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Metolius Super Chalk Sock Review

A great way to keep chalk in your chalk bag out of the air of your busy climbing gym
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Metolius Super Chalk Sock Review
Credit: REI Co-op
Price:  $5 List
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Manufacturer:   Metolius
By Matt Bento ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 29, 2019
65
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Friction & Overall Feel - 25% 5.0
  • Coverage - 25% 5.0
  • Mess - 25% 9.0
  • Value - 25% 7.0

Our Verdict

Using the Metolius Super Chalk Sock is a great way to increase the friction between your hands and the rock (or plastic) without getting chalk all over yourself, on the ground, and in the air of your gym. If your crusher kids are enthusiastic chalkers or just prone to making a mess, this is probably the least messy of the chalk products in our review. For folks climbing in small, dungeon-like climbing gyms, the Chalk Sock is a must for keeping chalk in the bag, on your hands, and out of your lungs. For a chalk ball that provides more coverage (but more mess), look at our favorite of the ball variety, the refillable BD Chalk Shot.
REASONS TO BUY
Refillable
Nearly mess-free
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor coverage

Our Analysis and Test Results

For folks that need a healthy layer of chalk caked on their sweaty, trembling hands to feel safe above the last bolt, the Black Diamond Refillable Chalk Shot is a better choice, but if you're concerned about dust and mess while climbing indoors, the Metolius Chalk Sock is superior. If your gym is well vented and isn't a humid swamp, the thin layer of coverage you get from this chalk ball will do just fine.

Performance Comparison


metolius super chalk sock - this ball is larger and less porous than the black diamond version.
This ball is larger and less porous than the Black Diamond version.
Credit: Matt Bento

Friction & Overall Feel


Only the finest powdery chalk can pass through the cloth of this chalk sock, so it comes filled with what we can only assume is finely crushed Metolius Super Chalk. Our most discerning testers feel the Super Chalk is the softest, silkiest feeling chalk, and several testers preferred a grittier texture. One could empty the sock and fill it with whatever brand they prefer, but if it's too chunky, it won't be able to pass through the cloth. The finer the chalk, the more likely it is to cake up on the holds, but since only a little chalk can pass through the sock when you squeeze it, we never found this to be a problem.

Coverage


Squeeze for squeeze and dip for dip, the Super Chalk Sock deposits less chalk on your hands than the BD Chalk Shot and all of the other chalk products in our review. If you're a sweaty gal or feller, this could be a problem. For those gifted with hands that don't ooze more grease than a pepperoni pizza, the chalk sock should be fine, and it'll make your chalk last way longer. This chalk sock only leaves the thinnest layer of chalk on your hands.

metolius super chalk sock - this chalk ball doesn't allow a lot of chalk to pass through the...
This chalk ball doesn't allow a lot of chalk to pass through the cloth, leaving only a thin layer of chalk on your hands, but creates less dust than the competition.
Credit: Matt Bento

Mess


Since the Metolius Chalk Sock is less porous than the BD Shot, it makes less mess and keeps more chalk out of the air. The opening in the top is larger than that of the BD ball, making it easier to refill without spilling chalk all over the place. We suggest using a spoon or a scooper from an old Gatorade mix. The drawcord and cord lock will keep the chalk from spilling out of the top — just be sure not to overfill.

metolius super chalk sock - here's what you can expect from one squeeze from the chalk sock.
Here's what you can expect from one squeeze from the chalk sock.
Credit: Matt Bento

Value


A reusable chalk sock for $5? Yes, please! Considering that Metolius sells a non-refillable version for one dollar less, this is a no-brainer, get the one you can use again and again. The Metolius refillable chalk sock costs less than the BD version, and since it doles out less chalk at a time, you'll go through less chalk.

metolius super chalk sock - this sock has a larger opening than the bd ball making it easier to...
This sock has a larger opening than the BD ball making it easier to refill.
Credit: Matt Bento

Conclusion


The Metolius Super Chalk Sock is a great choice if you mainly climb indoors, and even if you're fortunate enough to do most of your climbing out in the wild, it's good to have one on hand when crummy weather forces you inside. Many gyms ban the use of loose chalk anyway, and everyone will appreciate that lack of dust floating around during busy nights at the gym.

metolius super chalk sock - looking to avoid big dumps like this one? start using a chalk sock.
Looking to avoid big dumps like this one? Start using a chalk sock.
Credit: Matt Bento

Matt Bento