When you first started climbing, you may have noticed the abundance to brushes in your climbing gym and wondered why climbers needed to brush off their holds – it might have even looked a little obsessive. But as we continue climbing and improving, the case for brushes becomes more and more clear: when grip is everything, brushes can be just enough to help you finish that route. Each climber has their own recommended climbing brush, and with so many brushes and brush styles, the endless variations can add up and make you wonder if it’s even worth it to try to figure it all out to buy one for yourself.
So, we decided to create a comprehensive list of some of the best climbing brushes. Here are our favorites for the best brushes for climbing.
If you’re still looking for the best climbing shoes, read this post after you’re done here.
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our Favorites for the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Our Favorites for the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Sublime Climbing Origina Rock Climbing Brush
This monster of a brush packs one of the biggest punches in the market. With one of the highest density boar’s hair bristle counts of any other brushes on this list, the Sublime Origina is one of the more popular brushes out there as well. Featuring 100% recycled materials, it also won’t leave that large of a footprint behind. It also has an unscrewable handle compartment for whatever you need to hide in your climbing brush – neat but not that necessary. The handle and head of the brush are robust and beefy, with the only real weak point at the tapered section between the head of the brush and the body. The brush comes in four colors, and while it is one of the more expensive brushes on this list, it certainly has earned it. Overall, this brush is a workhorse and provides a serious bang for your buck.
What makes the Sublime Climbing Origina Rock Climbing Brush unique:
- The thick, bristle packed head of the brush offers a distinct advantage at cleaning more efficiently
- The hidden handle compartment can be convenient for anything you might need for climbing, or just neat and quirky
Why you should choose this brush:
- If you want a heavy-duty, durable brush – the Sublime Origina is the way to go
- For cleaning your outdoor rock holds the fastest and most thoroughly
- ✔️ZERO WASTE BRUSH, OUR LANDFILL FREE COMMITMENT- We love nature, so we managed to design a 100% recycled whole brush, made with 100% recyclable packaging. No plastic waste made from recycled materials.
- ✔️EASILY FITS IN CHALKBAG LOOPS, PERFECT FOR BOULDERING- Designed and tested by pro climbers, ergonomic shape and bullet-proof design. Handle designed to keep hands from scraping. Comfort in either hand and any grip. Lightweight, only 1.5 oz.
- ✔️THE HIGHEST BRISTLE DENSITY ON THE MARKET- Brush head with over 14,000 natural oil-absorbing boar's hair bristles. Dense and fine fibers, remove chalk perfectly and restore the rock's texture to optimal gripping.
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sublime Slimline Climbing Brush
The Sublime Slimline is the younger brother to the Origina, with a smaller and thinner handle, this brush gives climbers the more convenient handle shape for fitting into chalk bag loops that the Origina lacked. The handle is also more ergonomic than its predecessor. However, the Slimline didn’t give up a whole lot of brushing capability with its smaller frame – the brush head is very similar in size to the Origina, though it still is a bit smaller. Another difference in the Slimline is the shape of the brush head, the brush actually angles up at the head, with longer bristles towards to front of the brush, this extends the lifespan of the brush as the bristles in the front tend to wear down first. The bristles themselves are boars hair or can also be purchased with synthetic bristles instead. The bristles are less stiff than that of the Origina, so climbers may find it slightly less effective at removing chalk, as some reviewers complain. Overall, this brush is a great option to choose from, it packs most of the punch of the Origina but has the smaller frame of some of the other brushes on our list, all at a competitive price.
