UKC

Hi Chaps & Chappettes...

I'm looking to start climbing... want to try to get a bit fitter first as I'm a bit of a lard arse...

But in the mean time... What sort of equipment should I be looking to get?

I know that I can hire harnesses and ropes and stuff but I'd prefer to get my own shoes... I know that they are quite expensive for specific climbing shoes...

Is there any other type of shoes I can use? can I use normal trainers to start out or should i be using something more sturdy or lighter even?

looking to do a beginners class in the next few weeks or so any advice would be cool! I don't wanna turn up to the class and get told my shoes are rubbish!!

In reply to Shugs81: trainers are fine to start with. shoes of your own are good to have...but hold off until you know you want to carry on!
Have fun, that's the main thing. good luck!

In reply to Shugs81:

Where will the beginners class be? indoor or outdoor? At an inside wall I would expect them to provide harness & shoes as part of the deal, outdoors I'd expect harness and helmet but not shoes. I think you really need to experience the fit of a shoe before buying. I went down two sizes (euro 48 to euro 46) after a bit of experience.

You do need to try the shoes on because fit varies hugely. A good shop will help you - again most walls have a shop and will be used to fitting out beginners.

In reply to Shugs81: you'll probably get the equip for a beginners' course. tracksuit bottoms are better than jeans, and take a spare tshirt, coz you might just get sweaty.
spare pants as well for another reason

In reply to Shugs81:

Shoes make the most epic difference in the world. Plus rental shoes hum and are very demoralising If i could only buy one thing in the world for climbing, it would be shoes

In reply to Kemics:

Completely agree that shoes are the main (and to start with only) thing you need. I'd also advice going to a decent climbing shop to buy if you can.

I bought my first pair of shoes from a normal outdoor shop, they always hurt my feet and I was never really happy with them. I've just bought a new pair and got them from a decent shop, they walked me through the process of getting a pair that fit properly, suit my climbing style and ability and my wallet

Oh, some chalk is always useful too

In reply to Shugs81: Yeah definately stick with trainers for the time being, get the feel for climbing, if you do decide to buy climbing shoes, make sure you try the actual pair you are going to buy on before you buy them, don't just go in blind. I don't think you would get told your shoes are rubbish on a beginners course, they will be looking to encourage you not put you off! Give me a buzz if you need to know anything. As for the weight thing, don't worry about that either

Chris

In reply to Shugs81: It's not necessarily the weight issue... it's carrying it up a climbing wall!!! lol...

It's an indoor bouldering beginners class in durham...

I'll be honest people have told me the differences but i'm still not sure... I'm suprised the amount of people used to climb but don't now and it's my mate from approx 50 miles away that wants to do it... I said i'd be interested to try... there's also a decent snow+Rock place up near the metro centre... which is about 10/15 mins away...

good news about the trainers tho... I'm really flat footed so need the arch support that are in my shoes to walk around without pain! lol... making it out worse than it really is but that's not really for this forum!!

will deffo try it out a few times before diving in... i generally don't like to spend a lot of cash on shoes for the afore mentioned reason... and i seem to walk like a retard so generally wear them out... last couple of pairs of shoes i spent £90 lasted just as long as the ones i spent £20 on... serves me right!!

anyhow... cheers for the tips peeps... was suprised at the amount of responses!!

In reply to Shugs81: In Dave Macleod's book '9 out of 10 climbers make the same mistakes', he says that starting climbing in the wrong shoes encourages poor footwork.

Makes sense to me, might be worth thinking about this. Footwork is possibly the most important technique, and it's often pants in beginners. Even a cheap pair of climbing shoes is probably better than nothing.

If you have any more questions, feel free to send me an email!

In reply to Shugs81: Although obviously, I wouldn't buy a pair of shoes for the first few sessions. Hire some until you decide if you want to get into it! It's probably worth the few £'s it will cost you.

In reply to Shugs81:

Welcome.

