Sports & Fitness
Rock Climbing
A rope and someone holding it, and the wall goes up fifteen metres
Gyms charge by visit or by month, and renting shoes and gear is enough to start, though your own shoes are the first thing worth buying. Roped routes need someone belaying, so a partner comes with the territory and pairing up at the gym is normal. Beginners assume it is pulling strength; footwork and balance matter far more.
First stepTake a top-rope intro class at a climbing gym, learn the figure-eight knot and how to belay, and pass the gym's belay check.
Barriers
Cost to start
Under $50
Going deep → $2k–10k
Alone or with people
Anyone will do
Effort
Demanding
Without a teacher?
Needs a teacher
One session takes
1–2 hours
Where
A venue
Why people take it up
Related guides
Keeping the spending in checkStarts at Under $50, going deep runs $2k–10kTry a hobby before you buy the gearRisky without a teacherSkills
BuildsGrip and pulling strengthRope work, knots and belayingCore strength