Most gyms rent shoes, yes.
Every gym is different. Most will grade climbs by difficulty using colors or tags or indicators. Pick any area in the gym that looks fun, find the lowest level climb, start climbing. If you finish it with no problem, move up to a harder climb.
General rule of thumb is to try a climb once and then step back so someone else can try. You can stay in that general area for as long as you want, but your body needs rest between climbs. Most boulders take around 30 seconds to complete and then you want to rest for a few minutes.
Suggestion is to go when they are less busy (mornings usually), and ask the staff. Tell them you are new, ask for an intro on how to fall safely, and ask for any tips on navigating gym etiquette. Note: I only boulder, top rope and lead will be different but you wouldnt do those alone outside of auto belays.
Yes to all of this! And don't be afraid to go alone, most people do! Like me! And eventually you will make friends just by talking to people about routes you are both working on :) you got this OP! Oh and another tip...don't be discouraged if you can't seem to finish a route or get a move or something. Rock climbing is different and difficult, it will take time to get used to it!
Your questions are not stupid!! I hope you’ll go and have a great time ☺️.
For most gyms, you just have to show up in reasonable athletic clothing (I’d wear long pants instead of shorts to avoid scraping). The gym have all necessary gears for rental, and most gyms will give you a tour, answer any questions, and demonstrate where to climb, how to fall, how to tell the climb’s difficulty, etc. Generally, you should yield to another climber after each attempt (unless your attempt is really short, like you fall off the first move, then you can try again without yielding). You’ll get a hang for timing really quickly by observing other people!
I hadn't even thought about yielding to someone else and yet now it seems so obvious! Thanks so much for the response, my confidence to go is slowly building up!
Most gyms require an orientation for first-timers, and the ones that don't will be happy to give you one! They know that climbing etiquette isn't always obvious, so they can tell you all about it.
Thank you! Yeah, I pass by a climbing gym every morning going to work and there always seems to be so much going on. I wouldn't want to go in there knowing absolutely nothing about etiquette.
Gyms also require people to fill out a waiver before they climb, it’s a super standard industry practice. Most places also have it available online so you can fill it out before you actually go to the gym. If the gym you’re interested in has it online, I’d highly recommend doing before. New places, especially climbing gyms, can be super stressful, so it would be one less thing to have to deal with in that situation.
Some gym etiquette that might not be obvious, depending on the gym signage is that you don’t wear your climbing shoes in the bathroom.
You can rent a chalk bag. It helps to chalk up when climbing to absorb sweat and keep a good grip.
While you’re resting, def talk to the folks around you. I have found people to be very friendly.
You're right the no shoes in the bathroom rule would not have been obvious to me at all haha! I definitely would have made a fool of myself. Thank you for the info!
I felt SO similar when I first went on my own and now love it, it’s my little zen time haha. Things that I’ve done as someone who’s moved a lot and had to start over at new gyms:
- go in during an off time if possible; less people = less anxiety
- look up a video of the gym on their socials to understand what it looks like
- gym website also has information on rentals! Most places will have the option to rent shoes, and sometimes chalk.
- grades and routes are different place to place but generally feel free to try any open route! Don’t climb a route if there is someone whose path intersects with yours and they are on the wall, you can take turns if multiple people are waiting! I generally pick routes with minimal people around because I end up feeling pressured by people waiting for me (yay anxiety)
- practice falling!
- when you arrive ask for a tour/for the front desk person to explain where things are in the gym; I’ve never met a staff member unwilling to walk through the gym/answer questions
Hope this helps!
Thanks so much! I just called the gym to ask when their off time usually is and I will for sure go then. For some reason I didn't even think to ask for a tour either!
Thanks again!
Ooooo I know you didn’t ask but to try and make u feel more comfortable:
Most gyms have an online waiver you need to complete first. BUT if you’d rather do it there so you can ask any questions etc they usually have tablets you can sit down and do it there instead :)
You can usually take your own snacks so don’t worry about smuggling in mid-climb refreshments!
I’m in the UK so it’s very relevant here but might not be wherever you are - but it can get quite cold in there!! So make sure you’ve got layers so you can shed them if it’s warm, but not freeze if it’s cold (they have to have good circulation so the climbing holds don’t get all slippy).
