Movement Blog

Walk into any climbing gear shop and you might feel like you've entered a hardware store on another planet. Walls lined with technicolor shoes, endless arrays of ropes, and about 80 different kinds of metal bits and pieces with names like "grigri" and "ATC" that sound more like Pokémon than climbing gear. But here's the good news: getting started is actually pretty simple. While experienced climbers might geek out over their trad rack or the latest belay device, beginners only need a few key pieces of gear. The rest can come later as you grow into your climbing journey. Planning your first visit? Check out our beginner's guide here.

In our gyms, everything is inspected regularly—bolts, anchors, quickdraws, you name it. But out at the crags, where there isn’t a Rockstar facilities team to back you up, it’s up to the climbing community to keep each other safe. At outdoor climbing areas, on public land, there is no routine maintenance or inspection by land management agencies, and all work is done by local volunteers. This means as climbers we are responsible for the bolts and anchors we choose to use! Thankfully, with the help of the American Safe Climbing Association (ASCA), caring for the crags you love has never been easier.

The holiday season will be here faster than a Sam Watson speed run. Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite climber? We've got you covered with everything from chalk to crash pads. Here's our comprehensive guide to gifts that'll get any climber psyched - whether they're projecting their first V2 or crushing 5.13.

Welcome, climbers! Today, we're diving deep into the world of climbing footwear with a test drive of the Scarpa Reflex VS shoes, sold exclusively at select Movement Gyms, nationwide. These shoes are the newest and most affordable model in the Scarpa fleet, boasting a blend of comfort, performance, and durability that's hard to beat. Join us as we explore everything you need to know about the Scarpa Reflex VS and why it's a game-changer for climbers everywhere.

There is a saying in climbing: “All you need to get started is a pair of climbing shoes and a chalk bag.” But there is something weird that happens when you slide on climbing shoes the first time, whether you borrowed them from a friend, inherited them from your aunt, or got a pair of rentals from the front desk. “…oh these feel, different” is a VERY common reaction. It’s a strange, strange sensation. Now you have a shoe that has never felt like anything else on your foot. Where do you go next? What is this shoe supposed to feel like? The wall of options in the gear shop can feel overwhelming. Not to worry! In this blog, we'll spill the beans on the tips and tricks for landing that ideal climbing shoe fit.

If you’ve ever walked away from a crag with black, dirty hands, it might be time to wash your climbing rope.

We’ve spent a lot of time on this blog discussing training plans training plans, mental techniques, and breathing exercises to help you improve your climbing. Check out those posts to get a ton of helpful tips you need to push into higher grades. However, sometimes when I’m looking for an extra edge, I head to my local gear shop to see what’s up. So, if you've got a few bucks laying around, here are four items that have helped me immensely with various climbing goals over the last several years.

After the long, cold winter of pulling on plastic, you may be hearing the outdoors inviting you outside again. You can hear it now…the chirping birds, the wind rustling the trees, and the clink clank of climber’s gear bouncing in cadence. As you head up the approach to the cliffs, you can feel the stoke of the first climb of the year. You’re feeling strong from all the winter workouts as you strap your shoes on and pull out that old rack that’s been sitting in your gear closet since last…who knows when? Belay on! The rock feels familiar, an old friend. The movement up the rock is as natural as the first two stoppers you just placed. Feeling confident on the easy terrain, you figure you might just run it out a little. After all, there’s a great placement just a little further up. Suddenly, you’re 8 feet above that last stopper. As you reach to make your next placement, panic sets in--the cam is frozen. The lobes won’t expand when the trigger is released. Heart racing and grip starting to sweat, it’s very clear: you forgot check your gear before heading outside for the first time of the season.

I recently walked into my local climbing store for nothing in particular. As I was browsing, I came across a box and thought, “Is this box empty? Why are they displaying an empty box?” Skeptical, I opened the box and found...a climbing helmet! I was dumbfounded. Climbing helmets are normally bulky pieces! And while even the heavier versions aren’t that burdensome, at the end of a long day at the crag, I find myself tilting my head to the side and belaying while practicing neck rolls. As far as I'm concerned, cutting a few ounces can make a huge difference.

Not long ago Black Diamond released the ATC-Pilot--a brand new assisted braking belay device that’s perfect for the gym or the crag. I was skeptical at first since there are numerous similar devices already on the market, but I’m a huge gear nerd so I had to try it out.