What do you all find for best all around core strength, i live in a small apt so weights arent possible, and im poor so nothing expensive. what are you ideas.

yoga

I've been thinking on trying this out:

Golds Gym 5-in-1

Kinda in the same boat as you.

Lots and lots of cheap beer.

Climbing.

I've been doing a workout on gymnastic rings for about two years now that is extremely core/shoulder/arm intensive and have experienced noticeable gains. The rings are pretty expensive, but I know people that have crafted their own together for pretty darn cheap. It helps if you have somewhere with a high ceiling and plenty of ground surface area to do the exercises.

Out of shape right now but when I had a good core it was from doing hanging exercises, bars, rings, whatever.... that's the way to do it. Checkout kipping pullups.

Is core strength limiting your climbing performance? Probably not. As jmac said, climbing itself is excellent for core strength. Doing more specific core work is most likely a waste of time. It gets a lot of hype...mostly by people who can't even name the muscles or tell you their function.

But if you insist, a stability ball works well for this. Fitness rings work well too (cheaper than actual gymnastic rings, see ringtraining.com). A great training system for those with limited space and standard ceiling height is called the TRX Trainer--a little pricey but brutally effective. Avoid crunches on the floor, kipping pullups (really dumb), be wary of pilates and yoga unless you find a smarter than average instructor.

Lots of situps, I know it sounds stupidly simple, but 100+ situps a day (without your feet wedged under something) is as core as it gets. I have serious back problems and have tried countless things to help it and increase my core strength, and nothing beats the classic. Also, metolius rock rings can be had for like $30.00 now? Hang those from a door frame, lock off, and plank yourself as best you can and do leg and knee raises from this position. You can get pretty fancy with core workouts, but keeping it simple can help you avoid injury, and in my opinion works as well as any contraption or contortion.

Crossfit helped me a lot! I did it all last winter and I could tell a big difference this year esp. when in a chimney or something funky. I did it at MBS Crossfit in Broomfield but you can find the workouts online it you are short on cash.

Don't ignore the core! Clyde is completely wrong, IMHO. Maybe it works for him, but most climbers would highly benefit from core work. Especially for injury prevention. Especially if you aren't 17 anymore.

I used to lift weights through the winter and do a lot of core work twice a week, then during the season perhaps at the end of a workout for 30 min. once a week. Last year I ignored all of that, because climbing hits everything right? Well I had a serious lower back injury, missed the prime alpine season and 4 months overall.

If you can get a simple bar - tie some milk cartons full of sand or anything heavy and do deadlifts. Awesome for the core. If you can take it over your head in a clean and jerk even better. Obviously real weights would be best for this.

Also you can do back extensions (essentially reverse sit-ups) or "good mornings" with anything heavy.

Sit-ups are easy, also hit the lower stomach by hanging in a pull up position and lifting your legs upwards....can also be done lying down with your legs off a bed or bench. Also situps with a twisting motion are great.

you can do a lot with a heavy ball if you get one also. twisting, throwing, pressing, etc.

If you start googling core workouts you'll find a lot online I bet.

Hang from bar or use underarm stirrups, point toes and keep legs straight. Hold for 5 count. Do 5 sets of 5. You will be amazed how easy it will be to hang out on very steep terrain.

there have been some good suggestions so far.. but....

situps are good but have a limited range of motion and only work a small portion of the core muscle group. So some situps yes, only situps NO.

hang from a bar, tuck your knees into your chest then smoothly rotate into a tucked front lever position with you back parallel to the floor. Lower down and repeat. VERY good for core strength. Eventually work up to full Front Levers, the gneral progression is from tucked lever, advance tucked lever, one leg extended lever, straddle lever, Full Front Lever... then work on holding them and pulling into them. Then you will have unreal core as well as upper body strength.

In medical research, when they are modeling lumbar disc herniations, they take a sheep spine and bend it forward over and over again (much like in a situp). After a while, the discs herniate. Situps may be great for your abs, but they are death for your lumbar spine. Some of you younger guys may not have to worry about this, but some of us older guys should beware. There are safer ways to work the core.

Last winter the gym here did a 30 minute Kettlebell class.

Wow! Great for everything! I suspect you can find workouts on youtube. Speaking from experience, start with a reasonably light bell. (20 lbs maybe.)

I think Metolius Rock Rings or other hanging apparatus' are the way to go. i got my pair for a smooth 25 bucks at my local gym and they're awesome for a killer finger strength workout and just as good for a brilliant core routine doing front levers and such. Core strength is DEFINITELY essential to good climbing, (controlling barn dooring, Swinging out etc...) and rock rings have worked brilliantly for me

Pilates. And it is made all the more enjoyable by being one of the few guys in the studio.

yoga and swimming have taken me up a couple grades, swimming is great all around cardio, back, shoulders, core etc. come to think of it so is yoga haha

Get a kettlebell. It's an all in one exercise tool and can get you some crazy core strength. I've been using them for over a year in my living room and have noticed a big diffrence in endurance and lower back pain.

I second Yoga. Additionally Planks and Bridges (link to pics/instructions) work very well and don't require any equipment