Chalk Bags

Chalk Bags

We stock a wide range of chalk bags, to fit all requirements, from lightweight microbags, through medium sized bags (often with extra features such as key and cash pockets and toothbrush holders) right up to large boulder bags. Everyone makes a range of chalkbags, and we've chosen the best from DMM, Beal, Ocun, Mammut, La Sportiva, Metolius, Edelrid, SNAP, Troll, Boreal and Lowe Alpine.

A chalk bag is the only piece of climbing equipment you can choose solely because it looks cool. As such, they make great gifts for beginner climbers and for pros. As Deep Water Solo fans know, you can never have too many. Troll's super furry range are guaranteed to catch attention. If you wear Sportiva stickies, you can match your shoes with their bags. Mammut's Comfort and Sender bags attatch straight to their harness, whilst being a simply bold design. Alternatively, if practicality is your thing, the Mammut Multipitch has more pockets than a snooker table (okay, maybe we exaggerate, but tell us you've ever seen a chalk bag with as many pockets!).

Alternatively, we stock a range of buckets suitable to boulderers, who prefer their chalk on the ground, and in large quantities

Some models come with a waist belt, or you can get one from prAna or Troll. If you'd prefer a clip, there are some here, or there is always the old school prussik cord option. We can't possibly list all the myriad options, so enjoy your browsing!

Chalk

Chalk takes four main forms nowadays: the traditional block, chalk balls, loose chalk and liquid chalk. There's something for everyone, be it the super fine loose Unicorn Dust for an unrivalled coating of the hand, or the quick-drying Power Liquid, offering great grip without the chalky smog clouds.

Remember though, with the environment at the forefront of all our minds, that cutting down on the use of chalk in the outdoors is a good idea. It is visually detrimental to the rock and also can erode it when the alkaline chalk reacts with the rock (eg Font sandstone). Excess chalk can also effect the pH of the ground beneath a crag, having effects on the local soil and vegetation, and anyone who has breathed in a lungful of chalk at an indoor wall can see the benefits of reducing chalk use.

A good step towards this is a ball rather than loose or block chalk, because waste is reduced. Another option is Metolius EcoChalk. It's not resin either, so doesn't have those nasty side effects. A little of this goes a long way, and you can also use at it Font, where other drying agents are frowned upon.

Another step in the right direction is what we have dubbed "the refillaball"- a refillable chalk ball, reducing waste, and allowing you to top up with whatever chalk is your particular favourite. In the past, the openings on these bags have left us wanting, but Lyon's latest offering has been described by our own Big Ben as "wide as a wizard's sleeve", so should be more than sufficient.