A chalk bag is a climber's safety blanket. Even if they don't need more chalk on their hands, reaching into the warm, slightly sweaty bag of magnesium carbonate regulates their nervous system and sparks a release of serotonin. With such significant importance, having the right chalk bag is critical.
In addition to becoming your safety blanket, your chalk bag has a vital function: storing chalk for ease of use while climbing. While having the wrong chalk bag might not put you in a life-or-death situation, it can impact your climbing experience negatively.
If this is the first time you've considered the importance of your chalk bag, keep reading. There are four key reasons why having the right chalk bag matters for rock climbing, and it's time to ensure you have the correct one.
1. Bouldering vs. Sport Climbing
Two categories of chalk bags are available: chalk bags and chalk buckets. Both serve the same primary function but cater to different climbers. Chalk buckets have boulderers in mind. They are larger, storing more chalk and allowing the climber to simultaneously put both hands in the bag. When bouldering, you chalk up before climbing and leave the bucket on the ground while climbing. Since boulders are short sequences of moves, it's not necessary to rechalk mid-climb (an exception being on some outdoor climbs and competition climbs). Chalk buckets feature a storage pocket for finger tape, skin file, or a chalk brush. They also lack a mechanism for attaching it to your body while you climb.
Chalk bags are smaller and designed to be worn around your waist while sport climbing. They can hold only a small quantity of chalk and only have enough room for one hand at a time unless you are a child with tiny hands. This design makes sense for rope climbing as you cannot let go of the wall with both hands mid-route, nor do you want a large chalk bag to get in your way (see #4 for more).
While chalk bags are more practical for rope climbing and buckets for bouldering, you can use a chalk bag for both. If you regularly engage in both climbing disciplines, you'll want to invest in both.
2. Ease of Use
This applies to chalk bags' ease of use while climbing and their handling, closure, and storage features. Chalk bags are all designed to be smaller than chalk buckets but vary in depth among brands and versions.
The best chalk bag will be easy to reach while climbing and not so deep that you struggle to reach the chalk at the bottom. You also want the bag to have a waist strap that tightens or loosens enough so the chalk bag will sit at the small of your back without squeezing your stomach uncomfortably. You don't want to be halfway up a climb only to realize your chalk bag is hanging too low to reach or feel the belt cutting into your stomach.
Chalk bucket ease-of-use features include secure and easy-to-use closure systems. Newer chalk bucket models have magnetic closures instead of velcro closures, adding an extra layer of protection against spills. See #3 for more information on chalk spills. They'll also have an easy-to-access storage pocket separate from the chalk compartment. The right chalk bag and bucket will also have at least one, if not two, brush loops to store small climbing hold brushes.
3. Prevent chalk spills
Preventing chalk spills might be the least obvious consideration when purchasing a chalk bag. However, no one likes a chalk spill. You'll be upset if it spills in your climbing bag, dirtying your harness, shoes, and other gear, and your wallet will be sad when you have to buy more. The climbing gym staff will be annoyed if they have to vacuum up a large spill at the end of the day. Mother Earth will be sad if the chalk pollutes nearby waterways or kills plants. Choosing a chalk bag and/or bucket with a secure and durable seal is the first defense in preventing chalk spills and keeping everyone happy.
4. Added Weight
You can skip this point if you're a boulderer who only cares about using a chalk bucket. But, for sport climbers, choosing a lightweight chalk bag can impact your performance. When trying routes at your limit, you want as little gear as possible weighing you down, enabling you to maximize your strength-to-weight ratio. Take the 8b+ line of chalk bags, for example. They may be cute and fun but are less ergonomic than a Petzel Saka or Sakapoche.
If you've realized that you are currently using a less-than-ideal chalk bag or bucket, it may be time to treat yourself with an upgrade that fits your climbing goals, is easy to use, guards against spills, and is ergonomic. For those buying their first chalk bags and buckets, refine your search, keeping these four key points in mind. When your chalk bag is your right-hand man, it's worth getting the best one you can afford. Comment below your favorite or current chalk bag/bucket of choice!
