Athletes who perform any sport that requires gripping, such as rock climbing, ninja warrior, CrossFit, gymnastics, powerlifting, etc., usually use chalk to prevent sweaty hands and improve grip. It is important to understand that performance chalk is Magnesium Carbonate, MgCO3. Magnesium Carbonate is different than Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3. Don’t worry about the chemistry. Just be aware that companies shouldn’t be trying to sell you chalk that isn’t MgCO3. Make sure to look at the packaging and confirm before you buy performance chalk. There are several big brands out there, and your preference may come down to cost, convenience, feel, or performance.
Not all chalk is created equal, and athletes’ preferences vary among different types of chalk. Let’s look at four options.
The first type of chalk is sold in a big block. It may be made of pure MgCO3 and less messy to carry around, but requires the athlete to crush before using or rub the block of chalk directly onto their hands and body.
The second type will come in a bag or bucket and is already crushed up to some degree. Some chalk in this second type are a mix of pure MgCO3 and fillers, like drying agents. These types of chalk are already ground, either fine or coarse. The problem with these types of mix chalks is that some have a particle size that is too large or too fine, which might not stay on your skin very well. That could lead to some of it either falling off or floating away. Ultimately resulting in athletes “overchalking” their hands and not getting the performance they expected. Selecting a bag of chalk with the right purity and particle size can be a struggle. A suggestion would be to try different samples of chalk from different brands until you find one that works for you. Test how they feel on your hands and your grip.
The third type of chalk is an eco chalk. This type of chalk contains a colorless drying agent, and is usually used in climbing, ninja, or workout gyms where traditional chalk is banned. Eco chalk was created as a solution to protect outdoor rock surfaces from traditional chalk. The one concern about this type of chalk is that some athletes might have an allergic reaction to it, or it can be problematic if accidentally rubbed into the person’s eyes.
The fourth type of chalk is called liquid chalk. Liquid chalk is a a blend of chalk and alcohol. Once you rub the paste onto the hands, the alcohol quickly dries, leaving a chalk residue. Liquid chalk became very popular during the Covid-19 epidemic due to its dual purpose of providing an antibacterial agent and chalk at the same time. Some athletes use liquid chalk as a primer, a base, before using regular chalk. It does reduce chalk dust and mess in the gym; however, it can wear out quickly and not provide the desired grip.
Besides these types of chalk, there is also a tool created to hold chalk and minimize dust and spills. The chalk ball is a porous fabric filled with loose chalk that can be refillable, is easy to carry, and reduce chalk waste. The athlete usually grabs or pats the chalk ball onto the hands to chalk up.
Overchalking, creating clouds of dust when chalking up, and smearing too much chalk on outdoor rocks is becoming an environmental issue. That’s why we created a solution to minimize chalk dust and spills, but still give athletes the ability to use their preferred chalk. With SLAPCHALKS, athletes can fill up the chalk balls with their favorite chalk and insert them in our exterior mesh pockets on shorts, compression shorts, leggings, or pants. Athletes simply slap their pockets and get as much chalk they need, when they need it! Because the chalk is inside the chalk ball in their pockets, the dust is very minimal, and there are no spills!
Also, the chalk ball prevents waste of chalk and is cost efficient! Once the chalk ball is empty, there is no problem! We offer a Refill Ring to make it easier and faster to refill chalk balls! When using the Refill Ring, athletes can refill their chalk balls in matter of seconds! Plus, athletes can refill their chalk balls without any hassles!
To summarize, there are different types and brands of chalk out there, and athletes’ preference may come down to cost, convenience, feel, or performance. Try out different chalks in the gym to see which one you like! Brands like Magic Ninja Dust, Bucket of Chalk, Friction Labs, Metolius, Black Diamond, Petzl. All of these brands are serious about rock climbing or ninja obstacle performance. Use chalk judiciously, carry a brush when climbing, and clean up after yourself. Also, get some SLAPCHALKS shorts, pants, or leggings to chalk easier and faster, stay focused, grip with confidence, and minimize chalk mess!
