[lukeyboy]

I generally use superchalk (metolius?) as i've found it to be about the best in terms of drying hands effectively. However, I've recently become suspicious that the drying agent used in it is fucking my skin a little more than it manages to do by itself (my hand skin is basically just a bit shit). Firstly, has anyone else found this? And secondly, what chalk have people found to be the most hand friendly (whilst still being good)?

Cheers

[205Chris]

I suffer from eczema and I find superchalk is just about the worst thing you can use. I switched to the standard block chalk (Wild Country / Metolius etc.) a while ago and my skin condition improved massively. I can't say I've really noticed any difference in my climbing performance either.

I also find that using either Palmers cocoa butter or Lush dream cream after climbing helps a lot too.

[Twiglett]

had a similar problem with superchalk. switched to moon dust & now much better

[dave]

superchalk is shit if you've got any tendancy towards dry skin (search for old threads on this very subject). Also there's sime very shit chalk around at the moment. Kanye had some wildcountry shit last summer that was way too fine, it was slippy like engineering chalk, dogshit for climbing.

I don't think you can go wrong with the cheapest Camp or Decathlon stuff. That is until Accapi bring out homeopathic infrared chalk.

[Paul B]

I don't think you can go wrong with the cheapest Camp or Decathlon stuff. That is until Accapi bring out homeopathic infrared chalk.

what? are you on crack? maybe you've breathed in too much of the asbestos camp dust, its terrible.

[lukeyboy]

Thanks a lot for the replies so far. I'm going to abandon superchalk to see how much of a difference it makes. A pretty significant one on a week long trip I reckon. So what actually is the best out there? Moon dust?

And thanks Chris for the skin healing beta. I've generally just used climb on before, I'd be interested whether you've found much difference between this and your suggestions? I heard Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream is good (but both expensive and bent) and have been meaning to find some and try it out.

[youngy]

ye i find moon dust pretty good or bleaustone stuff as well
the moon dust lately has been pretty wet, dunno if its just the batch but it seems to be ok if you either put it in the airing  cupboard or microwave,
hopefully it will just be the batch.

[Johnny Brown]

I've got very dry skin on one hand. Despite that I pretty much used Superchalk exclusively for the last eight years or so, reckoning it was better. Then the last two bags I've had have been shit - one damp, then one just wrong, felt like sand. Went back to Camp block chalk - its fine, dunno why I wasted my money all these years. I honestly don't think there's any performance benefit to Superchalk, whilst shit batches = wasted money. I've never heard of a bad batch of block chalk.

[205Chris]

I'd be interested whether you've found much difference between this and your suggestions? I heard Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream is good (but both expensive and bent) and have been meaning to find some and try it out.

I can't comment on the Elizabeth Arden cream having never used it I'm afraid. I find Climb On very good if you've got any cuts or broken skin as you can pack some into the cut and it seems to help the healing process in my opinion (although it is quite greasy).

Cocoa butter / dream cream doesn't leave your hands as greasy as climb on and I find it a lot better for general use on dry skin. I think dream cream is quite expensive for a pot (about 10 quid if I recall correctly) but it does last for absolutely ages.

[Paul B]

Slightly  however I'm amazed that chalk manufacturers still can't make decent resealable bags. They always burst on me or just won't every shut. Does anybody use a Metolius powderhorn or something similar?

I must admit I have very greasy tips hence my leaning towards superchalk. I've been quite good recently at using dream cream when I get home and it seems to have kept any nasty splits or general dryness at bay. It also lasts forever. (Johnny still won't have any of this after being recommended it years ago as he doesn't do town)

Block chalk seems to dis-integrate far too quickly for my liking, maybe the camp stuff is better but I bought some from Decathlon in Majorca as there was an island wide shortage of decent chalk and it was utter rubbish. It was like applying talc to my fingers and a block lasted no time at all.

[Richie Crouch]

Another vote here for the bleaustone stuff Greg was selling on Rock and Run. Moon Dust was good till the last batch as Youngy said.

I'm probably up there in the shit sweaty skin stakes but can't handle superchalk without getting multiple splits in joints that take forever to heal.

