The Best Gym Climbing Gear of 2019

Published October 10, 2018 12:00AM

Ridge Merino Journey T-shirt ($50)

Merino: you know it, you love it, and it stifles BO, so your belayer doesn’t have to suffer.

PrAna Summit Pants ($89)

The flat, stretchy waistband on the Summit is ultra-comfortable, and the fit is flattering, flaring down the leg for better range of motion. As a bonus, these double as yoga pants.

La Sportiva Futura Shoes ($185)

The Futura has been our favorite climbing shoe for a while now. The only thing that could possibly make it better? A women’s version, which came out this year and features a narrower heel and snugger fit for low-volume feet. And the new shape doesn’t rob the Futura of all the capability that made us fall for the men’s shoe.

Petzl GriGri+ Belay Device ($150)

We stand behind the GriGri+ as the most foolproof belay device. It’ll lock off and stop the rope if your belayer accidentally yards on the lowering handle, so you can entrust almost any gymgoer to give you a catch without fear of decking.

Petzl Selena Harness ($70)

The Selena is designed for women, meaning it fits easily over the hips and snugly around the bottom. The price is reasonable without cheaping out on fit, comfort, or style. (For dudes, there’s the Sama.)

Static Climbing Waxed Canvas Chalk Bucket ($62)

Be honest: looks are a factor when choosing a chalk bucket. Static’s waxed-canvas pail not only looks good, but it’s got manners, too. A dual-closure system ensures no chalk spills out in your pack.

The North Face Beyond the Wall Free Motion Bra ($75)

Finally, a sports bra for climbers. The backless design caters to developed shoulder and back muscles, and the Free Motion pairs perfectly with high leggings.

Black Diamond 9.9 40-Meter Gym Climbing Rope ($100)

For most gym climbing, a 40-meter rope will do you just fine. BD’s 9.9-millimeter model occupies the sweet spot between supple enough so you don’t have to wrestle with knots and thick enough for hang-dogging on a project.

Moon Climbing Bouldering Bag ($68)

Designated pockets for your harness, a chalk bag, and a couple pairs of shoes make this the ideal grab-and-go gym buddy. All those organizational options were enough to reform our untidy ways.

Tenaya Oasi LV Shoes ($165)

The Oasi LV from Tenaya is exceptionally comfortable, considering how downturned and aggressive it is. And while it’s tailored specifically to low-volume feet, even our wide-footed male tester loved them for throwing toe hooks on the bouldering wall.