What makes the Sublime Slimline Climbing Brush unique:
- It has many of the strengths of the Origina, but in a sleeker design
- The angled head of the brush is one of its most standout features, lengthening its lifespan and getting you more value for your money
Why you should choose this brush:
- If you still want a heavy-duty brush, but don’t mind sacrificing a bit of brushing capability for the convenience of a sleeker design
- For its longer lifespan and value than many other brushes on this list
- The Sublime Climbing Slimline Brush is everything you love about the original Sublime Climbing Brush in a light weight and more ergonomic format. Boar's Hair bristled for an amazing clean that also absorbs moisture and oils. Known for engineering extreme
Last update: 2024-04-23 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
LAPIS Boar’s Hair Brush
LAPIS’s Boar’s Hair Brush has been a staple of recommended climbing brushes for quite some time, alongside the Sublime’s brushes. The narrower design and frame lends this brush well to climbers who prefer a brush that is slightly less bulky than the ones we have mentioned earlier on this list; however, the tradeoffs for less bulk are two things: less durability and less efficiency. Let’s start with the latter – because the head of the brush is quite a bit narrower than the Sublimes, naturally, it takes longer to clean off holds The LAPIS brush is outfitted with boar’s hair, which is less rigid than its counterparts, which help it to get in the nooks and crannies of indoor holds. Now, about the durability, several reviewers have noted the handle tending to bend when under pressure and have even seen them breaking after limited use. However, if you don’t mind going easy on these brushes and taking care with the amount of pressure applied, then it shouldn’t be as large of a problem. Additionally, the frame is curved for additional ergonomics and accessibility into tight spots; the frame also comes in six different color options, all at a reasonable price.
What makes the LAPIS Boar’s Hair Brush unique:
- LAPIS excels at creating a high-performing, middle-ground option for all the climbers who want a quality brush
- It is slimmer in frame, with a smaller head, than some other brushes
Why you should choose this brush:
- For the narrower frame, which makes it easy to reach into tighter spaces and perform to the level you would expect out of one of our top recommended climbing brushes
- The assortment of color options provides a level of customizability not seen in the competitively priced market for top climbing brushes
- Large boar hair brush for cleaning holds without damaging or polishing the rock. Great for indoor climbing too. Choose from the classic brush or the new wood handle brush.
Last update: 2024-04-23 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Crush Brush by Crush Climbing
New onto the scene, we have the Crush Brush by Crush Climbing. This boars hair brush is similar in design to the LAPIS brush, with what looks like to be more densely packed bristles on the head of the brush, bringing more cleaning and scrubbing power to this newcomer than its competitors. Of course, it still falls behind the Sublimes in terms of the head size and bristle count, but the Crush Brush is still one of the top climbing brushes when it comes to the bristle count for its size. It is also quite a bit thicker in the handle and neck than the LAPIS brushes, adding to the durability of the brush, there is, however, no bend or anything in the handle so reaching around tight spots won’t be as easy as it was with the Sublime’s Slimline. This brush is slightly more expensive than the LAPIS, and quite a bit more costly than the Slimline. Overall, a strong brush with tons of great reviews backing up the apparent lack of any apparent weaknesses.
What makes the Crush Brush by Crush Climbing unique:
- The Crush Brush is durable and reliable due to the robust construction and thicker frame
- While still maintaining a narrow structure, this brush still has a higher bristle count than many brushes on the market
Why you should choose this brush:
- For the structurally sound design due to the thickness of the handle and neck
- If you want a quality, mid-range brush that performs well and lives up the standards of other top climbing brushes, if you don’t mind the price
- Premium High Density 100% Boars Hair Bristles
- Bright Colors Makes Brush Easy to Find on the Ground
- 2 Pack Comes with 1 Orange and 1 Blue Crush Brush
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our Runner Ups for the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Our Runner Ups for the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Evolv Bouldering Brush
This bamboo-handled bouldering brush enters the scene as a low-cost brush option. While not exactly cheap enough to earn a value pick placement from us, it is good to keep in mind that this brush is slightly less expensive than most of its competitors. As mentioned, the brush handle is bamboo, the design is similar to those we have discussed before, but this brush’s design leaves the handle both rigid and flat. The bristles are boar’s hair, which gives the climber a distinct advantage in cleaning efficiency and quality. However, some users have reported that the bristles are not securely attached to the handle, and they may come out as users scrub holds. In general, this is a decent bouldering stick brush but doesn’t really promise anything more than that.
