13 important rock climbing tips for beginners
Rock climbing is a
fun and exhilarating sport and presents new challenges each time you climb.
Even experienced climbers are – quite literally – kept on their toes and
learning new skills all the time.
So, if you’re just
starting out as a rock climber, there’s much to learn. From footwear to
harnesses and ropes to chalk, it can be a bit of a minefield.
But fear not, as we’ve put together a guide to rock climbing
for beginners to get you started. Here are our 13 most important tips.
1. Invest in good quality climbing gear
It might sound obvious, but if you’re serious about becoming a competent climber, you need to invest in good rock climbing equipment.
Not only can wearing unsuitable clothing and footwear put you at greater risk of a rock climbing injury, but renting out new gear every time you go climbing will cost you a fortune.
Although it might seem expensive, good quality gear will
prove much more beneficial in the long term, especially if you plan on climbing
regularly.
Don’t get carried away, though. As a beginner, you don’t
need everything. The following items are the most essential:
Other equipment, such as crash pads, ropes, and quickdraws, will become more necessary as you gain further rock climbing experience.
2. Get an instructor
One of the most
important rock climbing tips for beginners is to learn from the best.
When starting out, there are so many new techniques to learn. The only way to be sure you’re absorbing everything is to get face-to-face with someone who knows what they’re talking about.
There are numerous
ways you can do this.
They’re a great place to start if you live near, or can easily travel to, a climbing gym. If you can find someone to train with who’s a qualified rock climbing instructor, you’re even more in luck. Likewise, if they’re a member of a reputable organisation like the British Mountaineering Council, this shows how passionate and knowledgeable they are about rock climbing.
3. Find a climbing partner
As the famous song
goes, ‘I get by with a little help from my friends.’
Rock climbing is no
different, and another important tip for beginners is to buddy up with a
partner in climb – pun intended. They might not be an instructor, but they’ll
be able to support you in your first few climbs and pass on vital instructions.
The more technical
term for this person would be your belay
partner. As you become a more
confident climber, your belay partner will stay on the ground to hold your rope
and catch your falls.
But, when you’re first starting out, climbing in pairs is a
great way to keep your motivation up and add a competitive edge to spur your
progress.
4. Get a basic understanding of climbing grades
Climbing grades are either a number or a number-letter combination designed to reflect the difficulty of a climb.
There are numerous
grading systems, all of which will probably confuse you at first, but a good
instructor will be able to talk you through them.
Climbing grades originate from extreme mountaineering, in
which safety is paramount. When you’re first starting out in an indoor gym,
grades are used mainly to compare each climbing wall, so understanding them
will help.
Don’t focus too much
on grades, though. Some climbers make the mistake of thinking they aren’t
progressing if they’re not ‘moving up’ them, which isn’t necessarily true.
Measure your progress on whether you feel more confident than the previous week, as this is far more important than grades.
5. Try not to do too much, too soon
Make no mistake –
rock climbing is hard. One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a beginner
is to rush into things and expect instant results.
Instead of learning
and developing at their own pace or taking things one step at a time, many
beginner rock climbers treat climbing like a sprint, often disregarding
technique and skill.
If it takes you
longer to reach the summit than someone else, that’s fine. Trust the process,
and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Don’t feel pressured into climbing every day, either. Around two or three sessions a week is the recommended amount of rock climbing time for beginners. Any more than that, and you risk fatigue and potentially injury.
6. Practise the ‘silent feet’ method
On your first climb,
your footwork will be terrible. Don’t beat yourself up
over it – everyone’s footwork is.
This is because, at first, most people just look upward while climbing, not paying attention to their feet.
However, practising
the ‘silent feet’ method is one of the best ways to improve your technique.
Yes, it’s as simple as it sounds.
While climbing, try to make as little noise as possible when you place your feet on the footholds. Ideally, it should be silent. Though it sounds simple, it means you’ll start paying much more attention to your footwork, and that’s one of the most invaluable rock climbing tips for beginners
7. Attend a professional event as a spectator
Just as a good instructor will guide and support you through the nitty-gritty, professional climbing events will give you a firsthand glimpse of how the experts do it.
Go armed with a
notepad, pen and camera, and take it all in. Absorb the atmosphere, admire the
technique on display, and get inspired.
Attending these events also allows you to meet like-minded people and expand your climbing community.
You might even find
a new partner to climb with (which is important for beginners, as we covered
above).
8. Practise falling off
As a rock climber, you’re going to fall off. It’s inevitable,
so you might as well master the art.
All successful climbers spend time purposely falling to
learn how to do so correctly. You need to do the same, as practising falling
off will limit your chances of getting injured when it happens for real.
Your instructor will
guide you through this properly, but here are some key pointers to remember:
If you’re using a rope, ensure it stays in front of your feet during your climb. Getting it tangled could cause you to flip upside down when you fall.Communicate clearly with your belay partner before coming off the wall.Don’t push yourself off the wall with extreme force, as you’ll swing right back and collide with it at speed (which will hurt).
