Gear Review and Contest: My Chalk Bag is Cooler Than Yours, Thanks to practical climbing!

My practical climbing bag and I! (D. Brenan)

Most of our climbing gear purchasing decisions aren't based on how the piece of equipment looks. Though there are dozens of color options for things like belay devices, the appearance of the gear is less important than its effectiveness at helping us stay safe. Aside from clothing and crash pads like those from Organic Climbing, there aren't many pieces of climbing equipment we can choose that makes a statement about who we are. Tammy Opalka agrees, and has set out to create some of the most durable, unique chalk bags out there to help us all express ourselves.

Tammy started sewing custom chalk bags for herself and friends, then founded practical climbing in 2009. Her bags are handcrafted in the United States and her company is the only I've found that will repurpose old fabrics to create custom bags. (practical climbing and Friksn have a newly formed partnership to upcycle some of Friksn's old shirts.) This doesn't just ensure climbers get chalk bags that say something about who they are; it's one of the ways Tammy ensures practical climbing is a socially and environmentally responsible company.