Bouldering equipment for beginners: the gear you need to crush it at the climbing wall – and the stuff you don’t

It rocks! Climbing or bouldering gyms are a good way to get started and train for the great outdoors. Photograph: John Fedele/Getty Images

Bouldering and climbing have become hugely popular. What was once a niche hobby is now an Olympic sport, and with bouldering gyms popping up across the UK, it’s an exciting time to join the climbing community.

Various weird and wonderful products that promise to up your climbing game are now available, but which ones do you need? As an avid climber who’s tried countless training tools over the past eight years, I have a good idea of what works and what doesn’t – because I’ve spent a lot of money finding out the hard way.