How to deal with climbers hands
Ask any climber how climbing is going, and they will probably look at their hands. Callouses (hård hud), blisters, flappers and skinless fingertips is everyday issues for a climber, which should be embraced but prevented if preventable. We’ve put together a concise guide on how to keep your hands in the best shape.
Pre climbing:
Always trim your nails. You dont want to hear the sound of your nails against the wall. They will break and be in your way. If you forgot to trim from home, ask in the bar for a nail-clipper.
Tape existing cuts to make sure they don’t rip back open.
During climbing:
Chalk up your hands regularly! Preferably before every attempt. Dont underestimate the power of chalk. We recommend using liquid chalk!
Don’t train more than your skin can handle. Pay attention to how much skin you have left. When your fingertips ask you to stop, stop! It’s better to cut a session short than having to go several days without training because you overdid it.
If you sweat a lot, the skin on your fingertips will be worn down fast. To avoid this, spend the time between attempts chalking your fingertips to dry them as much as possible.
Post climbing:
Immediately wash with cold water after a workout. Clean thoroughly with soap to make sure all the chalk is rinsed off. Left-over chalk will dry your hands excessively and cause splits and cracks.
Avoid hot water. Hot water will stress your skin unnecessarily.
Next immediate move is to dry your hands and add a thin layer of cream. Do this before leaving the gym and before you go to bed. We recommend Rhino Skin Repair.
File down callouses and avoid flappers. Callouses is dead skin below your joints that eventually acts like hooks and end up as flappers. Files are sold in the bar.
That’s it! You’re ready to go hard!
We hope this will make your time bouldering even better, spending more time training and less time recovering from rips and injuries. Be proactive, find the right products and develop a routine that works for you. Ask the staff if you have any questions!
Pre climbing:
Always trim your nails. You dont want to hear the sound of your nails against the wall. They will break and be in your way. If you forgot to trim from home, ask in the bar for a nail-clipper.
Tape existing cuts to make sure they don’t rip back open.
During climbing:
Chalk up your hands regularly! Preferably before every attempt. Dont underestimate the power of chalk. We recommend using liquid chalk!
Don’t train more than your skin can handle. Pay attention to how much skin you have left. When your fingertips ask you to stop, stop! It’s better to cut a session short than having to go several days without training because you overdid it.
If you sweat a lot, the skin on your fingertips will be worn down fast. To avoid this, spend the time between attempts chalking your fingertips to dry them as much as possible.
Post climbing:
Immediately wash with cold water after a workout. Clean thoroughly with soap to make sure all the chalk is rinsed off. Left-over chalk will dry your hands excessively and cause splits and cracks.
Avoid hot water. Hot water will stress your skin unnecessarily.
Next immediate move is to dry your hands and add a thin layer of cream. Do this before leaving the gym and before you go to bed. We recommend Rhino Skin Repair.
File down callouses and avoid flappers. Callouses is dead skin below your joints that eventually acts like hooks and end up as flappers. Files are sold in the bar.
That’s it! You’re ready to go hard!
We hope this will make your time bouldering even better, spending more time training and less time recovering from rips and injuries. Be proactive, find the right products and develop a routine that works for you. Ask the staff if you have any questions!