What makes the Evolv Bouldering Brush unique:
- This is the only brush on our list with a bamboo handle and one of the few with a wooden one
- This brush has one of the thinnest handle profiles out of any other brush on our list, providing the user with a small and convenient climbing brush
Why you should choose this brush:
- For the versatility and transportability of a small and low-profile brush
- While inexpensive, this brush still isn’t the cheapest option – providing buyers with a low-cost, but not cheaply crafted, climbing brush
- Evolv's Bamboo climbing chalk brush with 100% real boar's hair bristle
- Boar's Hair removes grease from your proj
- Boar's Hair removes chalk from plastic holds
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Mammut Boulder Brush
This brush stands out in our list as the only one with a scrub-like design. The Mammut boulder brush, while lacking a detached handle, doesn’t lose out on cleaning potential. This beast of a brush, with its excess of boar hair bristle, uses its size to its advantage when quickly cleaning surfaces on your boulder problems. Due to the size and shape of this brush, cleaning off volumes and large holds is less of a chore and more of a quick once over. While not packed together like many of the other brushes, the bristles on the Mammut are still numerous, and spread out, enough so that you can cover large swaths of area quickly and efficiently – that’s its primary strength. However, the brush loses out when it comes to reach, due to the lack of a handle. So, you have to make sure this less-than-palm-size brush can reach all the holds you want to take care of, and this is our primary reason for its placement in the Runner Up category. Because, quite simply, it lacks versatility. If you buy this brush, you almost certainly must buy another brush to go along with it, because the Mammut can’t get into tight places or reach further than your hand can – which can be very inconveniencing on the wall. Otherwise, it is an excellent brush with a simple, yet effective design, albeit somewhat narrow in its application.
What makes the Mammut Boulder Brush unique:
- The Mammut has the most substantial brush coverage of any other brush on our list
- Its scrub-like design, optimal for grunt work on the walls, but lacking some precision
Why you should choose this brush:
- If you want a brush that will last a long time, the lack of weak points and the extra-large brush surface guarantee that breakage or wear and tear won’t bring this brush down
- For the efficient and quick work, it can make of larger holds
Last update: 2024-04-23 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our Value Picks for the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Our Value Picks for the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Metolius M-16 Bouldering Brush
Initially designed for cleaning M-16 rifles, what this synthetic-bristled value pick might lack in cleaning quality when compared to its counterparts, makes up for with the dual-head design and low price. On one end of the brush, we have a standard sized head of bristles with a small divot in the middle of them, on the other end, is a much narrower line of bristles. The large head is designed for all your standard holds and cleaning jobs, where the smaller end is perfect for reaching tighter places or doing a more precise job on narrow holds. Additionally, the handle is texturized to give some extra grip when scrubbing. There are, however, a few complaints about the brush’s durability as bristles have fallen out and such, but that is to be expected at this price range. There are also brushes very similar to this called receiver brushes which typically come in at lower prices since they aren’t explicitly targeted for climbers. Overall, this is a versatile and decent enough brush, all at a very competitive price.
What makes the Metolius M-16 Bouldering Brush unique:
- The dual brush head design sets this apart from the typical one head design, giving some extra versatility for climbers to utilize
- While there is some price volatility depending on where you look, it is still incredibly cheap
Why you should choose this brush:
- The pure bang for your buck you are getting out of this brush because of the low price is quite competitive
- If you have had issues in the past with large-headed climbing brushes, and feel the need to try something a bit different, this may be an excellent option to see if a two-headed design is for you
- The ideal brush for scrubbing holds
- Originally designed to clean the internals of an M-16 rifle
- Two different head sizes
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Toothbrush
The ultimate value pick: the toothbrush. While using a toothbrush might seem like a good idea at first – if you have an old (and hopefully unused) brush lying around – you might not have to spend any of your hard-earned cash at all! But trust us, if you plan on climbing even somewhat regularly and really plan on improving, the benefit a toothbrush is going to give your climbing is very little. Of course, toothbrushes were never made to clean chalk and grime out of climbing holds, and the results from climbers trying out toothbrushes signify that. The bristles are not densely packed, of the right material, or of the ideal rigidity to make enough of a dent. But hey, if you can’t afford anything else, it is better than nothing. But often, you are better off just borrowing a friend’s brush when necessary than trying to use an Oral-B on the rock wall.
