Why are women allowed to climb without a shirt in a gym but men cannot?

Because there's a natural testosterone threshold in confined spaces. If it's exceeded, people act weird(er than usual). Seriously. Imagine a gym full of shirtless guys. It would turn into the volleyball scene in Top Gun. Not good for anyone. Let your climbing be your mating dance.

Eric Metzgarwrote:

Let your climbing be your mating dance.

… and  your belay habits be your courtship ritual.

Amen

Matthew Jaggerswrote:

I just want to know what level of ocd/germaphobia one has to have to think a shirt creates a more hygienic facility than no shirt? I'm a huge hater of seeing idiots with their shirt off in gyms, guy or girl, but there's zero consideration of hygiene in the equation. If hygiene was a factor at all, everyone should have to wear long sleeves and long pants to make any sense at all. 

I fully agree with you in this. A hygiene explanation doesn’t really make sense. Nevertheless, that is an explanation I have seen more than once. Several local Universities have climbing walls in their rec centers, and host friendly local comps open to anyone during winter. All of those rec facilities that I’ve been to have a sleeved-shirt-required-for-hygienic-reasons, the rule and the explanation posted on the wall of the facility. I’m not there to argue, I’m there for a few hours of climbing, and, unlike the OP, I don’t climb significantly worse in a T-shirt.

(Full disclosure, I also do not like climbing in a sleeved shirt, unless it’s really cold, below 45. Climbing in a bra is also not my thing, unless I’m bouldering in extreme heat, because I do not like the feel of a harness on bare skin. A tank top is my happy solution. But when I have to wear a shirt, I do)

Climb Onwrote:

I think it’s more about the “ick” factor than actual hygiene. In my experience people are grossed out by the sweat, not by the exposed chest. Forcing people to wear a top absorbs the majority of it. 

I agree...

Climb Onwrote:

I think it’s more about the “ick” factor than actual hygiene. In my experience people are grossed out by the sweat, not by the exposed chest. Forcing people to wear a top absorbs the majority of it. 

This. Y’all been to a beach right?

I actually find a sweaty shirt more gross than a sweaty man, sweaty chicks are worse though. 

For reals though, let people be people and keep your body insecurities to yourself.

Tradibanwrote:

This. Y’all been to a beach right?

I actually find a sweaty shirt more gross than a sweaty man, sweaty chicks are worse though. 

For reals though, let people be people and keep your body insecurities to yourself.

I like climbing naked.

“ick”?

Sweaty chicks tho - Hot

Personally, I always climb with a shirt on, but it doesn't really bother me what anybody chooses to climb in. That being said at my gym it's common for men to go shirtless and women to wear sports bras.

I find the whole kneeling lead belay much more offensive than the shirt issue in gyms. Even more concerning, the same clowns who do this with so much sincerity in the gyms dont seem to do it outside even when alpine climbing. Talk about a huge double standard and get this, it is done by both men and women. 

Just imagine how women in Iran feel. At least these gyms don’t beat you to death.

It’s weight training

Old lady Hwrote:

This is great advice for ya Kevin! Make sure to be as sweaty as possible and wearing the shortest of shortest, like you swiped them from the women's Love Island costume rack.

Pics too.

 

I'm with Helen, page 5 and it's time for some pics.

Locker wrote:

sweating grosses people out?

Keep your free flowing bodily fluids to yourself!

:)

This thread…

Locker’s Dr. Strangeglove clip

Am I right or am I right!? ;)

Now where’s my cigar …

Cory Nwrote:

Climber Reviewer, my old friend. Did you put a beanie on when you took the shirt off? I hear it’s easier to send if you ears arm warm. 

It also heard that it really helps your grades if you wear skinny jeans tight enough to make your feet go numb.

Ccfuchswrote:

This thread…

No one is forcing you to read it.

Marc801 Cwrote:

No one is forcing you to read it.

Lies. I hit "latest forum posts" and consume what the app tells me. 

Haven't had a good shit talking thread in a while, and things have remained pretty jovial. 7/10 troll. 10/10 content. This one's been a real gold mine.

Until I lose 15 pounds and find an 'ab', the rest of you monsters keep your shirts on.  I don't need to be reminded how ripped you are/how unripped I am.

Really this is just a rule to protect my ego, and I am grateful.

Ezra Elliswrote:

Three  words: mesh  crop top 

Although I might cut off the sleeves for better ventilation

I'll throw in my vote for this, especially with the leather pants.   

I don't strip to a sports bra in a gym, but definitely have outside. The guys often are shirtless once it's that hot. It's a huge so what fir all of my partners and I, so far at least. I'm often camping with my climbing partners too, so everyone has seen everyone else in various states of disarray and embarassment by now. "Oh fuck. Is this a tick?"

What I think is stupid is any gym being too warm in the first place. That's reason to take my business elsewhere, if there's a choice. It's also overkill to not allow tank tops, although that's not too common.

Best, H.