Reviews You Can Rely On

Metolius Super Chalk Review

This chalk is the most cost effective way to keep your hands dry
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metolius super chalk climbing chalk review
Credit: REI Co-op
Price:  $14 List
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Manufacturer:   Metolius
By Matt Bento ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 29, 2019
75
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 10
  • Friction & Overall Feel - 25% 6.0
  • Coverage - 25% 8.0
  • Mess - 25% 6.0
  • Value - 25% 10.0

Our Verdict

Metolius Super Chalk may be the best deal on the chalk market. It's 20 cents cheaper per ounce than then Black Diamond's loose chalk, plus it has a "safe drying agent" to make your hands extra dry. Our testers came to this chalk with a lot of bias, claiming that from previous experience, it was the slipperiest feeling chalk. However, in our blind testing on the hangboard, not a single tester could correctly pick Super Chalk out of the lineup. What's a discerning climber to do? Super Chalk is the most chalk for your dollar, and if you don't believe the hype (we remain skeptical), it's a great choice. Metolius says straight up on their website that climbing harder because of expensive chalk is merely the placebo effect. Just putting that out there… Super Chalk is cheap, it works, and it takes home our Best Buy Award.
REASONS TO BUY
Coats hands well
Least expensive "climbing specific" chalk
REASONS TO AVOID
Low friction
Doesn't last as long as other chalks

Compare to Similar Products

 
metolius super chalk climbing chalk review
Awards Best Buy Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Top Pick Award  
Price $14.00 List
$13.95 at REI
Check Price at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$15.00 List
$5.25 at Amazon
$16.00 List
$10.50 at Backcountry
$10.95 at Backcountry
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A good choice if you like to use loads of chalkWidely available and reasonably priced, this chalk takes the taco in our competitionWe love the solid reusable container and the solid value of this chalkSimilar performance to Secret Stuff at a lower priceA resealable container keeps chalk from spilling all over your pack, and the chalk is quality
Rating Categories Metolius Super Chalk Black Diamond White... Trango Gunpowder Mammut Liquid Chalk Petzl Power Crunch Box
Friction & Overall Feel (25%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Coverage (25%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
Mess (25%)
6.0
7.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
Value (25%)
10.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
5.0
Specs Metolius Super Chalk Black Diamond White... Trango Gunpowder Mammut Liquid Chalk Petzl Power Crunch Box
Resealable Packaging? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Price Per oz $0.80/oz $1.84/oz $1.13/oz $1.94/oz $2.13/oz
Type Loose Loose Loose Liquid Loose
Drying Additive Yes No No No No
Texture Fine Chunky to fine Fine Liquid Chunky

Our Analysis and Test Results

Super Chalk and Black Diamond White Gold appear very similar. Both are loose chalks that come in a hodgepodge of chunk sizes with plenty of fine dust in the bottom of the bag. Our testers describe Super Chalk as being finer and dustier than White Gold, but again, they couldn't identify it in a blind test. Pair Super Chalk with a Metolius Refillable Chalk Sock and you've got a good system for reducing mess and spillage, making Super Chalk an even better bargain.

Performance Comparison


metolius super chalk climbing chalk review - our testers swear that this chalk has the silkiest feel of all the...
Our testers swear that this chalk has the silkiest feel of all the loose chalks, but none of them could identify which chalk was Super Chalk in our blind comparison.
Credit: Matt Bento

Friction & Overall Feel


We don't think the added drying agent makes a big difference in terms of feel or performance, nor did we experience any extra discomfort from it. Liquid chalks were the only chalk products that made us think that our hands may be getting too dry.


Our testers agreed that this chalk felt the finest and tend to cake up on our hands the most. For a consistently chunky texture than feels noticeably harder and crunchier than Super Chalk, you can check out Friction Labs Gorilla Grip, but it'll cost you about three times as much.

metolius super chalk climbing chalk review - as long as we gave these sloper holds a generous brushing between...
As long as we gave these sloper holds a generous brushing between sets, the chalk performed well, keeping our hands dry and perspiration free.
Credit: Matt Bento

Coverage


Super Chalk provides coverage (how much chalk sticks to your hands after chalking up) comparable to BD White Gold or a finely crushed block of Frank Endo. Gorilla Grip seems to leave less chalk stuck on your hands, but it doesn't cake up as much. Some of our testers preferred the thinner layer left by the Gorilla Grip.


How does this affect your overall performance at the crag? More chalk stuck on your sweaty palms can add the necessary confidence to try as hard as possible. Conversely, too much chalk caked on the holds can make them feel slippery. Set yourself up for success and brush those holds. Below, check out the coverage before and after our sloper test.


Mess


Loose chalk is notoriously messy, falling out of chalk bags and onto gym floors across the nation, aerosolizing and floating into our sensitive respiratory systems, especially when people blow excess chalk off their hands (it's a thing). Like the BD White Gold, Super Chalk comes in a big resealable bag, and you should use a scooper of some sort when loading up your chalk bag, or you'll end up with chalk all over yourself.

metolius super chalk climbing chalk review - a bag of this chalk includes everything from hefty chunks to a fine...
A bag of this chalk includes everything from hefty chunks to a fine powder.
Credit: Matt Bento

Value


Eighty cents an ounce is a screaming deal, especially compared to the boutique chalks from Friction Labs that go for $2.50/oz. In terms of bang for your buck, this chalk is by far the winner.


metolius super chalk climbing chalk review - the large resealable bag is more convenient for storage than the...
The large resealable bag is more convenient for storage than the paper wrapping of block chalks.
Credit: Matt Bento

Conclusion


We had a few testers that said Metolius Super Chalk is the only chalk they don't like because it feels silkier and more slippery than other chalks. Again, none of them could successfully confirm which chalk they were using in our blind testing, which would support Metolius's claim about the Placebo Affect. This chalk is cheap and works.

metolius super chalk climbing chalk review - the placebo effect in action, perhaps. well chalked hands equal...
The Placebo Effect in action, perhaps. Well chalked hands equal confidence high off the deck.
Credit: Matt Bento

Matt Bento