Household chalk substitute

Maybe goldbond? I’ve read dirt, but it’s wet where I live.

A bunch of antacids contain it, but that will be expensive.

If you want cheap, a well-stocked pottery/ceramics supplier like Laguna or the Archie Bray sells it, usually for around a dollar per pound.

Chalk is aid

Rubbing alcohol 

Meow Sherwood wrote: Maybe goldbond? I’ve read dirt, but it’s wet where I live.

Absolutely not. Goldbond is scented/medicated TALCUM POWDER. Basically it's a slippery, solid lubricant.

Once on the way to the crag, I realized that I had forgotten my chalk so i stopped and got some baby powder. That was a comically bad idea.

Pure cocaine

Sam Skovgaard wrote: Pure cocaine

Obviously joking. Although cocaine is great supplement while climbing. Extra energy and intensives concentration

Why is this a discussion? Chalk so cheap
Just use the dust from the bolt hole you just drilled lol

Or you could, you know, wipe your hands on your pants.

Not everyone wears pants...

Anti-perspirant?

Jon Hillis wrote: Chalk is aid

Holy crap IT IS AID! Climbed for a week without as an experiment, and tried some of the suggestions. Rubbing alcohol(90%) I thought would work well, but it left my hands feeling oddly greasy. Dirt kind of works, but I found myself looking for dry patches of ground and spending time harvesting the fine stuff, I assume it’s effective in the desert. In the end, I just wiped my hands on my pants A lot. Started looking for places to lock off so I could wipe my hand mid climb.

Then I got chalk and tried some of the climbs over.. there’s no real substitute when the rock is slick, it’s infinitely easier with chalk. That said, I think my technique improved and I actually tried to find rests. Going to try and warm up without chalk and see how I perform.
(The only downside is the potential for dry firing and poping off.. but that should make you try harder to stay on.)

I think using dirt is a bad idea, if for no other reason than it will contribute to to the polishing of the holds. Most dirt is going to have some particles that are a lot harder and more wearing than chalk. 

M Sprague wrote: I think using dirt is a bad idea, if for no other reason than it will contribute to to the polishing of the holds. Most dirt is going to have some particles that are a lot harder and more wearing than chalk. 

I read that’s it’s preferable to chalk in some areas.. see if I can find the article.. but yea “dirt” is pretty general, the soil of the East is probably bad for the surface of the rock.

Take a hammer and smash up some sidewalk chalk.

Hank D wrote: Take a hammer and smash up some sidewalk chalk.

Sidewalk chalk: calcium sulfate

Climbing chalk: calcium carbonate

Sidewalk chalk is going to be disappointing.

Long Ranger wrote:

Sidewalk chalk: calcium sulfate

Climbing chalk: calcium carbonate

Sidewalk chalk is going to be disappointing.

Magnesium carbonate.

You're right.

no more posting drunk for this Ranger.