Five of the Best Climbing Brushes

There are many ways to prepare your project, but all methods are remiss without a good brushing. This week, we take a look at big and small brushes that, incidentally, make for some great stocking stuffers.

Here are five of the best brushes that you can buy right now.

The Flashed Sumi Brush:

Perhaps the most prolific brush on our list, the Flashed Sumi brush is seemingly everywhere. This plastic poured, boar’s hair brush features two vastly different tips. On one end you have the big brush, composed of a dense conglomerate of boar’s hair and a large contact patch relative to the size of the brush.

The other side is a thin chisel, allowing its user to get into those hard-to-reach slots. It’s $8.50 from MEC, which isn’t bad considering that you are getting two brushes. On the down side, the bristle density is not as high as it could be, allowing for fast wear relative to some of the other brushes on our list. It also does not fit most chalk-bag’s brush-sleeve.

Escape Boar Hair XL:

This brush very much pursues the “bigger is better” approach to cleaning holds. Perhaps not the best brush for your futuristic, finger-bludgeoning project, this brush instead finds itself most useful on the fiberglass. Big slopey Cheetas or Flat Holds are difficult to clean when the head of the brush is just a couple of centimetres.

That is why this brush is perfect for the route-setter or as a communal brush at your favorite gym. Featuring a vast expanse of bristles, this thing takes chalk of holds by the bucket. If you boulder a lot in a busy gym, this brush is almost essential.

The Lapis Boar’s Hair Brush:

This bad boy is a staple of the modern rock climber. It is sleek, slim, and simple which is why it has persisted for such a long time. The Lapis brush is what many climbers begin with when they first start out, and for good reason.

It fits in every chalk bag, it is comfortable to hold, and the concave design of the bristles allow the climber to get in those thin spaces between blocker holds. Unfortunately, the brush is weak at the neck and is destined to break if you don’t lose it first. Additionally, the brush is narrow, making it ideal from thin holds, but weak on the big features commonly found in the gym.

Sublime Slimline Brush:

A stunning example of what all brushes should aspire to be, the Sublime Slimline is the rope climbers best friend. What’s the difference between most brushes and Sublime brushes? Mostly, bristle density. Though each of the brushes on this list feature boar’s hair bristles, a defining characteristic of a good brush, none come close to the bristle density of a Sublime brush.

The Sublime Slimline is the little brother the next brush in our list, but is just as useful none-the-less. The Slimline is designed for rope climbing. It fits in the brush sleeve, it has a chiseled design so that it can retain its life for longer, it is 100 per cent recyclable, and comes with both a lifetime warranty and a money-back guarantee. It seems to magnetically remove chalk from holds, while its slim design still allows the climber to get into thin holds and slots.

Sublime Climbing Brush:

This is the best climbing brush in the world. It features each of the things that are boasted by the Slimline, excepting the slim design of the bristles and handle. Instead, this brush is fat. Its wide head is capable of scrubbing anything, and removes chalk at an unparalleled rate.

It does not fit in the sleeve of most chalk bags or buckets, but you can make it fit if you are willing to sacrifice your bag’s brush-sleeve. Even still, it comes with a compartment built into the handle to ensure that you bring what you need to send. I truly cannot overstate how impressive this piece of gear is. And it’s great bang for your buck at only $10