Rock Climbing Starter Pack
Everything you need to get started in the gym
3. Shoes
The last truly essential piece are the shoes. Personally, I think La Sportiva makes the best shoes and definitely warrant their above average price, but you'd definitely benefit from trying on a few pairs. In general, buy a few sizes down from your street shoes as the more snugly they fit, the better you'll be able to edge. Also, as a rule of thumb, La Sportiva shoes seem to fit narrower feet better, while 5.10 shoes fit wider feet.
4. Rope
While not necessary to get started at the gym, if you want to lead climb in the future, you'll need a dynamic climbing rope. The things to look for are width (thicker rope means heavier), stretch (stretchier rope means softer falls), and number of rated falls (before you need to retire the rope). For a gym climbing rope, you probably won't need more the 30 meters of length.
Want to make your own list?