UKC

Hi all. New here today so forgive me if this has been covered.

My new partners brother rock climbs all over the world and recently he invited my self to do a bit of easy climbing with the family.

I was very nervous as his friends where there and watching. the climb was only about 20mts but found I couldn't quite make it all the way to the top (about half way) I couldn't seem to get my footing on one bit although I did have normal trainers on. the instructor told me to take them off and my socks which I didn't feel comfortable doing. so that was my climb over. But I did really enjoy it but was wondering if I am "A" to old (49) and "B" to over weight 16stone at 5ft 6. However my legs and arms are quite muscly its just my belly that gets in the way. I go to a gym 2 -3 times a week but find this boring and would prefer to get fit doing climbing.

any advice plus what's the minimum amount of equipment I need to get me started?

Also have been bouldering with the kids but never done it my self

In reply to Kentvilla:

Certainly not too old and weight not an issue.

Indoors or outside?
Indoor bouldering - shoes and chalkbag.
Indoors roped - shoes, harness, chalkbag, the belay device and karabiner.
Indoors most centres will have hire kit so you don't have to make the financial commitment until you know that climbing is for you.

Outdoors, same kit plus other things.

In reply to Jenny C:

Will be outside. there is a climbing place near where I live that is free I think but the climbers there have their own gear. Just thought I would be nice to nip down their with the family and climb the easy routes until we know what we are doing

The bouldering is mainly indoors and there isn't any ropes its just climbing as not very high

In reply to Kentvilla:
My best mate Denis is about same height and weight. He is reasonably strong bloke, but diabetes and overweight do get in the way of climbing. However he really enjoys it and comes to a lot of climbing holidays. Now regarding muscly limbs and core of overweight people - it is natural and needed to support extra load. Many people see muscle degradation with fat loss.

Denis can lead F4 and follow F5a single or F4 multi pitch.

He can't keep up with most climbers, but always happy to fly drones or go cycling on trails

Climbing to get fit will probably not work unfortunately. If you are already doing 2 - 3 gym sessions a week and are at the height and weight you are it is likely your nutrition is the key to fitness.

Climbing shoes and helmet is the only things you really need. Harness and belay can be rented or borrowed for start. The rest better to wait until you know yourself that you want to get.

In reply to nutme:

Thanks for that.

I do eat healthy and the weight is slowly coming off. However I have been having a lot of protein shakes which think is why my weight has stuttered a bit. I have now come off the protein shakes and hope this will help with the weight loss.

I don't understand what the F4, F5a single or F4 multipitch is lol. Please explain.

that hand as I have a DJI phantom Drone so would love to get some aerial shots of climbers even one day of my self

In reply to Kentvilla:

The numbers are grades of climb. Smaller the number, the easier it is. You can often tell from the ground by eye if it's easy or hard.

In reply to Kentvilla:

I suggest you start by getting hold of a book explaining the basics of rock climbing and equipment, and ideally by going on an introductory course. Plas y Brenin in North Wales run excellent two day introductory courses

http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses-detail.php?coursecode=RCC01&irisref=118

As others have said it will help you a lot to get your weight down BEFORE you start, because you are effectively trying to raise extra weight up the rock face which is very tiring. I agree that you need to take advice on nutrition and weight loss exercises as a separate issue to learning to climb. Climbing on it's own is unlikely to help you lose weight.

I agree that age is no problem. One of my climbing partners didn't start until he was approaching 50, and went on to climb at a very respectable grade.

Don't worry at the moment about things like "F4,F5a, Single or multipitch" these are climbing grades and types of climbs. There is no need to get technical at this stage, that will come later. Any instructor worth their salt will start you on grades of climbs they know you will be able to cope with and enjoy, you can lean all about the grading systems (which are actually quite confusing to a beginner) and different types of climbing all in good time.

Good luck, and above all else, enjoy!

In reply to Kentvilla:

You're definitely not too old (I've climbed with people in their 70s) or too overweight (you often see people heavier than you climbing). My advice is always that if you can climb a ladder you can do some rock climbing.

In reply to Kentvilla:

I don't think you are too heavy or too old - enjoy.
P.s. drones are not always popular around climbers as they can be distracting

In reply to Kentvilla:

Thanks guys for all your comments and advice. You have certainly made me feel more positive now.

