Nov. 12, 2025

How to Optimize Your Skin for Peak Climbing Performance

How to Optimize Your Skin for Peak Climbing Performance
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How to Optimize Your Skin for Peak Climbing Performance

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In this skin care masterclass, Mads Bülow Duus from Nature Climbing and Justin Brown from Rhino Skin Solutions cover:

  • Why skin care can be the difference maker
  • What bad climbing skin looks like 
  • What good climbing skin looks like
  • How to bring skin humidity down
  • How to to bring skin humidity up
  • How to condition skin for specific types of rock
  • When to prep skin (and how) for a big trip
  • Protocol for using real rock edges and holds in training 
  • How to treat a split or flapper

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Get 20% off at Nature Climbing and Rhino Skin Solutions by using code STRUGGLE 

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And check out ALL the show’s awesome sponsors and exclusive deals at thestruggleclimbingshow.com/deals

 

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Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega.

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Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right)

 

00:49 The Importance of Skin in Climbing 01:16 Ryan's Climbing Journey and Podcast 03:09 Meet the Skin Experts: Mads and Justin 06:28 Justin's Background and Rhino Skin Solutions 09:43 Mads' Background and Nature Climbing 11:58 Skin Preparation and Conditioning 18:18 Understanding Skin Types and Their Impact 22:50 Pre-Trip Skin Preparation Protocols 38:53 Managing Dry Skin for Climbers 42:06 Introduction to Spit and Its Ingredients 42:35 Application and Benefits of Spit for Climbers 43:18 Challenges of Climbing in Extreme Conditions 44:10 Skin Conditioning and Pain Tolerance Protocols 44:45 Training and Preparation for Climbing Trips 45:40 Managing Skin Health During Climbing Trips 48:37 Importance of Repair and Performance Creams 49:29 Using Stone Hangers and Warm-Up Techniques 52:12 Handling Skin Splits and Injuries 58:16 Choosing the Right Hang Board and Training Tools 01:03:59 Sustainability and New Products from Rhino and Nature Climbing 01:07:21 Personal Climbing Experiences and Final Thoughts  

 

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The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation, whose mission is to promote solar energy for a more equitable world.

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This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry.

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The struggle makes us stronger! I hope your training and climbing are going great. 

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And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!