Alpine Club. "Accidents in North American Climbing 2024." 2024.
- UIAA Safety Standards. "Harness Standard 105." 2023.
- REI Co-op. "How to Choose Climbing Shoes." 2025.
- FrictionLabs. "Chalk Science." frictionlabs.com, 2024.
- Petzl Technical Institute. "Belay Device Comparison." 2025.