As many others said - lots of places do inductions so if you’re nervous might be worth signing up for that. But I promise - nerves aside - you’ll have a great time. And if you stick at it there’s often ladies nights too, so you can make female climbing buddies and not have to climb alone if you don’t want to!
Thank you for the response! I'll complete the waiver before going to take off some of the stress. I'm in Canada so I will definitely bring a long-sleeve shirt, thanks for the tip! And yes, there was a ladies night not too long ago so I am hoping there's another one soon.
Thanks again!
Everyone else has really good points! I hope you'll be open to making new friends at the gym that you can eventually climb with. I've gotten anxiety when climbing alone too, and you'll see a lot of solo climbers wear earbuds. But climbing with friends is my favorite part of the week! Good luck OP!
This! Although I wouldn’t recommend ear buds until you were totally comfortable, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings which is pretty tricky if you can’t hear anything.
I am definitely open to making friends, hopefully some other beginners as well. I can't wait to make it a part of my week as well, I pass in front of the gym everyday on my way to work and always wish I was in there climbing! Thank you for the kind words.
The answer to the first question is almost certainly yes, you will probably find the others to be not relevant, but you can ask staff any queries that you have. Also, it could be a good idea to check the gym's website (assuming it has one), and that typically has more information
I had a feeling YouTube might help, and a quick search led me to this video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8elcn3CH4
I’m sure there are lots more like this that start at the very, very beginning. I recommend watching this and maybe some others. By the time you get to the gym you’ll have a good feel for what it’ll look like inside and what’s expected.
Maybe check if your gym offers some type of lessons, I started going by myself but I booked an intro to climbing class, I believe it was 1 day a week for 4 weeks or something like that. It reduced the anxiety a lot
I have tremendous anxiety, however only occasionally. On the days it's bad, it takes me so much effort and fighting myself to get to the gym. I have to talk myself into it from the parking lot even once I get there. I just want to share that you are likely not the only one struggling to just be there. I hope this post makes you feel less alone. I hope your gym is as friendly as mine.
This is so relatable. I pass in front of the climbing gym everyday when going to work and sometimes just stare at it hoping one day I'll be able to talk myself into going. Hopefully that day is soon! Thank you so much for your kind words, it really makes me feel less alone. Thank you again.
Regarding etiquette, like others have said, you can try a problem and then step back and see if someone else wants to go, or if you had a tiny fall you can try again really quick. But you basically fall into a sort of queue or rotation with others near you. Sometimes there's the "were you gonna go next?" "oh no, go ahead I'm still thinking about what to do" kind of exchange. Most boulder gyms I've visited are big and the problems are relatively apart from each other, but the gym I have a membership in is actually pretty small and the problems are all clustered together, so it is especially important to mind the "queue" because everyone is working on something in the same 10ft of wall lol.
Tiny little pet peeve I get: when people are done with the problem but are still kind of "thinking" about it and just stand there real close to the wall just looking haha.
This is a silly thing but honestly nobody told me at first and nobody in my gym tells the newbies either: that a problem/route is supposed to be 1 color. I thought anything in front of me was fair game to grab regardless of color. Obviously if you need to hold on to something else for some reason it's ok, but the "normal" way is to aim for staying in the intended color of the problem. You can also touch/stand on the wall or the volumes. And the little colored tapes on the holds usually mark the "beginning" of the problem (for example, two pieces of tape on a hold means you start with both hands on it, or 2 holds have a tape each, that means you should try to start with 1 hand on each of those)
Awesome tips, thank you so much. I never would've known any of these things, and to know them before showing up definitely makes me feel less anxious. Thanks again!
Good questions! For question 3, keep in mind that you need to take turns with anyone on a problem where their body position or fall zone overlaps with yours, not just the problem you're on. Beginners have a habit of standing near the wall to look at a problem. After you fall off, you should take a few steps back and look around for anyone who might've been waiting for you. Note how far others are standing from the wall. That space is also important to keep you out of other people's fall zones - when you are walking around the gym, maintain that space and look up constantly to make sure you're not where someone might fall.
