Climbing tape can be a game-changer, offering essential skin protection and structural support when issues arise. While it’s good to have handy, tape is not a cure-all, and overuse may delay natural hand toughening. Ultimately, the decision to use tape comes down to personal preference and climbing approach.
If you are (or aspire to be) a great climber, it’s essential to have gear on hand that will help you tackle unforeseen challenges. Climbing tape is one of those tools that can give you extra protection for your skin and added structural support. In this blog post, we explore these points in detail.
Here’s a quick overview of how taping can help you:
The trick is to get tape made specifically for climbing—not just regular athletic tape. Look for products that have these attributes:
Consider the durability and sweat resistance of the tape, especially for longer climbs or humid conditions. High-quality tape should stay in place without peeling, even during intense sessions. The right tape not only protects your fingers but can also boost your confidence on challenging routes. Even the strongest and best taping methods can come undone during a session. You may need to replace your tape for optimum performance.
Let’s face it: Climbing is rough on your skin. Climbing tape provides a protective barrier to help prevent skin tears—especially when your fingers are raw and worn down after a long, hard session. This hardcore skin damage is prevalent for outdoor climbers but can also happen in the gym. It’s not necessary to tape up immediately when you get to your destination, but pay attention to your skin condition. You might want to add a layer or two of tape to minimize the risk of splitting or getting a flapper, which would take up to a week or more to heal.
Watch taping methods to provide skin protection to the tip of the finger and to provide A2 pulley support in the video below.
In crack climbing, you jam and twist your hands inside rock cracks to get grip, so the back of your hands and knuckles take a beating. Using tape, you can make a glove, almost like a boxer, to prevent or minimize bleeding. Check out our blog on How to Make a Tape Glove for Crack Climbing.
Speaking of bleeding…if you climb, you’ll probably bleed at some point. Skin tears and splits are part of the experience, but you may not have to end your day abruptly if your skin cracks. Tape to the rescue! Just remember that this temporary solution won’t last long or offer much protection.
First and foremost, stop the blood flow. No one wants to put their hands onto a bloody hold, so be considerate—even if it means you must pause your ascent for a bit. When you’re ready to tape, follow these steps:
In the video below, pro climber Alex Megos shares his tips on how to tape a minor split in your finger—and still continue your climb.
Bones, muscles, tendons, joints, pulleys…these are the components of your fingers that allow you to scale and conquer boulders, crags, walls, and more. Unfortunately, climbing can stress or injure any of these delicate structures, making it difficult or impossible to continue a climb.
Taping provides structural support by stabilizing joints, reducing strain on pulleys and tendons, and protecting against injuries (although not everyone agrees that tape is effective for structural support). Remember that tape isn’t a miracle solution: you can still sustain an injury that will keep you down for a while. Be mindful of your body/hands before using tape as structural support.
Pulleys are especially prone to injury when climbing. These small rings in each section of your fingers help keep tendons in place while bearing weight. One of the most common climbing injuries is a full or partial tear of the A2 pulley, which endures significant strain during finger-intensive moves, especially crimps. The ring finger's A2 pulley is the most likely to be injured. Signs of an injury include lingering soreness (particularly if it’s tender to touch), sharp finger pain while climbing, or even hearing a pop in your finger during a climb.
“No pain, no gain” isn’t a mantra to follow in climbing. Although plenty of climbers try, using tape on an injured finger probably won’t provide the structural support needed—and it may end up causing a more serious injury. However, if you’re in a bind, you can try using different taping techniques like the H Method and the X Method to buy you a little time.
The X Method of taping is done to provide additional support for the pulleys in your fingers.
The best, albeit unpopular, tip is simply to rest for a few weeks and then ease back into your sessions. Here’s a different mantra to follow:
There’s a great article in Outside Magazine on finger injuries you might want to check out.
Not all climbers use tape—and some only use it when absolutely necessary. While each person has their own reasons, here are three common downsides of using climbing tape.
No one wants to see (or use) your discarded tape. Please remember to pack it in and pack it out so the next group of climbers will have an awesome, clean experience.
Whether tackling outdoor routes or climbing indoors, the right tape can make all the difference—helping you push through a few extra holds instead of cutting your climb short. But at the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference—tape it or leave it! And remember: not all climbing tape is the same. At Friction Labs, we’ve created Athletic Finger Tape that’s strong, sticky, long-lasting, and easily tearable. We think it’s the best, but experiment and figure out what works for you. (Give it a risk-free try with our Money Back Guarantee.)
Until next time…keep crushing!
Share your questions, comments, or additional tips below.