What makes the toothbrush unique:
- The brush is designed for a completely different purpose
- It is, by far, the cheapest option on the list – ranging from zero – 99 cents at the cheapest
Why you should choose this brush:
- If you are new to climbing and have an extra toothbrush lying around
- If you are completely broke but still need a brush of some sort
- CrissCross Bristle technology helps whiten between teeth
- Perfectly angled bristles help lift out and sweep away plaque
- Power Tip Bristles help clean hard-to-reach places
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Why You Should Invest in Quality Climbing Brush
Now, you might be thinking, “what makes all these brushes so different? And why can’t I just use my spare toothbrush?” I don’t blame you for asking; it’s an easy mistake if you haven’t used a climbing brush or seen one in action before. But the main differences in climbing brushes are as follows: the bristle material, the handle, bristle design, and design of the brush. These are the main differences in brushes. Higher quality brushes will have better materials and designs and etc., making them better cleaners on for your holds.
Using a cheap brush will be less efficient and get less chalk off holds than a higher quality brush, and using no brush at all may lead to you dealing with chalk caked holds or just a general buildup of junk on holds. Ideally, you want to get the hold to its original texture with just enough chalk to give you that extra bit of grip.
How to Choose the Best Climbing Brush for You
One of the biggest considerations when buying a new brush is the bristle type. There are generally two categories of bristles: boar’s hair and nylon/plastic. Boar’s hair is typically easier on the hold surface than nylon/plastic, and it also does a better job cleaning off the excess chalk and grime. You generally want to use boar’s hair brushes outside as they don’t wear down on the holds as much as the other brushes, boar’s hair also does a better job than nylon/plastic of getting in the cracks and divots of natural rock to clean out the chalk. You can certainly use boar’s hair inside, but the nylon/plastic alternative won’t have as adverse an effect on the plastic holds as the rock holds. Of course, climbers will swear by their preferred bristle type, with many avid supporters for boar’s hair brushes. But another factor to consider is that plastic/nylon is usually more durable than boar’s hair, so using boar’s hair when you have to and its alternative any other time you can seem to be the best balance for optimal efficiency and cost-savings.
Another large difference is the brush design. Brushes are typically shaped like an oversized toothbrush, with some double-sided brushes, and a few scrub brushes. The toothbrush shaped brushes vary considerably in size, with some actual toothbrush size and others looking like they were designed to be used double-handed. Most of the time, however, you will have a slightly larger toothbrush-shaped climbing brush, and these work quite well.
Why does the shape matter? First off, the size determines the area of the hold it can brush off. So, the smaller the brush, the longer and more elbow grease it takes to clean off hold, but it can also reach into tighter areas of holds and offer complete coverage. The other variations in brush design offer different strengths for cleaning, with the double sides brush adding in some needed versatility to switch between a larger brush and a smaller brush for varying size holds. The scrub brushes are best for covering larger areas, such as volumes, quickly.
Summary of the Best Climbing Brush for Climbing
Wrapping everything up, here are the climbing brushes we went over today:
Last update: 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When on the wall, you want a brush that is reliable and effective. From top roping to bouldering, stick brushes and scrub brushes, boars hair and synthetic – there are many options when it comes to what brush to choose. You want to find the best balance between reliability and price, among all the other traits of a top climbing brush. Regardless, picking the right climbing brush isn’t nearly as important as just picking a climbing brush. With time to figure out what works best for you, experimenting with different brushes and their styles may help you to learn more about what you prefer when you are on the wall. Luckily, most brushes are relatively inexpensive, so the prospect of experimentation won’t break the bank too much. Hope you enjoyed this comprehensive guide on the best climbing brushes; if you did, check out our other guides for all your climbing gear needs.
Need more climbing gear? Check out our other comprehensive climbing gear reviews here.
