Proper clothing - Rock climbing differs in some fundamental respects from ice climbing. And one of the most obvious is in the amount and type of clothing you need. On ice you’re dealing with sub-freezing temperatures for prolonged periods of time. You’re also often exposed to harsh, bitterly cold wind. So your clothing needs to be up to the task of keeping you warm. With rock however you’re almost never dealing with brutal weather. Therefore the standard rock climbing outfit typically consists of lightweight, comfortable clothing such as lycra pants along with a T-shirt. Some folks approach their climbing outfits as though they’re a fashion statement when really the primary concern is comfort and flexibility.\r