Outdoor climbing is one of my favorite ways to spend a day. There’s something about packing up the car, driving out to a crag, and spending the day climbing outside that makes even a normal weekend feel like an adventure.
On a recent trip to Hillbilly Hollow, I went out for a day of sport climbing and was reminded of just how many little things can make a difference when you’re spending the day outside.
I had all of my actual climbing gear. Shoes, chalk, harness, rope, quick draws, and everything else I needed to climb were packed and ready to go. But there were a few other things I either forgot or was very glad I had brought along.
When you’re getting ready for your first outdoor climbing trip, you’re probably not going to forget your climbing shoes. You’re probably going to remember your harness and chalk, too. It’s the other stuff that’s easy to overlook.
Here are some of the things I recommend packing for a climbing day trip.
First Aid Supplies for a Climbing Day
One thing I almost always bring is a small first aid kit.
It doesn’t have to be anything huge. I mostly want a few basic supplies for the little things that can happen during a day outside. Band aids, climbing tape, and sanitizing wipes are a few things I like to have with me.
Climbing can be hard on your hands, and having some basic supplies nearby is much easier than realizing you need them after you’ve already gotten to the crag.
I also bring hand sanitizer. Between scrambling, climbing, and using whatever bathroom situation the crag provides, it’s nice to have a way to clean your hands before you reach for your snacks.
Sun and Bugs Are Part of the Experience
Another thing that is easy to forget when you’re focused on climbing is just how much time you’re going to spend outside.
I always bring sunscreen. Even if you aren’t climbing in direct sunlight the entire day, you can spend hours sitting around at the base of a cliff, belaying, or hanging out with friends. It’s easy to get a lot more sun than you realize.
Bug spray is another one that depends on where you’re climbing, but I like having it with me. Some crags are much more buggy than others, and I would rather have it and not need it than spend the afternoon getting eaten alive. Make sure to always take off your harness before applying bug spray, as it’s bad for the fabric.
I also keep a nail clipper in my climbing bag. It might seem like a strange thing to specifically pack for climbing, but between climbing, hiking, and being outside all day, I’ve found it useful enough to keep one around.
Don’t Forget Food and Water
This one seems obvious, but it is worth saying anyway: bring plenty of water.
A climbing day can easily end up being longer than you planned. Maybe you decide to stay for another route, the approach takes longer than expected, or everyone is having such a good time that nobody wants to leave yet.
I always bring water and plenty of snacks, and I’ll pack a full lunch if we’re planning to be out most of the day.
I also like bringing a small towel for my climbing shoes. Your shoes can get pretty dirty (slippery!) throughout the day and having something to wipe them off with is a small but useful luxury.
Bathroom Supplies Are Worth Packing
This is probably the least exciting thing on this list, but it might also be one of the most important.
Bring toilet paper.
Depending on where you’re climbing, there may not be an actual bathroom anywhere nearby. Even if you know there’s a bathroom at the trail head or parking area, you might not want to make the hike all the way back just because nature called.
I like keeping some toilet paper or a reusable bathroom option in my climbing bag. If you bring toilet paper, make sure you also have a way to pack it out. Leave No Trace recommends packing out toilet paper and other waste rather than leaving it behind at the crag.
A small trash bag is useful for this, and it gives you somewhere to put snack wrappers, used tape, and any other garbage you accumulate throughout the day.
A Few Things for When the Day Doesn’t Go as Planned
There are a few other things I like to bring that I hopefully won’t actually need.
A headlamp is a good example. Even if you have every intention of being back at your car before dark, climbing days don’t always go according to plan. Maybe you decide to climb one more route, get caught up talking with friends, or take longer than expected on the approach. A small headlamp is easy to throw in your bag and could make a huge difference if you end up hiking back after sunset.
I also like having my phone and a portable battery with me. Depending on the area, your phone might be useful for navigation, weather updates, emergency communication, or accessing route information.
An extra layer or lightweight rain jacket is another good thing to have, especially when the weather is unpredictable. You might start the day in warm sunshine and end it wishing you had something more than a T-shirt.
For a typical day trip, I don’t want to carry a giant emergency pack. I just want a few small things that could make a bad situation a little more manageable.
My Climbing Day Trip Essentials
After enough trips outside, I’ve ended up with a pretty predictable list of things that I like to have in my bag.
The climbing gear:
Your actual climbing gear is obviously going to depend on what you’re doing, but for a typical sport climbing day, that might include your helmet, harness, shoes, chalk, rope, quick draws, belay device, and any other equipment required for the routes you’re climbing.
The things you might forget:
- Small first aid kit
- band aids
- Climbing tape
- Sanitizing wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Nail clipper
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Water
- Snacks or lunch
- Small towel for climbing shoes
- Toilet paper or a reusable bathroom option
- Small trash bag
The things that are nice to have just in case:
- Headlamp
- Extra layer or rain jacket
- Phone
- Portable battery
- Route guide or map
- Extra food and water
Obviously, you don’t need to bring every possible piece of outdoor gear with you every time you go climbing. Your packing list is going to depend on where you’re going, what you’re climbing, how long you’ll be out, and what the weather looks like.
For me, the biggest lesson from my Hillbilly Hollow trip was that the little things can make a big difference. You can have every piece of climbing gear you need and still realize halfway through the day that you forgot sunscreen, you’re starving, or you really wish you had a towel for your shoes.
Outdoor climbing is already pretty fun. A little preparation just makes it easier to enjoy the whole day.