The Best Rock Climbing Starter Kits for Beginning Climbers
Affiliate Disclaimer: Many of the following links are affiliate links. Clicking on these links will brings you to an online retailer. Purchasing anything through these links nets me a small commission. It’s a good deal for both of us-you get a great new climbing start kit, and I get to continue my engineering research on how to attach a frickin’ laser beam to a shark’s frickin’ head.
Rock Climbing is a simple sport. Just you, the rock, and a willingness to look down upon the world from the top of a mountain (both literally and figuratively). That’s really all you need. And a harness, and quickdraws, and cams, and a crash pad.
Well, actually, you need quite a bit of gear to climb safely and efficiently. It can be hard to figure out what you need, and what you don’t. Thankfully, you can buy rock climbing starter kits to jumpstart your newfound climbing addiction.
The Gear packages listed here covers sport climbing, trad climbing, and bouldering. If you’re looking for beginner indoor climbing shoes, you can find our recommendations here.
Whether it’s a harness, crash pad, or even just a chalk bag, the following kits represent the best rock climbing gear packages.
Climbing Harness Packages
Climbing Harnesses are nothing without a belay device, and a chalk bag to keep your hands dry. That’s why these climbing harness packages have all of the starter gear to get you climbing in the gym, the mountains, or out at the crag.
Black Diamond Momentum Harness Package
The Black Diamond Momentum Harness is the ultimate beginner climbing harness. Comfortable, lightweight, durable, and affordable, the Black Diamond Momentum checks all of the boxes. I like it enough that I included it in my list of the best indoor climbing harnesses for beginners. Whether you’re sport climbing, top roping, trad climbing, or just running laps at the climbing gym, the Black Diamond Momentum Harness Package is the perfect climbing starter kit to get you going.
Purchasing the Momentum Harness Package nets you an ATC-XP belay device, complete with a RockLock Screwgate locking carabiner. A Black Diamond Mojo Chalk Bag, and some BD White Gold Climbing Chalk will ensure that your grip is dry when you’re working hard on the climbing wall.
Mens:
Mens Black Diamond Momentum Harness Package on Amazon Mens Momentum Harness Package at REI Coop Mens Momentum Harness Package at Backcountry
Womens:
Women's Momentum Harness Package on Amazon Womens Momentum Harness Package at REI Coop Mens Momentum Harness Package at Backcountry
Petzl Corax Kit
For years now, the Petzl Corax has been the rugged work horse of the Petzl climbing harness family. Fully adjustable with two waist buckles, adjustable leg loops, and enough padding for all day comfort, the Petzl Corax is truly a do-it-all harness.
I’ll just say it: I really love Petzl Harnesses. Just Check Out my Review of the Petzl Adjama, and you’ll see how much I gush over them. The Petzl Corax is like the Adjamas comfier sibling. When I worked at a tree top adventure course, I spent an entire summer hanging around in a Petzl Corax. I did not once have single complaint about the comfort or the sturdiness of the harness.
Included in the Petzl Corax Kit is everything that you need to start climbing, belaying, and rappeling. A quality Petzl Verso Rappel-Belay device, combined with an Am’D lock carabiner, will keep you and your partner safe out at the crag. With a chalk bag and ball combo, Petzl wants you to keep your hands dry, and your grip strong.
Petzl Corax Harness Kit on Amazon Petzl Corax Harness Kit at REI Coop Petzl Corax Harness Kit at Outdoorplay
Sport Climbing Starter Kits
Sport Climbing doesn’t need a lot of gear. Nothing but a set of quickdraws, a few slings, and a will to send it. Whether it’s the Powerful Limestone at Rifle, or the crimpy sandstone jungle gym that is Red Rocks, these Sport Climbing Starter kits will put your sport climbing skills ahead of the game.
Trango Sport Climbing Package
There is no gear that the Trango Sport Climbing Package doesn’t cover. Everything that you need to start clipping bolts can be found in this package. Included are 10 Trango Phase Quickdraws (more than enough for most sport routes), 4 React Screwlocks, and two 60 cm slings.
With the Trango Sport Climbing Package, any sport climber, new or experienced, can get the gear they need to skillfully climb sport routes, set up anchors, and clean their gear.
