My First Rock Climbing Trip Taught Me How to Gear Up

If you're thinking of jumping into rock climbing yourself, these great products are a perfect place to start.

TRAVEL TODAY Rock Climbing My First Rock Climbing Trip Taught Me How to Gear Up The place? Sedona. The task? My first outdoor rock climb. While I had dabbled in indoor gym climbing at children's birthday parties in my youth, I had never scaled any sort of outdoor boulder before. The sweat poured down my face and my heart pounded in my chest as I tilted my head back and looked up, up, up to see what I had signed up for. On this particular trip, I was testing out new gear from outdoor outfitter Mountain Hardwear. The first thing I learned was that loose clothing isn't ideal for climbing—a climber never wants baggy, hanging apparel to distract them. I immediately slid into some of the brand's Chockstone tights and a Mountain Stretch tanklette, both of which clung safely to my body as I, well, clung on to a rock for dear life. I grew up dancing ballet, and was immediately smitten with my Black Diamond climbing shoes, whose sturdy bottoms and hard toes reminded me of my past pointe shoes. Similar to a ballet shoe, I didn't need to wear socks with them, so they were easy to slip right on and off after my climb. I took a deep breath, buckled my sturdy helmet to my head, and put one foot in front of the other, beginning my adventure. Afterward, I felt proud of myself for facing my fears and trying something new. Now I can say I've climbed some of the most beautiful rocks in America! If you're thinking of jumping into rock climbing yourself, these great products are a perfect place to start. READ NOW READ NOW Astrid Taran Senior Editor, Special Projects Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products and services; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Rock Climbing A Women's Rock Climbing Camp Was One of My Most Empowering Travel Experiences read more Gear 10 Climbing Harnesses for Every Terrain, From the Gym to the Crag read more Style 14 Hiking Shirts That Are Lightweight, Wick Moisture, and Offer Top Sun Protection read more Rock Climbing 15 Spectacular Places to Go Rock Climbing in the US read more Gear The 7 Best Chalk Bags of 2022 read more Style You'll Never Want to Take Off These Ultra-Comfy Women's Travel Leggings read more Food & Drink Fuel Up in the Outdoors With These Easy-to-Pack Snacks read more Gear Leak-Proof, Durable, and Lightweight: 8 Water Bottles for Your Next Adventure read more VACATION LIKE A PRO You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Travel Today newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005 © 2021 Dotdash.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

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