The Best Climbing Gear for Beginners

The sport of rock climbing is having a moment. It’s in the Paris 2024 Olympics; professional climber Alex Honnold, who starred in the documentary Free Solo, now has several climbing shows with National Geographic. Thanks to an explosion in the popularity of indoor climbing gyms, anyone can now give climbing a go. It’s easy to see the attraction: You get a full-body workout, it’s fun, and your brain has to solve problems too.

Whether you’re indoor climbing—or pulling on plastic, as traditionalists like to say—or going outside to climb on rock, you’ll need some gear to get started. Indoor climbing is accessible, and you can go year-round; outdoor climbing has better views, more complex problem-solving, and occasionally the need to overcome fear and embrace teamwork. Here, you’ll find a comprehensive selection of the best climbing equipment for beginners and improvers. We also asked the experts at Backcountry.com for their tips on dealing with notoriously uncomfortable climbing shoes.

Don’t see anything you like? Check out our many other guides on outdoor gear, like the Best Tents and the Best Hiking Shoes. With any luck, you too can be on-sighting the problem, working the crux, and smashing the beta on the way to your first 5.11.