But have you ever wondered what is in the climbing chalk that helps with this? And no it is not the same as regular chalk! There may be different types of climbing chalk but they all have one constant ingredient. Read on to find out all about climbing chalk, what they are made of, the different types, and the risk of overusing it!
Ever since gym chalk was used in climbing in the 1950s, it has become a staple product that climbers bring to their visit to the crags. I have been using climbing chalk since I started climbing myself. It allows you to have a better grip on the rock and especially get rid of sweaty hands. I can’t imagine climbing without having some climbing chalk ready, especially on hot days when my hands get very sweaty.
Key Takeaways
- The main ingredient in climbing chalk is magnesium carbonate, but manufacturers also add other ingredients to help climbers.
- There are different types of climbing chalk and I have given my personal suggestion for each type.
- There are risks involved when you are overusing chalk on your climb, to both you and your climbing buddies.
Main Ingredients in Climbing Chalk
You might think regular chalk also works, but never climb with regular chalk. That is made of limestone (calcium carbonate) which mixes with water and forms a slippery surface. That is something you definitely don’t want while climbing!
Many manufacturers add their own unique twist to climbing chalk but all climbing chalk has one component that is in every one of them. This component is the main reason that gives the climbing chalk its benefits.
So let’s see what they are:
Magnesium Carbonate
This is that one constant I was talking about! Magnesium carbonate is what gives climbing chalk its white appearance. What it does is absorb the moisture from the hands and help increase friction between the fingers and the rock. This not only gives you that extra grip on the crags, but it also helps create a layer between your hand and rock (or rope as well). It helps protect your skin from abrasions.
While most powdered chalk manufacturers from Black Diamond, PETZL, and FrictionLabs will have labels of pure magnesium carbonate on the packaging, the way they prepare it will be different. Therefore, they will have different textures because of the preparation process.
Other Added Ingredients
This can be seen more in liquid chalk, where they add a bit of moisturizing ingredients or other drying agents in their products to give a better grip. The most common ingredient in these is alcohol. When you apply it to your hand, the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind the magnesium carbonate on the skin. Others like PETZL Power Liquid Chalk use more organic products as drying agents and water instead of alcohol.
Upsalite
Upsalite, or mesoporous magnesium carbonate, is a new and better type of magnesium carbonate that has a larger surface area to give more grip to your hands! Black Diamond Black Gold Chalk uses 10% Upsalite in it to give that extra grip to its users. I have been using Black Gold Chalk for a while now and I have to say it does wonders for my climbing! Black Diamond Liquid Black Gold has 10% Upsalite for those that use liquid chalk.
Different Types of Climbing Chalk
Climbing chalk comes in different types mainly due to how the preparation processes are different. With each type of climbing chalk, I have added my suggestion about the different types.
Block Chalk
If you have ever seen those big blocks of white chalk, those are called block chalk. They are the cheapest option as they are not refined into smaller powders and require you to break them into a more usable powdered form.
My suggestion: I don’t particularly prefer block chalk because breaking them and making loose chalk is rather a messy job. If you don’t mind the mess, place the block in a double-wrapped plastic or another suitable pouch to break the block apart. Then you can transfer it over to your chalk pouch or chalk ball.
Powdered/Loose Chalk
These are the chalk that you will find almost every manufacturer selling in small bags unless you buy those big bags of chalk. They are already refined into a powder so there is no extra preparation step required for this!
My suggestion: This is my preferred type of chalk and I almost exclusively buy powdered chalk. Just empty the bag that you buy into your pouch or ball.
Liquid Chalk
As I have mentioned about liquid chalk, I will just add a bit more here. Because of the messiness of powdered chalk, the alternative of liquid chalk had been invented. It usually has alcohol to help spread it over your hand and the alcohol evaporates away. It even has a moisturizing effect on the skin to protect it. There are also alcohol-free alternatives like the FrictionLabs Secret Stuff Alcohol-Free Chalk Cream, which uses water instead and other organic ingredients!
My suggestion: I don’t mind people using liquid chalk as they make a lot less mess and I am grateful for anyone that has a mind for cleanliness. However, it takes a bit for the alcohol to evaporate over the course of your climb. Also, you will have to reapply it a lot because it gets rubbed off due to friction against the rock or rope.
How to Use Climbing Chalk
Applying climbing chalk is very easy, all you have to do is apply the chalk before you are climbing and rub off excess powder. You should immediately start climbing after applying it. Make sure that your palm and fingers all have a thin layer of chalk applied so there is no moisture on your hand.
What if you need to apply chalk mid-climb? This is where having a chalk pouch or chalk ball comes in handy when you are in the middle of your climb.
Chalk Pouch
Any time you feel like your hands are becoming sweaty while climbing, dip your free hand’s fingers in your chalk pouch, rub it, and blow off any excess powder. Repeat the process for your other hand. Make sure your pouch can be attached to your harness (or pants if you are free-hand climbing or bouldering).
Chalk Ball
For a chalk ball, just squeeze it to get at the chalk you need! The porous material of a chalk ball will let the desired amount of chalk get on your hand while you are mid-climb. Remember to give it a big squeeze so you get it all over your hand and then blow off any excess powder.
Liquid Chalk
This is also why I don’t prefer liquid chalk, especially for longer climbs and free-hand climbing. Reapplying is very difficult to do mid-climb and it takes too long to dry off.
For a pouch, I like to use the Mammut Crag Chalk Bag, it has a simple open and close mechanism and does not let the chalk escape the bag. It is also very secure when I hang it on the side of my bag. If you are the chalk balltype of person, then I can’t recommend the FrictionLabs Magic Reusable Chalk Ball enough! Squeezing gives just the perfect amount you need in the middle of your climb.
Risk of Overusing Climbing Chalk
As with any product, there are risks in using climbing chalk. It is quite safe for human use so you don’t have to worry about that. But with overusing, you run into a few risks that the climbing chalk may cause.
Inhaling
While it is safe for the skin, inhaling is a big problem with climbing chalk. The small surface area of the powder can irritate your lungs and cause breathing problems.
Irritant to Eyes
As with any powder, when it gets into your eye, it will cause problems with your vision. This will be especially dangerous in the middle of your climb while you are blowing off the excess chalk from your hand.
Skin Cracking
Because magnesium carbonate absorbs moisture from your hand, you have more of a chance to crack your skin! This is especially harmful to your fingers if it gets cuts and abrasions. The grip that you want might not be possible.
Damage to Climbing Rope
For those that are climbing with rope, chalk might damage the fibers if you are using a lot of chalk! If not washed properly, the fibers will weaken over time and there is a risk of the rope breaking mid-climb!
Risk for Other Climbers
Any excess chalk might hinder your climbing friends. The last thing you want to do is cause them harm by overusing climbing chalk!
FAQs
What is natural chalk made of?
Natural chalk is made of limestone, or calcium carbonate. It mixes with water and forms a slippery surface so always use climbing chalk if you are climbing and not regular chalk!
Is liquid chalk better or dry chalk?
Both have their pros and cons and it is all about personal preference. However, liquid chalk is more difficult to apply mid-climb than dry chalk.
How to wash the climbing chalk off?
Using a bit of hand soap and warm water will get the chalk off your hand. For your pouch or chalk ball, soak them in warm water inside and out with a bit of detergent.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Climbing chalk is great for climbing to get you that extra bit of grip on the rock or rope, all thanks to magnesium carbonate. The different types of chalk and the ingredients used are all personal preferences at the end of the day. But always remember that overusing chalk might harm you and your climbing buddies. I hope with my suggestion that your climbs go as smoothly as the chalk on your hand!