Dream cream every night before sleep (on climbing days) seems to be working well and the £10 pot has lasted since August last year.

[Paul B]

I haven't had a split for ages, maybe they're more to do with climbing on plastic than chalk?

[dobbin]

Used to view superchalk as amazing, but it seems to have been wet for a few bags for a while now. Bought a bag of moon chalk and that seems much better. Always used to prefer this anyway tbh.

Regards hand creme - that big frank's climbers hand balm seems good. Smells nice too.

[JamesPullan]

I generally use superchalk (metolius?) as i've found it to be about the best in terms of drying hands effectively. However, I've recently become suspicious that the drying agent used in it is fucking my skin a little more than it manages to do by itself (my hand skin is basically just a bit shit). Firstly, has anyone else found this? And secondly, what chalk have people found to be the most hand friendly (whilst still being good)?

Cheers

I use the same chalk and the same thing happens to me, for about 2-3 days after using it my hands look like a dried river bed. I've tried not using as much chalk (ie. if the rock is bone dry then I won't use it), I'll take a rag up to dry my hands if needs be. I suppose it's what you ought to expect though. There is a brand of chalk which uses no added drying agent, can't remember which one though, I think it's in this month's climb mag.

[erm, sam]

loads of chalk use no drying agent, it is more a case of which do these days...

[Wipey Why]

I have had a bag of the Camp stuff from Decathlon (it cost about £7 and the bag is massive). Seems to be ok but have had to pop it into the microwave.

[Omar15]

Yeah, ive found that superchalk rapes my hands but I mixed it with some block chalk in thailand last year and it was pretty good, I guess because the extra humidity stopped it from stripping water out of my skin.

I've found the bleaustone stuff is pretty good for me personally, I don't think its got any drying agents in and its only between £3.50 and £5 for a big bag.

[moose]

I used to find that the bags of Super Chalk worked best for me (no real problems with chalk induced badness).  I liked the mixture of lumps and finer material and the way it clung to the hands (some chalks, like the Camp stuff, are just too light and powdery for my taste). 

I won some WC Pure Chalk and that appears to behave in the same good way, but supposedly doesn't include harsh drying agents.  I gave some to a friend with dry skin and he said that it didn't fuck up his hands as much as the metollius.

Re skin care.  Palmer's coco is good and a lot cheaper than Climb On (which is good, but not great value).  My current favourite though is Lotil - you can get in in Boot for £4 for a big pot.  Their staff recommended it for properly chapped and broken skin (rather than just a bit dry).  It's often not kept in the hand cream section - rather the shelves with creams for various medical complaints like thrush and haemorroids!  Good stuff though - rubs in nicely but seems to do the job on thin and cracked hands.

[boulderingbacon]

i like the super chalk but also suffer from dry hands working with wood all day. to solve your dry hands by some o keefes working hands cream you put it on before bed and i guarantee you, as they do. it will heal your hands after only a few days use.  i got it from a tool store so not sure who stocks it but sure its on net somewhere.

[Fiend]

Superchalk does nothing interesting for me. Still sweaty as ever. If someone finds chalk that's significantly MORE DRYING than Superchalk I'd be interested...

[Paul B]

Liquid chalk baselayer? Thats what I was opting for one long sport climbs in hotter climates. All over the hand to to stop the sweat running off the backs of my hand (yes really).

[Mike Tyson]

I have always used Metolius stuff and generally had no issues. Was at the cobble tonight and was suffering from extreme greasyness. Gonna try the liquid chalk base application and see how I get on.

[Paul B]

I have always used Metolius stuff and generally had no issues. Was at the cobble tonight and was suffering from extreme greasyness. Gonna try the liquid chalk base application and see how I get on.

This stuff varies massively. I've found Beal to be the best.

[tomtom]

Big bags of camp chalk from Decathlon are fine for me (maybe I've not got uber sweaty hands) and unlike all other chalks I've used they leave my skin relatively normal afterwards....

[rodma]

Big bags of camp chalk from Decathlon are fine for me (maybe I've not got uber sweaty hands) and unlike all other chalks I've used they leave my skin relatively normal afterwards....