In reply to Kentvilla:

All you lack at the moment, is the basic equipment, and time. Once you've got those, you're a rock climber!

As mentioned, a beginner's course is the way to go. If you can't stretch to a full multiday course, then a few beginner sessions booked in at the local climbing wall will show you the basics.

As for your weight, harnesses in the larger sizes are often discounted by retailers, so initially your extra pounds will save you a few pounds!

In reply to Dell:

Well I always have my partners brother and his friends to teach me as they have been climbing years all over the world and have been instructors as well at various times in their climbing career.

I have managed to look at a few bits of kit on Amazon but not sure if the makes are any good. What makes would you suggest I stick with when it comes to equipment. I,e ropes harness carabinas and belays ?

In reply to Kentvilla:

I'd be really hesitant buying through Amazon, especially as a beginner. There have been occasional cases of people selling knock offs or poorly repaired equipment and it can be very hard to tell the difference. Much better to go through a recognised climbing shop in my opinion.

In reply to Kentvilla:

Have they volunteered to teach you? If they have, that's awesome (and they're being very generous and you should probably offer to buy them beer and/or cake).

But if not, I'd be hesitant about assuming that they're willing to work as instructors for free.

Being happy to take someone out for a "taster" isn't necessarily the same as committing to teach them to the point where they can safely take their family to the crag on their own. Even top-roping involves a fair few skills like being able to set up an anchor safely, and so forth.

So don't rule out some sessions at a climbing wall (learning to tie in, top-rope belay, lead and lead belay, etc.) and then maybe another course to learn some basics for outdoor climbing (even if it's "just" setting up a top-rope safely).

In reply to Greasy Prusiks:
Ok what about Cotswold they do climbing gear and decathlon?

In reply to slab_happy:

Yeah we went out last weekend and they showed us the ropes (excuse the pun) there was a couple there who said if we ever wanted to climb give them a ring and they would come along with us and bring all the gear.

We went to a place very near us called Harrisions rocks in Groombridge (nr Tunbridge Wells) which was great. Nothing to high so good place to start and local enough to go when we want.

They all seem pretty nice and our kids love it as well so all good there.

In reply to Kentvilla:

Okay, if you're mostly thinking of climbing on the southern sandstone, that simplifies what you need to learn to begin with -- it's a bit of a special case because it's all top-roping or bouldering (no lead climbing because the rock's so fragile), and there are bolts for top-rope anchors at the top of the routes at some of the most popular crags, including Harrisons.

So you just need to be able to toprope belay, you don't need to learn to lead or lead belay yet, and you'll generally be rigging top-rope anchors using bolts (rather than having to place trad gear).

However, you will need to learn the special way to set up top-ropes on southern sandstone (so moving rope doesn't come into contact with the rock and damage it).

Have some links:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/top-5-skills-for-southern-sandstone
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/bmcNews/media/u_content/File/access_conservation/a...

Also, I'm amazed that you've been to Harrisons and not seen people who are well over 49 years old climbing -- it's usually well-stocked with persons of senior years gleefully burning off the youth. *g*


Excellent!


Yup, they're perfectly reputable -- might not have as wide a selection as some more specialist shops, but they won't sell you anything dodgy.

It's also a really good idea to buy harnesses (and shoes) from a physical shop where you can try them on; getting a decent fit is crucial.

In reply to Kentvilla:

Yeah cotswold and decathlon are good. There's loads of climbing shops online as well.

In reply to Kentvilla:

Certainly don't give up as you are a bit heavy or a bit older, climbing might well give you the incentive to lose some weight.

You really need at least a pair of climbing shoes if you are climbing outdoors, but indoor centres will rent you a pair for a small fee.

I'd suggest starting out bouldering at a local indoor wall and take it from there?

In reply to slab_happy:

Thanks for that. the links ae very useful.

I will make sure I go to the shop to try them on. Thanks for the advice.

In reply to springfall2008:

Yes we have been to Chimera Climbing a few times but more for the kids but next time I will have a go also

In reply to Kentvilla:


I signed our kids up to weekly climbing lessons, which has the add advantage that I can boulder while they are on their lessons

On the positive side, if you are a bit on the heavy side right now you will be forced to learn technique rather than using raw strength and getting into bad habits.

