Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? Sign In

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? Sign In

Brands

Gear

Editors' Choice 2019: Friction Labs Bam Bam Climbing Chalk Review

Our top climbing gear picks of 2019.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.


None
Friction Labs Bam Bam climbing chalk.
None

Coming from the days of block chalk (I’m a child of the 1980s), I often find myself gravitating more toward thick, chunky chalk even when it comes in bag form. The fine, powdery stuff befuddles me, plus I do a lot of bolting and first-ascent work, so it’s nice to have chunks to mark bolt placements and holds. Friction Labs’ Bam Bam, their chunkiest blend (“grape to golf ball sized”), has become a go-to in all my chalkbags, from my gym bag to my cragging bag to my multi-pitch bag. It’s a dense, high-performing blend, and you don’t need much. Bam Bam more than proved its worth on a recent high-heat, high-humidity trip to Cayman Brac. On one route, a sea-cliff 5.12a soaked in slime, I was able to dry the holds for a redpoint burn after oozing off the crux. Bam Bam is high-test stuff, perfect for sweaty-palmed serial chalkers.

$25 (10oz), frictionlabs.com

See more of our top climbing gear picks in the Gear Guide 2019: Editors’ Choice Awards, and listen to our latest podcast for an interview with Black Diamond’s climbing category director Kolin Powick.

Film: How Matt Cornell Free Soloed One of America’s Classic Hard Mixed Routes

"The Nutcracker" explores the mental challenges of solo climbing and the tactics Cornell used to help him send the route.