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.

We’ve all been there. You’re crushing your gym projects, feeling like royalty in the V4 realm, and then someone says, “Let’s take it outside.” “Everything’s a hold because it’s not color-coded,” they claim. “And the scenery is epic—c’mon, it’ll be an adventure,” they add. Suddenly, you’re in the back of a Subaru, headed to a crag you’ve never heard of, fumbling with a topo map and guidebook, trying to decode cryptic beta while sweating over the great unknown.

What is a Spray Wall?

Fear is a natural response when climbing, whether you're scaling towering walls or tackling tricky boulders. It can keep you sharp, but it can also paralyze you if left unchecked. Managing fear is key to building confidence and finding joy in climbing, and one of the most effective tools you have is your breath. Here are some breathing techniques to help you stay calm and focused during your climbs.

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.

As the new year rapidly approaches, many people are starting to think of what they want to accomplish—whether it’s climbing a higher grade, overcoming a plateau, or improving nutrition. However, a common pitfall many people find themselves in is setting goals that are too unattainable. So how can you set goals that you can actually stick to? Here’s six tips to make sure your resolutions are both challenging and achievable.

So, you just started climbing at a Movement Gym - congrats! Now that the weather is cooling down and the leaves are starting to change, you may be thinking about gearing up and taking your skills outside. Climbing is not only a great way to stay active and grow your community, but it's also an amazing way to enjoy the outdoors, especially in fall, when the temperatures are cooler, and the crisp air makes it ideal for sending.

Oh, the clichés of falling. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Thank you, Confucius, for that timeless nugget of wisdom. In climbing, though, it's not just about getting back up — it's the quality with which we get up and how we try again. Falling is inevitable. If you’re climbing, you’re going to fall. The very first time you step into our gym, it’s explained. We start with an orientation video explaining that falling is part of the deal and how to do it safely: spot your landing, tuck your arms in, legs shoulder-width apart, bend the knees, roll onto your bum and back. All the technical stuff to keep gravity from getting the best of you. But beyond the physical technique, there’s a whole art to falling. A deeper lesson. Let’s talk about what it means to fall—and what it can teach us, both in climbing and beyond.

Does this sound like you? You’ve been climbing consistently, hangboarding, and training off the wall, but you still can’t send your project. Or maybe you’re a more casual climber but you’re so sore after each session, you’re not able to climb as much as you’d like. Either way, the missing puzzle piece may be nutrition.

As back-to-school season rolls around, parents are always on the lookout for fun, engaging activities to keep their kids active and learning. Enter rock climbing – a sport that's fun for all ages - whether your 3 or 73! Imagine a playground that stretches up to the ceiling, filled with colorful holds and exciting challenges. That's what a climbing gym looks like through a child's eyes!