Published June 14, 2026 03:49AM
I’m at the crux of the route I’ve been working on, reaching for a thin crimp with my right hand. I manage to stick three fingers on it and slowly move my left foot higher. “Mommy, you’re so high up!” I hear from below.
My hips move too far from the wall, my center of gravity shifts, and my fingers slip. But it doesn’t matter. As I sit, hanging from the rope, I’m grinning down at my four-year-old son and my climbing partner of the last decade. I don’t care that I’m struggling on grades below what I once climbed. I don’t care that I’m only on my fourth attempt and my arms are already pumped. I don’t even mind that we’re in a stuffy gym instead of outdoors. All that matters is that, after five years away, I’m climbing again.
I’ve never been a particularly skilled climber, but I’ve loved the sport for a long time. I first got into it at a small bouldering gym in Boston—and at crags along the East Coast. I kept climbing as I moved around, chasing different jobs and adventures, landing everywhere from Boulder, Colorado, to New Zealand. When I finally settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I still live today, I made my first real friends at the climbing gym and spent weekends at the local crags with coworkers. Still today, I initially bonded with the vast majority of my close friends covered in chalk and dirt, on camping trips to nearby climbing hubs.
But I stopped abruptly when I got pregnant in 2021. I was tired and nauseous, and maybe a little risk-averse. I vowed I’d be back after I gave birth, but nine months turned into a few years in a blur of bottles and diapers, and then I was pregnant again—this time with my daughter. Finally, when my longtime climbing partner moved back into town a few months into my second postpartum stretch, I told him I was ready to get back into our climbing routine.
The problem was that my gear was ancient, lost, or covered in cobwebs. So I had to start largely from scratch. I tested new shoes, apparel, belay devices, and more, fascinated by the innovations that had taken place while I’d been away from the sport. From my testing, here are my favorite pieces that helped me get back into climbing again.
La Sportiva TC Pro Climbing Shoes
As a retired ballet dancer and ultrarunner, I’ve abused my feet enough to last a lifetime. That’s why I tend to prefer all-day climbing shoes to super aggressive ones. The TC Pro strikes a balance between comfort and technical. Made for big-wall climbs, the shoes are designed to feel good for hours at a time, featuring a leather upper and a flat sole—and they lace up for the perfect fit.
But the technical aspects are there, too, including thick Vibram XS edge rubber, great for smearing. Plus, the stiff rubber offers ample support.
Patagonia Free Wall Haulsmith Pack
The Haulsmith is designed for multi-pitch climbing, with room to carry gear for you and your partner. Its roomy interior zips closed, and its body fabric is both abrasion-resistant and water-repellent.
It features front and back webbing loops, and it’ll tip forward when held by its handle, which makes for easy access for the belayer. And yet it’s light enough to haul up the wall, weighing in at only 41.3 ounces. Most importantly, it’s comfy, with lightly padded shoulder straps and an adjustable waistband.
Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody
Speaking of versatility, Arc’teryx’s Kyanite Hoody is the perfect layer for skinning up the local ski hill, climbing on a chilly day, or walking the dogs early on a crisp morning.
The polyester-nylon-elastane blend makes for a tough, no-nonsense fabric that still feels soft, and its slim fit is both flattering and practical, giving you freedom to move without any bulk getting in the way. My favorite feature is its scuba hood that hugs in the warmth without a bunch of strings getting in my face.
Black Diamond Momentum Pilot Package
I was belaying my friend at a gym in Albuquerque, about an hour from where I live, when a gym employee stopped us mid-climb and asked me to lower her. “You can’t use that on lead here,” he said, pointing at my ATC. “Don’t you have an assisted braking belay device?”
I didn’t, as I’ve never liked how bulky they feel. Luckily, Black Diamond makes the perfect middleground: the Pilot. It works almost exactly the same as my classic gear, but thanks to a simple design feature that causes the rope to squeeze between the carabiner and the device when the rope’s pulled tight, it makes it a lot easier to catch and hold falls. Unlike a grigri, there aren’t a bunch of moving parts; to lower, you simply tilt the lip of the device up. Plus, at only 86 grams, the Pilot is actually lighter than my old-school, metal ATC. Consider me a convert.
With the Momentum package, Black Diamond includes the Pilot, a RockLock Screwgate carabiner, and the Momentum harness. I became obsessed with the mint green harness for its extreme comfort. I’ve had harnesses before that have dug into my legs or rubbed at my hips, but with plenty of padding in both the belt and leg loops, most of the time, I forgot the Momentum was there at all.
Of course, you can buy the three items separately, but if you need a new harness and ATC, I say go for the three-for-one.
Zigzag Vessel Chalk Bag
Made from recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets, Zigzag’s Vessel fits a lot of features into a simple bag. In addition to the chalk pocket, the bag has a secondary zippered pocket with a built-in phone sleeve and three gear loops that create a chalk-proof locker for all of your essentials. Plus, I got tons of compliments on its earthy tones and style.
The North Face Summit Series Off Width Pants
Lightweight yet durable, these pants are low profile, but pack a lot of pros. The recycled nylon-elastane double weave blend makes for a strong yet supple fabric with plenty of give that allows me to place a high foot wherever I need. Extra stitching in the crotch and knees adds reinforcement and wards off rips. And a non-PFC DWR finish makes the Off Widths water repellent. Plus, they get bonus points for their cute, sleek silhouette that feels just as at home on the wall as it does at a brewery afterwards.
