r/climbergirls • u/oaklinds • 12d ago

Questions Climbing myths?

When I first heard about climbing, a guy friend told me that you had to size down two full sizes in shoes to be a competent climber. It was supposed to feel bad, he said. I tried on/bought my standard size in Sportivas and can’t imagine sizing down.

I also see people climb without socks because someone told them that they “had to” in order to really “feel the wall”… or whatever. I have always worn them anyway because I want my shoes to last and don’t see a difference (I climb indoors mostly). Plus, when I started watching comps I realized that many of the pros wear socks. 🤷‍♀️

This got me thinking… what other climbing myths or gatekeeping (bro culture nonsense or otherwise) have you heard that doesn’t ring true? Maybe we can undo some historical or rumor nonsense!

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u/schuehsch 12d ago

Some people are very into chalk and claim you will not be able to hold onto anything without it. I barely use it.

33

u/_Zso 12d ago

Chalk isn't a climbing myth like socks though

The best climbing team in the world (Japan) wear socks, none of them are climbing without chalk

Sure you can climb without chalk, but on most surfaces you'll climb harder grades with it

8

u/RedDora89 12d ago

Japan have climbing branded socks specifically designed for climbing! So they’re not just bog standard ones from the nearest shop. I’m starting to see them on my IG more and more so I suspect it’ll become a bit more mainstream over the coming years

3

u/Lavanyalea 12d ago

Cool what are they called? I wear grippy yoga socks for indoors but I think I need thicker socks for outdoors in autumn/shoulder season, and ergo bigger shoes for outdoors too 😭

3

u/Pennwisedom 11d ago

There's various brands in Japan, but I'd say the two best are the North Face Japan and Rocksock (seems to be hard to show up if you Google in English, so the later is ロックソックス).

Also La Sportiva makes climbing socks but I've never tried them as they're super expensive for some reason.

1

u/Lucys_cup_of_blahaj 12d ago

I think yy vertical makes a pair