Ice climbing is a fun and challenging sport that is becoming increasingly popular. Because it is an extreme sport with a high risk of injury, you must always keep safety in mind.
To combat the cold, winds, ice blocks and walls, and other hazards, a variety of equipment exist to be known and bought.
If you want to get started, the first thing you probably want to know is,
“how much does it cost?” The cost factors can be divided into 4 dimensions:
- Ice climbing equipment and gear – can be purchased(new pieces or used ones) or rented
- Ice climbing clothes, boots, and accessories
- Ice climbing lessons
Table of Contents
Ice climbing equipment and gear
- Crampons: Spikes that you wear on your feet to help you kick into the ice. Without a pair of crampons, ice climbing is nearly impossible.
- Ice axes: These are similar to crampons in that they help you hold on and climb. You’ll need two of them to ice climb.
- A rope: Many rock climbers will already have one, though it may not be a proper ice climbing rope.
- Ice screws: If you want to climb at most crags, you’ll need 5-6 screws.
- A helmet: Ice climbing requires the use of a helmet. Any climbing or scrambling helmet will suffice. Avoid using a bike/hockey helmet because it is not rated for the type of impact that you require.
- A belay device and a harness: To keep you in place and allow you to assassinate your partner. Again, the majority of rock climbers will own a pair.
- Winter gear: A good layering system is essential for any ice climber. You don’t need the most expensive equipment, but a warm jacket, good snow pants, and mitts are required.
Renting the gears
Renting is a great way to get started in ice climbing because it allows you to try the sport without spending thousands of dollars. In fact, renting is relatively inexpensive; it will most likely cost you $30-$40 per day to rent your equipment and even less if you rent it on a weekly basis.
Rental gears will probably include:
- ice axe
- Boots
- Crampons
- A helmet
Purchasing the Gears
Buying your ice climbing gear is the most expensive option, but it ensures that you’ll always be using gear you enjoy and saves you the hassle of having to rent every time you go out.
When purchasing something, you always have two options: buy it new or buy it used. As we have stated numerous times, there are some pieces of ice climbing equipment that should never be purchased used.
These include:
- Your helmet
- Your harness and belay device
- Your rope
The rest of your equipment can be purchased used, which can save you a lot of money. We’ve created a more detailed explanation below to help you figure out how much the equipment will cost you.
New
Buying new equipment obviously costs more, but you will get the best quality and be able to ensure that you get exactly what you want. A complete set of ice climbing equipment costs $2600 new.
A barebones set of ice climbing gear (crampons, ice screws, and ice axes) will set you back $1300.
- Crampons – 180$-400$
- Ice Axes – 400$-1000$
- Ropes – 200$-700$
- Ice screws – 360$-1000$
- Helmet – 80$-200$
Harness and Belay Device – 100$-200$
Used
Boots – 300$-800$
- Crampons – 90$-300$
- Ice Axes – 150$-700$
Clothing & Boots
From cool shirts, jackets to trousers, the total cost will estimate under 2000$.
Boots
Cost range – 500$-1200$
Mountaineering boots are not cheap. Even the cheapest ones will set you back at least $500 if you want a reputable brand. You’re essentially purchasing a used car for something more high-quality, such as a good pair of double boots.
Mountaineering boots are unique in that you can use them for a variety of activities, they last a long time, and you wear them frequently.
Ice Climbing Lessons
If you’ve never been ice climbing before, you should probably start with an intro to ice climbing course to learn the basics. Or you have already done the smaller trips to ice or practiced indoor ice climbing, you might need the professional courses. Differentiated on experience levels, here’s what ice climbing costs:
Beginners Ice climbing Lessons
The courses start at around $160, but if you want to learn additional techniques like multi-pitch climbing or book a private ice climbing course for you and a few friends, the price can rise to $500.
Intermediate Ice Climbing Courses
Intermediate ice climbing courses cover the fundamentals taught in beginner courses as well as more advanced concepts and techniques. A follow-up ice climbing review will cost around $600, depending on the material covered and the location climbed.
Experienced Ice Climbing Courses
An advanced-level course like the Ice Masters is the thrill of a lifetime and they cost under 1000$.
