Sublime Climbing Original Rock Climbing Brush, Premium Boar's Hair 2 Pack Review (2026)

What the Original brush is built for

Sublime Climbing's Original brush is a full size boulder and route cleaning brush built around a dense boar's hair head, designed to strip chalk, skin oils and other buildup off holds so the rock or resin surface keeps its natural grip texture. Boar's hair is a common choice for climbing brushes because the bristles are stiff enough to dig into rough texture while still being gentle enough not to polish softer rock types such as sandstone. Sold here as a 2 pack, it gives a climber either two brushes to share with a partner or a backup on hand for when one brush inevitably goes missing at the crag or gym.

Bristle density, handle and design details

The Original's head uses a high density boar's hair bristle pack, which Sublime markets as giving it strong chalk lifting performance across a range of hold and rock textures without needing an aggressive scrubbing motion. The handle uses a neck design intended to flex under stress, such as a fall onto the brush or a climber stepping on it at the base of a boulder, rather than snapping outright the way a rigid handle can. A small hollow compartment built into the handle is sized to hold a piece of Sublime's own Climb On bar, a skin care product, letting a climber carry both tools together. The brush and its packaging are also built to be recyclable.

Using it on holds and problems

In practice, a boar's hair brush like the Original works best as the primary cleaning tool for a session, going over holds before and after use to keep chalk from building into a slick glaze, particularly on polished gym holds or heavily trafficked outdoor problems. Its full size head covers more surface area per stroke than a narrower brush, which speeds up cleaning larger holds, slopers and volumes. For tight pockets, small crimps or tucked away incuts, the same width that helps on bigger holds can make it harder to get full bristle contact, which is where a narrower brush in the same lineup tends to work better.

How it compares with the Slimline and other brushes

Sublime also sells a Slimline version with a narrower head aimed specifically at pockets and small holds, and climbers who split their time between big volumes and technical crimpy terrain often end up owning both rather than picking just one. Against generic unbranded boar's hair brushes sold in multi packs, the Original costs more per brush, but the flexible neck and boar's hair density are the features climbers most often cite as the reason to pay more for a dedicated brand rather than a bargain set. A 2 pack format also compares favorably with buying two single brushes separately when a spare is wanted from the start.

Who should buy the Original 2 pack

This brush suits boulderers and route climbers who want one reliable, full size cleaning brush plus a backup, whether that spare goes to a climbing partner or just sits in the pack for when the first one gets left behind. Climbers who spend most of their time on small pockets, thin crimps or technical face climbing may want to pair it with, or choose instead, Sublime's narrower Slimline brush for more precise bristle contact. Given our score of 8.6 out of 10, the Original 2 pack is a solid, durable choice for general hold maintenance at the gym or the crag.

Frequently asked questions