Going climbing for the first time - what to expect?

Oh, I’m so glad that you tried bouldering OP!

I've been going for a while now, and I’m still pretty rubbish TBH, but I like that I’m trying to push myself rather than competing against anyone else. I usually just do green and yellow routes.

Theres a women’s night where I go, so I might try that at some point by myself. Otherwise, I’d be happy to wear my AirPods and just ignore everyone else anyway.

But if it’s not for you in the end, at least you tried it 🙂.

glad you’re gonna give it another go! If you can find a women’s group to get to, I’d give that a go. Or a general social group if you don’t mind mixed sex. Then once you’ve met a couple of people there, you can arrange to go at a time that suits you.

I’ve not heard anyone say you can’t go bouldering on your own before tho. I see lots of people on their own.

Sorry to hear that people weren’t as friendly as you’d hoped.

Don’t worry about feeling like your brain doesn’t work that way. It’s good to do things that are hard!

Go you OP. Defo give it a few more goes to get the feel if it's something you'll like long term. It's such a great social sport as resting between climbs is important and conducive to chats. You will be sore starting out, but it's amazing how much you can progress.
I've climbed for years but been out recently due to (not climbing related) injury. Can't wait to get back to it. It's addictive.

Ah I thought it was last night. Really hope you have fun.

You never know if you don't try.

My DDs coach keeps telling me I should try. I did when younger, but for now I'm content watching the teenagers freaky body contortions

Our wall has a beginners social for bouldering. I've been going over a year and have made really good friends.
Bouldering walls only go up to 4-5m or so, and you don't have to climb to the top so you can always control how far above the mats you go. The mats are designed to reduce injury if you fall - which boulderers do fairly frequently.
The nice thing about bouldering is that you can go any time which suits you - you don't need a partner.

I love it.

The people who started a couple of weeks ago said they hurt for 4 days after but we're keen to come back the next week!

How did it go?

Women’s climbing nights are perfect for someone new to the sport. Also look out for the beginners night. My local wall has a beginners class anyone can dip in and out of just for the cost of wall entry. I’m very overweight but love the social side of the sport and the challenge even though I just stick on the beginner circuits. Focus on using your legs and avoid overgripping with your hands. Bouldering is perfectly fine by yourself and the community is very friendly. If you take to it, look at a monthly membership or 12 climbs for the price of 10 type deals.

Don't panic! Depending on the centre, most now have varying numbers of autobelays (machines at the top of the wall with a long strap that you clip onto your harness and will lower you down automatically when you fall off or get to the top). You won't need a partner to climb with then. Bigger centers have several of these (the speed climbing event in the olympics uses them). Climbing is a really friendly sport. I'm the most awkward person in the world but have made loads of friends through climbing!

As above, and take your rings off before you climb if you don’t want to scratch them.

I do the bouldering sort of indoor climbing, so no ropes. The walls aren’t that high because of this.

It’s great fun, I’m relatively rubbish, so I just try green and yellow routes mostly. The staff and other climbers are really friendly, and will sometimes offer some advice when they see you struggling with something.

It’s bloody freezing though - I wear joggers, a thin long sleeved top tucked in, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and a hat.

It’s also the best sport because you can just have a break in between climbs. I see some people reading or listening to music.

It’s fun!! Wear what you like, I wear joggers. Others wear stretchy trousers. If you like it, you’ll need to find a buddy. But some centres have a guaranteed partner scheme, which means that on a certain night there’ll always be a staff member to belay you (hold the rope).

If you can get to the women’s group then you can hopefully meet a buddy and then just go when is convenient for you.

If you have epilepsy, I wouldn’t let you belay me unless you were using an assisted braked belay device. Because if you had a seizure while you were belaying someone then they would get injured or die. But talk to the instructor as they’ll have tips about which belay device would be best for you.

I’ve found climbing to be really inclusive of all abilities. So don’t worry about body size! If it’s fun, it’s fun!

If you've booked a session, like a taster session, and it's on ropes you'll have an instructor who will belay you (hold the rope, which runs through a metal contraption called a belay device). You'll have to receive instruction on how to belay and usually need to be supervised and signed off before you can belay someone else indoors. If you're climbing on ropes alone, ask about beginners clubs. Most centres have them and you'll be guaranteed people to climb with, usually with an instructor on hand. Chances are you'll meet someone and then you can arrange times to climb together as partners.

Bouldering will just be a safety briefing then off you go. No equipment except shoes and chalk.

Try to climb on straight arms (I.e. sort of hang off your arms, rather than keeping them bent which will burn you out quickly and is very inefficient). Watch a couple of YouTube videos before you go for tips!

Anything goes clothing wise. I climb mostly in stretchy jeans or combats, vest or t-shirt and a fleece. Leggins fine. Shorts. Whatever. There's no dress code! As long as you can bend your legs you're fine and will blend in! Prepare to be addicted, get super strong and your hands will hurt like he'll after the first few sessions until your skin adapts. Use a good moisturiser afterwards!!!

Some places have auto belays,but generally yeas, its a pairs sport.

Equipment wise (if its for you)... chalk bag, shoes and harness. Water bottle. DDs climbing wall is freezing... its just so big!) So she wears a thin fleece until she's warmed up!

Climbers are a very friendly bunch.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! I would recommend bouldering once you start because you can go anytime and don’t need someone else there to do the ropes.
In terms of clothing, leggings are good because they won’t get caught on the walls and allow a good range of movement. When I was younger, I like to climb in skinny jeans though lol. Your clothes may get ruined from the chalk, from getting caught on the climbing wall/ripped so don’t wear your nicest things. Also, make sure your top won’t ride up! You want a longish T-shirt or something fairly tight, or a vest tucked in underneath otherwise your stomach will be on display!