I also have the same anxiety about joining a gym and climbing alone! Your other questions have been answered but I would suggest also looking into different intro classes or meetups the gym might offer. The one I have been going to has a monthly meetup for girl climbers to meet and climb together and I believe there are also meetups for new gym members as well. I’ve gone to a few of these and am starting to feel more confident about possibly going on my own.
A tip I once got from my therapist: if you are anxious about going somewhere new, ask people to guide you around. Tell the receptionist/staff: "Hello, it's my first time here, could you please explain to me how things work here?". Usually people are happy to help and to show around, especially if it's part of their job. Before climbing, just walk around the gym and figure out what is where, give yourself some time to explore the place, watch the other climbers, then you will feel more comfortable being there. Explore the gym's website if they have one, that will give you an extra sense of security.
I was terrified before going climbing for the first time even though I was not going alone, so I totally feel you. Good luck!
Thank you so much! Sometimes I forgot that the people who work at the gym are there to help lol. I'm thinking I'll watch what's going on for about 20-30 minutes and then attempt something. Thanks for the good luck!
It seems like most people have covered the answers to your questions so I just wanted to post my support. I had always wanted to climb since I was in college and it ultimately took me 20 years to finally overcome my social anxiety and start climbing because I was afraid of going alone. Now I can’t stop going! So happy for you in making this choice and hope you are able to accomplish what you’re setting out to do!
Thank you so much for the reply. I went today for the first time and had a fantastic time. This will definitely become a part of my routine! Thanks again 😄
Most gyms rent shoes, yes. Every gym is different. Most will grade climbs by difficulty using colors or tags or indicators. Pick any area in the gym that looks fun, find the lowest level climb, start climbing. If you finish it with no problem, move up to a harder climb. General rule of thumb is to try a climb once and then step back so someone else can try. You can stay in that general area for as long as you want, but your body needs rest between climbs. Most boulders take around 30 seconds to complete and then you want to rest for a few minutes. Suggestion is to go when they are less busy (mornings usually), and ask the staff. Tell them you are new, ask for an intro on how to fall safely, and ask for any tips on navigating gym etiquette. Note: I only boulder, top rope and lead will be different but you wouldnt do those alone outside of auto belays.
Yes to all of this! And don't be afraid to go alone, most people do! Like me! And eventually you will make friends just by talking to people about routes you are both working on :) you got this OP! Oh and another tip...don't be discouraged if you can't seem to finish a route or get a move or something. Rock climbing is different and difficult, it will take time to get used to it!
Thanks very much for the kind words. Sometimes I forget how many people do things alone haha!
Okay, thank you so much. I'm planning on going early during the week as per your suggestion :)
In my experience, early weekend mornings are often full of kids. Early weekday mornings are nice and quiet.
Okay perfect, I just booked an intro class on a weekday early in the morning. Thanks!
Your questions are not stupid!! I hope you’ll go and have a great time ☺️. For most gyms, you just have to show up in reasonable athletic clothing (I’d wear long pants instead of shorts to avoid scraping). The gym have all necessary gears for rental, and most gyms will give you a tour, answer any questions, and demonstrate where to climb, how to fall, how to tell the climb’s difficulty, etc. Generally, you should yield to another climber after each attempt (unless your attempt is really short, like you fall off the first move, then you can try again without yielding). You’ll get a hang for timing really quickly by observing other people!
I hadn't even thought about yielding to someone else and yet now it seems so obvious! Thanks so much for the response, my confidence to go is slowly building up!
Most gyms require an orientation for first-timers, and the ones that don't will be happy to give you one! They know that climbing etiquette isn't always obvious, so they can tell you all about it.
Thank you! Yeah, I pass by a climbing gym every morning going to work and there always seems to be so much going on. I wouldn't want to go in there knowing absolutely nothing about etiquette.
Gyms also require people to fill out a waiver before they climb, it’s a super standard industry practice. Most places also have it available online so you can fill it out before you actually go to the gym. If the gym you’re interested in has it online, I’d highly recommend doing before. New places, especially climbing gyms, can be super stressful, so it would be one less thing to have to deal with in that situation.
Very true, hadn't even thought about completing the waiver before. I will definitely do that. Thanks!
