Thread: Indoor Rock Climbing/Bouldering

Hi, anyone here do indoor rock climbing and/or bouldering? I did quite a bit of abseiling in the army with the old figure 8 carabinas (I think they're not allowed anymore) and also some caving. I went indoor rock climbing years ago and again just yesterday; this time with my eldest son (21). It's a bit hard at 50 keeping up with him, but I didn't do too badly.

I want to do it regularly; doing bouldering one week and climbing the next; maybe even building up to outdoor climbing and bouldering. I'm thinking of buying these shoes and also a harness, what do you think? Any tips?

I climb indoor (and outdoor in our limited outdoor season) about 3 times a week. I love it. I'm your age and then a bit more. I've been doing this steadily for about 5 years.

Regarding shoes. Go to REI and try on every pair. There is no way to know what works for you otherwise. Shoes have to fit properly in this sport.

I climb sport and lead sport both in the gym and outside. Bouldering is not for those over 40 in my opinion Backs and joints just can't handle the falling over and over.

Most harnesses will work but try it on as well and hang in it for a minute if you can (and you can at REI).

I'm glad to answer any other questions you may have. This is my favorite sport/activity.

Originally Posted by gcbryan

I climb indoor (and outdoor in our limited outdoor season) about 3 times a week. I love it. I'm your age and then a bit more. I've been doing this steadily for about 5 years.

Regarding shoes. Go to REI and try on every pair. There is no way to know what works for you otherwise. Shoes have to fit properly in this sport.

I climb sport and lead sport both in the gym and outside. Bouldering is not for those over 40 in my opinion Backs and joints just can't handle the falling over and over.

Most harnesses will work but try it on as well and hang in it for a minute if you can (and you can at REI).

I'm glad to answer any other questions you may have. This is my favorite sport/activity.

Hi, thanks for the detailed response. It's good to hear I'm not too old! I did read somewhere that you really do HAVE to try these sorts of shoes on. The indoor bouldering place has those really thick cushions underneath, so I'm prepared to give it a go :-)

Sorry Carl, no first hand experience myself, my 15 year old was doing it last year. I found out one day, that he had a fear of heights. The next day I enrolled him in a rock climbing school. We got lucky & the young lady who owned the school was a fantastic teacher. She had him climbing 30' foot walls in 2 days time, he loved the experience; then she moved away after about 5 months to Oregon area.

The shoes will fit much tighter than your everyday wear shoes, if you can try them on before you purchase, that is good. Ordering online may be a hit & miss , on the size. He used a harness for youths from a company named "Wild Country" .

Have fun & be careful Carl.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Sorry Carl, no first hand experience myself, my 15 year old was doing it last year. I found out one day, that he had a fear of heights. The next day I enrolled him in a rock climbing school. We got lucky & the young lady who owned the school was a fantastic teacher. She had him climbing 30' foot walls in 2 days time, he loved the experience; then she moved away after about 5 months to Oregon area.

The shoes will fit much tighter than your everyday wear shoes, if you can try them on before you purchase, that is good. Ordering online may be a hit & miss , on the size. He used a harness for youths from a company named "Wild Country" .

Have fun & be careful Carl.

Thanks Hirlau, more good info! I didn't used to mind heights at all, but these days I do worry a bit about getting on the roof to clean the gutters! I'll definitely not buy the shoes on line...

If you are able to try the shoes that seem to fit on a climbing surface in the store that is best. Make sure the heels don't move at all when you walk and realize that your toes will be touching the end of the shoe.

How much is a personal preference. Don't make it too uncomfortable but realize that most people take their shoes off occasionally at the gym.

If you can find climbing shoes with Velcro straps give those a try. They are easy to take off and just undoing the Velcro while leaving them on helps as well.

I have a bad back so that's why I stay away from bouldering. I have done it and still do it occasionally on vertical routes where I can down climb. Most routes are overhung and require falling off the wall. The floors are padded so you aren't going to die but it is easy to land awkwardly and break things (regardless of age).

It does require a belay partner however. The attraction is that you get to solve more problems in a shorter space. It's definitely good training.

I don't have any unnatural fear of heights but there are actually quite a few climbers who do have some fear of heights.

They deal with it since once you actually start climbing you are rather focused and just don't have time to be thinking abstractly regarding height.

