The Ultimate Sport Climbing Packing List: Essentials for Every Climber

Name: New Years Climbing and Surfing Retreat in Puerto Rico
Start: 2025-12-29
End: 2026-01-03
Location: Puerto Rico

Home | Blog | The Ultimate Sport Climbing Packing List: Essentials for Every Climber

Raquel Hernández-Cruz

Personal Climbing Gear

The foundation of your sport climbing gear starts with essential personal equipment, the gear you’ll need if you’re just starting at your local climbing gym or joining one of our retreats. Investing in quality gear ensures a better fit, improved comfort, and consistency in your climbing experience. Owning your gear allows you to practice with the same setup indoors and outdoors, helping you build familiarity and confidence.

Each check marked item in this guide includes a link to an affiliate product. Hover over them for the link, making it easy for you to find the best gear for your climbing adventures while supporting our work at no extra cost to you!

Required

Day Pack

A 30L backpack is ideal for a day of sport climbing, fitting essentials like your harness, shoes, helmet, and snacks. If carrying a rope, opt for 50L to 60L or one with external straps. Look for a comfortable, durable, and well-organized pack for easy access at the crag.

We enjoy using Aarn Packs . Their front pockets help distribute the load, and the hip strap keeps the weight off our shoulders, helping us reach the crag rested and ready to climb!

Climbing Helmet

Everyone at the crag should wear a helmet; whether climbing, belaying, or standing near the base of a route.
Climbing Harness

When choosing a climbing harness, adjustable leg loops are often the better option, allowing for a snug fit in different climates and layering needs. This ensures comfort and mobility whether you're climbing in shorts on a warm day or wearing extra layers in cooler conditions.
Chalk Bag

A chalk bag isn’t just for keeping your hands dry. It’s also a portable stress ball you unconsciously squeeze every time you psych yourself up for the crux! To aid on stress relief consider using Joshua Tree Organics Scented Chalk.
Climbing Shoes

They used to look like medieval torture devices: ugly, painful, and seemingly designed to make you question your life choices. Now, they’re just slightly less ugly and moderately less painful. Bring a pair or two!
Approach Shoes

A good pair of approach shoes provides stability, grip, and protection on rocky or uneven terrain in and while hiking to the crag. Look for shoes with sticky rubber soles for better traction and a comfortable fit.

First Aid Kit

Add to your kit any medication you take daily or regularly, ensuring you have enough for the duration of your trip plus a few extra days in case of delays. In addition climbing specific items such as athletic tape, in addition to finger tape and nail clippers.

If you are uncertain of what to pack, refer to our First Aid Kit - Packing List.

Suggested

Belay Glasses

Belay glasses save you from the strain, keeping your head in a neutral position while you still watch every move. If you don’t have belay glasses, your next best option is bringing a personal masseur.
Belaying Gloves

Belay gloves protect your hands from rope burn, cuts, and abrasions, especially during long belays, rappelling, or catching a fast-moving climber. They also improve grip and reduce hand fatigue, making your belay smoother and more controlled. Plus, they instantly add 10% more pro-climber vibes to your crag look 😉
Rappelling Device

Include in your kit a rappelling device that accommodates two ropes if your belay device only accepts one, along with a prusik and locking carabiners to set up a third hand backup.
Personal Anchor

A personal anchor system (PAS) is a secure way to attach yourself to an anchor while cleaning a route, rappelling, or transitioning at the top of a climb.
Crag Gloves

While you can use your climbing tape to protect your hands and fingers, you may want to consider packing your crag gloves too.
Helmet Sun Shade

While most climbers skip the helmet sun shade while actively climbing, they’re great for keeping your helmet on and the sun off while belaying, resting, or hanging out at the crag.
Sweat Rag

Especially if you are climbing in hot and humid areas, bring a rag to wipe off sweat after the approach. You may also want to include a wrist sweat band to use while climbing.

29Dec

New Years Climbing and Surfing Retreat in Puerto Rico

Monday, Puerto Rico

EVENT DETAIL

10Jan

Climbing Retreat in Cuba!

Saturday, Cuba

EVENT DETAIL

No event found!

Lead Climbing Gear

If you are participating at one of our climbing events, you are not required to bring this gear. But if you are climbing on your own, you will need at least one set of these.