It starts with innocent questions, and ends up arguing the finer points of some dull route, in the rain, with a girl with a mohican.

Most of the bigshops sell discount shoes. Costwolds usually have discount shoes. The staff are pants, but just get a pair of Evole or simialr and make sure they fit lie a track shoe or a tight trainer. At tis stage, you don't want to mangle your feet, just wear comfy shoes.

Tell you what, mail me and tell me your shoes ize. I have a few pairs of rock shoes that due to monkey DNa do not fit me - you can have them for the price of a donation to mountain rescue.

I would get a chaep harness- a black diamond Bod and a couple of screw gate carabiners. One for your belay device and one with a long sling to clip to the floor of the gym in case you are a lightweight.

Tell you what - drop me a mial and I will see what I can do to help.

wow... some kind offers there!

I'll be honest.... I think the biggest issue I'm going to face is hauling my bulk about... was hoping to leave it a month or two with hopes of shedding weight quick ish.... I dropped 1 and a half stone from march to June and have hit a wall... have just changed my gym routing in hopes of starting it off again and hoping to drop the same again by Xmas... obviously looking to start sooner than that and i know my legs are pretty strong... just wanted to make it a bit easier... I'm 19st but 6'2 so could be worse but I was quite fit about 10 years ago and keep thinking I'm still as fit... which is a total joke... damn you tabs and beer!!!

will definitely spend the money on the shoes if i know I'm gonna continue... hoping to bulk up as quick as i did when I started gyming it when I was younger... not a chance tho!!

Cheers again peeps... will be in touch!

In reply to Shugs81:

Trying to boulder in trainers could be a bit demorilising. Get hold of a cheap pair of climbing shoes. By cheap I mean a £50 pair reduced to £35 or something.

I wouldn't wait to get fitter just get on with it.

In reply to Shugs81:

No point waiting to get fitter, jfdi.

You don't need a harness for boulering, you can hire one indoors, get one when you want to climb outdoors or when you know why you want one.

Shoes. This is a big debate...as you've seen. You can hire them, but they can be minging. Take a spare pair of socks. When you get your own shoes, then you'll prolly wear them without socks. Generally the first thing you buy as soon as you decide you want to carry on.

A beginners pair will set you back £50 - £70, less than that if you can find an offer. You HAVE to try on the pair you're going to buy, minute differences in size are v important with climbing shoes, you need to find a make that fits your feet (not a make that your mate likes). A shop will help, find one that has assistants who climbs.

Chalkbag will set you back around £10. Belay device will set you back £15 or so. You'll find out what they are on your beginners course.

In reply to Shugs81: you're a big lad, so be very careful! your finger tendons aren't usually asked to support big weights, so use your strong legs as much as possible!
Decathlon also have cheap shoes, £19? i used to climb with a guy who'd do 7's in them.

In reply to Mike Nolan: In my limited experience of 16 years instructing and watching folks learn to climb, shoes really dont have an impact on enjoyment at the start. You will be astounded at the size of grin a pair on knacked 15quid TK-chav trainers can induce.
In a few weeks you wont be a beginner anyway shugs so maybe ask about and look for a pair of shoes that will be with you as you improve.

reet...

if that's the case i'll stick with the trainers for now... then rather than spending £20 quid on shoes to start with I'll bite the bullet and get a decent pair... when I can afford it!!! lol!

oops... Forgot to say a big Thanks to everyone too!!!

In reply to Shugs81: you're welcome! See ya at the top!

In reply to Shugs81: If you live near a Decathlon store, they sell shoes cheap that are ok for starting out, (I got some for about £35). There are some on here who I am sure will rubbish them, but mine were fine for me
until I was ready to get something a little better.

Also look out for the starter pack deal at GoOutdoors which has a harness, shoes and chalkbag for a decent price.

Whatever you do good luck. As for weight loss, use the climbing to get rid of the weight. It's an excellent workout, I've lost a stone since christmas thanks to the climbing.