In reply to Kentvilla:

Renting shoes at a bouldering wall also gives you a way to get the feel of how climbing shoes should fit ("snug but not painful" is the basic idea) before you buy some of your very own.

IMHO, it's not a bad idea to rent shoes on your first few visits, maybe experimenting with the sizing a bit, then buy some; I notice Chimera sell shoes too.


Also, I was going to say -- don't worry if that all sounds like meaningless words right now. *g* It's simpler than it sounds, and people (whether that's people here or your partner's brother or your new friends at Harrisons) will be happy to explain.

You need to learn a few simple, specific skills to manage everything safely, but then you're good to go.

(Then you'll need other skills if you want to climb on rock other than southern sandstone at some point, but you can take it a bit at a time.)

In reply to springfall2008:

Ahh good point I never thought of that I thought it was mainly about strength not technique. and I guess bad habits are easy picked up?

In reply to slab_happy:
Yes I think I will need to try different shoes on as there are a few different types. Plus they are quite expensive so don't want to rush in and buy the first pair I see.

I must admit I do get confused with all the terminology but I guess you do in anything new. Im one to ask a lot of questions myself so im sure I will pick it up.

So is there a big difference between climbing on rock and sandstone?

Sandstone is a type of rock, it's fair soft but quite grippy where as something like limestone can be harder but often more shiny. To be honest for a beginner I wouldn't be too concerned about rock types other than to know each is a bit different for climbing on.

In reply to Kentvilla:


yes exactly.

Often women have better technique than men because they don't start out so strong.

Climb with your feet not your hands!

In reply to Kentvilla:


Yup. You should explain to the shop staff that you're looking for your first pair of climbing shoes, and ask to try on suitable beginner's shoes. Then it's a question of trying lots on and finding which ones suit your feet.

Because climbing shoes are meant to fit more tightly than regular shoes (your feet shouldn't be able to slip about inside them), it's vital that they fit your particular foot shape.


As sprinfall2008's explained, sandstone is a type of rock. The southern sandstone (the sandstone in the area round Tunbridge Wells) is especially fragile, much more so than normal sandstone, so there are these special rules for what kind of climbing is allowed on it.

The kind of climbing you'll have done is "top-roping", where you have a rope going up from the person climbing to an anchor at the top and then down to the belayer at the bottom. So if the climber falls off, they just dangle where they are.

In most places (other than the southern sandstone), you also have "lead climbing", where the rope runs from the climber straight down to the belayer at the bottom, and the climber has to protect themselves as they go by clipping the rope either into bolts that have been pre-placed in the rock (sport climbing) or removable gear they place in cracks in the rock themselves (trad climbing). Some areas have bolts and are for sport climbing, some don't and are trad-only.

If you fall off while lead climbing, you can fall some distance (depending on how far above your last bolt or gear placement you are).

And in most trad climbing areas, you don't have nice convenient bolts at the top of the crag, so if you want to top-rope, you have to be able to build an anchor yourself using trad gear.

So if you get into climbing and decide you want to climb in other areas as well as the southern sandstone, you'll need to learn some additional skills.

In reply to springfall2008:

brilliant thanks for that

In reply to slab_happy:

Thanks very much. I now have a better upstanding in the types of climbing there are. I do like when things are explained to me in simple terms lol

In reply to Kentvilla:

My best advice would be to join your local climbing club.

In reply to Kentvilla:

Climbing won't develop cardiac fitness, but it will develop and maintain flexibility and strength, and is a great way of reducing the chances of injury through other forms of cardiac.
And while climbing isn't a fitness thing, carrying a fully loaded rucksack uphill to do an easy route in the mountains does require some degree of stamina and fitness. And the more mountain routes you do, the fitter you get. (Not that you are well placed for mountain routes).
I'm 49 as well, and was a keen climber in my late 20's and early 30's. As my kids are older, we are starting again, and loving it. Still can't climb anything hard (struggling on the easy stuff TBH), but the key to this is time and miles on the rock. If your kids are on for it, it's a great family activity, and has much to commend it.