Trango Sport Climbing Package on Amazon Trango Sport Climbing Package at REI Coop Trango Sport Climbing Package at Backcountry
Mad Rock Concorde Express Quickdraw Set
With highly visible silver and orange wiregate carabiners, lightweight 10 cm dogbones, and smooth clipping action, the Mad Rock Concorde Quickdraws are the best bang-for-your-buck quickdraw set. They’re pretty darn affordable, and they’re sturdy as heck. I’ve been climbing with a ack of Mad Rock Concordes for years now. I am fully of the opinion that they are great quickdraws, regardless of your sport climbing skill level.
This six pack of quickdraws can be had for less than the price of similar quickdraw sets, and performs just as well. I am always looking for a set of these on sale, eager to round out my sport climbing rack. The Concordes have the Hike the Planet! Good Gear seal of Approval!
Mad Rock Concorde Express Set on Amazon Mad Rock Concorde Express Set on Moosejaw Mad Rock Concorde Express Set at Backcountry
Trad Climbing Packages
Some say that Trad Climbing is the most pure form of climbing. No bolts scarring the walls, just a clean crack to get you to the top of the mountain. Yet, when you delve further, you realize that there are about a million different cams, nuts, aline draws, and slings to choose from, not to mention the knowledge and experience to place it all safely.
If you’re gonna spend your hard earned money on trad gear, do it right, and simplify the process by starting off with these handy trad climbing starter kits. These comprise all of the cams, stoppers, and alpine draws that you need to start climbing in Yosemite [link to yosemite top ropes], Indian Creek, or in the Canyons of Red Rocks.
As you gain more experience, you will learn what gear you really need, but these packages cover the basics.
Black Diamond Camalot C4 Package #0.5-3
Ask most any trad climber what a good starter trad rack is, and they’ll mumble something about fingers, hands, and fists. They’re not trying to verbalize sign language, because they’re actually describing the sizes of cams.
The standard starter trad rack will cover the spread from finger, to hand and fist sized cracks. It will vary from climber to climber, and crag to crag, but this rule generally holds true everywhere. Of course, the modern gold standard for Cam Sizes is the Black Diamond Camalot C4.
In BD Cam Sizes, fingers to hands means five cams, from size #0.5-3. The fine folks at Backcountry have decided to bundle this useful range of cams together. You can get your trad rack off to a good start with the Black Diamond Camalot C4 Package #0.5-3.
Also available is a cam package covering all of the C4 finger sizes from 0.3-0.75. This is another great package to help you protect the thin sizes.
Black Diamond Camalot Set at BackcountryFinger Sizes:
Black Diamond Wired Stopper Set
Learning to place Passive Protection is one of the most useful skills in a Trad Climbers tool box. As I’ve mentioned before, Stoppers are a good way to start a trad rack. They’re light, cheap, easily replaceable, and are the perfect companion to a set of cams.
Bundled together is the full breadth of Black Diamond’s stoppers. In all, you can have a full set of nuts that covers a wide range of crack sizes. Placed well, a stopper (aka nut, aka chockstone) can be more bomber than any cam. You can start climbing cracks quickly with Black Diamond’s Stopper set.
The Black Diamond Stopper Set can be purchased in several ranges. The #1-#13 sizes cover the whole spectrum, while the #4-#13, and #5-#11 sets fill in the midrange. No matter which set you purchase, you’ll be glad to have some nuts along for the ride.
Black Diamond Wired Stopper Set on Amazon Black Diamond Wired Stopper Set at REI Coop Black Diamond Wired Stopper Set at Backcountry
Wild Country Friend Cam Set
The Wild Country Friend Cams may not have the same brand recognition as the Black Diamond C4 Camalot. It’s a shame, because Wild Country Friends cover the same size ranges, look very similar, but are superior in almost every category. If I could go back and redo my trad rack, I’d climb with more Wild Country Friends. They are lighter, cheaper, and even have an extendable sling to help reduce rope drag!
Wild Country Friend Set on Amazon Wild Country Friend Set at REI Coop Wild Country Friend Set at Backcountry Wild Country Friend Set on Moosejaw
Trango Phase Alpine Draw-4 Pack
No Trad Rack is complete without a grip of Alpine Draws. Essential for safe and efficient climbing, Alpine Draws are used to extend the reach of your protection. By clipping an Alpine Draw to your cam’s sling, or through the loop of a nut, rope drag is greatly reduced.
