Boulder brushes

At bolting.eu you will find a large selection of bouldering brushes. Because there are now many different handle brushes, and each one has its strengths a little differently. But what do they all have in common? They remove the excess climbing chalk from holds and footholds!

Boulderers are also a picky bunch. This means that we all have our favorite brush and swear by the properties of our favorite model.

That’s why we want to create a wide selection for you. We hope you are satisfied with our offer!
“Brief” history of the Boulder brushes
Did you know that there used to be no special handle brushes? This is because toothbrushes were used exclusively until well into the 1990s.

Although this gave the disused oral hygiene products a second life, it was often extremely impractical. Both the handles and the plastic bristles were often far too soft. It was therefore time-consuming to get the handles clean properly.
The first handle brushes
At the end of the 1990s, the Slovenian company Lapis produced the first bouldering brushes in our part of the world. This innovation clearly went hand in hand with the rapid increase in climbing gyms.

This means that the grip brushes actually originate from indoor sports. However, they were then gratefully used by the “real” outdoor climbers.

With the rapid development of climbing, many new manufacturers soon followed. As a result, we can now enjoy a wide range of products.
Why clean handles at all?
The main reason why we all clean our holds and footholds is friction! Because the more chalk there is on holds or footholds, the less power we can transfer to the rock.

It is also important to keep the rock clean. In other words, in addition to friction-related cleaning, it’s all about the visual effect. Today, it is good etiquette (“chalk etiquette”) to “clean up” before leaving a boulder block.
Effects on the rock
Depending on the degree of hardness of the rock, bouldering brushes have an effect on the rock. Every boulderer or developer should therefore be aware of a few things.

Firstly, wire brushes should only be used for the first cleaning stage of a development. After that, “scratching” wire brushes are an absolute taboo!

It doesn’t have to be like this if everyone observes “chalk etiquette” after bouldering and leaves the block properly cleaned!

Secondly, “rubbing” of the wooden handle or plastic handle of handle brushes on the rock is unavoidable. However, this can cause lasting damage to the rock. Therefore, cleaning should be done with care.

Thirdly, a good cleaning tool needs more than just a small brush. If you really want to clean properly, you also need a large brush and a “rag”. This is used to knock off superfluous magnesium.

Fortunately, there are hardly any bouldering guides today that do not refer to these aspects of sustainability.
Boulder brushes – Overview of handle brushes
The range of brushes for climbing is enormous. There are different sizes, materials and specific areas of application.

How can you make a sensible classification? In the following, we have tried using the materials and the function.
Plastic bristles vs. natural bristles
The Edelrid Boulder Brush made of plastic or with polyamide bristles.

Boulder brushes, also known as “rock brushes”, are usually available with two different bristle materials.

One is plastic bristles. These have the advantages of stiffness and price. The disadvantages, however, are rapid abrasion and the release of microplastics into the environment.

Brushes with natural materials are usually made from one of these three animal hairs: pig bristles, wild boar bristles and horsehair. Natural bristles are somewhat softer, are gentler on the rock and do not release microplastics.
Base material wood vs. plastic
A classic wooden boulder brush…

The handles of the climbing brushes are only available in two materials. Wood and plastic.

The advantages of wood are obvious.

Firstly, it is a natural material. Secondly, it is a renewable raw material. And thirdly, it is compostable. The big disadvantage, however, is the processing and the easy breaking of the handle.

This means that wooden boulder brushes always need a certain distance between the bristles and the edge. This is sometimes a bit annoying with angular crimps or holes. And on the other hand, they tend to break if they are unintentionally loaded lengthwise.

A classic plastic brush…

Plastic handles are the worse environmental solution, but they do have some advantages.

Firstly, they don’t have such a large edge on the bristle head. Secondly, they hardly break. Consequently, they are a clear advantage when sport climbing, where you pack a lot in your climbing backpack

And thirdly, they are flexible, which is a clear advantage with holes. This means you can even get into the “furthest corners”.
Arsenal handle brushes
30 years ago, a “climber” would probably have been called crazy! Today, however, it is completely normal for boulderers to have several bouldering brushes with them.

This is because there is now an ideal brush shape for different applications:

Small grip brush: for sport climbing
Small plastic brush: for the smallest crimps, holes and “basic cleaning” of dirty handles
Standard bouldering brush: All-round models for bouldering
Large or long-handled brushes: for sloper or larger rock surfaces

FSC certified wood
Mantle bouder brushes are made from German FSC-certified beech wood!

If you attach particular importance to sustainability when it comes to boulder brushes, you’ve come to the right place! Because bolting.eu has the products from Mantle in its range.

These are all made from German beech wood with FSC certification. This means ecological forestry and a guaranteed renewable raw material. In addition, these handle brushes are also manufactured in Germany.

This guarantees both fair social standards and compliance with ecological standards during production. Ohh, and we almost forgot. “Made in Germany” also means short transportation routes and therefore less environmental impact!

 
Cleaning rods with boulder brushes
In our opinion, an extendable cleaning rod is indispensable for boulderers. Such as the Ibb’z Triple Tube with the two attachable brushes.

This is because telescopic poles help to keep the holds clean at greater heights. In bouldering halls, wooden models with a fixed length are advantageous due to the high contact pressure.

Outdoors, however, the telescopic systems show their advantages due to their length. This means that they are adjustable in length and can reach up to 4 m in height, including your own height or wingspan.

An indispensable advantage when it comes to higher boulders!
Frequently asked questionsWhat is a boulder brush?
This is a special brush for cleaning the holds when bouldering, i.e. climbing at jump height.

What are the bristles of boulder brushes made of?
These are either made of plastic (polyamide a.k.a. nylon) or natural materials such as pig bristles, wild boar bristles or horsehair.

Why are there so many different brushes for climbing?
Because the different brushes are ideal for certain applications.
Thin plastic brushes are perfect for the smallest handles. Medium-sized bouldering brushes are practical all-rounders. With large and long-handled brushes, large rock parts such as sloper can be cleaned well with a lot of contact pressure.

Is there a cleaning pole for bouldering or a telescopic pole with a bouldering brush?
The Ibb’z Triple Tube is a telescopic pole with two handle brushes at the tip for bouldering. This model is one of the most successful models on the market.