Let us know how it goes! It's addictive for sure.

I have two pair of shoes.. One that are so tight they are almost uncomfortable.. I use those for outdoor climbing, where a mistake could mean death.. I want them as tight as possible so i can feel every nook and crack.. For indoor climbing, my shoes are a half size bigger for comfort.. Falling indoors, and using the manufactured hand and foot holds are just as good of a workout, but a lot safer..

Originally Posted by Wintchase

I have two pair of shoes.. One that are so tight they are almost uncomfortable.. I use those for outdoor climbing, where a mistake could mean death.. I want them as tight as possible so i can feel every nook and crack.. For indoor climbing, my shoes are a half size bigger for comfort.. Falling indoors, and using the manufactured hand and foot holds are just as good of a workout, but a lot safer..

Yeah, I really like the workout aspect to this; it was going to be a kayack (the Murray river is close to me) but now I think it's the climbing gear...I think I'll join a club before I start throwing myself off a cliff face; my memory of what I did thirty years ago is a little scattery...

Originally Posted by gcbryan

If you are able to try the shoes that seem to fit on a climbing surface in the store that is best. Make sure the heels don't move at all when you walk and realize that your toes will be touching the end of the shoe.

How much is a personal preference. Don't make it too uncomfortable but realize that most people take their shoes off occasionally at the gym.

If you can find climbing shoes with Velcro straps give those a try. They are easy to take off and just undoing the Velcro while leaving them on helps as well.

I have a bad back so that's why I stay away from bouldering. I have done it and still do it occasionally on vertical routes where I can down climb. Most routes are overhung and require falling off the wall. The floors are padded so you aren't going to die but it is easy to land awkwardly and break things (regardless of age).

It does require a belay partner however. The attraction is that you get to solve more problems in a shorter space. It's definitely good training.

I don't have any unnatural fear of heights but there are actually quite a few climbers who do have some fear of heights.

They deal with it since once you actually start climbing you are rather focused and just don't have time to be thinking abstractly regarding height.

Let us know how it goes! It's addictive for sure.

So you really are after shoes that are maybe a 1/2 size smaller than normal? I'm going to stay away from Velcro, I don't mind the extra minute it might take to take my shoes off. I hate the way Velcro straps end up curling; and at times wearing and becoming less 'sticky'. I'll still give bouldering a go, but only indoors. I didn't think about the height at all on Saturday, I was very focussed; I'd watched quite a ferw videos the night before and tried to emulate some of the moves. Today I walked to the top of Mount Torrens and back, whichj is my recent Sunday morning routine; and my legs and glutes are really startiung to hurt now. The glutes get a pretty good workout climbing, esp given the odd contortions...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

So you really are after shoes that are maybe a 1/2 size smaller than normal? I'm going to stay away from Velcro, I don't mind the extra minute it might take to take my shoes off. I hate the way Velcro straps end up curling; and at times wearing and becoming less 'sticky'. I'll still give bouldering a go, but only indoors. I didn't think about the height at all on Saturday, I was very focussed; I'd watched quite a ferw videos the night before and tried to emulate some of the moves. Today I walked to the top of Mount Torrens and back, whichj is my recent Sunday morning routine; and my legs and glutes are really startiung to hurt now. The glutes get a pretty good workout climbing, esp given the odd contortions...

The velcro of the shoes I had didn't become less sticky at all, I can assure you that somethimes you would like to remove the shoes VERY quickly! If You're standing on a piece of half a centimeter it tends to hurt... I'm sorry but I don't think walking is going to help, especially in bouldering, I climbed about 6 years to a 6c-7a (European) level and my muscles still had pains, every route has different moves so you push allways other muscles to the limit, my advise should be, do it slowly, take you're time, especially on the fingers, don't do bidoits and such the first years, watch you're body closely!
Train the basics very good, especially the feet-work, train heel-hooks with good fitting shoes..... And about shoes, don't buy them too thight in the beginning, buy straight shoes, not curved, the thoes must be curled a bit, check the heel, normally you should be able to test the shoes in the store, be shure if you pull with you're heel on a rock, that it doesn't come off, eventually you will learn after a couple off worned out shoes wath YOU need and how small YOU want it to be,

HAVE FUN!