Guide Book

A guidebook or app provides essential route info, including grades, bolt count, approach details, and beta to help you plan your climb. Checking the guide ensures you bring the right amount of gear, avoid sketchy surprises, and know where to find the best post-climb snacks!
Stick Clip

A stick clip lets you clip the first (or even second) bolt before leaving the ground, reducing the risk of a ground fall on tough starts. It’s also great for retrieving stuck draws, checking holds, and looking way more prepared than your crag buddies!
Quick Draws

The number you need depends on the route. Check your guidebook or climbing app for the total bolt count, and always bring a few extras quick draws in case of surprises.
Anchor Building Gear

Essential for safely finishing a climb, cleaning routes, and lowering off. Bringing extra carabiners, slings, or a personal anchor system (PAS) ensures you can safely set up, clean, or back up an anchor when needed
Climbing Ropes & Tarps

Check your guidebook to ensure your climbing rope is long enough for the routes you plan to climb. A rope tarp or rope bag helps keep your rope clean, tangle-free, and protected from dirt, moisture, and sharp rocks, extending its lifespan.

Climbing Lunch & Snack

Reusable Water bottle

Bring a durable, reusable insulated water bottle to keep your drinks cool and avoid single-use plastics. Pair it with a water filter or water purification drops or tablets so you can safely refill from streams, spigots, or sketchy faucets—because dehydration is bad, but giardia is worse.
In hot, humid conditions, aim for 3 to 4 liters of water per person to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Reusable Lunch Bag

For a full day of climbing, pack lightweight, high-energy foods that won’t spoil in the heat. But also bring yummy treats to reward yourself (or your guides!) after a long day on the rock. A little extra chocolate, cookies, or your favorite post-send snack can make the day even sweeter! Walking Tamales have always been a hit with our crew!
Electrolytes

Adding electrolyte tablets, powder, or coconut water to your hydration routine helps replenish what you lose, keeping your energy levels up and your muscles working. Because no one wants to hit the crux and a dehydration wall at the same time!
Eating Utensils

Opt for titanium utensils to keep your pack light, your meals civilized, and to pretend (at least for a moment) that you're not a total dirtbag.

Other Day-Trip Gear

These are things we always find useful and you can find in our packs regardless of where we go.

Dry bag

We prefer Sea to Summit Light Weight Dry Bag to keep inside our day pack. We can use it for small electronics or anything we may need to keep dry.
Yoga Mat or Sand Mat

A lightweight, packable yoga mat or sand free mat is great for warming up, post-climb stretching, or even as a clean sitting spot at the crag.

Warm-up & Massage Tools

Lightweight resistance bands, massage balls, and hand trainers help activate muscles, improve mobility, and prevent injuries before you start climbing.
Sun shirt

A lightweight, breathable sun shirt offers UV protection without overheating, keeping your skin safe from the sun while you climb. Look for moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabrics; because sunscreen is great, but not having to reapply every hour is even better!
Sun Block

Choose a sweat-resistant, non-greasy sunscreen that won’t run into your eyes mid-climb.
Hiking Hat

A lightweight, breathable hiking hat keeps the sun off your face and neck during the approach.
Sunglasses

A good pair of active sunglasses like Ombraz with a secure cord.
Light Jacket or Rain Jacket

because shivering at the crag or getting soaked on the hike out is not the send vibes you want!
Mosquito Spray

A DEET-free repellent keeps the bugs at bay without the chemicals, but when mosquitoes are organizing a full-scale attack, a DEET-based spray is your best defense, even if it slowly kills you.
Headlamp

Do we really need to keep remind you to always pack a headlamp?

Leave Behind

Drugs and alcohol

Climbing requires focus, coordination, and good decision-making, things that do not go hand in hand with drugs or alcohol. Save those for after our event — when your feet are safely back home!
Smoking of any kind

Smoking at the crag isn’t just a personal choice—it affects everyone around you and leaves behind smelly gear, polluted air, and potential fire hazards. We prefer if you refrain from smoking at all our events to keep the environment clean and enjoyable for everyone.
Speakers or radios

Crags are shared spaces, and blasting music disrupts the natural vibe, other climbers' focus, and the crucial communication between climber and belayer. Let nature provide the soundtrack—or at least the sound of grunts, beta calls, celebratory yells and the occasional whipper squeal.

If you have any questions about gear, please let us know! We’re happy to offer guidance; whether you’re joining one of our events or heading out to climb on your own. The right gear makes all the difference, and we want to help you feel prepared, confident, and ready to send!