Review by Tony Lourens
I’m not a particularly brave climber, therefore I keep a lot more than chalk in my chalk bag. I keep my heart and courage in there as well. So I am often found digging deep in my trusty old chalk bag when faced with a particularly tricky or daunting bit of climbing, hoping to garner some comfort or bravery from its white and powdery depths.
Over the last few years there has been quite a lot of hype about climbing chalk, and for that matter the ‘liquid chalk’ as well. How well does it work? Is one brand or model significantly better than another? How good (or bad) is it for the skin on your hands? How easily does it wash off? Etc., etc.
‘Is there that much difference between brands, that it actually warrants a debate?’ I hear you say.
Well I went onto the ‘net’, and apparently there is. Some people are like, ‘chalk is chalk, and just get on with it’, while others are more scientific, and analyse the compounds used and how effective they are in keeping your hands dry and for how long between applications, etc. A lot of climbers want the best possible chance of sticking those crimpers or slopers and will stop at nothing in getting what they deem the best chalk for the job.
There is also the belief that certain chalks benefit different climbers differently, depending how sweaty your hands get and how sensitive your skin is to the drying agents used.
Well, for a while, BD have been working closely with a lab in Sweden and have now produced what they call Pure Gold chalk. This is practically pure Upsalite, which is a scientifically engineered and super porous form of magnesium carbonate that absorbs 30% more moisture than other compounds.
Pure Gold is way too concentrated and expensive to use on its own, so BD have taken their tried and trusty White Gold chalk and added 10% per volume of Upsalite to produce a new mixture of chalk which they call Black Gold. A premium blend of chalk, designed to keep your hands super dry while climbing.
Of course, I was up to giving this new miracle chalk a go! Anything to fortify the courage quotient in my sack (pun intended). Now I’m not sure if it was psychosomatic, or for real, but I definitely felt an added dryness in the mixture and my fingers seemed just that little more sticky.
Best thing to do is to go out and grab a bag of Black Gold and try it out for yourself. But remember, chalk doesn’t a climber make . . . but it sure is a good companion for sweaty hands and to enlarge you cajones.
R425 per 200g
www.rammountain.co.za
