The Ultimate Gym Climber Starter Pack

Scarpa Veloce L Climbing Shoes ($179)

Built specifically with gym climbing in mind, this recently updated model from Italian shoemaker Scarpa impressed our testers indoors and out. This is a good thing, since (shocker), many gym climbers will end up making the transition to outdoor climbing. Why limit yourself from the get-go by choosing a shoe that will fall apart outdoors or hold you back? The Scarpa Veloce L—our best training shoe of 2025—is the answer.

Lightweight, grippy, and mega comfortable, the Veloce L features an offset lacing system that gives you excellent fit control. This is really nice if you’re trying a balance-y problem or route on barely there edge. Our primary tester noted that the shoe felt like “wearing a performance sock.” In his full review, he also noted that the shoe performed so well that he felt “like a con artist” when climbing in it—hopefully, you’ll feel the same with the Scarpa Veloce L as your gym shoe.

Butora Endeavor ($119.95) 

For a more budget-friendly shoe option, consider the Endeavor from South Korean brand Butora. While it may lack fancy features and pinnacle performance, this shoe—included on our list of best beginner shoes—will suit most gym climbers and beginner-to-intermediate climber just fine. Featuring durable materials and a mid level of stiffness and flex, the Endeavor shines on delicate, slabby, and moderately overhanging routes. If your climbing love language is your gym’s steepest routes or bouldering cave, however, you may want to consider a different pair. But for most climbers, this all-around solid shoe fits the bill. We also love the organic hemp lining that helps cut down on odors.

Metolius Monster 40-meter Gym Rope ($169.95)

Our best gym rope of 2025, the Metolius Monster is supple, durable, and easy to handle. We also found it to be joyously kink-resistant. We’ve tested the rope inside and out and found it seamless to use with a Grigri, which is probably the belay device you’ll be using as a newer gym climber (read on for our belay device rec).

The Monster comes in a 35-meter length (10.2mm diameter), a 40-meter length (9.8mm diameter), and a 200-meter length (9.8mm diameter) for industrial use. We recommend going with the 40-meter length to cover most indoor climbing routes.

Petzl Grigri ($99.95)

This workhorse assisted-braking belay device dominates the market with its time-tested performance and ease of use. Made by Petzl, the Grigri (compatible with 8.5mm-11mm ropes) makes feeding slack and lowering smooth and easy. For all rope sizes we’ve used it with, minimal unwanted locking occurs. If you struggle to efficiently and quickly dish out slack while lead belaying, consider the Neox, which improves upon a few operating aspects, but comes at a higher price.

Carabiners ($7.95-$23.95)

You don’t need many carabiners for climbing in the gym, but if you plan to climb with a rope, you’ll want at least one to attach your belay device to your belay loop. For this, you need a locking carabiner. Some climbers also prefer a slightly larger or D-shaped carabiner for more seamless belaying.

While this is really the only carabiner you need, some climbers like to have a couple other carabiners on their harness for attaching gear. For example, between climbs, you can attach your shoes to the back of your harness to avoid gearspreading on the mats. And while chalk bags often come with belts, some climbers prefer to clip a chalk bag directly to their harness.

Black Diamond Momentum Harness ($64.95)

This classic harness has been around for awhile for a reason (or five). It’s well-built, with perfectly sized gear loops, an easily adjustable waistbelt, and 360-degree support. We reviewed this harness back in 2016, and it’s stood the test of time indoors and out. With plenty of cushion and breathability, it’s great for an evening at the gym. But it also offers the durability and features necessary for more complex, outdoor disciplines as you progress as a climber.

Sterling Bartleby Gym Bag ($142)

Our 2025 gym bag of the year, this sleek pack holds gym equipment and office equipment alike. That makes it perfect as an office-to-gym or school-to-gym bag that can shuttle laptops, headphones, coffee, shoes, a change of clothes, and more. The clamshell opening and numerous internal/external pockets makes it all super easy to access and keep organized, too. One thing we wished this 28-liter pack had? An external daisy chain or gear loop to quickly clip a water bottle or pair of funky-smelling shoes to the exterior.

Cotopaxi Allpa Gear Hauler ($85-$115)

For a less pricey pack that’s super handy as a dedicated gym bag, the Cotopaxi Gear Hauler is basically a burly oversized tote that’s as easy to load as it gets. If you want to bring a rope to the gym, opt for the larger size. This strategy of using the Gear Hauler as a rope bag also works for climbing areas with cragside parking and no approach. Cotopaxi also loads this thing up with interior pockets for organizing chalk, gloves, and essentials. You can clip a water bottle or other things you want to stay on top to gear loops as well.

prAna Originals Chalk Bag  ($21-$35)

We reviewed this chalk bag back in 2022, noting that it “got the job done,” which is exactly what we look for in a chalk bag. Thoughtfully made from 100% recycled fabric in a Fair Trade certified factory, this chalk bag is a worthy addition to your gym kit. It also comes in a variety of colors, some of which are currently on sale.

Chalk Cartel The Baller ($7.95)

Fill that new chalk bag with “The Baller,” made by the Chalk Cartel. The ball itself come loaded with 62.4 grams of chalk. It will help you get just the right amount of chalk on your hands and as little as possible up in the air or in the face of your belayer. We reviewed this ball o’ chalk in 2020 and our tester said it helped their hands stay “grippy” on a variety of climbs.