want to try bouldering? 🧗‍♀️ read this first ‼️

have you walked by a place in a mall where you see lots of people climbing rocks on a wall before? that's actually a bouldering gym and it has become a very popular hobby for many! here's what you need to know if you want to try it out:

**disclaimer: bouldering can be dangerous so it's always important to put safety first, best if you can go with an experienced climber who can guide you and help you**

what do you need to start bouldering?

• climbing shoes > these can be rented at a climbing gym usually for $5-$7 per session. or you can buy your own climbing shoes from places like campers corner, but one pair of quality climbing shoes can range from $120-$200!

• for girls, comfortable bottoms and tops are important > i like to wear shorts since they're more comfortable, but leggings are recommended so you don't scrape your skin against the wall. i prefer to climb with baggy tops and a sports bra as it can get kind of cold in a gym, but many girls climb with just a sports bra on

• chalk and a chalk bag > this isn't really required if you're just starting out, but if you want to be a casual climber, get yourself a chalk bag and chalk - chalk is to help with climbing where you can apply chall on your hands to dry them up, so it would be easier for you to hold the holds on the wall

what do you need to be able to identify on the wall?

this can differ slightly depending on the bouldering gym you go to, but generally you'll find:

1, color of the holds > each route is comprised of the same colored holds, with a starting point and an ending point. you can only use that color holds to complete the route

2, grading tag of the route > every gym will have its own grading system which indicates the difficulty of the route. you can identify this usually either by a number (eg 10) or a color (eg blue)

3, types of holds > this will help as you progress in climbing but there are different types of holds used in routes, some are nicer to hold than others. this includes crimps, jugs, pinches, slopers

how much does an entry cost?

depending on the gym there are different rates for their passes - some gyms might offer a first timer rate as well. most climbing gyms offer passes ranging between $15-$25 per session - boulder+ aperia offers 10 passes for $200, so one session is effectively $20. there isn't a time limit for entry in most gyms, so you can usually walk in and climb as long as you'd like to, but some gyms may have booking systems in place to manage the crowd.

bouldering is a great exercise alternative to other sports and cardio, as it develops strength, flexibility, and also strategy. i'd highly recommend you try it at least once!

#Lemon8Lifestyle #bouldering