The Climbing Primer

Getting Started

Everything you need to take that first step, with no experience assumed. Climbing comes in a few styles, and as a beginner you will almost certainly start with bouldering and top-rope inside a climbing gym rather than out on real rock. These guides explain what each style is, how to find a gym near you, and why a short intro class is the easiest way in. We also walk through what a first session actually feels like, from rental shoes to your first wall, so you arrive knowing roughly what happens. Gyms are used to total beginners, and most people are surprised how welcoming the whole thing is.