9. Remember to keep your arms straight
Keeping your arms straight is arguably the most important
rock climbing tip for beginners.
Climbing with bent
arms can impact your performance in numerous ways. For a start, it’s often a
sign that your arms are supporting your body weight far more than they need to,
which means you’ll tire a lot quicker. And let’s face it, getting tired easily
is very demotivating, especially as a beginner.
Also, when you bend your arms, you restrict your reach, which can make climbs seem harder than they actually are.
Though it’s a simple
technique on paper, climbing with straight arms is vital. Think about when
you’re carrying shopping home – are your arms normally straight or bent? Ask
yourself why.
10. Work on your core
Most people think that to be a successful rock climber, you need some serious upper-body strength to pull yourself upwards.
While one of the many benefits of rock climbing is that it can be a great full-body workout, core strength is the most important factor.
So, if you’re au fait with activities like yoga, gymnastics, or pilates, this will give you a leg up on the climbing wall (pun, once again, intended).
Even if you’re not, there are many easy ways to engage your core, both at the gym and at home.
11. Warm up properly
As with other sports, rock climbing requires a proper warm-up if you want to avoid serious injury. And yet, so many of us disregard this essential part of climbing.
Get into good habits early on and include a regular warm-up
routine in your climbing preparations.
Try a mixture of jumping jacks, leg swings, arm and wrist
circles, lunges, squats, push-ups, and anything that loosens you up and makes
you feel alert.
You don’t need to go
over the top, though – ten minutes is plenty for a warm-up.
12. Be mindful of your nutrition
Look at any seasoned rock climber, and you’re likely to see
a toned, muscular, healthy-looking physique, but it doesn’t happen by chance.
The sheer strength and endurance involved in rock climbing means you burn a lot of calories doing it, so it’s important to refuel your body with the right things.
As a beginner, break
things down into three parts.
Before a climb: It’s good to eat a variety of healthy fats such as avocado and nuts,
carbohydrates, and proteins.
During a climb: Quick sugars from energy bars will keep your energy levels up.
After a climb: Refuel with proteins and complex carbohydrates like brown rice and potatoes. The protein will aid muscle recovery. You can boost your protein intake with a protein shake, too.
13. Remember to have fun
It’s easy to get bogged down in seriousness, gym etiquette,
and overthinking your technique. But let’s not forget that rock climbing is
meant to be fun, exciting, and sociable.
As a beginner, never
lose sight of the reason you first started. Treat climbing like a game to begin
with, and if you find yourself getting frustrated, simply step away and take a
break.
Once you’re confident at indoor climbing, you could even try one of the many rock climbing locations around the UK to switch things up.
Having fun will make
you a more competent climber in the long run, which is why you started reading
this blog in the first place, right?
Rock climbing FAQs
How do you start rock climbing as a beginner?
If you’re entirely new to rock climbing, bouldering is often considered the best type of rock climbing for beginners. Bouldering doesn’t involve any fancy equipment except your climbing shoes and some chalk, as you won’t be far off the ground and there will be crash pads underneath you. This will allow you to get stuck into learning some basic climbing techniques and build up your strength.
What’s the difference between rock climbing and bouldering?
Bouldering is a type of
climbing that involves climbing at a lower height without the need for ropes
and a harness. Rock climbing usually involves using ropes and a harness to
climb high walls, requiring more endurance. All you need are some climbing
shoes and some chalk to start bouldering!
Is rock climbing difficult for beginners?
Rock climbing can be challenging for beginners, even if
experienced climbers make it look like a breeze! However, practice makes
perfect and finding an instructor to teach you the proper techniques will
certainly help. No one is excellent at any sport right off the bat, so don’t be
discouraged if it takes time for you to master climbing.
Is climbing good for belly fat?
Climbing is an excellent way to burn belly fat because it engages your core muscles. Additionally, you’re also engaging a range of muscle groups while you climb, so it can be a good full-body workout, too.
Do I need to be fit to start rock climbing?
While rock climbing can be a great fitness activity, you don’t necessarily need to be fit before you start! Rock climbing can be accessible for all fitness types, and you’ll find that you build your strength and stamina as you practice.
Can you teach yourself to rock climb?
It is possible to teach yourself to rock climb at your local climbing gym, which will help build up your strength through practice. You’ll also find lots of helpful content online from other rock climbers, such as blogs and YouTube videos. Although you may find that you reach a certain point where your technique is holding you back and you need the help of an expert to progress further.
Specialist rock climbing insurance through Insure4Sport
It doesn’t
matter whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced pro; rock climbing
always carries a risk of injury, and your equipment could be lost, damaged or
stolen, too.
Before you
start your first climb, you may want to consider specialist rock climbing
insurance to protect you and ensure you won’t be left out of pocket should
the unexpected happen.
Rock climbing
insurance through Insure4Sport can include:
Personal accident coverEquipment coverPublic liability
Learn more about specialist rock climbing insurance through Insure4Sport or get an instant online quote today.
