What to Expect on your First Day at the Gym

So you’re ready to start rock climbing?

That’s great news! Climbing is an exciting increasingly popular sport. We know that no matter where you’re climbing, your previous experience, and your expectations for climbing, your local gym will welcome you with open arms.

That being said, climbing gyms can be intimidating. When you first walk in, you might see people scaling to the top of a 50 foot wall, others shouting while they boulder on impossibly small holds. Sometimes loud music, large groups, and check-in lines can make climbing gyms feel intimidating.

Rest assured: everyone feels this way when they first start climbing. Even to seasoned veterans, a climbing gym at rush hour can feel pretty disorienting! We want to let you know what to expect when you go into a gym for the first time so you can walk in with confidence and enjoy your first session.

Waivers

Before you can step beyond the check-in desk at a climbing gym, you need to have a waiver on file. While you can do this on a phone or on a tablet that the gym provides, it’s better to just be able to check in and get moving. Check your gym’s website to see if you can fill out a waiver in advance.

While these waivers are required because of the inherent risks of climbing, know that gyms and their staff hold themselves to high standards of safety. Anchors, rope, and bouldering pads are all routinely checked to make sure you’re as safe as possible while in a gym.

Equipment

Don’t worry about figuring out what gear to get just yet - gyms will have rental packages available with climbing shoes and chalk (along with a harness and a belay device for roped climbing). You don’t need to bring anything besides yourself and a bottle of water! As far as clothing goes, no specialized equipment is needed for indoor climbing. You might find a loose t-shirt or tank top, along with sweatpants, yoga pants, or athletic shorts, to be comfortable, and thin socks are often used with rental shoes. Nothing fancy needed - come as you are and dress comfortably.

Orientation

Top rope, bouldering, lead climbing, workout zones, yoga studios, locker rooms - there’s a lot going on at even the most modest of climbing gyms! Fortunately, most climbing gyms require an orientation. They’ll show you where all the areas are located, route grade markers and what they mean, and may even provide some suggestions on where to start your climbing that day. If orientations aren’t mandatory, just ask - your local staff will be more than happy to help you learn the layout of the gym and feel comfortable!

Depending on what type of climbing you want to do, you’ll likely need to take a class on top rope belaying, using an AutoBelay, and/or a bouldering orientation class before you can actually climb. We won’t cover this information in detail, as each gym has their own rules and regulations, but rest assured that it’s nothing too intense. Check to see if the gym has set hours or mandatory sign-ups for these classes so you can arrive at a time that gets you climbing more quickly.

If you want to get a head start, check out these videos on tying into a harness, top rope belaying, and navigating a bouldering area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFlwrvggas0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFIz4cBFVro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FnzgjwUkDc

Friends

Climbing gyms are an amazing place to meet new people. If someone doesn’t introduce themself to you first, a good way to make new friends is to talk to people who are climbing the same climb or in the same area as you. You’d be surprised at how much conversation can come from a simple “How long have you been climbing for?” or “What did you think of that route?”

Of course, if you want to have a climbing buddy in tow when you arrive, check out BetaBuds. You don’t have to be a climber already to find a great climbing partner. BetaBuds is made for all climbers, especially newer climbers and those looking to try it for the first time. Whether you're looking for someone who's also on Day 1, or if you’d like to learn from someone with some experience, BetaBuds has the partners you’re looking for. Plus, having someone you already know at the gym can make the whole place feel a lot less intimidating!

We’re so excited that you’re taking the first step into climbing. Download BetaBuds to find others who are breaking into climbing for the first time and form your climbing crew, and keep it here for more tips as you move along in your climbing journey!