Not every sport demands the same thing from its athletes, and that means not every sport demands the same thing from its apparel, either. For example, there are sports where apparel worn is essentially nothing. A tee shirt and a pair of shorts will do.
There are sports, however, where apparel worn is more akin to gear. It’s functional, it’s technical, and it’s wrong if it’s done incorrectly, with performance and safety in mind.
Climbing is one of those sports.
When Clothes Become Part of the Sport
Consider a climber and what they need from what they wear. There’s going to be a ton of range of motion required. Hips have to be able to open wide, arms extend over the head, and legs flag out in awkward stances.
Not only does it feel bad to be restricted, but it jeopardizes technique to be able to perform movements that require them. The margin for error is thin as it is; if clothes push and pull and get in the way, that margin becomes thinner.
This is why climbing clothes specifically designed for the sport have been a popular item of choice within the industry. Companies like Gravity Goats who specialize in climbing needs do so from a well-informed understanding of the sport first, before fashion comes into play.
What’s more fascinating about climbing apparel is that it walks the fine line between functional and casual wear. Many climbers are able to transition from gym to bouldering to casual hanging out without ever taking off what they’ve got on.
Therefore, the most appropriate climbing gear needs to stand up to a ton of athleticized requirements, and still be something worth wearing outside of a climbing gym.
Physical Necessities Are Different
Now juxtapose climbing with the road runner. For the runner, they need moisture wicking, breathability and light weight. Great attributes, but again, the necessity for range of movement is relatively linear. The aesthetic need for seams, cut of fabric and panels is not overly challenging.
Climbing is different. The body is in motion in a way where there’s tremendous pressure placed upon seam locations that otherwise wouldn’t matter in other parts of the body. For example, a poorly placed seam on the inner thigh can create massive discomfort during high stepping.
A fabric without four-way stretch is going to battle a climber at the crux of their climb. Not to mention that if a climber is in it for the long haul, durability becomes important consideration for abrasiveness of rough rock faces, but also wear and tear of repeated motion.
For those who don’t usually care about how clothing is constructed, this is where it gets interesting. It’s not merely about making something stretchy.
It’s about making something stretchy in the right way, stretchy enough that it recovers after having been stressed out; the durability against abrasive materials and comfort over extensive periods all for a cumulative need that’s more than you’d think.
Why Fit is Important
That’s why there’s a difference between climbers who’ve been around for a while who stress fit as much as they do their shoes and their harness as opposed to other types of climbers. Too baggy gets stuck on holds.
Too tight inhibits movement. Either extreme is counterproductive to a climber’s success, and finding that happy medium distinguishes true climbing apparel from clothes that merely look like it.
Waistbands are also considered. Climbers generally wear their harness on the outside of their clothing; oversized waistbands or raised bands become pressure points that feel awful after a while. Well considered climbing pants keep waistbands lower without sacrificing overall cut and function.
These are the subtleties outsiders might overlook, but insiders know them instantly. It’s no wonder that while a sport requires athletes to be constantly aware of how their bodies are moving, they’re equally as conscious of something that could change that awareness.
The Main Point for All Sports
While climbing is a perfect example, it goes across sports where the body expands to maximum reach (or the environment otherwise calls for specialized clothing). Think gymnastics, martial arts, certain types of yoga, clothes cannot be passive but must actively support the movement.
What’s even more true over the last decade or so is that purposefully manufactured athletic wear has improved in quality. From fabric advancements to better stitching to branched pushes with like-minded companies, the quality has significantly increased across many different types of manufactured wear.
The difference between generic athletic wear and athletic wear made with sport purpose has grown exponentially, and those who’ve tried both often find it hard to go back to generic options after trying on powered pieces.
When To Choose Gear
If there’s a sport you’re going to get into, or if you’re looking to level up your current wardrobe, pros recommend that if you’re a climber, you should wear climbing clothes as gear, not clothes as another outfit.
Factor in where you’ll be climbing (the gym vs outdoors vs bouldering all have different considerations) and how something functions while in motion, not how it looks on a store rack.
The more demand a sport has on its athlete, the more demand it has on its gear. In the case of climbing, this makes apparel exist in such a way that facilitates movement, withstands real-world demands and then fades into the background, allowing the climber to focus on what’s most important: What lies ahead on their journey.
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