In a mountaineering gym and outside a climbing area, you may discover that everyone has a compact bag hooked to their waist and hangs off their back. This is called a climbing bag. Chalk bags are called, and they’re filled with chalk.
Using chalk, you can keep your hands clean and dry while also improving your grip by absorbing all of the moisture accumulated on them.
Because everyone’s body creates moisture differently, some people require more frequent reapplication than others. Most people reapply at the beginning of each effort and maybe again before a fairly challenging maneuver in the middle of an effort.
Most chalk is composed of magnesium carbonate, which is the same substance that gymnasts, weightlifters, and other sportsmen use to enhance friction and grip on their hands during competition.
Chalk (also known as Magnesium Carbonate, MgCO3) isn’t only for gymnasts anymore: Climbers worldwide use it to keep their hands dry and enhance grip when climbing.
Fortunately, this is another climbing gear where personal choice takes precedence over over-analysis, which is a welcome development. Choosing chalk and chalk bags by their appearance and feel is acceptable. This piece offers an overview of the many varieties of chalk and how to use them.
Types of Chalk:
Chalk has to be either unadulterated MgCO3 or contains a drying agent that has been applied. Each composition has its own group of supporters. Some people appreciate the additional drying time, while others love the sensation of raw chalk and prefer not to inhale in the additional agents.
Block Chalk
Chalk is also available in a solid, compacted form, which is referred to as a chalk block. Some users like chalk blocks since they can break them down into any size they choose, which sometimes needs more than just finger strength. Many hikers use chalk blocks to indicate their routes.
A chalk block is just pure chalk in a large chunk. The attraction here is less about the efficiency gains and more about the fact that you can crush it to your desired consistency at your leisure. It’s also less untidy to transport before it’s crushed, which is a bonus.
Loose Chalk
Loose chalk comprises both pure chalk and chalk, including drying agents (drying agents are included in the definition of loose chalk). The fact that it has already been ground for you is a huge convenience. It is sufficient to pour it into a chalk bag or a ball and proceed. Some brands have grinds that are finer or coarser than others.
If you have a lot of loose chalk, you may either grind it very fine or leave it in bigger bits or fragments. Fine chalk is most commonly referred to as “loose chalk,” whereas larger bits of chalk are referred to as “crunchy chalk” or “chunky chalk,” respectively. Climbers like squeezing chunks of gritty chalk into the shape they require with their fingertips. How much crunchiness you desire is entirely a question of personal choice.
It is pretty usual for chalk producers to incorporate drying agents into their products. Although loose chalk is most often associated with climbers, it is also regularly used by gymnasts, weightlifters, cross-fitters, and other sportsmen in the same manner as climbing chalk.
Environmentally Friendly Chalk
Eco chalk was developed to worry about rock surfaces being aesthetically polluted. Because it is made up entirely of a harmless drying agent, it may be used in gyms and climbing places where regular chalk is not permitted. However, you should wash your hands after using them because it can irritate the eyes.
Liquid Chalk
In this case, after rubbing the chalk/alcohol mixture on your hands, the alcohol soon evaporates, deciding to leave a chalk residue behind. One advantage is that it limits the amount of chalk dust and chalk markings to a bare minimum.
Drying Agents:
Some manufacturers may combine their chalk “drying agents,” the specific contents of which are not specified but which are most likely antiperspirants such as Aluminum Trychlorohydrex, which temporarily block sweat glands. According to the research, many sources believe in these “supercharged” chalks, while others don’t appear to have a bias at all. Many types of climbing chalk are available, some deliberately tinted to match the rock for individuals who despise the appearance of markings. In some regions, climbing chalk is not even permitted.
Chalk Alternatives:
Antiperspirant and hydrophobic chemicals are commonly used as chalk substitutes because they allow your hands to dry without leaving markings on the rock. Because the components in these are not required to be disclosed, there is a great deal of variation across brands. They are found in both liquid and powdered forms, and they are sometimes promoted to athletes participating in other sports like golf and tennis.
So, what does Climbing Chalk do for your performance?
The impact of climbing chalk on climbers’ performance has been the subject of several research. The majority of researchers have discovered that using chalk increases friction between climbers’ hands and the rock they are climbing. Because of the added friction, it is simpler for the climber to maintain on the hold for a longer time than if they did not use climbing chalk. Climbers benefit from tending to spend more time on climbing holds because it makes it simpler for them to relax and study their next move, which increases their performance.
The National Library of Medicine of the United States Climbing using chalk has been studied by the National Institutes of Health to determine its effects and whether or not it makes a difference. As should be expected, the findings of the experiments varied depending on the specific association between climbing and chalk that the researchers were examining. Some studies found that chalk made no impact, while others found that it made a statistically significant difference between the two groups studied.
In a 2012 research, 11 experienced climbers participated in 42 test sessions in which they hung from holds that were fastened to a specially made hang board, with and without the use of chalk. The findings revealed that the addition of chalk and friction had a statistically significant favorable impact.
The oil and sweat produced by certain climbers on their palms while climbing means that they will require more chalk than climbers who have fairly dry hands during the climb. Some climbers feel that using too much chalk will reduce the friction you have among your hands and the handholds on the wall. A general rule of thumb is that if you reach the summit of a climb and your palms are completely devoid of chalk; you should immediately add additional chalk to the mix.
If you’re climbing in a protected area or just want to be more eco-friendly, you can get colored chalk. Using multicolored chalk that complements the surface, you’re climbing on won’t leave markings on the rock.
White chalk will seep into the rock when climbing on porous materials like granite or limestone, leaving a mark that can persist for years if it doesn’t rain.
There’s also perfumed climbing chalk. The perfumed climbing chalk adds little grip strength.
It’s a matter of taste. Some individuals use scented chalk to relax and mentally prepare for a difficult climb.
Final Words:
Climbing chalk is a sensitive topic. Certain climbers swear by it, while others avoid it. Only you can determine whether or not to use chalk. We hope this piece will help you determine if you want climbing chalk or not.