The Best Climbing Brushes
Updated How we research
Sublime Climbing Original Rock Climbing Brush, Premium Boar's Hair 2 Pack
Sublime Climbing's Original brush in a 2 Pack with premium boar's hair, a proven full-size brush for general hold cleaning.
Sublime Climbing Slimline Brush
Sublime Climbing's Slimline brush, a narrow boar's hair brush for cleaning thin edges, crimps and small pockets.
Friction is the currency of climbing, and caked chalk plus rubber steadily devalues every popular hold. A good brush restores texture that no amount of extra chalk can fake, which is why brushing before attempts is standard practice on boulders and cruxes alike. Brushes vary in bristle material, with boar hair generally cleaning better and nylon lasting longer, plus head size, stiffness, and handle designs from pocketable sticks to poles that reach high crux holds. We weighed cleaning effectiveness on caked and glassy holds, bristle durability, head shape for pockets and small edges, and handle comfort, along with compatibility with extension poles. Boulderers should carry a full-size boar hair brush as a default, sport climbers working routes will want a brush that mounts to a stick clip or pole, and gym climbers can happily run the cheaper nylon options that shrug off daily abuse.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.5 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Sublime Climbing Original Rock Climbing Brush, Premium Boar's Hair 2 Pack. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Climbing and Bouldering Brush 2 Pack with Thick Boar's Hair Bristles. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.2/10.
- Solid build:Sublime Climbing Slimline Brush. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.3/10.
- Feature-rich:TWO STONES Boar Hair Rock Climbing Brush with Ergonomic Handle. Features score of 7/10, overall 7.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Sublime Climbing Original Rock Climbing Brush, Premium Boar's Hair 2 Pack8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Sublime Climbing Slimline Brush8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.TWO STONES Boar Hair Rock Climbing Brush with Ergonomic Handle7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Metolius M-16 Bouldering Brush7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Climbing and Bouldering Brush 2 Pack with Thick Boar's Hair Bristles7.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.4 PCS Climbing Brush Sturdy Bouldering Brush with Boar's Hair Bristles7.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Climbing Brush Bouldering Brush with Thick Boar Hair, Wooden Handle6.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Rock Climbing Brush and Bouldering Brush with Boar's Hair Bristles CJ-CB2033B6.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Sublime Climbing's Original brush in a 2 Pack with premium boar's hair, a proven full-size brush for general hold cleaning.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Premium boar's hair cleans chalk buildup quickly on most hold types
- + 2 Pack gives a spare for partners or a second bag
- + Original shape balances coverage and control on small holds
- - Wider head is less precise in narrow pockets than the Slimline
- - Costs more than a basic single brush
#2Sublime Climbing's Slimline brush, a narrow boar's hair brush for cleaning thin edges, crimps and small pockets.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Slim head reaches into pockets and tiny crimps other brushes miss
- + Sublime is a climber-run brand focused solely on quality brushes
- + Light and compact, so it rides in a chalk bag without bulk
- - Narrow head is slow for scrubbing large slopers and jugs
- - Pricier per brush than generic multi-packs
#3TWO STONES' boar hair climbing brush with an ergonomic handle, a comfortable brush for cleaning holds.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Boar hair bristles clean chalk without damaging holds
- + Ergonomic handle makes brushing easier on long sessions
- + Great for both gym and outdoor bouldering
- - Single brush does not reach tight pockets as well as a thin brush
- - Brand is less known than Metolius or Sublime
#4Metolius' M-16 bouldering brush, a classic climber's brush with firm bristles for scrubbing polished holds.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Classic Metolius design has been a bouldering staple for years
- + Firm bristles break up caked chalk on outdoor holds
- + Compact size fits easily into chalk bags and pockets
- - Check the bristle material before buying
- - Firm bristles are harsher than soft boar's hair on sandstone
#5A 2 Pack of climbing and bouldering brushes with thick boar's hair bristles, a value set for gym and crag.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2 Pack lets you keep one in the bag and one at the gym
- + Thick boar's hair bristles clean holds effectively
- + Great value for climbers who lose brushes often
- - Brand details are missing from the title
- - Brushes may be less durable than premium models
#6A 4 PCS set of sturdy boar's hair bouldering brushes, enough to share with partners or keep one in every bag.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 4 PCS means spares for friends, the gym bag and the crag pack
- + Sturdy build handles hard scrubbing of polished outdoor holds
- + Boar's hair is the preferred bristle for cleaning rock gently
- - Multi-pack is more brushes than a solo climber really needs
- - Generic set lacks a slim brush for thin crimps and pockets
#7A climbing brush with thick boar hair and a wooden handle, a classic bouldering brush for chalky holds.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Thick boar hair bristles remove chalk buildup
- + Wooden handle offers a natural, sturdy grip
- + Simple design is easy to carry in a chalk bucket
- - Check bristles stay firmly set after the first few cleaning sessions
- - Wooden handle can swell if left damp
#8A boar's hair rock climbing and bouldering brush sold as model CJ-CB2033B, a budget tool for scrubbing chalky holds.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Boar's hair bristles lift greasy chalk without scratching plastic or rock
- + Compact brush slips into a chalk bucket side pocket
- + Low cost makes it fine as a backup brush in the car
- - Model-number listing gives no detail on handle shape or length
- - Single short brush struggles to reach high holds without a stick
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Wider head is less precise in narrow pockets than the Slimline (Sublime Climbing Original Rock Climbing...)
- Narrow head is slow for scrubbing large slopers and jugs (Sublime Climbing Slimline Brush)
- Single brush does not reach tight pockets as well as a thin brush (TWO STONES Boar Hair Rock Climbing Brush with...)
- Check the bristle material before buying (Metolius M-16 Bouldering Brush)
- Brand details are missing from the title (Climbing and Bouldering Brush 2 Pack with...)
- Multi-pack is more brushes than a solo climber really needs (4 PCS Climbing Brush Sturdy Bouldering Brush...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among the best climbing brushes?
Sublime Climbing Original Rock Climbing Brush, Premium Boar's Hair 2 Pack is our top overall pick. Sublime Climbing's Original brush in a 2 Pack with premium boar's hair, a proven full-size brush for general hold cleaning. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Sublime Climbing Slimline Brush is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Sublime Climbing's Slimline brush, a narrow boar's hair brush for cleaning thin edges, crimps and small pockets.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Climbing Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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