FAQ
Chalk Rebels grew out of the frustration of seeing the damage done to our natural bouldering spots by chalk over-use. Using a little chalk never was a big deal but the bouldering boom of the last decade or so has turned what was once a bad habit into a real problem. Chalk belongs on your fingers, not the rock! And if you’re climbing indoors, no one likes to inhale clouds of chalk dust. The main culprit is chalk in powder form. Alternatives exist in the form of chalk balls and liquid chalk. Chalk Rebels was founded to encourage the use of these alternatives and help you kick the powder chalk habit! That's why we make the best performing chalk on the planet, backed by science, not bullshit. Less chalk, more grip!
What makes Chalk Rebels different?
Chalk Rebels is a company with a mission. We believe in creating the best products to help reduce chalk use in the climbing community. Unlike other chalk companies, we don’t offer bogus claims about our chalk. The truth is that it’s all just magnesium carbonate (MgCo3), and the only differentiator is purity. We source our chalk as pure as we can get it because pure chalk means less chalk use. Our chalk cream products are manufactured from food-grade ingredients in production facilities meeting the strictest EU standards to guarantee safety and maximum efficacy. In July 2021 we started the switch to magnesium carbonate synthesised from seawater to further improve purity. Our highest-performance chalk contains Upsalite® to boost the absorption 2x, which means you will need to use fare less of it! When you buy a Chalk Rebels product, you know part of every sale goes towards saving our planet and can rest assured that sustainability has been taken into account in every step of our production process.
Do you offer volume discounts for retailers?
Yes, we do. Register here to get access to our wholesale prices!
How is your packaging eco-friendly?
We avoid using plastics. Our long-term plan is to fill our products in aluminium tubes when technically possible and package them in cardboard boxes whenever we can. Sadly, our current order volume is not sufficient for aluminium packaging for all of our products. You can check all of our efforts to reach our sustainability goals on our environment page. We typically package larger orders in cardboard boxes for shipping. We aim to make all of our packaging recyclable.
How much chalk cream do I need?
A single 100ml tube will last a dedicated climber who visits the gym 1-2x per week about one month. That is if you only use chalk cream. If you use chalk cream as a base layer, a tube can last months. Keep in mind that our Magic Chalk with Upsalite® lasts about 2x as long as regular chalk. You'll use far less of it!
What is Upsalite®?
Upsalite® is mesoporous form of magnesium carbonate. It is an engineered form of chalk we use in our highest performance products. It allows us to boost the performance at least 2x compared to regular chalk. And unlike other brands' performance claims ours are backed by hard science. Upsalite® was invented at the University of Uppsala & has been scientifically proven to increase absorption up to 10x because of its extraordinary high surface area. It acts like a sponge to absorb your sweat.
Do you have an influencer / athlete sponsorship program?
Yes, we do. Register here if you think you’ve got what it takes to be an influencer or athlete. We're not looking for the best performers but for climber activists who care about the environment and spreading out word about using less chalk powder.
Can you sponsor my event or comp?
Yes! We can offer product discounts for climbing event participants and we can also offer some free products to give away in raffles or to give to competition winners. More details
I'm a climbing photographer, will you buy my pictures?
We just might. We're always looking for exceptional pictures to help spread our message. Register as an ambassador & get in touch with us.
Do you have volume deals?
We currently offer -2 EUR off per product if you buy more than 2 products from the website.
Isn’t all chalk the same?
Pretty much. Climbing chalk in its purest form is a pretty simple product. It’s just magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) and is dug up in just a handful of mines worldwide. Some manufacturers add drying agents and fillers, but the truth is that high purity magnesium carbonate works best. We make sure to only use the purest food-grade magnesium carbonate in our chalk cream. In July 2021 we even switched to MgCO3 synthesised from seawater to avoid the pollution from mining and to offer you an even more pure product. In our most high-performance chalk we add Upsalite®, an engineered from of magnesium carbonate with 2x the absorption power.
Why does your liquid chalk contain water?
Our ingredients lists will typically show "Aqua" or water as one of the main ingredients. Liquid chalk is ethanol + magnesium carbonate but pure ethanol is too harsh on the skin. The water is to dilute down the alcohol to levels the skin can handle. Most liquid chalk is made with about 70% alcohol.
Is Silica unhealthy?
Any dust with a particle size smaller than 1 micrometer is unhealthy. We use a specifically formulated nano-scale silica in our Crystal Chalk with an aggregate particle size > 4 micro-meter which makes it safe to use.
Is Magnesium Carbonate unhealthy?
Magnesium carbonate powder causes dust concentrations in gyms which can exceed EU regulations for fine dust by up to 100x. These dust particles stay a long time in the lungs, can cause pulmonary inflation & can reduce lung function by up to 20%. Your chalk use can turn your favourite gym into a place unfit for work. That's why we advocate using less chalk powder.
What is seawater-based chalk?
Magnesium carbonate powder is normally mined from the earth. Over 70% of all mined magnesite comes from China. We source our magnesium carbonate from food-grade manufacturers who synthesise the MgCO3 from seawater (brine). This results in a cleaner product & less damage to the environment.
Is Sodium Hydroxide unhealthy?
Raw sodium hydroxide has a bad reputation. It's the stuff used in movies to dissolve bodies. Used in correct quantities it is perfectly safe to use & it is in fact the main component in traditional soaps. We use a minuscule amount of sodium hydroxide in our chalk cream to perform a Ph correction which makes our chalk cream less aggressive on the hands.
Where can I buy Chalk Rebels products?
We're building up a network of retailers & gyms who carry our products. We think you should support your local shops by buying from them first. You'll typically find the best deals there. You can of course also buy online from this store. Is your local gym not carrying our products yet? Get in touch with us at hello@chalkrebels.com
Am I a bad person if I still use chalk powder?
Yes, you are! Just kidding. Maybe not. But yeah, kind of. It's like smoking. We won't judge you if you do but you know it's better for you to stop. That being said, people are different. Some have excessively sweaty skin and it's OK to apply a little chalk powder. Don't use chalk buckets though: those are evil! We make the best chalk so you can use less of it. Less chalk, more grip!
Can I find Chalk Rebels products in a store?
Yes you can. Chalk Rebels products are available at select climbing stores and gyms, mostly in Western Europe.
Can I carry Chalk Rebels products in my store or gym?
Absolutely! Register here and get in touch with us for recommendations about the volumes that are appropriate for your gym.
I get a "Content Restricted" or "Product Restricted" error on the site?
We have three types of user accounts on our website: "retail, ambassador & wholesale". Some content is restricted by account type. If you have multiple accounts, make sure you are logged in to the correct one. When in doubt, email us: info@chalkrebels.com
My order didn’t arrive. What now?
Get in touch with us via email: info@chalkrebels.com
I have a question you didn’t answer.
Get in touch with us and we’ll take care of it! info@chalkrebels.com