Kitting yourself or the kids out for climbing and other mountain sports does not have to drain your bank balance. There are some genuinely solid budget options that keep you safe and comfortable without straying into premium price tags.
Here we have picked out cheaper harnesses, kids’ climbing shoes and a great-value crampon safe that offer good performance for the money. You will not find every possible extra or the lightest materials, but you do get reliable, well-designed kit from recognised brands.
Each recommendation here earns its place by balancing cost, usability and durability. Some are the absolute lowest-price picks in their niche, while others cost a touch more but deliver better comfort or versatility for only a small step up in spend.
These recommendations are based on careful comparison of real specifications, brand reputation and feature sets, rather than just hunting for the lowest ticket price. We focus on recognised climbing and mountain brands that understand safety and usability, then look for their better-value models.
We pay close attention to design details that matter in everyday use, such as how easily a harness adjusts, how kid-friendly a pair of shoes feels, or how much protection a crampon bag actually gives your pack. Where customer ratings are available, we factor them in to avoid false economies that look cheap on paper but disappoint in practice.
Our aim is to highlight cheaper options that still feel like sensible investments. If a product seems too compromised or under-specced for real-world use, it does not make the list, even if it is the lowest price.
We started by looking at the lower-priced end of the climbing and mountain sports range at Go Outdoors, homing in on harnesses, kids’ climbing shoes and essential accessories that come in well under premium prices. From there we filtered out models that lacked key safety or usability features.
Where possible, we favoured gear from trusted technical brands over no-name bargains, even if that meant spending a few pounds more. Safety-critical items like harnesses and kids’ climbing kit must be reliable; any saving that undermines that is not worth it.
Finally, we aimed for a useful spread of options: a simple but protective crampon safe, adjustable harnesses to suit adults and children, and entry-level kids’ shoes to support young climbers. That way, whether you are trying climbing for the first time or looking to upgrade a few bits of your kit bag on a budget, there is something that makes sense for your needs.
Below are the budget-friendly picks we think are still worth your money. The prices sit at the lower end of the technical climbing and mountain sports range, but the brands are all trusted and the designs are aimed at real-world use rather than simply undercutting the competition.
Some items, like the crampon safe, are among the very cheapest ways to protect much more expensive kit. Others, such as the harnesses and kids’ shoes, cost a bit more but offer far better comfort, adjustability and usability for only a modest extra outlay.
The Grivel Crampon Safe is a simple, great-value way to protect your crampons, your rucksack and everything else in your boot bag. A small spend that can save a lot of damage over time.
For around the price of a few coffees, the Grivel Crampon Safe offers a tough, shaped case to keep your crampons from shredding your rucksack or car upholstery. It is far cheaper than replacing a damaged pack or duffel and makes packing sharp gear much less stressful. Being from Grivel, a well-known climbing hardware brand, you can expect sensible design that works in real mountain conditions. Its compact form also helps keep your winter kit organised and easy to grab.
As a budget accessory, the Crampon Safe is likely to prioritise basic protection over extra pockets or fancy materials. It may feel like an unnecessary purchase if you only rarely use crampons, and some users might prefer a more heavily padded or structured case. If you regularly throw heavy kit around in transit, it is worth checking whether this level of protection is enough for your needs.
This is ideal for winter walkers, mountaineers and climbers who already own crampons and want an inexpensive way to protect their pack and car. It suits anyone building up a winter kit list on a tight budget but who still values keeping sharp gear safely contained. If you only invest in one accessory to look after your crampons, this is a very cost-effective choice.
The Black Diamond Kids’ Momentum Harness offers trusted brand quality and child-friendly comfort at a sensible price. Ideal for young climbers who are starting to take the sport more seriously.
The Kids’ Momentum Harness borrows design cues from Black Diamond’s adult models, so you get proper climbing heritage at a family-friendly price. Generous padding and a supportive shape keep young climbers comfortable on the wall, encouraging longer, happier sessions. Simple adjustment makes it easy for parents or instructors to get a secure fit over different layers as the child grows. For the cost, it is a reassuringly serious bit of kit that does not feel like a toy.
