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nikoclimb4
Nov 7, 2004, 3:33 PM
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Other than the Metolius Eco Ball does anyone else out there know of 'no chalk' alternatives on the market?
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matixa
Nov 7, 2004, 4:09 PM
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Theres a 'no chalk' ethic up on the north shore here in MN. The local guru suggested using dirt as an alternative for those unable to break the habit of using chalk.
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jakedatc
Nov 7, 2004, 4:28 PM
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a little bit of rubbing alcohol before a route would work ok... dont over do it over you'll totally dry out your hands and it'll probably hurt.. so like a couple times per session. not every route
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kriso9tails
Nov 7, 2004, 10:35 PM
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Liquid chalk is still chalk, but it does dramatically reduce the amount of chalk in the air if that's the concern. I guess there's always rosin.
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johnson6102002
Nov 7, 2004, 10:38 PM
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i have used the dirt method and it does actually work
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nikoclimb4
Nov 7, 2004, 10:59 PM
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I too have used the 'dirt' method when climbing outdoors. It works great, IMHO.
I should have specified that I am looking for alternatives to chalk in the gym. I have used the Eco Ball before and it worked great for me but my more 'sweaty' friends said that it didn't do the trick.
Thanks for the idea on the alcohol trick. Sounds like it would work.
The liquid chalk... we tried at our gym when it first came out and while it worked on first few holds, most felt that it wore off by end of the climb or just when they needed it!
Thanks for the ideas!
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johnson6102002
Nov 8, 2004, 12:39 AM
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why cant you use chalk if its in a gym? i think we were all under the influence that you were climbing some where outdoors with strict acess policies that required no chalk to be visible
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kriso9tails
Nov 8, 2004, 1:55 AM
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I don't see why climbing in the gym eliminates the dirt option. You've obviously never been to any of the gyms I have.
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mgr
Nov 8, 2004, 2:54 AM
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Why don't you just not use the chalk.
Just a suggestion.
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kriso9tails
Nov 8, 2004, 2:58 AM
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I've climbed on people's home walls where they didn't allow chalk and most gyms I've been to don't allow loose chalk because there was just too much of it hanging in the air.
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johnson6102002
Nov 8, 2004, 8:31 PM
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In reply to: Why don't you just not use the chalk. Just a suggestion.
smarty!
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anykineclimb
Nov 9, 2004, 5:00 AM
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spray your hands with antipersperant.
you have to "treat" them daily, but it should reduce sweating quite a bit.
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friktion
Nov 29, 2004, 8:55 PM
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I remember something called X-factor that came out sometime ago. Was a little treated pillow you stuck in a chalk bag, worked ok, but could never scratch the itch of a true chalk whore like myself. I am not even sure if its for sale anymore.
Friktion
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aklimerguy
Nov 29, 2004, 9:10 PM
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Antiperspirant creams for feet work ok.
One of my friends uses a mix of chalk and rubbing alcohol. But that contains chalk doesn't it... oh well...
You could get used to sweatty hands. :)
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he-man
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Nov 29, 2004, 9:14 PM
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In reply to: Theres a 'no chalk' ethic up on the north shore here in MN. The local guru suggested using dirt as an alternative for those unable to break the habit of using chalk.
the thought of Phantom Crack or blue bells with my hands covered in dirt scares me!
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cchildre
Nov 29, 2004, 9:25 PM
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Just starting out and have avoided the chalk monster I read about. For chalk I use very finely ground limestone with some gypsum mixed in among other things but they are the major parts. It's dust I picked up in a local private cave and I have never purchased chalk. I rarely use the chalk unless really warranted. Sweaty hands or rock will have me digging but otherwise the bag stays drawn. I think I achieve more friction without chalk IMHO, but I have been wrong before.
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johnson6102002
Nov 30, 2004, 9:10 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: i think we were all under the influence I find that to be an offenshive generalithation, shir! *uurrp* What was I shaying? -JoE
haha yes exactly what i meant.... but still why cant this guy use chalk in a gym?????
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salamanizer
Dec 2, 2004, 7:29 AM
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I was sitting on a log waiting for my turn to climb and saw some dry pine sap oozing out of the stump. I reached down and broke a piece off for examination. It was totally dry and hard but not sticky. I fumbled it around in my hands for a few minutes untill my turn to climb. As soon as I grabed the rope I could feel the friction it caused. When I started climbing I could immediately feel a difference, I felt like spiderman. I have used it several times when I have no chock. Just make sure its totally dry sap or it will be a mess. I cursh it into a fine powder and just use a small amount. Its not sticky at all.
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beanricecheese
Dec 2, 2004, 7:59 AM
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Chalk is for cheaters.
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daisuke
Dec 2, 2004, 8:01 AM
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pine sap, is basically the same as rosin, if not the same thing. call it what you will... but anything sticky enough to make your hands stick to the rock better is going to stick to the rock and build up, using that stuff is going to get you into trouble in some places. that's the old school method and there's a reason no one uses it anymore. in the gym it's going to build up on the holds and you'll have to get it off with a wire brush, then you'll tear up the holds.
As for alternatives to chalk... there is dirt, eco-ball... etc, but the main problem with gym climbing is the ammount of grease and the like that gets on the holds and you need chalk on your hands to keep the holds dry as much as your hands, I don't see much of an alternative to it here.
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