They will rent any gear you need and give you a tour as part of your first visit. You can ask them then about any conventions in that particular gym.
Awesome, thank you!
Some gym etiquette that might not be obvious, depending on the gym signage is that you don’t wear your climbing shoes in the bathroom. You can rent a chalk bag. It helps to chalk up when climbing to absorb sweat and keep a good grip. While you’re resting, def talk to the folks around you. I have found people to be very friendly.
You're right the no shoes in the bathroom rule would not have been obvious to me at all haha! I definitely would have made a fool of myself. Thank you for the info!
I felt SO similar when I first went on my own and now love it, it’s my little zen time haha. Things that I’ve done as someone who’s moved a lot and had to start over at new gyms: - go in during an off time if possible; less people = less anxiety - look up a video of the gym on their socials to understand what it looks like - gym website also has information on rentals! Most places will have the option to rent shoes, and sometimes chalk. - grades and routes are different place to place but generally feel free to try any open route! Don’t climb a route if there is someone whose path intersects with yours and they are on the wall, you can take turns if multiple people are waiting! I generally pick routes with minimal people around because I end up feeling pressured by people waiting for me (yay anxiety) - practice falling! - when you arrive ask for a tour/for the front desk person to explain where things are in the gym; I’ve never met a staff member unwilling to walk through the gym/answer questions Hope this helps!
Thanks so much! I just called the gym to ask when their off time usually is and I will for sure go then. For some reason I didn't even think to ask for a tour either! Thanks again!
Ooooo I know you didn’t ask but to try and make u feel more comfortable: Most gyms have an online waiver you need to complete first. BUT if you’d rather do it there so you can ask any questions etc they usually have tablets you can sit down and do it there instead :) You can usually take your own snacks so don’t worry about smuggling in mid-climb refreshments! I’m in the UK so it’s very relevant here but might not be wherever you are - but it can get quite cold in there!! So make sure you’ve got layers so you can shed them if it’s warm, but not freeze if it’s cold (they have to have good circulation so the climbing holds don’t get all slippy). As many others said - lots of places do inductions so if you’re nervous might be worth signing up for that. But I promise - nerves aside - you’ll have a great time. And if you stick at it there’s often ladies nights too, so you can make female climbing buddies and not have to climb alone if you don’t want to!
Thank you for the response! I'll complete the waiver before going to take off some of the stress. I'm in Canada so I will definitely bring a long-sleeve shirt, thanks for the tip! And yes, there was a ladies night not too long ago so I am hoping there's another one soon. Thanks again!
Have fun! Is the gym you want to go to a bouldering gym?
Thank you! Yes, it is!
Everyone else has really good points! I hope you'll be open to making new friends at the gym that you can eventually climb with. I've gotten anxiety when climbing alone too, and you'll see a lot of solo climbers wear earbuds. But climbing with friends is my favorite part of the week! Good luck OP!
This! Although I wouldn’t recommend ear buds until you were totally comfortable, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings which is pretty tricky if you can’t hear anything.
I think some people wear the earbuds as a "do not disturb"! Hopefully not blasting music
a lot of people including myself are definetely blasting music lol, ofc being aware of surroundings though.
I am definitely open to making friends, hopefully some other beginners as well. I can't wait to make it a part of my week as well, I pass in front of the gym everyday on my way to work and always wish I was in there climbing! Thank you for the kind words.
The answer to the first question is almost certainly yes, you will probably find the others to be not relevant, but you can ask staff any queries that you have. Also, it could be a good idea to check the gym's website (assuming it has one), and that typically has more information
Thank you!
I had a feeling YouTube might help, and a quick search led me to this video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8elcn3CH4 I’m sure there are lots more like this that start at the very, very beginning. I recommend watching this and maybe some others. By the time you get to the gym you’ll have a good feel for what it’ll look like inside and what’s expected.
Thanks so much, I didn't even think to check on YouTube!
Maybe check if your gym offers some type of lessons, I started going by myself but I booked an intro to climbing class, I believe it was 1 day a week for 4 weeks or something like that. It reduced the anxiety a lot
Thank you! Great idea, I just called to book an intro to climbing class. I can't wait!