As an entry-level kids’ harness, the Momentum may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive, highly adjustable models. Children who climb very frequently might eventually benefit from a more specialised fit or extra gear loops. Like any harness, it will need replacing as your child grows or once it shows signs of wear, so it is not a one-off purchase for life.
The Kids’ Momentum Harness is best for families whose children are starting to climb regularly indoors or on supervised outdoor sessions and need their own comfortable, confidence-inspiring harness. It is a good option if you want recognised brand quality without paying top-end prices. Parents who value ease of use and clear safety features over ultra-technical extras will find it particularly appealing.
The Boreal Kids’ Ninja Jr. Climbing Shoes give youngsters a proper climbing fit without an eye-watering price tag. A good step up from rental shoes for keen junior climbers.
The Boreal Kids’ Ninja Jr. offers a real stepping stone from hire shoes to personal kit, giving children better grip and edging for a modest outlay. A more forgiving last than aggressive adult shoes means they remain comfortable enough for longer sessions and growing feet. Velcro closures or simple fastenings let kids get them on and off quickly, reducing faff between climbs. For parents, they represent a sensible spend that still delivers a big jump in performance compared with worn rental shoes.
The Ninja Jr. is designed for comfort and learning, so it will not satisfy ambitious young climbers looking for a very tight, performance-orientated fit. At this price point you are not getting the most advanced rubber compounds or ultra-technical shaping either. Active kids who climb several times a week may wear through them faster than more robust, premium models.
The Ninja Jr. suits children who have moved beyond occasional taster sessions and are ready for their own pair of shoes, whether for weekly climbing wall visits or holiday trips to the crag. It is a strong match for parents looking for an affordable upgrade from rentals that still gives proper climbing performance. If your child is enthusiastic but not yet competing, this is a sensible level of investment.
The Mammut 4 Slide Harness is a competitively priced all-rounder with lots of adjustment, making it a smart buy for new climbers who want one harness to cover indoor and outdoor sessions.
The Mammut 4 Slide Harness delivers a lot of harness for the money, with multiple adjustment points that help it fit a wide range of body shapes and clothing layers. This flexibility makes it a great starter harness that can take you from indoor walls to outdoor crags without needing to upgrade straight away. The design reflects Mammut’s long experience in climbing hardware, giving you confidence that key features, such as tie-in points and belay loop, are thoughtfully executed. Considering the relatively low price, it feels like a robust, all-round bit of kit rather than a bare-bones budget compromise.
The 4 Slide’s broad adjustability and value pricing mean it is unlikely to be the lightest or most streamlined harness on the market. More experienced climbers might find it a bit bulky for long alpine or trad days compared with higher-end models. If you already know you are committed to a specific style of climbing, a more specialised harness could serve you better in the long run.
The 4 Slide Harness is ideal for new or improving climbers who want one harness that can handle everything from indoor walls to first outdoor routes without costing a fortune. It is also a smart pick if you share gear between friends or family members thanks to its broad adjustment range. Anyone building a first rack of kit on a budget, but who still wants a harness with room to grow into, should have it on their shortlist.
The Eb Kids’ Neo Climbing Shoes are an affordable pair for children who climb regularly but don’t need an aggressive performance shoe. A solid value alternative to bigger-name kids’ models.
The Eb Kids’ Neo Climbing Shoes provide an accessible way into owning a pair of dedicated climbing shoes without pushing into premium prices. Their design is typically more relaxed than high-end performance models, which is exactly what most children need as they learn movement and technique. A straightforward closure system helps parents and young climbers get them on with minimal fuss, and the affordable price softens the blow when fast-growing feet demand the next size up. For families watching the budget, they strike a good balance between cost and proper climbing functionality.
Compared with kids’ shoes from the biggest climbing brands, the Neo may not have quite the same level of rubber performance or refinements in fit. It is very much an entry-level option, so keen young crushers may outgrow its capabilities quite quickly. As with all children’s shoes, you will also need to factor in the cost of regular size upgrades if they are climbing a lot.
The Kids’ Neo is a good fit for families who want decent, no-nonsense climbing shoes for children who climb casually or a couple of times a week. It is particularly suitable if you are balancing climbing spend against other activities and do not want to over-invest in ultra-technical footwear. For young climbers who value comfort and easy on-off more than cutting-edge performance, they make solid sense.
