Movement Blog

As climbers, gear is a vital part of the sport we love. It comes to the gym, iconic crags, climbing trips, and some pieces have been with us potentially for years. Despite all the great memories, identifying when it’s time to replace gear is an important safety measure that should not be overlooked. Some signs may be obvious when gear is at the end of its life, others may be more subtle.

With the weather warming up, outdoor climbing season is here. Stepping into this new world can feel overwhelming—and expensive—especially when you see other climbers decked out with racks of gear and specialized clothing and shoes. But not all climbing gear is essential when you're just getting started. This guide will break down what you truly need for each type of outdoor climbing and what can wait until later.

Odds are if you’ve been in a climbing gym, you may have taken a second to notice all the different shoes people are climbing in. With different brands, colors, comfort, and more there’s a lot of variety when it comes to shoes – and we mean a lot.

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.