3rd Rock Scrappy Doo Chalk Bag

Pictured above is my actual chalk bag – an Algae Scrappy Doo from 3rd Rock. I love it and it works well with my bouldering outfit.

3rd Rock offer sustainable chalk bags made from upcycled fabrics. They feature a drawstring closure, a large zip pocket and an elastic brush-holder.

The waist strap is elastic string which you have to tie on. I don’t really like this so I don’t use it and just leave my bag on the mat. If you have an old chalk bag it would be easy to thread the strap through the loops on the Scrappy Doo.

No two are the same, and you can’t choose the exact bag to purchase. There are five groups of designs to choose from and they will select one for you – perfect if you like a surprise and aren’t too picky!

You can buy the Scrappy Doo Chalk Bag for £23 from 3rd Rock. Larger sizes are available at slightly higher prices.

SNAP Chalk Pockets

I bought a SNAP Chalk Pocket for my boyfriend for Christmas and he loves it.

Made from 100% recycled polyester with a metal (instead of plastic) clasp on the strap, the SNAP chalk pocket is eco-friendly.

It comes in a variety of colours and features a large velcro pocket, a brush holder, and a drawstring closure to keep your chalk secure.

I love the colours and the practical features are flawless.

You can buy the SNAP Chalk Pocket for £27.99 on Amazon.

Mammut We Care Chalk Bag

The Mammut We Care Chalk Bag is made from 100% recycled materials and offcuts from the production of other products.

This one has a classic design with a brush holder and a drawstring closure.

I love the simplicity of the design and the sustainable approach from one of the better known climbing brands.

You can buy the Mammut We Care Chalk Bag for £22.50 on Amazon.

Dirtbags Recycled Rope Chalk Bags

Dirtbags offer a range of chalk bags but my favourite are the brightly coloured recycled rope bags. These are made using retired climbing rope and fabric offcuts.

Features include an elastic chalk brush holder and drawstring closure. However, you do need to purchase the waist strap separately if you don’t already have one from an old chalk bag.

I love that no two will be entirely the same and they’re made in a workshop in the UK.

You can buy Dirtbags Recylced Rope Chalk Bags for £28.99 on their website.

PrAna Roots Studio Chalk Bags

The PrAna Roots Studio chalk bags are made from 100% recycled polyester. They support indigenous artists around the globe by featuring their designs in the collection.

There’s no pocket but the chalk bag features an elastic brush holders and a drawstring closure.

You can buy PrAna Roots Studio Chalk Bags for £22 from Bananafingers.

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The post Sustainable Chalk Bags for Climbing & Bouldering appeared first on The Chickadee.

I’ll tell you what size I wear for each item, so for reference I’m usually UK size 8 for tops and UK size 6 for bottoms.

Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra

A sports bra is an important part of my bouldering outfit as it’s key to staying comfortable.

I avoided Sweaty Betty for a long while because I saw it as too expensive. However, I was finding cheaper brands went out of shape quickly so decided to give them a go.

I’ve had the Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra in blue and grey for 2 years and they’re still going strong! So they turned out to be a good investment.

I’m a size 8/32C and I wear size Small.

You can order the Stamina Sports Bra from Sweaty Betty or Amazon.

Leggings

I always wear sports leggings for bouldering because I find them to be the most comfortable and flexible option.

My favourites are my Adidas Climalite tights as they are cool in summer.

I wear size 6.

You can order from Amazon.

BAM Vest Top

Bamboo is a sustainable fabric and BAM as a business is hugely environmentally conscious.

I have a couple of Origin Bamboo Vests from BAM. They are made from Bamboo and super soft. I like these ones as they are well-fitted, comfortable and breathable. They are longer than the average vest top so they don’t ride up when you move.

Size 8 fits me perfectly.

You can order Origin Bamboo vests from the BAM website.

Icebreaker T-shirt

I have a few Icebreaker t-shirts which are a staple of my climbing outfit throughout the year.

Made from Merino wool, they are thin and lightweight and help to regulate your body temperature.

Merino wool is a sustainable material and it feels wonderful against your skin.

I’m usually UK size 6-8 and I wear size XS.

You can order Icebreaker t-shirts from Amazon, Wiggle and Cotswold Outdoor.

Icebreaker Base Layer

When it’s really cold in the winter I swap my Icebreaker Coolmax T-shirt for a warmer base layer. The gym I most often climb in has no heating, so I get really good use out of a good quality merino base layer.

I really feel the cold so I have an Icebreaker 260 merino baselayer, which is the thickest one.

If you’re naturally a bit warmer than me you could go for a 150 or a 200.

These are made to be warm and lightweight and they are flexible and comfortable for a bouldering session.

I’m usually UK size 6-8 and I wear size XS.

You can order Icebreaker 260 Base Layer from Amazon, Wiggle and Cotswold Outdoor.

North Face Hoody

Some climbing gyms aren’t heated so it’s important to have layers to keep warm in the winter.

I love my North Face hoody, which is lightweight, warm and not to bulky. It’s fleece on the inside, so it’s warm and comfortable for climbing.

Mine is a size 6/XS.

You can order a North Face hoody from Amazon.

Scarpa Drago LV Climbing Shoes

I wear Scapa Drago LV Climbing shoes and I love them! Completely recommend for an advanced shoe for indoor climbing. The rubber is soft and sensitive.

I like that they’re ‘low volume’ rather than ‘women’s’. This mostly means they aren’t pink or turquoise!

I used to climb in Scarpa Vapor V WMN, which I loved whilst learning to climb. If you’re less experienced I recommend these instead.

For both pairs of climbing shoes I pretty much wear my normal shoe size. I’m a UK size 4, and my climbing shoes are EU 36.5, which fit like a glove.

You can order Scarpa Drago LV climbing shoes from Amazon.

Chalk Bag

I have a 3rd Rock Scrappy Doo upcycled chalk bag, which the perfect addition to my bouldering outfit.

These chalk bags are made with surplus fabric and trims, so each one is unique and sustainable.

The Scrappy Doo is the smallest one but they come in larger sizes too!

You can order a 3rd Rock Scrappy Doo upcycled chalk bag from the 3rd Rock website.

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I live alone in a one bedroom flat that I love to bits (and continue to love, despite the very large amount of time I’m spending within it’s walls).

During lockdown I’m working from home, which I’m finding tough, but the video meetings are making it just about bearable. I’m grateful to still be working and pleased to have a reason to get up in the morning on weekdays.

As for the weekends, which used to be filled with climbing and brunch with friends, I’m now finding myself with two whole days of alone time. I’ve been climbing the walls.

Yes I have Netflix, I have books, I have Skype and Zoom and Teams and FaceTime and Whatsapp and Google Hangout and who knows what else.

I walk or cycle for my one exercise per day, make the occasional visit to the shop, and my yoga mat and pull-up bar are already getting a bit of wear and tear! But it’s just not enough and I MISS CLIMBING.

I’ve gone from climbing three times a week to absolutely nothing. So, I got desperate.

Climbing the walls… of my hallway

Yep, I climbed my hallway. And it’s actually a pretty decent traverse! My front door is cimpier than expected! I will need to repaint the walls, which are now covered in black rubber, but it’s a small price to pay.

Now, what else can I climb…

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