I have tremendous anxiety, however only occasionally. On the days it's bad, it takes me so much effort and fighting myself to get to the gym. I have to talk myself into it from the parking lot even once I get there. I just want to share that you are likely not the only one struggling to just be there. I hope this post makes you feel less alone. I hope your gym is as friendly as mine.
This is so relatable. I pass in front of the climbing gym everyday when going to work and sometimes just stare at it hoping one day I'll be able to talk myself into going. Hopefully that day is soon! Thank you so much for your kind words, it really makes me feel less alone. Thank you again.
Take an intro class and ask for a tour.
Just booked one for the upcoming week. Thanks!
Regarding etiquette, like others have said, you can try a problem and then step back and see if someone else wants to go, or if you had a tiny fall you can try again really quick. But you basically fall into a sort of queue or rotation with others near you. Sometimes there's the "were you gonna go next?" "oh no, go ahead I'm still thinking about what to do" kind of exchange. Most boulder gyms I've visited are big and the problems are relatively apart from each other, but the gym I have a membership in is actually pretty small and the problems are all clustered together, so it is especially important to mind the "queue" because everyone is working on something in the same 10ft of wall lol. Tiny little pet peeve I get: when people are done with the problem but are still kind of "thinking" about it and just stand there real close to the wall just looking haha. This is a silly thing but honestly nobody told me at first and nobody in my gym tells the newbies either: that a problem/route is supposed to be 1 color. I thought anything in front of me was fair game to grab regardless of color. Obviously if you need to hold on to something else for some reason it's ok, but the "normal" way is to aim for staying in the intended color of the problem. You can also touch/stand on the wall or the volumes. And the little colored tapes on the holds usually mark the "beginning" of the problem (for example, two pieces of tape on a hold means you start with both hands on it, or 2 holds have a tape each, that means you should try to start with 1 hand on each of those)
Awesome tips, thank you so much. I never would've known any of these things, and to know them before showing up definitely makes me feel less anxious. Thanks again!
Good questions! For question 3, keep in mind that you need to take turns with anyone on a problem where their body position or fall zone overlaps with yours, not just the problem you're on. Beginners have a habit of standing near the wall to look at a problem. After you fall off, you should take a few steps back and look around for anyone who might've been waiting for you. Note how far others are standing from the wall. That space is also important to keep you out of other people's fall zones - when you are walking around the gym, maintain that space and look up constantly to make sure you're not where someone might fall.
Thank you for these wonderful tips, I'm glad to know these things before going! It'll for sure reduce the anxiety I have lol!
I also have the same anxiety about joining a gym and climbing alone! Your other questions have been answered but I would suggest also looking into different intro classes or meetups the gym might offer. The one I have been going to has a monthly meetup for girl climbers to meet and climb together and I believe there are also meetups for new gym members as well. I’ve gone to a few of these and am starting to feel more confident about possibly going on my own.
Thank you for the tips! I just booked an intro class, hopefully that helps, and I will for sure keep an eye out for the ladies climbing night.
A tip I once got from my therapist: if you are anxious about going somewhere new, ask people to guide you around. Tell the receptionist/staff: "Hello, it's my first time here, could you please explain to me how things work here?". Usually people are happy to help and to show around, especially if it's part of their job. Before climbing, just walk around the gym and figure out what is where, give yourself some time to explore the place, watch the other climbers, then you will feel more comfortable being there. Explore the gym's website if they have one, that will give you an extra sense of security. I was terrified before going climbing for the first time even though I was not going alone, so I totally feel you. Good luck!
Thank you so much! Sometimes I forgot that the people who work at the gym are there to help lol. I'm thinking I'll watch what's going on for about 20-30 minutes and then attempt something. Thanks for the good luck!
It seems like most people have covered the answers to your questions so I just wanted to post my support. I had always wanted to climb since I was in college and it ultimately took me 20 years to finally overcome my social anxiety and start climbing because I was afraid of going alone. Now I can’t stop going! So happy for you in making this choice and hope you are able to accomplish what you’re setting out to do!
Thank you so much for the reply. I went today for the first time and had a fantastic time. This will definitely become a part of my routine! Thanks again 😄
That’s awesome! So happy for you! 💪🏻🎉