The goal of using an Alpine Draw is two-fold: (1) To create an easier, smoother climbing experience for both you and your belayer, and (2) to reduce risk by keeping your protection from “walking” out of it’s placement, or “zippering”. Basically, Alpine Draws help to make you a safer climber.
Trango’s Phase Alpine Draw 4 Pack is the perfect complement to your trad rack. Included are four lightweight, and strong Trango Alpine Draws. Each Draw weighs only 80 grams, and with a strength rating of 22kN, these Alpine Draws will be hardly noticeable on your harness, all while keeping you nice and safe in a fall.
In the past, climbers had to assemble each Alpine Draw from a 60 cm sling, and two carabiners. Trango’s Phase 4 pack saves you not only time, but weight, and money!
Oh, and don’t be misled by the name. You can use Alpine Draws even outside of the Alpine.
Trango Phase Alpine Pack on Amazon Trango Phase Alpine Pack at REI Coop Trango Phase Alpine Pack at Backcountry Trango Phase Alpine Pack at Outdoorplay
Beginner Bouldering Gear
Bouldering is not exactly my cup of tea. I much prefer roped climbing, but I’ve warmed up to Bouldering, admiring it’s simplicity, and the strength and skill needed to climb hard boulders.
Bouldering is the easiest climbing discipline to get into. Boulders can be found everywhere, and you sometimes don’t even need a climbing partner.
But before you head out to the bouldering field, or even the gym, arm yourself with these chalk buckets, brushes, and crash pads, all conveniently brought to you in these simple starter packages.
Mad Rock Mad Pad Crash Pad
Back in the beginning days of Bouldering, people climbed padless. If they fell, they had nothing but a spotter or two to save them from injury. These boulderers were likely a different breed. A different breed with a lot more broken bones and sprained ankles, that is.
These days, get a Crash Pad to help protect your falls. It will save you a lot of pain and injury, and they are generally good for your peace of mind.
I recommend the Mad Rock Mad Pad. It was my first crash pad, and served me well before I ended up selling it for food money (but that’s a different story). The Mad Pad has enough landing space to protect the falls of most boulder problems, and come with handy backpack straps to help you carry it around, all while looking like a rectangle with legs. It also comes in a couple of different colors, so you can mix and match with your bouldering buddies.
Mad Rock Mad Pad on Amazon Mad Rock Mad Pad on Backcountry Mad Rock Mad Pad at Moosejaw
Psychi Abyss Bouldering Bucket Starter Pack
In what may just be the best value of any other starter kit on this list, the Psychi Abyss Bouldering Bucket Starter Pack comes with any and all of the gear that a boulderer needs (besides shoes and a crash pad, of course).
Coming straight out of the UK, the Psychi Bouldering Bucket has ample storage for your chalk, with a wide opening for easy reach, and side pockets to store brushes, tape, and guidebooks.
Also included is 100g of chalk, a bouldering brush, and tape to keep your fingers strong, and injury free.
Psychi Abyss Bouldering Bucket Starter Pack on AmazonSo iLL Bouldering Kit
Available only at REI, the So iLL Bouldering Kit has everything you need to start crushing, whether it be at the gym, or the local boulder field. Bundled together is a chalk bucket, a bag of powdered chalk, two boar hair brushes, nail clippers, and a finger massager (to mend those sore little fingers of yours).
This is a great kit. There are enough accessories here to ensure that you have flawless bouldering sessions. Available in three different haute colorways, the SoiLL Bouldering kit is the perfect set to bring along to the bouldering gym, or to the crag.
When you’ve got a climbing brand sponsoring A-List movie stars like Jason Momoa, you know that this is some quality bouldering gear.
SoiLL Bouldering Kit at REI Coop
- The Best Campsites Around Big Bear California - February 26, 2021
- Hiking to the Hollywood Sign Via the Brush Canyon Trail - July 13, 2020
- Dirt Cheap Hiking and Backpacking Gear: The Most Affordable Gear on the Internet - July 4, 2020
2 thoughts on “The Best Climbing Gear Starter Kits for Beginner Rock Climbers”
Comments are closed.